Melissa is a certified professional dog trainer based in southern Maine. She is the host of ‘BewilderBeasts’, an all-ages show focused on the intersection of animals and humanity.
Additionally, Melissa is the author of ‘Considerations for the City Dog’, an urban dog owner’s handbook.
Melissa’s journey into dog training began in rural Maine, where she grew up in what she affectionately calls ‘an accidental dog-sledding family.’
She currently serves as the co-Training Director and Vice President of New England Dog Training Club, the oldest AKC obedience club in the country, located in densely populated Cambridge, MA.
With 20 years of professional dog training and behavior consultation experience, Melissa has primarily worked in urban and densely populated suburban environments.
Her focus has been on understanding the environmental impact on individual dogs’ well-being, particularly in cities where many dogs become overwhelmed and struggle to cope.
She aims to shift the focus from ‘save them all’ to appropriate placement, and she explores how canine sports techniques can assist in complex behavior plans.
Melissa has shared her expertise at various events and institutions, including the Massachusetts Vet Tech Association, Massachusetts Animal Coalition, Tufts University, M.I.T., The Broad Institute, Raising Canine, the National Federation of Humane Societies, and the Pet Professional Guild.
She has also presented on other topics at several schools, the MSPCA, The Boston Science Museum, and more.
Melissa serves as a faculty advisor for VSA – the Victoria Stilwell Training Academy.
Currently, she teaches disc dog classes, scent work, basic manners, tricks classes, adolescent classes, puppies, and consults on challenging behavior cases in person throughout Southern Maine, and online across the country when possible.
Additionally, Melissa is working on her second book, which addresses the lesser-known aspects of working professionally with animals for individuals considering a career in the pet industry.
