06/01/2023
TLDR: I'm a certified dog trainer with an education in Behavioural Psychology, 24 years working with animals, and 16 years experience training dogs. I'm currently offering classes in Castlegar, and private lessons throughout the West Kootenays.
It's been a while since I've written a little bit about myself and my training journey. So for those who I have not yet met, or are just getting to know me, here's a little bit about my background.
As a teen, I was a little rough around the edges, as they say. I got into some hard substances and rough relationships really early. Thankfully, I also found a part time job after school working at a horse farm in grade 9. I moved in to the farm soon after and was taken in by the family there, which is where my passion for animals and behaviour began. We had Husky / Rottweilers at the farm, along with stray animals of any and all sorts there, and I knew I was right where I needed to be. It sounds cliché, but buying my first horse at 16 very likely saved my life.
Though I played around with the animals on the farm, it wasn't until I moved into my own farm while I was in college (for a degree in Psychology), that I finally was able to have my own first dog. She was a red Australian Shepherd named Shylo. I immediately sought out classes, and took my first clicker focused puppy class in 2007. I quickly dove deep into herding, agility and tricks for the next few years.
During that time, I was taught a lot of old school, power-over and harsh techniques when it came to behaviour modification with dogs, horses and stock. At the time it just felt like 'what we did', and I was a good student. Some of it worked, some of it made things much worse.
I helped raise a handful of puppies with partners and friend through the years, and became the person that our small towns would seek out for help with their dogs. I tried a lot of techniques over those years, some really helpful, some make me cringe now thinking of.
It wasn't until 8 years later that I got really serious about my own personal healing, and confronting the conflict I felt about power-over models of behaviour, politics, relationships and the world. I have leaned hard into my own q***r roots, feminism, and a desire for a world that recognizes the empowerment of a power-with model.
Thankfully, I met a fantastic new-to-me trainer at just the right time to help me see how we can get the same or much better results from our non-human companion's behaviour through empathy, clarity and finally put to use the years of Behavioural Pyschology I took in college.
I certified with Karen Pryor Academy in 2015 as a Certified Training Partner, and have taken hundreds of seminars and lectures with world leading Behavioural Psychologists, Veterinarian Behaviourists, and highly certified Trainers and authors since then. Between 2015 and today, I have taught for Love 2 Play for 6 years, taught out of Salmo Rec Centre, out of the Kootenay Regional SPCA, out of Tails Pet Supply in Rossland and just launched under my own name, Eppic Dogs, in the fall of 2022.
I find I train others with the same mindset that I would would wish for myself; I teach technically - I want you to understand the why and how of what we teach the dog. I want you to have the mechanics to use wonderful motivation like food, toy or play, but also be able to motivate behaviours without the "show me the treat first" attitude. And that is just the difference between "basic" training and the basics done really really well.
I am currently running classes out of Kinnaird Park Community Church (the old middle school) in Castlegar on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays. You will also see me out in the local parks this summer teaching group classes in public spaces to keep things fresh and fun. For details on current classes check here - https://reneppic.wixsite.com/eppicdogs/services-1
I am also available for private lessons in your home or public space. Check prices and content here - https://reneppic.wixsite.com/eppicdogs/services-6
email me with any interest or questions - [email protected]
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Also, I am so grateful for the fantastic pics gifted from my dear friend Jumping Jax Canine Fitness and taken by the talented Amanda Mary Creative! If you have not checked out what Emma does at Jumping Jax, please do! She is the reason my dogs are able to stay in shape to continue doing the sports we love.
