Who We Are

Hello and welcome! My name is Melissa Farion and I am the owner of Modern Mutts Training & Behavior.

Like many of us in the industry, my passion for dogs dates back as far as I can remember. Every spare moment I had as a child was spent walking any dogs I could find in my neighborhood, wishing one day to have a puppy of my own. I got my first dog Maya - a Portuguese Water Dog - at 14, and we become soul mates from that moment forward.

When the time came to get my first job, I stumbled across a dog walking ad titled “Bring your dog to work”. Spending all day with Maya sounded like a dream come true, so I jumped on it and never looked back. I spent the next 5 years in various roles walking, caring for and training dogs.

In 2017, I brought home my Doberman, Jango. When he was 18 months old he developed serious and complex behavior concerns. I very quickly learned my years of work in dog care had not prepared me to support his needs properly, and it inspired me to pursue an education in complex behaviors in dogs.

In 2021, I graduated with honors from The Academy for Dog Trainers. This was an intensive, 2-year, industry leading program that covered everything from basic obedience to fear and aggression. At the same time, I began mentoring under some experienced, knowledgeable trainers in the city who taught me how truly complex our furry pals are, and how the industry has been so very limited in offering them the support they deserve. I have made it my goal to continue to elevate my knowledge in my field to offer an exceptional service that helps create well rounded behaviors, while maintaining the respect and care our dogs deserve.

I absolutely love working with all dogs, but my passion lays with dogs who struggle with reactivity, fear, aggression and complex behavior problems, like my sweet guy.

I currently share my home with Jango and Tess, a working line border collie. We spend our free time training and competing in dog sports, camping, and adventuring together.