Janelle McLeod

Janelle has been working with dogs since 2009.  She began volunteering with local dog rescues and has fostered over 40 dogs and adopted 8 dogs into her family.  She was mentored by Karen O’Quinn, CPDT, at the Winnipeg Human Society and began teaching classes independently. 

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During this time, Janelle competed a double honours, double major Bachor's Degree in Psychology and Sociology in 2005, and finished her Master's Degree in Sociology in 2011 at the University of Manitoba.  Her interest in human behaviour and group dynamics naturally flowed to her interest in canine behaviour.

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This year, Janelle graduated from the Karen Pryor Academy of Dog Trainers.  This certification makes Janelle highly effective as a trainer due to her science-based, force-free methods that focus on building a strong bond between the dog and owner through positive reinforcement.  Emphasis is placed both on the dog’s and the person’s experience during training.  Her skill in not only in training animals but also in teaching people how to train their animals by utilizing modern training and teaching practices.

Janelle also served on the Board of Directors with Winnipeg Lost Dog Alert and was an active volunteer for 7 years.  She has participated in spay and neuter clinics, adoption events, and transportation for dogs from the U.S.  In 2017, Janelle began the small dog play group called Partners in Paws for Small Dogs (PIPS).  The group has been a huge success and continues to grow in membership, currently over 3,000. 

 

Janelle is distinct in eliminating the term “obedience” from her training vocabulary.  She believes that a positive relationship with your dog does not imply “the act of complying with orders, instructions, or rules from an authority figure, or the quality of being submissive to such demands” (Merriam-Webster).  Instead, Janelle promotes a mutually respectful relationship between human and dog, where a dog “offers” behavior because it is rewarding versus giving behaviours because they are intimated or in fear of negative consequences.  Her training and approach to dogs is:

 

Force-Free positive reinforcement:  based on positive, force-free principals to build a relationship that is grounded in trust and respect.

 

Science-based:  curriculum is built on decades of scientific research and behaviour-based methods to ensure training is effective.

 

Focus on the whole experience:  Training that emphasizes the emotional experience of the dog and the fun of the learning process for both the dog and the owner.

 

Customized programs:  Janelle can create training plans specifically for you and your pet to ensure they can success together.

 

Janelle’s holistic approach to training is successful in the premise that she celebrates all the wonderful attributes of each dog.  Their inquisitiveness, devotion, playfulness, mischievousness, rambunctious and loving nature.  Every dog deserves our respect and when you bring a dog home, you have made a commitment to learn how to understand and meet all their needs.