The Smiling Dog - A Little Company with a Big Heart!

At the heart of The Smiling Dog is Lori Melhuish. Lori founded The Smiling Dog on the belief that dog training should be fun for dogs and their humans!

Lori is an Animal Behavior Consultant and owns and operates The Smiling Dog, LLC in Yorktown, Virginia.  Lori specializes in canine behavior modification in pet dogs and assists dog owners with aggression issues, separation anxiety, and other common canine behavioral problems.  She especially enjoys helping owners with rescued/adopted dogs.   

Lori has an extensive background in animal behavior and training. She was a Professional Wolf Trainer at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg.  She cared for and trained the endangered Grey Wolf for a one of a kind show, "Mysteries of the Grey Wolf."  In addition to training wolves, she worked in the zoological department with a variety of animals including exotic birds, reptiles and small mammals. 

Lori has authored numerous articles on the subject of animal behavior and has given seminars for the Peninsula SPCA and Dachshund Rescue of North America.  She is also published in "Top Tips from Top Trainers," a book from The Association of Pet Dog Trainers. 

Lori's unique approach includes a system that she has developed through years of research and personal experience.   Rest assured that you will be in good hands with Lori, as she not only understands dogs, she understands people.  She will help you feel relaxed and confident in your own skills as a dog trainer, enhancing the bond between you and your canine companion. 

Lori resides in Yorktown, Virginia with her husband of ten years and their menagerie of rescued dogs, parrots and one charming Siamese cat. 

 

Lori is an advocate for rescue and adopted pets.  She has volunteered for Dachshund Rescue of North America as a foster care provider, trainer and home visit evaluator. She also volunteered for the Peninsula SPCA, training and caring for adoptable dogs and providing seminars on customer service and how to increase adoptions.  

In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband and their pet dogs, parrots and one Siamese cat.  

Lori  is insured by The Association of Pet Dog Trainers

Lori has developed several programs, each designed to achieve specific results. Her approach is not one size fits all. Some of Lori's programs include:

• Puppy Preschool
• Basic Manners Obedience Training
• Behavior Modification
• Aggression Control and Management

 

“The ability to train dogs is a very special skill, for it requires a person who not only loves dogs but understands them and knows how to teach them to be responsive to human commands.”

- ‘Uncle Matty’ Margolis, Dog Trainer to the Stars