Meet the Trainers
Melissa Simpson, CPDT-KA
Owner, Trainer
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
- Masters in Business Administration – Grand Valley State University
- Professional Affiliation: Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT)
- Member of International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
- AKC Approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
- 20+ years of Behavior Modification training experience with reactive and aggressive dogs
- Completed Seminars 2023: The Role of Emotion in Aggressive Behavior, The Role of Arousal in Aggression, The Heritability of Aggression, Neuroscience of Frustration in Dogs, Animal Instinct: Let's Talk About Intact Dogs, MET (Modern and Ethical Training Conference
- Completed Seminar: Aggression in Dogs - 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Completed Seminar: Advanced Training Topics by Ken Ramirez – 2019
- Completed Seminar: Positive Solutions for Dog Aggression by Pat Miller – 2018
- APDT Course: Comparative Psychology and Cognition - 2018
- Multi-dog experience
- Human companion to Labrador, Slash
Maggie Ouellete, CPDT-KA
Trainer
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers
- Trainer at Happy Tails
- Assistant Trainer at Happy Tails
- 5+ years experience caring for dogs and supervising play groups
- Volunteer at Kent County Animal Shelter
- Bachelors from Grand Valley State University
- Human companion to Labrador, Xena
Lauren May, CPDT-KA
Trainer
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers
- Trainer at Happy Tails
- Assistant Trainer at Happy Tails
- Strong background in customer service and team leadership
- Experience working with children in the special education system
- Personal horse training and show experience
- Foster for Unleashed Love Pet Rescue
- Human companion to two rescue pups Dahlia and Rupert
Tricia Korhorn, CPDT-KA
Trainer
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers
- Trainer at Happy Tails
- Assistant Trainer at Happy Tails
- Over 25 years personal large breed training experience
- Multi-dog household experience
- Legal assistant for over 20 years
- Proud owner of Marley
- Spoiling grandma to human Cayden, Golden Retrievers Duncan & Dug, and German Shorthair Pointer Teeter
Julia McKay
Assistant Trainer
- Assistant Trainer at Happy Tails
- Trainer at John Ball Zoo including leash work and cooperative care for large and small carnivores, birds, other mammals including pygmy hippos, meerkats, cape porcupines - 10 years
- Avian and Ungulate Certifications from American Association of Zookeepers
- Bachelors of Science - Biology from Grand Valley State University
- Conservation and Game Management - University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Human companion to Darwin - a rescue dog from Turkey, Frank a 20-year-old African Spurred Tortoise, and Plato – a crested gecko
Jeni Gushiken
Assistant Trainer
- Assistant Trainer at Happy Tails
- Bachelor of Science with a major in Health Science from GVSU
- Assistant Associates degree from Kellogg Community College
- Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant
- 26 years experience working in physical rehabilitation
- 10 years experience working with children within the special education system
- Human companion to Labradors Koda and River; and 1 horse, Prince
Sue Johnson
Office Manager
- Office Manager / Administrator at Happy Tails
- Administrative Assistant - 2 years experience
- Supervisory / Management Roles – over 30 years of experience
- Customer Service – over 40 years of experience
- Human companion to Radar
Certifications and Professional Affliations
