About

Hey there! My name is Janet Parker.

I’m the owner, head trainer and chief doggy-dish scrubber of Clever Canine Training & Behaviour Consulting in Victoria BC…

…and I’m gonna tell you a secret…

Nobody becomes a dog trainer because they have the perfect dog.

I know what it’s like to feel:

 

overwhelmed by the crazy puppy biting and house training chaos

frustrated with an out-of-control adolescent that jumps up and tears clothing

exhausted by a crazy adolescent with TOO MUCH ENERGY

I get it. I sympathize…with ALL the feels…but more importantly…

I CAN HELP! Because the dogs that made me crazy, also made me a trainer.

See these two? Don’t they look

like little angels?

They are NOT!

I work with a lot of people who love their dogs, but do not love their dog’s behaviour.

  • the seven year old dog who couldn’t be house trained
  • the ‘killer’ puppy who the whole family was afraid of
  • the out-of-control giant dog whose favourite game was ‘how many people can I knock down today?’
  • the sweet little rescue afraid of his own shadow

These are only a few of the dogs that I’ve had the privilege to get to know and help.

My philosophy is simple – to teach your dog you must understand your dog.

And I’m committed to using positive reinforcement in place of the traditional coercion and use of force.

Funny thing, this philosophy can also work on people!

My goal is to make training not just dog-friendly, but people-friendly too. That means simple to understand and easy to implement.

Imagine getting your dog trained with ease, and having a great time doing it!

Testimonials

What my clients say

“There just wasn’t enough time at the end of class to express our gratitude and I felt it really important to let you know how much you have “paws-i-tively” affected our lives.  It has been such fun for both of us and we learned so much.  Your positive, sensible, patient and loving approach was so appreciated.  I feel I am better prepared in raising Scout because I “think like a dog”, work hard to be consistent and try to associate good things with commands I want him to follow.”

Nicole

Scout

“You  really do have the gift for teaching.  Your kindness, patience, and knowledge about puppies and “teenage” puppies is extraordinary.  I just wanted to let you know that we are grateful for your help and support.”

Jayne

Jettson

“Jan Parker’s positive approach to training is based on a solid knowledge of dog behaviour and learning principles (rather than the familiar pop psychology).  Equally important, the training is full of success and fun for both owners and dogs.  I strongly recommend her classes and the individual consultations.”

Janet Bavelas, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology, Pippin & Ellie

“Our training sessions with Janet were invaluable. Not only did Sasha, and more importantly my children and I, learn about dog obedience, but watching Janet in action, we were also able to see how much of a difference the right approach to dogs makes to training. From Janet, we learned that always treating our puppy with respect, positively reinforcing the behaviour we want, and seeking to understand the reasons behind some of Sasha’s behaviour are key to having a happy, well-behaved dog. Janet’s ability to understand and communicate with dogs were truly an inspiration to us.”

Janet

Sasha

"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn." ― John Cotton Dana

I can’t imagine not wanting to learn more about dogs! There are so many opportunities to get smarter about dogs – conferences, seminars, on-line classes, and discussion groups are all a source of information and education. And I try to take advantage of every single one.

But with over 20 years of experience working with dogs, I can say that my clients and their dogs have been some of the most amazing teachers for me. I couldn’t do it without them.

How can I help you? Send me a message and find out what’s possible for you and your dog.

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Have I got a degree?

I mentored privately with a local trainer before I went to San Francisco to train at the prestigious SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers, where I became the first Canadian Valedictorian in the program’s history.

I attend seminars and conferences each year to make sure that I’ve got the best information at my finger-tips.

I love to share what I know! All this learning gets passed on to you, when you’re a client of Clever Canine.

How'd I get to be a nosework pro?

I discovered the sport of nosework in 2013. Multiple in-person seminars with some of the biggest names in the game; an embarrassing number of on-line classes with respected instructors; trialing in both the US and Canada; and (at this writing) having the highest titled Newfoundland dog in Canada, have all been an incredible education.

I’m so addicted to this sport that I not only study it and teach it, I also host nosework trials in Victoria BC a few times a year.

“Wow, just wow…!  You are all I hope for dogs in the world – smart, compassionate, creative and above all, curious”

– Jean Donaldson (author of The Culture Clash & my mentor)