Melissa | captivatingk9s

Melissa Gardner

Prioritizing training that is gentle, balanced, and designed with care. Every dog is different, and their training program should reflect their unique learning style and personality.

My Story

My training journey started in 2018 when I found a starving Pitbull mix in a dumpster behind my house. I took her in, but was ill-equipped to handle the aggression and anxiety that developed as a result of her time as a stray. I decided to fully devote myself to learning and growing as a dog owner, which led me to start training professionally at K-9 Culture in 2021.The pup, now named Quinn, has since made a tremendous amount of progress. She has taught me so much about taking accountability as a dog owner, creatively working through challenges, and handling the emotional side of living with an aggressive dog.

My personal experience has greatly influenced how I approach training professionally. I understand that every journey is unique, and I give each dog the individualized care that I would want for my own pup. So far in my career I have helped over 200 clients with goals ranging from basic obedience to overcoming aggression. However, during this time I have found that my calm demeaner and gentle approach makes me particularly well-suited for handling extreme anxiety and behavior modification cases. In addition to training dogs through board and trains, day and trains, and private lessons, I have also been running group classes for over 3.5 years. I am registered as a Canine Good Citizen evaluator through the AKC, and have a passion for helping dogs reach their full potential. I know that together we can take on whatever challenges your dog faces!

Behavior Specialties

I’ve worked with dogs of every temperament, and I’m particularly drawn to helping those who need extra support developing trust and confidence.

Anxiety

I particularly enjoy building connections with dogs that are nervous or shut down. Fear can be one of the most challenging obstacles for dogs to overcome, and it’s often at the root of other undesirable behaviors. Building a dog’s confidence takes time, and my gentle, patient approach allows each dog to work at their own pace. This patience is crucial for building trust so that your dog feels secure when it’s time to push them a little further. I’ll guide you through this delicate process so that you and your anxious pup feel ready to face the world together!

Reactivity

My dog Quinn has taught me a great deal about handling reactivity and aggression. I understand that these are emotional issues that can create tremendous stress for everyone involved. I believe it’s essential to understand the reason behind a dog’s behavior before responding to it. Reactivity driven by fear requires confidence-building and desensitization, while excitement-based reactivity benefits from structure and impulse control — understanding the difference is key to lasting progress. Because I know firsthand what it’s like to own a dog with severe behavioral challenges, I’m deeply passionate about helping owners navigate and manage reactivity.

Housemates

Working with multiple dogs at once requires extra coordination and care. Multi-dog households also come with unique behavioral challenges, such as resource guarding and differences in energy levels or communication styles. My approach focuses on fostering calm structure, clear boundaries, and mutual respect between dogs. Sadler and I have had proven success helping housemates learn to live together peacefully, and we both have personal experience caring for multiple dogs in our own homes.