Myranda Klein

Myranda Klein is an Assistant Service Dog Trainer for Hearts of Gold, bringing more than 20 years of experience in dog training and competitive dog sports. Her background spans obedience, rally, agility, conformation, and upland bird dog tournaments, giving her a deep and versatile foundation in canine behavior and communication. She especially enjoys using shaping techniques to teach new tasks to service dogs in training, helping each dog build confidence, clarity, and independence.

As part of her role, Myranda also handles therapy dog Puffin, supporting the dog’s work in providing comfort, connection, and emotional support throughout the community. In addition to her hands‑on training responsibilities, she oversees Hearts of Gold’s social media presence and coordinates major program events, including fundraising initiatives and the annual graduation ceremonies.

Myranda’s connection to Hearts of Gold began long before she joined the professional team. The program is what inspired her to choose West Virginia University for her undergraduate degree. As a student, she immersed herself fully—taking every available service dog training course, serving as a teaching assistant for lab sections, and fostering multiple dogs throughout her time at WVU. Those years cemented her passion for service dog work and her commitment to the program’s mission.

Before returning to Hearts of Gold as a trainer, Myranda worked as a zookeeper, primarily with big cats. She spent much of her time training cheetahs, an experience that strengthened her understanding of operant conditioning, enrichment, and the importance of trust‑based relationships across species.

Outside of work, Myranda enjoys training and competing with her own dogs, hiking with her family, and participating in a variety of dog sports. She is also an active member of several breed and training clubs, continuing to learn, grow, and contribute to the broader dog‑training community.