Providing quality training with state-of-the-art equipment

Started training and competing in agility since 2005.
Graduated from K9 Concepts' Professional Dog Trainer's Course in 2011.
Training and competing in sport detection since 2012. Titled Remix with "special" designation in the started level and advanced in the same trial.
Training and competing in dock diving since 2012. Qualified and competed in the Dockdogs World Championships in 2014 and 2015.
Have also trained and competed in:
Ratting, Disc, bikejoring/scootering/sledding, flyball)
Participated in the President's Choice Superdogs show's in 2009 & 2010, and in 2013 & 2014.
Certified as a Rats! Canada judge since the organization's beginning in Spring 2015.

 

Hi! I have been doing agility since 1997! I’ve trained with a number of people including Lucie Dessureault, Tiffany Salmon, Janet Lundy, and Gail Docherty.

I have also learned a great deal from many seminars that I have attended and that I have organized. Jessica Martin, Teri O’Neill, Aaron Froude, Janet Lundy and Fred Waters being the most recent. As well as training with excellent instructors and participating in seminars, I bring 35 plus years of education experience to my classes. In retiring from teaching children I am now enjoying teaching dogs and their handlers! My classes are based on positive training for the dogs and the handlers. Handlers need to know what they are doing really well in addition to looking for areas to improve. 

In a beginner class we will go step by step through foundation training such as shadow handling, working on getting your dog to connect with you, follow your hands, sending to a target, beginning work on jumps and tunnels. We will prepare for contact work using planks and 2 on 2 off. Timing and consistency of rewards is a very important beginning skill. 

As a handler and dog progress to beginner 2, prestarter and starter, we will work on training jumps with turns and crosses, (front cross, post turn, rear cross, back of the jump, tandem turn and blind cross.) Weaves are started with channel weaves using a One Mind Dog system. More difficult tunnel work such as going to the non obvious entrance of the tunnel (threadle) and blind tunnels will be taught in a gradual progression. Emphasis continues to be communicating and connecting with your dog.  and setting the line for your dog. Even new dogs can learn the beginnings of more complex skills with foundation games. 

 Marie has been involved in the dog sport world since 1986 when she began competing in obedience with her first golden retriever.  Her love of obedience lead her to start as an assistant trainer in 1990 under a well renowned trainer and has since kept up with current and more modern approach to teaching dogs to be obedient. With over 30 years experience, Marie uses a wide variety of training methods, incorporating positive reinforcement, fun and enthusiasm in her classes.  She also ensures that she adapts her approach to each individual dog and owner.

Marie obtained obedience trial championships on her dogs and has also earned titles in rally obedience, hunt tests, agility, scent detection, dock diving to name a few.  Marie is also involved with pet therapy work and can assist owners in learning the skills required to become therapy dogs.