Magnolia Dog Training & Behaviour

21/03/2025

I can't believe I forgot to share these adorable shots!

A little while ago, both Nyla and Noosa's paws were struggling with the salt, and Noosa and I were so kindly invited to explore Nyla's space to avoid the discomfort. Moments like these remind me just how grateful I am for the incredible friendships I've made through my work with dogs. Dog people are truly something special, and I feel so lucky to have such kind, thoughtful, and generous people in my life.

I first met Nyla and her mom, Liz, years ago on a nearby trail when my guy Charlie was just a wee pup. At the time, I was an apprentice trainer with little knowledge of dog behaviour and training. Little did I know she would become one of the most special people I know and such an amazing friend!

When I started training walks with Noosa back in 2018, Liz and I would constantly be avoiding each other—both dogs are reactive and lived in the same neighborhood, so sometimes, avoidance was just easier! But over time, we went from brief, careful conversations to full-hour walks together. Slowly, the dogs warmed up to each other, and now, their excitement when they meet is the most heartwarming thing ever—nose sniffs, play bows, and bouncing around!

As a bonus, Liz's daughter got a puppy, and Noosa has been able to make another friend in him. He’s struggled with fear after being attacked by an off-leash dog, and Noosa has been amazing at ignoring him and giving him the space he needs to build trust.

It’s a beautiful reminder that progress takes time, but the bonds we build—both human and canine—are absolutely worth it. ❤️ 🐾

13/03/2025

We're kicking off our 6-week outdoor classes, starting the week of March 25th! With 2 Certified Trainers and a max of 4 teams, you and your dog will get all the support you need!

Here’s what’s coming up:
🔹 Level 1 Nose Work – Foundation food searches to get your dog started with scent work.
🔹 Reactive to Reconnected – Build confidence and reduce reactivity.
🔹 Life Skills – Recall, loose leash skills, improving focus, cooperative care and much more!

Not sure if your dog is suitable for our classes? We specialize working with dogs with big feelings and can accommodate many challenges in all classes. Reach out if you have any questions or concerns and our team will guide you!

Be sure to follow us for info on our Pups n Pints Patio Workshops and our Level 2 Intro to Odor class starting soon!

Spaces are limited, so register now to reserve your spot!

Looking forward to seeing you and your pup! 😊

11/03/2025

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09/03/2025

Our Adventure Skills Reactive Drop-In Class is designed for our more experienced teams and is all about building confidence through fun, engaging activities! From urban pawkour and environmental nosework to trick training and creative problem-solving challenges, this class keeps both dogs and their humans excited, engaged and having fun instead of stressing!

This class has been a huge hit with the Tri-Cities Reactive Club, and it’s always amazing to see the progress and joy these teams experience.

In the first photo, Nelly is navigating some pipes. She wasn’t comfortable putting her paws on them, so we adjusted the challenge to something she felt more confident tackling because success builds confidence!
In the second photo, Gustav is practicing his balancing skills on a curb. This is a great example of how the environment offers endless training opportunities.

The world around you is full of ways to engage your dog. Take a moment, look around, and see what fun challenges you can find!

🐾 Are you struggling with a dog that's difficult to handle on leash and could use a confidence boost? Join the Tri-Cities Reactive Club where our team of certified professionals and an amazing group of clients will help support your unique journey. Send us a message to learn more.

Walks without excessive pulling, lunging and barking are possible. Sometimes, it just takes learning the right skills and adjusting expectations to better fit the dog in your life!

01/03/2025

Everyone give a warm welcome to Angus, the newest member of our walk & train crew! (He's pictured first) 🐾✨ We are working on building more focus on walks and reducing frustration based reactivity with other dogs.

The photos also feature some of the other awesome pups I got to spend time with last week! We have such an amazing group 🐶

28/02/2025

Last night, we had the honor of attending the 10th annual PoCo Best Biz Awards as nominees. While recognition like this is always appreciated, what truly matters is the community we’ve built—the connections with each of you, our clients, followers, friends, and family. You lift us up, keep us going, and remind us why we do what we do.

