Lucy Martin, BaSc CPDT-KA
Lucy Martin, BASc, CPDT-KA
Living in a rural community has made animals a natural part of Lucy’s life from early on. Dogs in particular have been a constant in her life and have resulted in countless opportunities to learn from them. Each one adds a new layer of understanding about them as well as herself. Lucy’s current canine partner Rayna is a Rottweiler and together they joined DITP in the Puppy program (2013). With the challenges of puppyhood, adolescence and early adulthood behind them, they are now enjoying the relative calmness of maturity.
Two core principles in Lucy’s relationship with Rayna have been choice and partnership – offering Rayna the freedom to make choices that best align with the partnership they have created over the years – a relationship based on mutual respect, trust, and shared purpose. One of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the transition to online learning – and Rayna has taken to heart her role as teaching assistant and demo dog. Rarely does she miss a class or private lesson, always at the ready for an opportunity to be called into service.
Lucy has been involved in almost every aspect of the DITP community since earning her CPDT-KA designation in 2016 – group classes, specialty intensives and webinars, walks and private lessons – in the Puppy, Levels and Good Dog programs. Her specialties include: Small Dog programming; Games classes where fun, skills and community meet up; Leash Skills; and offering private consultations.
Lucy continues to study and practise new skills and ideas related to canine behaviour, communication and enhancing human-canine relationships. The DITP Good Dog program has motivated this ongoing education, perhaps more than any other experience in her life and work with dogs. Currently, Lucy is preparing for her Behaviour Consultant certification and anticipates sitting for the exam in 2021.
Shirley Lynn Martin MTS, MDiv, BCC, CPDT-KA
Shirley Lynn first came to DITP in early 2012 with my puppy Carlie, an aussie-doodle. We loved training so much we just kept coming and completed Level 7 in 2015. I joined the instructor in training program to learn about the art of training dogs. I ultimately wanted to become a better handler with Carlie as I could see how much our relationship with one another had grown in respect and partnership over the years.
Carlie was diagnosed with osteoarthritis while still under 2 years of age which has developed my sensitivity to building cognitive skills for a young, active dog with limitations. It has become a beautiful way to give back both to DITP for all I received over the years and also to the life of dogs who give so much to us humans. My training and work as a psychotherapist and now as a life and spiritual development coach has deeply influenced my values for meaningful relationships and respect for all sentient beings. I love bringing my worlds together in supporting people to develop respectful and kindred relationships with their dogs through skill development, games and play.
You may see Carlie and I partnering at Excellent Rally, at Tracking, Demo and Drills, Tunnels and ‘jumps’, Treiball and wherever we can have fun and her legs remain in good condition (oh and did I mention tracking?, We love the outdoors and this sport!) There is a motto at DITP, a trained dog gets to do more; go more places. Thanks to all her training, she attends me and my clients at my office, handles vet visits well, can play all kinds of games, and we can walk loose leash or off leash in many different settings. Shirley Lynn passed her CPDT exam in March 2019 and is now an Instructor at DITP.
Laura Harper
BSc(Agr), MSc,
CPDT-KA
Laura grew up in Vancouver, B.C., with animals of all kinds, including dogs, cats, rabbits and horses. She moved to Guelph to pursue an education in Animal Sciences, and went on to complete her Master’s degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. For her degree, Laura studied social interaction and social learning in laboratory mice.
After moving out to Guelph, Laura got a goofy Labrador named Mallow. Two years later, she adopted Gabbie, a seven month old Australian shepherd/Husky cross. When Gabbie started developing reactivity and anxiety issues, Laura went to Dogs in the Park for help.
At Dogs in the Park, Laura learned strategies to help Gabbie with her anxiety, as well as how to better communicate with her dogs. Gabbie has since graduated into the Levels program, where she happily learns new skills. Mallow has recently joined Gabbie and Laura in Levels, and is also enjoying lots of new things. Laura hopes to use the skills and knowledge she gained in the Good Dog program to help dog owners better understand and communicate with their dogs.
Laura doesn’t spend all her time with her dogs. She enjoys painting and drawing, particularly portraits of pets and wildlife. She is the owner of Adlaya’s Art, a pet and wildlife portrait business. Her non-animal related activities include playing squash, photography, reading (mostly about animals) and writing.
In October 2019, Laura passed the CPDT-KA exam and is now an Instructor at Dogs in the Park.
Rachel Tiessen RVT BSC(Hons) CPDT-KA
Rachel originally went to the University of Guelph to study Wildlife Biology. After she graduated, Rachel discovered that she had a passion for working with companion animals on a daily basis, so she channelled her career into the veterinary field as a Registered Veterinary Technician. She has completed the Dogs in the Park Intern Program and received her Certified Professional Dog Trainer Certification (CDPT-KA) in the spring of 2017.
Rachel started with Dogs in the Park in 2013, bringing her Lab mix Luna to the Good Dog program after they graduated from Vet Tech school together. With the skills they learned in Good Dog, they quickly moved on to tackle the challenge of learning new things in the Levels program and currently enjoy participating in Rally-O, Tunnels and Jumps and especially Tracking. When Luna is not chasing bunnies, getting stuck in the woods or rolling in something smelly, she entertains Rachel with her funny antics while learning new things (Luna is quite convinced that 101 Things To Do With A Box is the best game EVER). Because of her experiences with Luna, Rachel has a soft spot for dogs with behavioural issues and an understanding of what their owners are going through. This also motivates her to help puppies get the best start on life so they don't have to face some of these behavioural challenges.
