Melissa Winkle, OTR/L, FAOTA, CHAIS, CPDT-KA is an occupational therapist and a professional dog trainer. She is founder and president of Dogwood Therapy Services, a human healthcare clinic and dog training facility specializing in human-animal interactions. She offers animal assisted occupational therapy, selection of pups and dogs and training for human-animal teams interested in animal assisted therapy and service dog teamwork. She offers in-person and virtual sessions and courses for working with pets & emotional support relationships, animal assisted activities, education and therapy, and service dog skills. Melissa has gained international respect for her hands on work, for written publications, for workshops , for staff trainings, and for animal assisted intervention and dog training coursework in the university arena. She enjoys her family and professional practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Certifications:
Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA)
Dog training services include
- Service dog training
- In home training
- Puppy training
More info about Melissa Winkle's dog training:
puppy/dog selection, relationship development, enrichment, reward based training, obedience, cue based, puppy, pet, animal assisted activities, animal assisted education, animal assisted therapy, service dog training, emotional support, home help mate, dog training and animal assisted intervention human internships
Behavioral issue focus:
We teach people how to communicate with their dogs and how to predict and prevent unwanted behavior
Dog training methods:
One to one and group classes, live virtual sessions, on line courses, live and recorded webinars, training curriculum for animal assisted activity, education and therapy. Creating profiles for selection of pups/dogs to match individual/family lifestyle. In person and virtual curriculum and/or training plans for puppy development & pup/dog training consultations, community based supports. Clicker/reward based training, capturing, shaping, targeting, systematic desensitization and counter conditioning, relationship development, welfare considerations, expressive and receptive communication skills, enrichment, playing and age related changes! Healthy and respectful kid and dog interactions. We teach people about how dogs experience the world.
Why I became a dog trainer:
Melissa has always paid attention to the communication of dogs in her personal and professional life and learned early on how to have respectful relationships with them. She wanted to formally teach others about communication with dogs, welfare and well-being, and how to partner with mans best friend in personal and professional life. Melissa believes she is a trainer of people more so than a trainer of dogs.
My favorite part of being a dog trainer:
Improving relationships of people and their dogs, and improving the loves of our best friends.
My #1 dog training tip:
Prioritize early bidirectional communication and building a positive relationship with your dog long before you attempt obedience and task training.
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See The Best Dog Trainers By Type In Albuquerque
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Get safe exercise for your dog by renting a private dog park near you
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David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development.
David's dedication to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for dogs to play, explore, and socialize is evident in his unwavering commitment to Sniffspot. He strongly believes that dogs need ample space and opportunities to stretch their legs and have fun. As a result, he has worked tirelessly to build a network of private property owners across the country who share his vision and are willing to offer their space for the benefit of dogs and their owners.
Despite his busy schedule, David always finds time to indulge in his passion for the great outdoors. He loves nothing more than exploring new hiking trails and embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures. Whenever he is not working on Sniffspot, he can often be found hiking or visiting multi-acre fenced sniffspots with his two beloved dogs, Soba and Toshii. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the fresh air, breathtaking scenery, and the sense of freedom that comes with being in nature.
David is based in Salem, MA.
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