While we didn't win, we want to send a huge congratulations to all the winners and nominees. Running a business, whether big or small, new or established isn’t always easy, but having such an incredible support system makes all the difference.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We’re so grateful for you! 💛🐾

23/02/2025

🎉 Big Congrats to Murphy, Georgie & Maverick! 🎉

Our 6-Week Level 1 Life Skills Class has wrapped up, and we couldn’t be more proud of these teams! Murphy and Georgie showed incredible progress, building confidence and skills that will set them up for success. 🐶✨

And a special shoutout to Maverick, who couldn’t make the last class—we know you put in the work, and we’re celebrating you too! 🎓🐾

It’s been amazing to watch these dogs and their humans grow together. Keep practicing and enjoying the journey! 💙

08/02/2025

✨ Exciting news! ✨

Magnolia Dog Training & Behaviour has been nominated for a Port Coquitlam Best Biz Award for the third year in a row! We’re honored to be recognized for the work we do with dogs and their humans in our community.

Now, we need your help! The People’s Choice Award is open for voting, and every vote counts. It only takes a moment and you can vote multiple times, just follow this link: https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/form/biz-awards-people-s-choice-vote and select Magnolia Dog Training or any other business you feel is deserving!

Voting is open until February 16, 2025. We appreciate every bit of support. Thank you for being part of our journey!

22/01/2025

Welcome, Lenny! 🐾

We’re so excited to officially welcome Lenny to the weekly training walk crew! This sweet boy and I have already spent time working together in private training sessions, where he made incredible strides despite initially being quite fearful. It’s been so rewarding to see his confidence grow!

Lenny has joined a very special place in our hearts as the new pup in Frankie’s family. Frankie was the first reactive dog Kari ever worked with, and we both had the honor of caring for her while her family was away and going on countless adventures. Losing her last February was so hard, and we still miss her dearly. 💜

It means the world to us to continue supporting this amazing family as they welcome Lenny into their lives. We can’t wait to help him thrive and build his skills in the weeks to come. Here’s to new adventures together, Lenny! 🐕

19/01/2025

🎉 Huge congratulations to our Level 1 Foundational Food Search grads Lucy, Ollie, and Willow! 🎉

Over 6 weeks, these incredible teams have worked hard to master the basics of nosework in an outdoor setting. From building foundational search skills to navigating the unique challenges that outdoor environments bring, each dog and handler showed amazing progress and determination.

We’re so proud of these teams for their commitment, focus, and success in learning this fun and enriching game. Watching the dogs tap into their natural sniffing superpowers has been such a joy!

Way to go, Lucy, Ollie, and Willow! 🐾 We can’t wait to see where your nosework journey takes you next!

10/01/2025

Welcome, Maverick to our walk crew! 🐾

We’re thrilled to officially welcome Maverick to our walking crew! This handsome pup is no stranger to us. He’s already joined some of our classes and social walks where him and my dog Daisy became fast friends. We also have the pleasure of volunteering alongside his mom through the free
classes, where we first met!

A big thank-you to his amazing dog walker, Melissa at for trusting us to take over as she moves to Ontario. We know how much love and care you've poured into working with Maverick, and we’re excited to carry on with him!

Here’s to more adventures, sniff-filled walks, and happy tails ahead, Maverick!

06/01/2025

Koda and I had a great time checking out all the sights at the lake this morning! There were too many cute photos to share! 😍

05/01/2025

Yesterday, the world lost an amazing pioneer in animal training and behaviour, Karen Pryor.

Her work was my first introduction to professional dog training and it completely changed my life. Her books, courses and countless other resources shaped how I teach and connect with dogs today. I am so grateful for my clicker training foundation.

While I went another educational route, her influence gave me the foundation I needed to build my career. Her legacy lives on in every moment of trust and learning we share with the animals we love.

Thank you, Karen, for everything.

