Maria has over a decade of experience working professionally with animals. She is a Certified Trainer & Counsellor, Certified Trick Dog Instructor, Certified Fear Free Professional, and an Accredited CARO Judge. Committed to providing her clients both (human and dog) the best care possible, Maria keeps her education and certifications up to date. She sends clear, easy-to-follow training plans and customized notes, and she makes herself available for follow-ups and questions so clients can proceed with training safely and confidently. When not busy assisting her clients, Maria enjoys spending time with her three dogs; Nova Scotia Duck Tollers, Penny and Nemo, and Simon the Coton de Tulear. Maria and her dogs practice cooperative care as well as participate in dog sports.
Maria’s Current Dogs
Penny is a 14-year-old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever who’s retired but still full of spark. A cuddle enthusiast and trick aficionado, Penny has earned her Canine Good Neighbour certification, CARO Versatility Excellent Base and Team titles, multiple CARO Working titles, and her Excellent Trick Dog titles. These days, she enjoys sniffy walks, sunny naps, and the occasional rally mini course—always with her signature sass.
Nemo is a 10-year-old Toller with a gentle soul and a playful spirit. He lives with generalised anxiety, but since joining Maria’s family, he’s made incredible progress with patience, support, and a lot of love. Though he needs a bit of extra care, Nemo’s joy, determination, and charm shine through in everything he does.
He proudly holding his CARO Versatility title along with several Working and Team titles. A quiet achiever and deeply devoted companion, Nemo is proof that even the most sensitive dogs can thrive.
Simon is a one-year-old Coton de Tulear and everyone’s best friend. He loves snuggles, woodland adventures, and meeting new friends. You’ll often see him demoing in class, performing on screen, or playing dog sports. Simon brings joy, intelligence, and a whole lot of enthusiasm to everything he does.
Education & Experience
As a lifelong learner, I eagerly seek out and maximize opportunities to expand my knowledge of pet care, animal behaviour, and dog training. I enjoy listening to animal training podcasts, reading about science-based animal behaviour and training techniques, attending courses and seminars, and learning from the amazing trainers and veterinary behaviourists who generously share their time and expertise. These are some favourites from my most recent professional education adventures:
Jan 2025 – Clicker Expo Live
Positive and informative Karen Pryor Academy conference. Over two days, I participated in 10 livestream presentations to learn even more about husbandry, ethology, clicker training, and cue discrimination. In addition, I am super excited to have access to recordings of all other sessions, which I will be watching over the next few months.
“Addressing Noise Aversion in Dogs” webinar by Dr. Kenneth Martin, DVM, DACVB and Debbie Martin, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, LVT, VTS (Behavior), hosted by Fear Free Pets (Jan 2024)
“Conquering Nose Fears – How to help your fearful dog based on science” webinar by Stefanie Riemer PdD, hosted by the Pet Professional Guild (November 2023)
