About Me
I got my very own puppy for my 7th birthday, she was a spunky Border Collie named Skippy. Yep, she was named after the peanut butter!😋
Sadly, we didn’t know how to keep her from getting into mischief. Our neighbour poisoned her for pooping in his yard one too many times.
Fast forward 16 years and we adopted our first family dog, a four year old German Shepard named Daisy - a gorgeous (and extremely nervous) bundle of love. After five days, she ran away after getting scared by a loud noise.
Thankfully, she was found 15 hours later, after my five year old son and I drove down every road and put up “Missing Dog” flyers.
We were blessed to have Daisy in our lives for another ten years. Despite all her neurosis and anxiety, she was a “good dog”.
These events left an indelible mark in my life; I share these stories to offer hope to nervous dog owners.
By taking the first step into your dog’s training journey, you can avoid these issues. Having trust in the process (with proper execution) will allow you and your dog to truly enjoy life!
Nakita and Storm smelling the flowers!
Knowing what I know now, I (and my family) realise there was a lot we could have done differently to ensure my dogs were safe and had a better quality of living.
Training will help your dog make better choices based in peace over fear, cultivating a better, more adventurous future!
My Journey of Hope…
Michael and Radar Hiking in Washington!
Aventure Dogs:
I specialise with adventure dogs!
What do I mean by that? A pup that you can take camping, not having to worry about them running away, a dog you can take to a restaurant without them taking food, or a dog that you can keep in you kayak and they won’t jump in the water. I love these kinds of dogs and finding new, fun ways to train them on your next (and best) adventure!
I also work with anxious and reactive dogs - the fence runners, non-stop barkers, separation anxiety havers, or excited peers. I correct counter-surfing, door rushing, and kennel resistance as well!
Training these dogs are always a challenge, but I will be there to help you every step of the way!
My programs are not suited for dogs that need intense behaviour modification. Aggression with intent to harm (dog or human) or dogs with extreme reactivity will not be accommodated. If after our consultation I feel your dog needs this level of support, I will refer you to colleagues and mentors who are equipped to help you.
My Philosophy
As a balanced dog trainer I often get asked what “philosophy” I follow or what “methods” I use. My answer is very simple, I believe training is a lifestyle and not particular method.
As dog owners we have a responsibility to care for and cultivate the lifestyle we want with our dogs. To do this we need to create the rules, structure and boundaries that help our dog look to us for guidance when making decisions on what to do and what not to do.
In order to enjoy life with our dogs we need to have clear communication (example) as the foundation of a permission based lifestyle (example).
In my training programs I use the concept of “yes and no” (example)
Behavior vs Obedience
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.
Experience
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I took this program in 2018…
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
My Mentors
I have followed Sean O’Shea and Jeff Gellman for years through social media and online classes as well as in person mentorships to learn more about dog training and their philosophies and training styles to better myself. They also stand for balanced dog training and you can learn more about them through their YouTube, Patreon, and Sean O’Shea’s book, The Good Dog Way (which I highly recommend you read). They have helped me learn and grow with my dog training and have taught me new ways of thinking. My other (and most important) mentor is you, the owners of the dogs who give me new experiences and dog personalities to learn how to handle and uniquely deal with. Every dog is different so my approach is not the same with every dog. I would never have the knowledge I have now if it wasn’t for owners and dog of the past.
