Melissa’s passion for animals started at a very young age. As a child, it felt as though all the stray dogs and cats found her. To her mother’s dismay, she was sure to bring home every animal she thought needed her help. She brought home everything, including dogs and cats, to snakes and snails.
She started working in the veterinary field when she was 16 cleaning kennels at a small Veterinary Clinic in Iowa and moved on to becoming a Veterinary Technician for many years. As she continued on her career path, she took a particular interest in animal behavior, fear-free practices, and game-based training. She became CPDT-KA Certified and a Fear Free Certified Professional. It didn’t take her long to decided to take the next step and open Harmonious Handling.
Services
Stay and Train programs are special all-inclusive packages where you drop your dog off with us for a set period of time, and we work on either obedience or struggles that you have been having at home. Unlike your traditional board and train program, all dogs that come to us for training are brought into our home and treated as family pets. Dogs are NOT crated for the majority of the day and receive 24/7 informal training around the house, along with formal training sessions daily.
Stay and Train programs are fantastic for new puppies who need to learn crate, potty training, and basic commands. However, the programs are also fantastic for dogs that are older and need obedience training or even for dogs that struggle at home and show behaviors that the owner finds concerning.
One of the best parts about our programs is that they will include all the training equipment your dog uses while they are here! Everything from the best training harnesses to leashes, treat pouches, or even elevated dog beds (depending on your program).
All dogs that stay with us receive an Adaptil Pheromone Collar to help ease them into transitioning to a new environment. And they go home freshly bathed with their ears cleaned and nails trimmed. Every program contains free follow-up session/s to ensure you continue to have your desired result when you take your dog home.
Certifications
CPDT-KA Certified and a Fear Free Certified Professional
Training Methods
game-based training
Customer Reviews
Melissa was great! She took the time to hear my concerns, assessed my dog throughly, explained why my dog is resorting the behaviors that we were there to correct, and gave me the training and tools to use. She definitely has the knowledge and patience to work dogs and owners! Would recommend her to anyone!
