Let’s face it: if love alone could have helped you and your dog, you wouldn’t be reading this. That wonderful feeling can move mountains, but it can’t move a dog away from the dirty dishes in the dishwasher they are licking, the couch they are destroying, or the other dogs they are barking at in the street.

The profound and lifelong empathy I feel for these amazing animals led me to make the leap from a career in corporate insurance to establishing Pour l’Amour des Chiens/For the Love of Dogs. Within my training protocols, I strive to strengthen the bond between you and your dog by using positive reinforcement methods which will allow you to work together in addressing behavioural triggers and fear, creating an even more solid foundation to your relationship. I am also a member of the Regroupement Québécois des Intervenants en Éducation Canine, a group of canine behavioural and educational professionals who abide by a deontological code of ethics in their professional approach toward both dogs and other humans.

Regarding my work experience in the field, I am currently a freelance behavioural consultant and group class instructor for puppies, adolescents and basic obedience with Centre Pucci in Laval. I give group agility classes with the Montreal Agility Club in Anjou for base I, II and III. I also have the privilege of working as an animal behaviour evaluator for the Montréal SPCA. Many years volunteering and working for this amazing organization has allowed me to hone my skills with dogs who are struggling with anxiety and behavioural issues in a shelter environment. These dogs can come from many different backgrounds including puppy mills, dogs from northern communities and street dogs from foreign countries. It was in fact at the SPCA where I received the final push I needed to establish myself in this field: falling in love with every dog that passed through those doors.

I take my own education and training within the field seriously, and I am continually adding new skills to my roster to ensure that I provide the best possible approach for my clients. Regardless of which trainer you choose, a good one understands that they’ll never stop learning.

2022
Évaluation de la Dangerosité du chien mordeur: Atelier Niv. 1, Dr. Diane Frank
Learning and Living with Animals, Dr. Susan Friendman
ABA Developing a behavioral intervention plan by Marine Cassoret
Michael Shikasio Master Course Aggression in Dogs
2021
Seminar: Les stéréotypies et les tocs chez les chiens Simonne Raffa et Dr. Joel Dehasse
3-day conference: Lemonade conference 2021
3-day conference: The Aggression in Dogs Conference – 2021
2020
Advanced Reinforcement Strategies Seminar, Simonne Raffa
3 day conference: Lemonade conference – 2020
3-day conference: The Aggression in Dogs Conference – 2020
2019
Aggressive dog: normal behavior or sign of mental illness? Dr. Diane Frank
Separation Anxiety: Tools for Dogs and Caregivers, Claudine Prud’homme
Assessing Dangerous Dogs – A Working Method, Dr. Suzanne Lecomte, Gilbert Trahan
Seminar ‘Training Without the Alpha Male’, Jean Lessard (translator) Wolf Park, Battleground, Indiana May
2017
Wolf, Coyote, and Fox Training, under Jean Lessard – Wolf Park, Battleground, Indiana (1 week)
“Under the Hood: Understanding the Inner Workings of Canines” Ken McCort, Aug ’17, Wolf Park, Battleground, Indiana
Chicken Academy, Jean Lessard, Yannick Dion (clicker training with chickens)
Formation en Comportement Canin (dog training, practical and theory), Jean Lessard

I am an animal lover period!  My path has always led me to a career with animals.  

The first sign I knew animals would be my world was as a young child. I would take street cats home and hide them in my bedroom so that I could spend time with them upon returning from school.  I wanted to keep them so badly (even though the cats probably had a home) but my mother was allergic.

And the love continued. In my late teens, I decided I wanted to work at a veterinary clinic and I did so for 5 years.  I left the industry as I decided to go to into a safer career.  I was miserable. I had left my whole world, my passion, my love.

But it’s never too late, at the age of 47 I re-invented myself.  Back into the animal world for me! In 2020, I wrote on a piece of paper that my goal was to be a dog trainer.  Even if I veered away from my path, something would always remind me of my goal.

I studied and logged 200 hours of theory and practical science based positive reinforcement dog training.  But I realized that I needed more knowledge.  I’ve been reading, taking online courses and apprenticing under the tutelage of Riannon.

