Was there a particular dog/animal in your life that was your most important teacher? 

My beagle, Churchill. I went through the DTP program with Churchill.

What is your proudest training moment?

As part of the DTP, we had to shape the dogs to get in cardboard boxes. At first, Churchill was nervous of the box, but we were able to work together. It sounds simple but I was so proud of him. Now he can get in anything.

What do you do to continue your training education?

I like to read, take certification courses, and attend webinars. I am currently reading Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy by Zazie Todd. I recently completed Julie Naismith’s Separation Anxiety Pro course. 

Who has been your inspiration in the animal training community?

The trainers I learned from while I was a classroom assistant at When Hounds Fly, Billie Shannon, Luca Marcus, Anita Rahmati, my classmates Julie, Charlene, Kamelia, Shanny, and Hanna, as well as Andre Yeu, and staff members at Follow the Leader in Toronto, especially Allie and Jon. All of these trainers were really supportive and helped inspire my journey to become a CTP.

Outside of dog training/dog sports, do you have any hobbies? 

I have started to do stand-up comedy! I also really enjoy pro-wrestling.

When did you start training?

I started when I adopted Churchill. I wanted to ensure I had a confident, well-trained beagle, and I wanted to learn more, so I went to Follow The Leader and took classes. When I became more interested, the trainers there encouraged me to follow my training dream.

If you were a dog, what breed would you be? 

Definitely a beagle!

Is there any species that you would love to work with?

I would love to work with elephants, combining a childhood fascination with elephants with my training skills.

Do you have a memorable story from the DTP program? 

One of my favorite memories is when Julia Farmer, one of my classmates, developed a really close relationship with Churchill, my beagle. She would bring in homemade fish treats for her dog Sloan, and noticed Churchill loved them. Ever since, I've been making these fish treats every day. All of the dogs that I work with love them, too. I would not have become a “fish-treat” baker if it wasn't for Julia!

Another story that stands out is when I was struggling to complete the 10-part behavior chain. Getting Churchill up at 5:00 a.m. to travel to the workshop facility was tough, as Churchill doesn't enjoy waking up early. My classmates Kamelia, Julia, Shanny, and Charlene helped me make it easier for him to ensure that he could respond to all the cues.

My classmates supported and encouraged me through the program in many other ways. For example, they helped me stay positive, saying phrases like "You got this!" when I struggled. I don't think I would have made it through the final test without their support. To this day, I'm in touch with many of them. It was definitely a stressful time! We bonded together and became close during the program; it was wonderful to know that I had people to support me throughout the journey that we were going through together.

How has the DTP professional program and becoming a KPA CTP changed your life and career?

The program gave me a lot more confidence. Before training dogs, I worked in a canine daycare and boarding business. I refused to train dogs during that time because I knew the industry was unregulated, and I was uncomfortable giving advice without a certification to back up my knowledge. When I learned about KPA, I knew that having KPA credentials would inspire people’s trust. My confidence comes from the knowledge I gained and the backing of a strong community and colleagues I can depend on, especially if I need guidance on a complex case.