Owner and head trainer of Pawsitive Partners, Melinda Weaver CPDT-KA http://www.ccpdt.org/, found dog training the same way as many of her colleagues – through her own problem dog. Her Akita mix, Muggsy, began reacting aggressively to strange people and situations when he was about 18 months old. When she sought a trainer to work with him, she found a dog training course that would teach her to become a dog trainer. After completing the course, she trained under and worked for Certified Pet Dog Trainer and aggression specialist Elaine Allison and became a member of the Association for Pet Dog Trainers.

Through working with Muggsy, Melinda learned the value of positive dog training to enhance her relationship with her canine soulmate rather than relying on outdated correction tools such as prong collars, choke chains and shock collars. However, positive definitely doesn’t mean permissive! Melinda teaches a balanced approach to dog training that involves communication, training and consequences that don’t involve physical force. This approach is effective whether the dog is fearful and reactive, like Muggsy, or just a little bit stubborn, like Chubbs, Melinda’s therapy dog.

Melinda established Pawsitive Partners to meet the need for scientifically-based positive training in the South Bay. Melinda specializes in fearful dogs suffering from separation anxiety, fear aggression, anxiety and phobias, but she loves working with dogs of all shapes, sizes and ability levels.

Since learning is a lifelong commitment – for both our two-legged and four-legged friends – Melinda is working toward her PhD in animal behavior and continues to attend seminars and continues studying the most up-to-date training techniques. Contact Melinda.