I currently work at an amazing veterinary clinic where the owner of the clinic is one of the few veterinary behaviourists in Quebec.   

Now I feel like I am the luckiest person alive!  I am now living my dreams… to be continued as my transformation continues.

• The Dogue Academy: Animal and Behaviour Apprenticeship Program Level 1

100 hours of theoretical and practical dog training, 2021

• The Dogue Academy: Animal and Behaviour Apprenticeship Program Level 2

100 hours of theoretical and practical dog training, 2021

• Certificate of participation: De Main de Maitre “Comprendre son chiot et son chien adolescent”, 2022
• Certificate of participation: De Main de Maitre  ” Trousse complète – Les bases de l’éducation d’un chiot”, 2023
• Certificate of participation: De Main de Maitre  “Mon chiot parfait: Maternelle & socialisation”  
• Certificate of participation: De Main de Maitre  “Chiot 101 : Comment se préparer à l’arrivée de votre chiot”
• Participation Julie Naismith training: “The 3 Insider Secrets to Making it as a Separation Anxiety Trainer”, 2023

Mia is our resident terrorist (reactive to dogs and some people). Agility remains a challenge for us because Mia prefers to herd the dogs on the fence line to running obstacles. Mia is determined, motivated (by meats and cheeses), loves to learn new tricks, is amazing in scent detection but gets easily swayed by her emotions. It’s a work in progress (of a lifetime) for her handler Riannon. Mia is her first competition dog and she learns new things having her as a partner each day.

New baby Darlene is very happy-go-lucky. She loves people and dogs and so far, loves to learn! Darlene will be training in agility, scent detection, search and rescue and of course tricks (everything we learn with our dogs reinforces our relationship!). Right now we are working on the basics and ensuring she is confident in new situations (something which does not come naturally to the Belgian Shepherd family).

Once upon a time, in a magical land far, far away (The Laurentides), a fluffy, little kitten named Tataki was born. Her mother loved her, her owner loved her and so did her brothers and sisters. But Tataki yearned for more pets and more treats and so she embarked on a great voyage to the center of the civilized world, the Plateau Mont-Royal. There, she learned many amazing things like walking on a leash and coming when called. She also takes a couple of well deserved rests per day.

Pebbles is my beautiful black and white (I’ve always wanted one) cat.  She came into our lives in a very special way.  I had adopted an outdoor cat and I was so excited as my husband Mike has allergies and I thought I would never have a cat again.  

We brought him to the vet to neuter and vaccinate him where we found out he was very sick with no chance of recovery.  I was devastated.  Mike told me another cat would find us.  Little consolation at that point.

And low and behold!  Little footprints in the snow on my porch the next day!  I was elated! We finally saw her and fell in love.  She walked into the house, hissed at my dogs Fozzy and Ginger and hasn’t left since.

Today Pebbles enjoys her quiet time in a sun beam preferably.  She has quite a character and has been known to take nibbles out of us!

We love her very much.  But she isn’t a dog…all in good time.

Ziggy came to Carolyne through Nali rescue. The result of maybe an oopsie litter on a farm in Southern Quebec, Ziggy knew very little of life outside of the country (or away from his sister!) when he came to live with Carolyne. Being alone and around strangers proved to be challenging for him. It was clear from his avoidance behaviours of hiding from people that came over or squishing himself to the floor if any hands came near him, that spending his first two months in a rural area meant that he had a lot of catching up to do. Even luring him to teach new behaviours in his home was off limits. Thankfully Carolyne used her training background to teach him everything through shaping. He’s now even started some agility training!

Where Ziggy truly shines is in his connection with other dogs. It’s remarkable how he senses their unique play styles and effortlessly joins in, showcasing his gentle and sweet nature. His enthusiasm for life extends to his love for food, especially duck. He’s become quite the foodie, and his tail now wags with excitement whenever he meets new people! A testament to the power of training to help dogs with fear, something Ziggy now helps other dogs overcome with Caryolne in private consultation.

Welcome to the team Ziggy Niblets!