Office Manager
With thirty years of business experience in various aspects of industry and retail management and sales, predominantly in the area of Customer and Supplier Service Management, Dawn has extensive background in mentoring, teaching, seminar development and facilitation, and presentations. Education and training included Business Management, Manager as Leader and Coach, ISO 3T Certification, Managing Centers of Excellence, Developing High Performance Organizations, and Teacher of Adults.
She was active as a Junior Achievement Consultant/Mentor for 3 years; as a Manager she developed and administered a Financial Development Program for University students.
In 1999 Dawn applied her business and people experience to the canine world.
She observed and participated in various “training’ classes – which didn’t really meet her dogs’ needs, or her personal expectations. Dawn then apprenticed under other experienced trainers and successful competitors she met at dog shows and through established Kennel Clubs. In 2000 she branched out on her own, constantly studying, observing, researching, reading and compiling what she believes to be the best of various methodologies. Also, training her own dogs in obedience, agility and conformation, and puppies in basic puppy obedience – all of whom are different – just like people.
When her ‘pack’ outgrew grandma’s house Dawn designed, built, managed and operated her own boarding kennel, catering to ‘special needs’ dogs, including Rescue Shelties for the CSSA. With an excellent rapport with local area vets, who even boarded their dogs with her, she attained referrals for special needs patients (post-surgical etc.) Her kennel had an open-concept where 20-25 dogs often roamed around while she worked.
Dawn attended seminars on various training methods and other therapies such as Calming Signals, Bach Flower Remedies, Tellington Touch, Massage and Aromatherapy.
She completed the Certified Veterinary Assistant Program with highest honours and has since completed a course in Developmental Anatomy and Embryology, the Hill’s Veterinary Nutrition Advocate certification and the CKC Canine Good Neighbour Trainer and Evaluator certification. She continues her studies part-time to keep her skills current.
Dawn has also owned and operated her own pet supply retail business, called Nose To Toes Canine Services which specialized in quality supplies, training and grooming.
Dawn is a Certified Professional Pet Dog Groomer, who also does cats. Finally she is a sponsor and educator for Doggone Safe, a non-profit organization dedicated to Dog Bite Prevention, in particular with educating school children through the Be A Tree Program.
Dawn lives with four Shelties and breeds the occasional litter for pet, obedience competition or show. Her Sheltie progeny are accredited with AMCD, AMCDX, CdnCD, Cdn CDX, CGN, GMOTCH, and three Champion Show dogs.
Certifications:
Veterinary Assistant (Stratford Career Institute)
Hill’s Science Diet Veterinary Nutritional Advocate
JKLTraining Academy- Grooming
CKC Canine Good Neighbour Trainer and Examiner
Identifying and Using Calming Signals
Practical Applications of Calming Signals
Tellington Touch
Bach Flower Remedies for Dogs and Cats
Memberships:
Canadian Kennel Club
Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers
Canadian Shetland Sheepdog Association
Human Animal Bond Association of Canada
Doggone Safe
Other Interests:
I am an avid reader, enjoy gardening, and ‘photography for the joy of it’. I have received 2 International Amateur Photography Awards. One, of course, of a Sheltie.
