About Me
I have always loved being with and training animals. I grew up around dogs that were well mannered and a joy to be around so I have tried to replicate that with my own dogs. A well trained dog that can walk nicely on leash, greet people without jumping all over them, lay on a mat when told, drop items on cue and accept handling (including eye and ear medication and toe nail trimming) is easy to live with and often welcomed when visiting. I have been teaching others how to get their dogs to do these things since I started assisting with Muskoka District Kennel Club Puppy Classes in 1999. I went on to teach puppy and beginner manners classes for the New Hamburg Veterinary Clinic. Returning to Muskoka in 2010, I started teaching the Rally Obedience Classes at Muskoka District Kennel Club as well as manners classes through Muskoka Animal Hospital. I find it very rewarding to see people learn to teach their dogs behaviours that will allow the dogs to live as treasured family members and accompany their people more places.
I continued my dog training education, passing the exam to become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer in 2014 and maintaining that certification through continuing education ever since. I'm also a Canine Good Neighbour Evaluator for the Canadian Kennel club, Certified Trick Dog Instructor through Do More With Your Dog and recently completed and passed the Pro Dog Trainer course through Absolute Dogs. I'm always looking to improve my dog training and people teaching skills!
In my free time I have continued to pursue a variety of dog sports with my dogs. I enjoy the challenges of trying to teach the behaviours required and spending time with the wonderful friends I have made in the world of dog sports.
Obedience was the first sport I was exposed to at the Muskoka District Kennel Club, and I love to teach my dogs to heel because, when they are working in partnership with me, it feels like dancing. I started Agility training with Destiny in 2000 at Muskoka Agility Dogs and found a wonderful outlet for her energy and a great community of people focused on getting dogs to respond to them at high speeds off leash. I learned a lot about timing, body language and reward placement from agility. When I moved to the Kitchener area, I was fortunate to be able to continue learning competitive obedience and agility at Companion Dog Training.
I then tried Rally Obedience - a course made up of stations with signs that indicate a behaviour that you and your dog need to do. My dogs and I really enjoy Rally because it encourages communication and focus and the courses are always different, each one posing unique challenges. Reese achieved many titles in both CKC & CARO rally.
Reese and I started tracking in 2009 and found a sport that she absolutely loves. Getting to follow her nose means she is in heaven. When it is raining and soggy I'm not so sure it is the greatest idea but she has so much fun I can't say no. Our newest challenge is scent detection, a sport based on detector dog training but for fun scents like wintergreen rather than narcotics or explosives. Hunter and I started in 2012 at seminars held at the Muskoka District Kennel club and had a great time. I've continued on in scent detection with Tilly, who currently has her CKC Open title and her SDDA Advanced title also earning a Judge's Choice Award.
During the pandemic Tristan and I got into Trick Dog Training and online titling events to keep us challenged while in-person events were suspended. Trick training is a lot of fun, and was a great way to keep Tristan's busy mind employed in a constructive way.
I continued my dog training education, passing the exam to become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer in 2014 and maintaining that certification through continuing education ever since. I'm also a Canine Good Neighbour Evaluator for the Canadian Kennel club, Certified Trick Dog Instructor through Do More With Your Dog and recently completed and passed the Pro Dog Trainer course through Absolute Dogs. I'm always looking to improve my dog training and people teaching skills!
In my free time I have continued to pursue a variety of dog sports with my dogs. I enjoy the challenges of trying to teach the behaviours required and spending time with the wonderful friends I have made in the world of dog sports.
Obedience was the first sport I was exposed to at the Muskoka District Kennel Club, and I love to teach my dogs to heel because, when they are working in partnership with me, it feels like dancing. I started Agility training with Destiny in 2000 at Muskoka Agility Dogs and found a wonderful outlet for her energy and a great community of people focused on getting dogs to respond to them at high speeds off leash. I learned a lot about timing, body language and reward placement from agility. When I moved to the Kitchener area, I was fortunate to be able to continue learning competitive obedience and agility at Companion Dog Training.
I then tried Rally Obedience - a course made up of stations with signs that indicate a behaviour that you and your dog need to do. My dogs and I really enjoy Rally because it encourages communication and focus and the courses are always different, each one posing unique challenges. Reese achieved many titles in both CKC & CARO rally.
Reese and I started tracking in 2009 and found a sport that she absolutely loves. Getting to follow her nose means she is in heaven. When it is raining and soggy I'm not so sure it is the greatest idea but she has so much fun I can't say no. Our newest challenge is scent detection, a sport based on detector dog training but for fun scents like wintergreen rather than narcotics or explosives. Hunter and I started in 2012 at seminars held at the Muskoka District Kennel club and had a great time. I've continued on in scent detection with Tilly, who currently has her CKC Open title and her SDDA Advanced title also earning a Judge's Choice Award.
During the pandemic Tristan and I got into Trick Dog Training and online titling events to keep us challenged while in-person events were suspended. Trick training is a lot of fun, and was a great way to keep Tristan's busy mind employed in a constructive way.
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What about certification?
Visitors to my site have been asking if I am certified. I think this is great, as a registered veterinary technician I believe that holding people accountable to a certain independent standard is important. I am please to announce that I have passed the examination offered by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and am now a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed. This test is independent and not affiliated with any particular school. It tests a candidates understanding of learning theory, ethology, instructing, animal husbandry and equipment. In order to maintain my certification I will need to submit proof of obtaining continuing education from recognized sources.
Other Certifications Offered include:
The Animal Behavior Society provides certification for applied animal behaviorists with Masters or PhD degrees in a related field. The International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants has certification requirements including a minimum number of hours working with behavioural issues, testing, letters of reference and case studies. Veterinary Behaviourists earn diplomat status through the American College of Veterinary Behaviourists.
Please, continue to ask about certification for dog trainers and behaviourists. Ask trainers through whom they were certified, but also ask them about their experience, training methods and continuing education as well. If you have any further questions, or if you would like to arrange with me to come and observe how I teach, please contact me.
Other Certifications Offered include:
The Animal Behavior Society provides certification for applied animal behaviorists with Masters or PhD degrees in a related field. The International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants has certification requirements including a minimum number of hours working with behavioural issues, testing, letters of reference and case studies. Veterinary Behaviourists earn diplomat status through the American College of Veterinary Behaviourists.
Please, continue to ask about certification for dog trainers and behaviourists. Ask trainers through whom they were certified, but also ask them about their experience, training methods and continuing education as well. If you have any further questions, or if you would like to arrange with me to come and observe how I teach, please contact me.