CAPDT Blog & Updates

Member Feature: Shannon Noonan
This month, we’re excited to highlight the work of of member, Shannon Noonan, a trainer whose compassion-first approach is making a meaningful impact in the lives of dogs and their humans. Shannon’s insights below offer a thoughtful look into her philosophy, her work with complex behaviour cases, and what professional

Member Feature: Jessica Eden O’Neill
I have dedicated my career to canine behaviour and the emotional well-being of dogs and their guardians. As the founder of Pet Intel & Emotional Well-Being, I specialize in behaviour consulting, rehabilitation, and training programs tailored for dogs with complex needs, from reactivity and aggression to service and therapy dog preparation.

India Dog Field Study Tour 2025: One pet dog trainer’s experience
By Sheelah Gullion, CPDT-KA, CFDM, CSAT, BCSPCA AnimalKind As a professional dog trainer, combining business and pleasure is not unfamiliar, so when the opportunity to join a group of dog pros on a visit to India to learn about the street dogs—or “Indies”—there, I won’t deny I jumped at the

Member Feature: Sylvia Currie
Over the years as a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers (CAPDT), I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable growth of this organization and its potential to drive the change so greatly needed in dog training across Canada. Like many members, I initially joined for practical benefits, such as discounts

Origin of the Prong Collar
By Nanette Lai, MA, CPDT-KA This is a revised excerpt of the author’s blog post “It’s 2025. Do Not Do As The [Ancient] Romans Do” published January 20, 2025. The prong/pinch collar has been described as a medieval torture device. That’s inaccurate. Because the design occurred far earlier. A wall

Saving Bats and Birds At Risk, One Sniff at a Time
By Dr. Carla Simon Hunter’s Heart Scent Detection Training Wouldn’t it be monumental if we could harness cleaner energy sources, curtail environmental damage and support conservation efforts? Wind energy is one of the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy sources and can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. However, research estimates