Caitlyn H. and "Bunny, Oliver, and Etta"
Melody was such an amazing person to work with. Words can’t describe how comfortable she makes you feel about everything. Very knowledgeable and the dogs love her so much which speaks levels. All her instructions are very clear and she never leaves you questioning or confused. Present and future Melody will be our go to for anything dog related. We have absolutely nothing negative to say about her and our dogs behavior speaks volumes about her knowledge and ability.
John & Marilou J. and "Jordan"
We adopted a 5 year old Beagle several months ago. We could see he needed some schooling. We discovered Melody with a Duck Duck Go search and could not be happier. We opted for private lessons at the suggestion of Melody. She based her recommendation on his breed, age, and the fact we had no history on him.
Melody was very patient with man and beast. In a very few lessons we had a Beagle that listens and walks nicely. Not only did Jordan learn quickly with Melody’s gentle methods, he enjoyed the lessons. He was always happy and wagging as he trotted off for the latest lesson. If you are looking for a dog trainer we highly recommend Melody.
John & Marilou Johnstone
Lakeside, AZ
Madeleine H. and "Alistair"
Melody was instrumental in helping me, a novice owner/handler learn how to stack, walk, and set up my Westie on the exam table for the judges in handling class. She helped me to understand the judges' perspective and worked with me individually outside of class to improve 'down and back' with my stubborn dog. Thanks to her help,my Westie received puppy of achievement award and his championship on his first birthday! Thank you Melody for helping me accomplish my dreams as a novice handler!
Thanks to her, I've found my new passion and hobby!
Benigne D. and "Mandy"
One of the best helps for socializing my very young dog was Melody's Handling Class. Thanks to the positive nature of the training, I was able to feel confident in my skills and enter Mandy in Beginner Puppy while she was still in the 4-6 Months age. Mandy took everything at the busy, noisy shows in stride because the Handling Class sessions exposed her to what would be natural and normal sounds, taking out the fear puppies often have. By the time she was 11 months old, I entered her in several UKC shows. Mandy received Best of Breed, multiple Group placements, and a Best in Show. We could not have accomplished those honors without the training, advice, and support from Melody. Many thanks!!! Mandy's early socialization also made it easy for her to earn the Canine Good Citizen, Urban, and Advanced titles by 16 months of age.
John R. and "Maverick"
Maverick and myself have been to quite a few of Melody's handling and obedience classes. We are very impressed with Melody's training curriculum, her positive friendly attitude and over all knowledge of canine behavior. These factors contributed directly to success that I had with my conformation handling skills, obedience training and confidence with including Maverick with us in any public place including restaurants, hotels, dog shows and stores. Maverick and I also completed our CGC training and received our CGC AKC titles with Melody. I would highly recommend Melody to anyone wanting a first-rate handling and/or obedience training experience.
Thank you Melody. - Maverick and John
Wolfgang H. and "Vienna"
My Airedale Terrier Vienna attended class with Melody to train for the CGC certification. We were joined by roughly 5 or 6 other dogs, and had a lot of fun learning and practicing each of the 10 test items. It was a wonderful way to engage and bond with my dog, and Melody did a fantastic job introducing each test item and also explaining Vienna's behavior along the way. At the end of the class Melody also conducted the exam, which Vienna passed!
Jean B. and "Kix"
I have thoroughly enjoyed Melody's handling classes. She is great at preparing you and your dog for the conformation ring. Through her creative class format we were ready for whatever the judge asked of us. Melody is wonderful instructor, explaining concepts so the new exhibitor will understand but also challenging the more experienced class member.
And we always had fun!
Jerry G. and "Belle"
Very thankful for all of the training we had with Melody. My puppy and I had absolutely no experience in a dog show ring, and Melody coached us to build the skills we needed to ultimately become a successful amateur handler and Belle a champion show dog. Thank you Melody!
Kyleigh M. and "Hunny"
Melody is awesome! She helped us when we first started Rally, conformation and pretty much everything else. She is one of our biggest supporters and always giving us tips.
Linda A. and "Mozart" & "Keto"
I loved taking handling class with Melody. No old school training, jerking the leash or yelling at your dog. I especially liked the "round robin" where several of the other handlers went over your dog. Awesome practice of the judges exam. I highly recommend Melody's class.
Becky B. and "Mazey"
We were very happy with the training we received to teach our girl Mazey to be a great show dog. She is on her way to being a Champion!
Tim G. and "Meadow" & " Gucchi"
Hands down the best handling class I've ever attended. Melody is very accomplished and knows how to help with those pesky details that judges look for. And she does it while treating each student with respect and humor.
My only complaint is that she moved!
Melissa B. and "Sadie"
Sadie loved working with Melody and was trained so quickly to sit, stay, leave it, and walk on my left. She automatically goes to my left now two years later! Melody is great to work with and your pet will love her too :-)
Dave & Whitney D. and "Zeke"
We attended show handling classes as complete beginners. Melody provided all of the information and referrals that we needed to feel comfortable walking into a show. The training was excellent, and she managed a large group of various skill levels. We highly recommend!
Laura L. and "Luci"
My husband and I took several private classes with Melody because walking our 140+ pound Mastiff was a bit much. Melody’s training method (and teaching humans method) was simple, effective, and doable regardless of your size/strength. She’s very knowledgeable and “speaks dog” fluently offering practical solutions and multiple solutions to find what works for you. She helped me gain confidence of walking such a large dog and changed my fears. Personally, I needed a mental shift that things could go wrong, but you can move on from them and still be successful. She is patient with both her human and canine clients and we look forward to her socialization classes when the weather cools off.
Lynn P. and "YoYo"
Melody is a beautiful asset to the world of pets and pet ownership. She is the epidemy of the “Animal Whisperer”. I was given my beagle (YoYo) who just happens to be the most stubborn puppy around. After a bit I connected with Melody and subsequently took YoYo and myself to her for training. Training progressed nicely for us both. It was very apparent that Melody not only understood the thinking of canines but understood the unique needs of a scent dog when it comes to listening and training. She could not have been more professional and caring.
Melody’s move up North is excellent for her and all her animals. I wish her only the best as she fulfills her goals of quality training. We have missed our weekly one on one sessions. Life’s circumstances have not allowed me to travel to her yet. Her skills are far above anyone else that I have taken my pup to. Melody is a great communicator with me and has the undivided attention of YoYo. It is like watching a dance to see her work with him. My expectations have always been to have a well-adjusted dog that will be a loyal companion. An ongoing process, I need to hone my skills so that YoYo is at the top of his listening skills, and I am at the top of my pet ownership for my loyal companion.
I highly recommend Melody for her unique talent and abilities. She listens and works to achieve the goals that one has for themselves in conjunction with their pets.
Pamela R. and "Hamilton"
Classes that we took were great, learning the basics of dog handling helped give me the confidence I needed when getting into the show ring for the 1st time.