Some years later, realizing the need for trainers knowledgeable in service and guide dog work and ADA law Melissa set out to complete a second apprenticeship. She apprenticed in both Washington and California with multiple organizations for this specialty and has now been professionally training dogs to help the disabled for 10 years. Melissa has had articles published internationally on this aspect of training and is consulted across the country and around the world.
Now starting her career in personal protection and patrol dog work, she is embarking on a new journey. Traveling anywhere in the name of education, Melissa has attended decoy training and bite work training all over the North West. With the debut of Club K9 North West, a free training club, she is opening the door for many in the community to train in this great sport.
Melissa is also one of Club K9 NW's regular decoys and can be seen most days out on the field enjoying "being eaten by client's dogs".
Born into a training family, Jodie grew up training with her father on location with some of the top names in the movie training industry. She worked along side such trainers as R. Rutherford (Lassie), Frank Inn (Benji), Glenn Randell (Horses for "Ben Hur", "Trigger" and "Trigger jr", plus numerous others), Bobby Davenport (Black Beauty #2, "Thunder"), and others. Learning from the best set her up for a long lived career in the movie and entertainment industry.
At 15 years old she started working for a breeding/training compound for Rottweilers that sparked her interest in Personal Protection work. She enjoys pet training but her heart lies in the entertainment industry. Jodie trained dogs for tricks for circus routines, then went into stage production for a show that included 18 dogs doing everything from pulling ropes to set off cannons, to rescuing the "Town" from the bad Guys...playing dead, to removing horses, or just being spectacular performers, jumping thru hoops for the audience's pleasure.
Jodie has trained many species including Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Tigers, Elk, Moose, African Antelope, Raptors, Horses, Barn Fowl, Pigs, Goats, House Cats, Camels, Llamas, and Cattle. Her specialty is multi species acts. She also worked for "Paws With A Cause", training dogs for the disabled. If you are considering starting a career in the arts with your dog you can't find a better trainer to help you through every stage of your pet's career!
