CAPDT

Why CAPDT’s New Professional Pathways Are Good News for Trainers

If you’ve spent years building your knowledge, helping dogs and their families, and growing the profession through ethical, humane training, you may be wondering what CAPDT’s new National Curriculum Standard and professional pathways mean for you. The short answer? Good things. These initiatives are not about starting over. They’re about building on the foundation that […]

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A Day in the Life of a Service Dog: Supporting Work and Well-Being

Dog Training, Working Dogs / CAPDT

When people think about service dogs, they often picture a highly trained dog accompanying their handler through daily life. While that image is certainly accurate, it only tells part of the story. A service dog (also called an assistance dog in some countries) is a specially trained dog that performs specific tasks to help mitigate

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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly about Dog Parks

Dog Training / CAPDT

By Sylvia Koczerzuk There are lot of good and bad perceptions about dog parks. This article is intended as an educational source to address some of the most common myths and perceptions about dog parks as well as to highlight their positive aspects. I have visited many dog parks throughout the United States and Canada some

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Annual General Meeting 2026

CAPDT Updates / CAPDT

Our Annual General Meeting brought together 76 attendees from across the country for an evening filled with updates, progress, and excitement for the future of CAPDT. Members received a comprehensive recap of the work accomplished over the past year, including updates to the complaint process based directly on feedback shared at last year’s AGM. We

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The CVMA Supports Developing a National Certifying Body

CAPDT Community, CAPDT Members, CAPDT Updates, Dog Training / CAPDT

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has taken a strong and clear position on dog training in Canada. They support the development of a national certifying body to establish consistent standards for dog trainers—standards based on humane, evidence-based, reward-based methods. Source Why is this important? Currently in Canada, anyone can call themselves a dog trainer

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Member Feature: Kelly Crawford DEIB

CAPDT Community, CAPDT Members / CAPDT

Welcoming Our New DEIB Committee Chair The Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers is pleased to introduce Kelly Crawford (she/they) as the new Chair of the DEIB Committee (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging). Kelly brings a deep commitment to both animal welfare and community support, with a training philosophy centered on empowering pet guardians

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Understanding Associative Conditioning In Behaviour Work

Dog Training / CAPDT

by Andrew Perkins Best Friends Training In a week of dog walks, I probably see two or three different people trying to get their hyper-aroused dogs to hold a stay or a “watch-me” while an unfamiliar dog is walked past on the sidewalk. In some cases the dog holds the stay, and in others there

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Becoming a Dog Trainer in Canada

CAPDT Updates, Dog Training, Uncategorized / CAPDT

Dog training is a skilled profession grounded in science, ethics, and animal welfare. It requires far more than a love of dogs — it requires education, practical skill, and accountability. If you are considering dog training as a career, it is important to understand both the current landscape in Canada and the national standards now

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Member Feature: Nina Munckhof

CAPDT Community / CAPDT

Nina Munckhof is an eclectic mix of Veterinary pro, behaviour, training, and holistic health! I have been a Registered Veterinary Technologist since 2002, passionate about nutrition and behavior while working in-clinic! Once I had my own litter of twins in 2015, I shifted to at home nail trims, training, and behavior. I am currently a

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Why CAPDT’s New Professional Pathways Are Good News for Trainers

A Day in the Life of a Service Dog: Supporting Work and Well-Being

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly about Dog Parks

Annual General Meeting 2026

The CVMA Supports Developing a National Certifying Body

Member Feature: Kelly Crawford DEIB

Understanding Associative Conditioning In Behaviour Work

Becoming a Dog Trainer in Canada

Member Feature: Nina Munckhof

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