Outside of the training hall Rachel enjoys hiking, birding, photography and playing sports.
Simone Härri PhD, CPDT-KA
I am a Swiss Environmental Scientist who came to Canada 9 years ago to further my academic career. The plan was to stay in Canada for two years and then go back home. But then life happened, I fell in love and knew that I would stay. Why is this important? Because this settling down finally allowed me to fulfill a lifelong dream and to get my first own dog. I had lots of experience with dogs before that; we had family dogs since I was a teenager. I brought home a puppy when I was in high school and raised her to be a great dog that I left behind with my mum when I went to university. But now living in Canada it was time for my own dog.
It happened faster than expected. I was on a dogsledding trip and fell in love with our lead dog Mini. I learned that Mini was already 10 years old and ready for retirement. After barely sleeping for two weeks, we drove all the way back to Algonquin to pick her up. Looking back, I wish I had the knowledge about dog behaviour that I have now. She was an amazing and very special dog. She stole the heart of everyone who met her, but she was really struggling in civilization and I did not realise how much she struggled and did not have the tools and the knowledge at the time to help her. I never really thought about how many, and often difficult, emotions dogs are actually experiencing! I know I tried my best, but I also know that I made life for her unnecessarily stressful.
After we lost Mini to cancer, I went to the humane society a few months later and there was Champ. A one-year old blue heeled x border collie cross who barked at me and I fell in love. Yes, I know, .... But we bonded very quickly and he had no issues with any family members. I used all my knowledge to teach him tricks and loose leash walking and down stays etc. We went to dog training schools and trained with advanced dogs and had a lot of fun. However, I could not understand why he got more and more reactive on leash towards people and dogs, and why he even attacked visitors in our home. I felt really lost because despite feeling I knew a lot about dog training, Champ’s reactivity got worse and worse.
When I finally got to Dogs in the Park and met Sue for the very first time, I finally found someone who could explain to me in scientific words what is going on and why the approach I chose did not work, and in fact, made it even worse. I simply had no clue about the emotional aspects of dog training! Champ and I then started our journey through the Good dog program. There were many times I drove home in tears, as I just did not get it, but, all of a sudden it clicked and we started to make massive progress. Champ is now as happy as he will ever be, and I realized that my main task is to keep him safe and that he will never be as easy going as some other dogs.
This whole process sparked a massive interest in dog behaviour and I really like helping people to understand their “good dogs”. I know how it feels to have a “good dog” and I know that there are ways to help them and to help their humans. Therefore my main focus at Dogs in the Park always was the Good dog program. But, my love for trick training prevailed through all of this.
Besides training dogs and studying dog behaviour, I teach environmental science courses at the University of Guelph. I also have a horse and cats and simply love everything outdoors and I am happiest out in nature. And of course being Swiss, I miss the mountains and long mountain hikes!
In October 2019, I passed the CPDT-KA exam and is now an Instructor at Dogs in the Park.
Ashley Miller, Ph.D., CPDT-KA
Ashley discovered Dogs in The Park at the recommendation of a classmate. Before Ashley and her partner decided to get a Doberman Pinscher together, they set out to learn about "animal training" so they could better prepare for having a dog in their lives. Some of it was useful, others not so much. However, a free dog training conference hosted by the University of Guelph was helpful for not only providing much-needed information but for connecting Ashley with the aforementioned classmate who very strongly recommended Dogs in the Park puppy class for their soon-to-be-purchase working breed pet.
At eight-weeks-old, they brought Loki to Dogs in The Park and progressed through the puppy program. They learned a lot about their dog, his socialization and exercise needs and how to teach him behaviours. They continued into the Levels Program. They had fun. They excelled.
Everything changed when puberty struck. Being a high drive working breed meant that Loki held a great many opinions during his teenage-hood. Which he voiced. Often. At great length.
If Ashley had not worked with instructors who were familiar with working breeds and their ways, she does not know what they would have done. Loki is a lot of dog. But Ashley endured. She now lives with a well-balanced adult dog who has provided her with enough humorous anecdotes to last her a lifetime. Despite the struggles, it was an absolute pleasure to work with such supportive, skilled and dedicated staff.
Ashley transitioned from student to intern in 2015 and now assists with the Good Dog Behaviour Program and off-leash walks, and teaches Levels Obedience classes. Even before she began interning, Ashley loved learning about the theory of dog training from Dogs in the Park instructors. The opportunity to deepen her understanding of behaviour through continuing education and sharing that knowledge with others, dovetails with her day job in science communication.
Loki is who he is. Intense, fractious, obnoxious, drivey, determined, focused and with a work ethic so strong it makes Ashley's eyes water a little. She has learned to live with him and loves living with him as a confident and mature adult. But Ashley can honestly say that without Dogs in The Park that might not have been the case.
In October 2019, Ashley passed the CPDT-KA exam and is now an Instructor at Dogs in the Park.