Paws from Heaven Dog Training

Melissa is an excellent Dog Trainer! She a true professional. She has a wealth of knowledge and a toolbox filled with items that can be helpful for all type of dogs. After working with three different trainers with poor results, we met Melissa. She was truly a blessing! She was able to create a personalized training program for myself and our crazy, energetic rescue dog. Each week Melissa would adapt the program to meet our Individual needs in the moment which lead to us improving and progressing well. Melissa even customized our program offsite, working at different locations with other dogs. This not only gave my dog, great experience and exposure, but it gave me a great deal of confidence. I’m very happy to say that we’ve progressed so well in six short weeks that we will be preparing to take our good citizen test shortly! Melissa’s training is not cheap, but you get what you pay for and if you’re serious about training your dog to be well behaved, on and off the leash at any location, Melissa is your trainer! She also works with an assistant who is very helpful! I highly recommend Melissa, to anyone who is dedicated to their dog and seeking a happy, healthy life together! Thank you Melissa! Rev. Barb Thorngren

Melissa is wonderful!! After only 2 sessions I feel like I have a different dog. I was at a loss as to how to train my dog to be okay on walks and not reactive to other dogs, cars, animals. And her methods of training work instantly and give both myself and my dog the confidence back that we really needed. I finally feel like I have control and that I can safely and happily walk my dog! I signed up for a package deal of sessions, can’t wait to learn more from her I should have done this years ago!!

Melissa arrived at our home for our rescue Silky Terrier’s (and our) first training session. Auggie took to her immediately, and she to him. Her sessions and methods were instructive and effective. She demonstrated a clear understanding of what Auggie needed in order to overcome the anxieties he demonstrated when he came to us and become a confident and accomplished family member. We recommend Melissa highly.

The “Finn Whisperer” – A True Lifesaver We’ve been working with Melissa at Paws from Heaven for the past six or seven months, and I can confidently say she has changed our lives. We are first-time dog owners who rescued two puppies, one of whom, Finn, is a Cane Corso and our other a Pit Bull Terrier mix. Finn’s nearly two years old now and truly a beloved member of our family. But as loving and loyal as he is, we didn’t and don’t always know how to communicate with him or understand his needs, and we were drowning in conflicting information online. Our turning point came when I had to be called home from a family vacation because of a behavioral incident with Finn. It was terrifying and heartbreaking. We thought we might have to make an impossible decision, and we were desperate. That’s when we found Melissa. Melissa has been instrumental, we lovingly call her the “Finn Whisperer.” She understands his language, his triggers, and most importantly, she taught us how to understand and support him. Her approach isn’t just about training the dog, it’s about training the humans. She broke down complex behavioral patterns in a way that made sense and never once made me feel like I couldn’t do it. Her patience and guidance have infused our family with hope and confidence. That said, this journey is far from “quick fix.” So many people expect instant gratification, but with behavioral training, especially for complex breeds like ours, that’s just not the case. You have to put in the work, the time, and most of all, the consistency. And Melissa has stuck with us through it all. She’s been endlessly patient, while also being incredibly realistic. She’s helped us see that this isn’t about achieving some final moment of perfection, it’s about ongoing growth and understanding. Melissa has gently reminded us that this will always be a lifelong journey. We may never reach a place of 100% certainty or total freedom, but that’s okay. What we’ve gained is trust, communication, and the ability to support Finn in a way that’s mindful of his needs and safety. Just as he protects us, we now understand how to protect him and Melissa is walking alongside us to ensure we stay on track, keep our skills current, and never lose sight of his well-being. It’s about treating him with the same unconditional love he gives us. Thanks to Melissa, Finn is thriving. We can go out into the community with him, plan trips, and feel reassured that we have the tools to keep him (and others) safe and happy. Melissa and the entire team at Paws from Heaven radiate love, care, and deep understanding of animals. Whether it’s training or boarding, we would recommend them a thousand times over. Thank you, Melissa, for giving us our peace and for giving Finn the life he deserves. The Conleys!

I can’t say enough great things about Melissa! She’s been absolutely amazing with our dog, Bruno. From the very first session, Melissa showed not only deep knowledge of dog behavior and training techniques, but also genuine care and patience. Bruno responded to her almost immediately, and I was blown away by how quickly he picked up new commands and behaviors. Melissa made every session enjoyable and productive—for both of us! She gave us practical tools that we could use at home, and she always took the time to explain the “why” behind each step. Thanks to Melissa, Bruno is more focused, better behaved, and most importantly, a happier dog. We’re so grateful for her guidance and would recommend her to anyone looking for a skilled, kind, and professional trainer. Thank you, Melissa, for helping us bring out the best in Bruno!