A Little About Me
Hi, I'm Nikki. I'm so glad you're here. This page is a little bit about me, how I got here, and what I believe about dog training and behavior.
I moved to Airdrie from Winnipeg about twenty years ago not knowing anyone, and found home and purpose in helping dogs live their best lives.
It all started in 2015 with a moment at a dog park that I couldn't stop thinking about. I saw something that didn't sit right with me and decided to do something about it. That's how my dog daycare center, Airdrie Puppy Pals, was born, and it's where my education began. With Airdrie Puppy Pals the more I learned about training and behavior the more I wanted to learn, to support the dogs in our care at daycare but also through private training and behavior support.
Along the way the work got deeper. I started supporting not only new puppy parents and our daycare dogs, but dogs whose behavior felt scary or overwhelming to the people who loved them. I learned that more often than not, it's a dog doing their best to navigate a world that doesn't always make sense to them. That's where I come in.
Personally I have two fur kiddos, Rosa who will be 14 in December and Kayah who will be 9 in August. We recently lost Ryder to liver cancer. He lived an amazing life until 13. If I wouldn't suggest something for my own dogs, I wouldn't suggest it for yours.
How I Work
I believe every dog is different and training plans need to take that into consideration. From bringing home a new puppy to the bigger, more complex behaviors, having a clear understanding of who is doing the training, where we are training, and how we are going to train is an important part of the process. I take the time to get that full picture before we do anything else.
My goal is to support you in achieving your training goals. Training at the pace of your dog is the only way to make sure their emotional wellbeing is taken care of and that the progress actually sticks. I make sure the plan fits your real daily life, not just what works in theory. When training is fun for you and your dog, you can teach them anything. That belief is what drove me to pursue five professional certifications and hundreds of hours of continuing education, and it's what keeps me learning.
For Veterinary Professionals
I take a collaborative approach to behavior work. I believe dogs get the best outcomes when their care team is communicating, so I work closely with veterinarians and veterinary behaviorists, share my assessments, and flag when I think a conversation about medication or additional support might be worth having. That's not my call to make, but making sure it gets made is part of how I work.
I work with aggression cases, fear and anxiety, and complex behavior concerns that don't always have a straightforward training solution. I've conducted bylaw assessments, and I take referrals seriously. If you'd like to connect before referring a client, a Discovery Call is the easiest place to start.