Hey there! Welcome to my site. My name is Colette and I am so glad you have found me. My love for critters and my interest in watching how they behave and learn has been part of me for as long as I can remember. I delight in looking after dogs and I work with people who want to have a well-behaved pet who is adept at making good choices that blend with their owners’ needs.
My own training started many years ago with my family’s pet dog, Domino and my lovely horse, Laddy. I believe any animal we let into our hearts has much to teach us if we take the time to watch and listen.
It took me a while to realize that dog training was what I should be doing and I became certified here in Ottawa at the Ottawa Canine School 6 years ago (thank you, Chantal). I spent many happy years as her Doggy Daycare manager, learning all about dog play styles, dog development and dog communication (aka dog body language). I was also a Dog Training Instructor working with the owners on the other end of the leash, helping them gain skills and knowledge to better communicate with their family pet . To continue my personal development, I regularly attends animal behaviour seminars and workshops with the world’s top behaviourists and positive reinforcement trainers.
I love that modern dog training focuses on relationship building and communication. A dog who feels safe and is confident about how to behave in a multitude of circumstances is one who will enjoy many freedoms in his or her life.
My chosen approach to develop this trust and understanding is through positive reinforcement which uses rewards and allows the individual dog to make choices while exploring their environments.
I have a particular interest in dogs who have some fear and how to bring them to a place of confidence as well as puppies and starting them off on the “right paw”. There are many things that we can do as owners when our dogs are very young to “proof” the behaviours that we want to see and stop other, less desirable, behaviours from ever existing in the first place.
I am a member of the Pet Professional Guild and adhere to their code of ethics, concisely put as “No Pain, No Force, No Fear.”
I very much look forward to hearing from you and discussing with you your goals, needs and desires for your wonderful dog.
All my best,
Colette Budge, K9junction