So there I found myself. I was frustrated, burnt out and I felt lost. The more questions I asked, the more I was disappointed by traditional dog training methods. There had to be something more effective than treats and clickers. I had committed to my “two hand-me-down” dogs and I was determined to do it right!

I kept digging. To tell you the truth, the whole treat thing never sat well with me. Treats weren’t stopping my dogs from dragging me through the park to sniff the neighbourhood skunk! It felt like I had made every mistake in the book. I had accidently created a double case of Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hide.

I was sick of all the quick fixes and band-aid dog training solutions. I was left with one question that nobody in the dog training industry could ever seem to answer: “How do dogs do it and why?” It makes sense that dogs would know how to teach other dogs the best. These questions lead me to a unorthodox west coast trainer named Brad Pattison. He talked about speaking to dogs in their own language. Finally, answers!

Through the last eight years of life with a flight risk husky, a Lab that was the neighbourhood bully, and the years that I have spent working for Animal Control, I have realized that the solution is in proper education, both for dogs, and their owners.

Today as a BPCTE you will find me out and about on the streets of my hometown of London, Ontario, sharing the education that has changed both my own life as well as my dogs.

I became a dog walker at my local humane society because I needed volunteer hours for school and had always liked dogs. After surpassing my required hours, I found myself still returning every weekend and even making time for it during the week. What was once a fondness for dogs turned to a passion, and being with these dogs became a priority; it was what made me happy. It's also where I met and adopted my dog, a nine year old Shih Tzu stray I named 'Beauty'.

When I saw my chance to become a CTE I saw it as my opportunity to do what I love for a living. By the time I graduated my entire outlook on the human and dog relationship had changed, and couldn't believe how deeply it could run. Watching the bond between me and my dog built before my eyes gave me the confidence I needed to teach others so they could establish similar bonds with their own dogs. I want to open people's eyes to the potential their dogs have, and help them take their companionship to a whole new level.