Board & Committees
Our Board of Directors
CAPDT is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of dedicated professionals from across the dog training industry. Together, they provide leadership, support the association’s mission and help shape initiatives that strengthen our profession and serve our members.
Meet the people helping move CAPDT forward
Megan Stanley
Board Chair
(she/her)
CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, FFCP (Trainer) Founder/President of Dogma Training & Dogma Academy
Helen Prinold
Treasurer
B. Comm., M.Sc.- Animal Behaviour and Welfare, University of Guelph CPDT-KA, CDBC Lead Trainer at Dog Friendship Inc.
April Sauve
Vice-Chair CPDT-KA, CFFP, CDBC, SDT, ADT, Owner & Head Trainer, Woofability
Jaime Knowles
Director-at-Large
CCPDT-KA Dip CSBT, FFCP (Trainer) Director of Training – Good Dog Academy
David Marshall
Director-at-Large
Owner & Head Trainer at CompleteK9
Jana Seymour
Director-at-Large
Owner & Head Trainer at Who’s Walking Who!
Director-at-Large
Certified Canine Behaviour Consultant (IAABC), Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), and Service Dog Coach (SDC)
Our Committees
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee
Proactively identifying areas that require improvement to better foster inclusion; a welcoming and respectful
environment where all members feel valued, and a sense of belonging and engagement. Currently focused on
creating changes that remove barriers so that each member has equal access to opportunities and resources
that support achieving their full potential.
The mission is to ensure the CAPDT is a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization for all individuals to
equally engage, be valued and respected.
Education Committee
To develop materials for our membership and the public to increase awareness for the best practices regarding creating more positive experiences in on leash and off leash spaces where dogs are present in public.
Membership Committee
The mission of this committee is to promote CAPDT to its members, dog trainers and the general public across Canada. This committee will strengthen the CAPDT organization through increasing engagement with its members along with growing its membership. They will do this through member events, surveying members, overseeing member benefits, and creating plans for increased member retention.
Professional Standards and National Curriculum Committee
The Professional Standards and National Curriculum committee will develop standards for professional dog trainers in Canada and supervise a national curriculum that provides all relevant information and learning for those seeking to become professional dog trainers. The Committee will also work with governments across Canada on dog training regulation.
Service Dog Committee
A committee that oversees issues relating to service dogs in Canada, including but not limited to, regulations/licensing, service dog inquiries, and keeping service dog information on CAPDT’s website relevant and up to date.
Working Dog Committee
A committee that oversees issues relating to working dogs in Canada, including but not limited to, regulations/licensing, working dog inquiries, and keeping working dog information on CAPDT’s website relevant and up to date
Our Mandate
We want to further the concept of dog-friendly and humane training techniques across Canada. We endeavour to provide links to educational opportunities, peer networking, and give trainers a space for event advertising of the highest quality.
Together, our Code of Ethics and Bylaws and STOP List provide members with a framework of principles supporting professionalism, skills and values in dog training.