Biography
Melanie is one of Philly Unleashed’s go-to trainers for dogs who need structure, confidence, and clear communication. Known for her relentless work ethic, big personality, and hands-on approach to training, she brings a sharp eye and practical instincts to every dog she works with.
As the driving force behind Philly Unleashed’s DaySchool program, Melanie helped develop one of the company’s most popular offerings. Drawing on years of experience managing canine playgroups and evaluating social behavior, she created a program that combines training, enrichment, socialization, and real-world skill building to help dogs thrive both at school and at home.
Melanie has an exceptional ability to read dogs and adapt to the individual in front of her. Whether she’s helping a dog build better social skills, work through reactivity, or learn to manage big feelings, she has a knack for meeting dogs where they are and helping them succeed. Her training philosophy emphasizes understanding the “why” behind behavior and creating practical solutions tailored to each dog’s unique needs.
Animals have been a central part of Melanie’s life for as long as she can remember. She earned an Animal Behavior certification from Indiana University, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Studio Arts. Her passion for behavior has taken her from working with dogs and cats in New Jersey to assisting with chimpanzee research in Uganda and caring for great apes as a keeper in Florida. Along the way, she developed a deep appreciation for behavior, communication, and the unique personalities that make every animal an individual.
After relocating to Philadelphia, Melanie continued building her expertise through hands-on work with large dog playgroups, behavior evaluations, and enrichment programming before joining Philly Unleashed in 2022. Since earning her CPDT-KA certification, she has become one of the team’s leading resources for dog socialization, reactivity, and behavior modification.
Melanie especially enjoys working with dogs that are energetic, impulsive, and a little larger than life—qualities that many of her friends, coworkers, and clients would say she shares herself.
When she’s not training dogs, Melanie can usually be found painting, hiking, or spending time with her rescue pit bull, Ziti, and cat, Nub. If you’re lucky, you might spot Melanie and Ziti making their way through South Philly together.
