Jennie, Certified Puppy Trainer & Behaviour Specialist

Dogs have always been a part of my life. While I once believed my true calling was with horses, training and guiding others in that world, my journey led me somewhere unexpected and far more personal.

In my early adult years, my loyal companion was Penny, a West Highland Terrier. She was my shadow, my constant, and I never had to worry about her. When the heartbreaking day came that she left us, it created a space in my heart that felt impossible to fill.

Soon after, I was set to meet a new Westie puppy, but fate had other plans. On a whim, we stopped by a rescue centre and that's where I met Toby. A striking, handsome crossbreed we believed was calm, with a gentle temperament that made me feel we could bring him home safely with our one-year-old daughter. Within a week, Toby came home with us. He was underweight, wary, but full of potential.

We called in a trainer/behaviourist straight away, only to be met with a harsh approach focused on strict boundaries, power, and control, with no room for affection. It didn’t feel right. Still, we pushed forward into puppy and dog training classes. Toby struggled. I struggled. While people called him “too dominant,” he constantly pushed back, often reducing me to tears. At my lowest, I felt helpless, ready to give up, something that went against every instinct I had.

That’s when everything changed.

We were introduced to a dog behaviourist who didn’t just help Toby, she helped us understand him. Communication opened up, a bond started to form, and I became fascinated. I soaked up everything I could about dog behaviour. Toby became my new shadow. He wasn’t just “fixed”—he was understood.

At the time, I was still working in the city, but my heart was elsewhere. I longed to work with dogs and help others the way we had been helped. So, in 2021, I made the leap. I left city life behind and began learning directly from the behaviourist who transformed our lives.

Today, I work with dogs and their humans, especially those who feel lost or overwhelmed, just like I once was. I know firsthand how powerful the right guidance and connection can be.

If you feel like you’re struggling, please reach out. Let’s talk and find out what’s right for you and your dog. You’re not alone, and help is here.