meet your trainer

Hi, I’m Melissa, the heart and hands behind Smarty Paws. I hold credentials as a Certified Dog Trainer (DDT) and Canine Behaviour Consultant (DCBC), and I’m a proud member of the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers (CAPDT). 

I started Smarty Paws with a simple goal: helping dogs and their guardians navigate the world together with confidence while building relationships based on trust.

My true passion for training and behavior work was sparked right at home. After adopting my own dog and fostering for a local rescue, I experienced the magic of watching the 'lightbulb' go off - that incredible moment when a dog and their human begin to truly understand one another. After a rewarding 25-year career in healthcare operations and clinical management, I decided to follow my heart and change direction, returning to school to become a professional trainer. 

I realized that my background provided me with a unique ability to provide meaningful support through complex challenges, and I’ve made it my mission to use those skills to bring dogs and their people closer together while helping every dog reach their full potential.

I believe that training should be about building a relationship of trust through clear communication, rather than creating a robot dog. 

I also believe that learning is a lifelong process; humans don’t stop learning after kindergarten, so why should our dogs? I apply that same philosophy to my own professional growth. I am currently pursuing CPDT-KA certification and am Dogsafe® First Aid and CPR certified.