A simple walk outside for us humans is much more complex for a dog. It’s filled with information; what animals have passed through, where food may have been and even what’s changed since their last visit. They can tell all this through scents. Dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell to gather information about […]
Working Dogs: Seeing Through Scent Read More »
What Are “Shake-Offs”—and What Are Dogs Telling Us? By Krisztina Harasztosi, MSc, CDBC, ADT-IAABC, CSAP-BC Have you ever noticed a dog shake from nose to tail after greeting another dog, walking away from a stressful situation, or finishing an exciting activity? These “shake-offs” are often dismissed as simply drying off or shaking away stress,
Member Feature: Krisztina Harasztosi Read More »
By Anne Poirer As pet dog trainers, we often meet dogs whose breed histories were shaped by livestock work, even when those dogs are now living on sofas, walking in neighbourhoods, and attending group classes. When we understand the differences among herding dogs, livestock guardian dogs, and multipurpose farm dogs, it becomes much easier to
Livestock Dogs for Pet Dog Trainers: What Their Original Jobs Can Teach Us Read More »
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
A Day in the Life of a Service Dog: Supporting Work and Well-Being Read More »
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
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly about Dog Parks Read More »
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
The CVMA Supports Developing a National Certifying Body Read More »
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
Understanding Associative Conditioning In Behaviour Work Read More »
by Jaime Knowles, CPDT-KA, FFCP (Trainer), Dip. CSBT www.GoodDog-Academy.com In recent years, the concept of consent has become a growing area of focus in the professional dog training community. Rooted in compassion and evidence-based practice, consent-based training not only respects the emotional and physical well-being of our canine companions but also fosters trust and strengthens
Understanding and Honouring Canine Consent in Training and Behaviour Work Read More »
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
Becoming a Dog Trainer in Canada Read More »
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 chance. The trip was the
India Dog Field Study Tour 2025: One pet dog trainer’s experience Read More »