About Melissa
Canine Behavior Consultant. Lifelong animal advocate. The person your dog has been waiting for you to find.
Animals have always been the through line.
My mom will tell you I was bringing home strays before I could remember doing it. The neighbors will tell you I was advocating for the neglected dogs around town before most kids could ride a bike. Nobody who knew me growing up is even slightly surprised that I ended up here.
​
I started working in veterinary medicine at 18, and spent years moving through general and emergency practices as both a receptionist and a vet tech. It shaped everything about how I see animals and the people who love them. It taught me to read body language before a dog ever showed an obvious sign. It taught me that a dog who bites at the vet isn't an aggressive dog. It's a scared one. And it taught me that we miss the bigger picture more often than we'd like to admit.
​
That understanding is what pulled me toward behavior work. And it's what has kept me here.
I work with the dog and person in front of me. Not a formula.
After more than six years working with dogs and their owners on everything from basic obedience to complex behavior cases, one thing has stayed constant: no two dogs are the same, and no two owners are either.
​
I don't arrive at a case with a rigid method I apply to everyone. What I bring is the ability to look at what's actually in front of me and build something that works for that specific dog and that specific human. Because behavior isn't just about what a dog is doing. It's about genetics, environment, history, stress, communication, and the relationship between a dog and the person holding the leash.
​
Education sits at the center of my work. When owners truly understand why their dog does what they do, something changes. Not just in the training, but in the relationship. My husband jokes that most of my clients come to me for the therapy more than the dog training. He's not entirely wrong. Helping people through the emotional weight of a struggling dog is as much a part of this work as teaching the dog anything.
​
We go slowly enough to build real understanding. We find the easy wins early, because when a dog and their owner start to feel successful together, something shifts. Joy comes back. Trust gets rebuilt. And from there, real progress becomes possible.
Why I work virtually, and why it works.
Harmonious Handling operates entirely online. For complex behavior work, that's not a limitation. It's often an advantage.
​
Your dog's behavior happens at home, in your routines, in the spaces they know. When I work with you virtually, I get to see the real picture. Not a performance, not a dog who's shutting down in an unfamiliar place. I see your actual environment, your actual dynamic, and the behaviors as they actually exist. That's where meaningful change starts.
​
Virtual also means that wherever you are, you have access to someone with the specific depth of knowledge your dog's case requires. Complex behavior problems deserve more than the nearest available option.
Background and credentials.
Harmonious Handling was founded in 2019. Before reopening as a fully virtual practice, I spent years working with clients in person on cases ranging from puppy foundations to severe reactivity and aggression.
​
My work in veterinary medicine spans from 2008 through general and emergency practice settings, giving me a foundation in animal health, stress physiology, and the medical factors that often intersect with behavior.
​
I hold a CPDT-KA certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and am certified through Fear Free, an organization dedicated to reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in veterinary and training settings.
What working with me actually looks like.
I keep my caseload intentionally small. Everyone who works with me gets my full attention, honest communication, and support that doesn't disappear between sessions.
​
I'll set real expectations from the start. Behavior change takes time. Some cases move quickly, some don't. What I can promise is that we'll always know why we're doing what we're doing, and that the plan will make sense for your life, not just in theory.
​
If you've been told your dog is too far gone, has too much history, or is just the way they are, I'd encourage you to reach out. I've heard that story before. It usually isn't true.