About The Trainer

My name is Melody Owens, CPDT-KA and I am the owner/trainer of Star Dog Obedience. I am certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), a Professional Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), is an AKC Approved Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluator and a Certified Evaluator of the Canine Life And Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) program.

I am firm believer in training using positive methods to change/adjust our companions behavior, and I have been training dogs professionally since 2006. I've also had the chance to work with dolphins, big cats, a variety of birds, and other exotic animals. Through the experiences of working with animals that cannot be physically manipulated, I have mastered the techniques necessary to teach animals how to behave properly by using Operant Conditioning. Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior. This was coined by behaviorist B.F. Skinner. Punishment need not be painful or aversive. In behavior/training, "punishment" just means an action that causes a behavior to decline.


In addition to working with clients, both privately and in group classes, I have worked for various shelters and rescues doing Temperament Evaluations so the dogs in their care can be matched up to suitable homes, as well as have a training plan instituted when needed, to ensure the dog is ready for a new family. I currently volunteer my time to help train staff and volunteers how to properly handle the dogs at Big Dog Ranch Rescue, located in Wellington, FL. BDRR is home to over 200 rescued dogs which are rescued from kill shelters.

As well, I am a Mentor-Trainer for students in the Dog Trainer program for Animal Behavior College. ABC's Dog Trainer program is very tedious and the students must pass a 9 Stage study program before being able to sit in or assist me with my classes. I take pride in teaching my mentor students how to utilize the skills they have learned from studying the books in real life applications. It's a wonderful opportunity to be able to help my students learn and utilize Positive Reinforcement training techniques to solve problem behaviors, as well as prevent them.

I share my life with three very special dogs seen below, as well as a variety of other animals. My dogs are available to help with training your dog(s), as needed.

Star Dog Obedience is based out of Palm Beach, FL and is available to travel throughout all of South Florida.



From left to right: Maui (CGC) the American Bulldog; Mako (CGC) the Shiba Inu; Magnum the Pit Bull Terrier. Magnum is a certified therapy dog (TDI) as well as a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and passed the ATTS Temperament Test (TT).