In this deeply personal episode, Melaney and Cory pay tribute to Harvey—the unforgettable black German Shepherd who brought them together and helped shape both their business and their friendship.

From service dog struggles and wild training stories to grief, mental health, and the messiest lessons dogs can teach us, this episode is a raw, honest reflection on the dog who started it all. You’ll laugh, cry, and probably walk away feeling a little less alone in your own dog journey.

Because sometimes, the dog that changes your life is the one that challenges you the most.

In this deeply personal episode, Melaney and Cory pay tribute to Harvey—the unforgettable black German Shepherd who brought them together and helped shape both their business and their friendship.

From service dog struggles and wild training stories to grief, mental health, and the messiest lessons dogs can teach us, this episode is a raw, honest reflection on the dog who started it all. You’ll laugh, cry, and probably walk away feeling a little less alone in your own dog journey.

Because sometimes, the dog that changes your life is the one that challenges you the most.

Timestamps:

2:03 - Saying Goodbye to Harvey Walker.

6:24 - How Harvey Entered Cory’s Life.

10:11 - The Birth of a Dog Trainer.

14:14 - The Challenge of Training Harvey.

20:50 - Mutual Recognition and Mental Health.

24:03 - The Dog That Glued Cory and Melaney Together.

38:18 - How to Know When to Euthanize a Dog.

42:42 - Behavior Modification at its Core.

Links:

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Welcome to Love ’Em & Lead ’Em—a podcast about real dogs, real life, and the messy, meaningful work of training both.

Hosted by Melaney, a former Military Police K9 handler, and Cory, a former special education teacher focused on behavior disorders, we’re the duo behind Dog Training Camp USA in Louisville, Kentucky. We’ve helped hundreds of families ditch the gadgets, skip the hot dogs, and build better relationships with their dogs—through leadership, structure, and a whole lot of heart.

But this podcast isn’t just about dogs. It’s about the people holding the leashes. We talk about mental health, burnout, running a small business, friendship, and yes—birding. You’ll hear the real-life highs and lows behind the scenes as dog trainers, moms, business partners, and best friends.

Each episode delivers practical training tips, unfiltered client stories, and raw conversations about the wild journey of living (and learning) with dogs. Whether your dog is a dream or a full-blown dumpster fire, we’ve been there—and we’ve got your back.

New episodes every other week. Subscribe, laugh, and learn with us—because you don’t have to choose between loving your dog and leading them. You can do both.

Who we are, why we’re here, and why you’ll want to stick around.