The Heart Of Canadian Canine College

Melissa opened Canadian Canine College in 1998 with a commitment to providing Norfolk and Brant County with premier, positive-reinforcement dog training. Over the last 25 years, she has worked with hundreds of dogs and their families, helping them build strong, lasting relationships through through effective, positive training.

Melissa is devoted to evidence-based, force-free training methods that prioritize the emotional well-being of dogs and is certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, holding the CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed) designation.

Clients know Melissa for her calm, supportive teaching style and her ability to make training both accessible and enjoyable for dogs and their people.

In 2025, she stepped back from her roles in boarding and daycare to focus exclusively on training and education. Outside of her professional work, Melissa enjoys spending time outdoors with her daughter and husband, often gardening with her dog, Mister, close by.

The Roots of Canadian Canine College

~~ as shared by Melissa ~~

Shortly after graduating from the University of Guelph in 1995, an unexpected encounter changed the course of my life. A dog started showing up on the property where I was working at the time. She would quietly appear out of nowhere and startle me with a random bark. It took three weeks of tossing bits of food toward her, before she’d even allow me to touch her. It was a sunny but cold fall day and I still remember how warm her dark coat felt to my cold fingers. That was the day I brought her home.

“Sydney” became my introduction to a world I didn’t yet know I was searching for.

Trying to understand her opened the door to everything that came next. I immersed myself in learning everything I could about dog behaviour and training. It was an exciting & diverse world, taking every course I could find, reading voraciously, and traveling anywhere that offered high-quality education. A trip to Arkansas provided the opportunity to study theory with chickens. Those seminars, workshops, and programs helped build the foundation for the work I do today.

My early professional experience included time at a large and well-established dog training school. It was a busy, structured environment, and it exposed me to a wide range of dogs and people. The experience was invaluable. It gave me practical skills, broadened my perspective, and ultimately clarified the direction I wanted to pursue.

I recognized that I was looking for something different, but was not exactly sure what that looked like. The first step was an environment shaped by trust, curiosity, and compassion. I continued to actively pursue programs and mentors that emphasized trust and understanding. And in time, Canadian Canine College was born.

What began with one fearful dog and a steep learning curve has grown into educational programming dedicated to helping families build joyful, confident partnerships with their dogs.  

With my gratitude to Sydney - the wee dog who changed the trajectory of my life.