With profound sadness and immense gratitude, we honor the life and legacy of Karen Pryor, a true pioneer in the fields of animal behavior and positive reinforcement training. Karen’s groundbreaking work revolutionized how we communicate with animals—and each other—leaving an indelible mark on science, education, and the lives of countless species around the world.

Continue reading: https://bit.ly/4214rRG

05/01/2025

At Magnolia Dog Training & Behaviour, we’re committed to providing the highest level of care and training for our clients and their dogs. That’s why Kari and I recently renewed our Pet First Aid certifications through , ensuring we’re always prepared to keep your pups safe. 🐾 This course is highly recommended, not only for professionals but for anyone living with a dog.

We’ve also renewed our business licenses in Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Pitt Meadows, and Maple Ridge. Unfortunately, many trainers (and small businesses in general) don’t take the steps to ensure they’re properly licensed or obtain the required permissions to use public spaces. This oversight can put clients at risk—especially when working with complex behaviour cases.

In Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows, for example, conducting business in public parks is not permitted, which is why we’ve adjusted the locations for some of our classes. By staying licensed and adhering to these rules, we prioritize your safety, your dog’s safety, and respect for the communities we live and work in.

We’re also committed to ongoing education to bring you the latest in training and behaviour knowledge, ensuring we provide the most effective, up-to-date support for you and your dogs. We look forward to the educational opportunities 2025 will offer!

Thank you for trusting us with your dogs’ care and training and for being a valued part of our community!🐾💖

01/01/2025

As 2024 wraps up, I've been reflecting on a year that has been one of the most challenging of my life. It has tested me in ways I didn’t anticipate, pushing me to the edge and reminding me how fragile and precious life is.

I almost lost my husband this year, I’ve said goodbye to lifelong neighbours, close friends and client dogs and I’ve supported families through some of the hardest decisions they’ve ever had to make—whether it was behavioural euthanasia or finding a new home for their beloved dogs.

I’ve helped families with fearful, reactive, and misunderstood dogs. Worked through countless bites, difficult behaviours, and the struggles of those who just want what’s best for their companions. But I’ve also seen the beauty of growth—the moments when understanding clicks, and progress, however small, is made.

At home, my own dogs have faced their challenges. Charlie’s ongoing health issues and Daisy's recent broken nail have been additional reminders of how quickly life can throw us curveballs.

Through all the challenges, there have been glimmers of hope. I’m grateful for the new connections made, the mutual support shared, and the resilience I’ve seen in both people and dogs alike. It's because of each of you that we can keep going and doing what we love most.

To those who stood by me this year—friends, family, clients, and colleagues—thank you. Your kindness, support and encouragement have meant more than you know.

Thank you to Kari, my cousin and right-hand woman. Kari, you save my ass daily. Whether it’s personal or professional, I know I can come to you with anything and you’ve always got my back. You’ve become an incredible trainer, someone who truly gets what this work is about, and I am endlessly grateful for your emotional support and the dedication you bring to our team. I couldn’t do this without you.

As I look toward 2025, my hope is simple: to keep moving forward, to continue finding joy in the little things, spend more time with those I love and to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.

So... Here’s to a fresh start, new beginnings, and a year of healing and hope. Happy New Year, everyone—give your dogs an extra hug for me! 🥂🐾💖

25/12/2024

Wishing you and your pups a holiday season filled with joy, love, and wagging tails! Thank you for being part of our Magnolia Dog Training family. Merry Christmas from all of us to you! 🎄🐾

Charlie & Daisy are showing off one of their adorable beanies from be sure to check them out, give them a follow and support local!

21/12/2024

Holiday Update!

We will be closed for the holidays starting today, December 21st. Kari will be unavailable during this time, and while I (Bianca) can be reached via text or email, please note that replies may be delayed.

All existing bookings will still take place as scheduled, but I am not taking on any additional private training sessions or new commitments during this period.

Thank you for your understanding and support! We will be back to our regular schedule starting January 2nd. Wishing you and your pups a safe and happy holiday season!