Behaviour Team of Greater Toronto, Canada

Krista Schulte, CCBC, Fear Free Certified Trainer

Professional Cat Behaviour Consultant

Based in Canada and working with families across North America, I am a certified Cat Behaviour Consultant dedicated to the art of feline harmony. While my expertise is rooted in resolving complex issues like inter-cat aggression and litter box avoidance, my primary focus is repairing and strengthening the human–animal bond. I believe that for any plan to be successful, it must be as compassionate for the guardian as it is for the cat.

I take a deep dive into each cat’s unique history to move beyond surface-level fixes, developing force-free strategies that respect the cat’s natural motivations. My approach is centered on supporting the entire team around the cat, providing the specialized insight and hands-on support necessary to turn household tension into understanding. My goal is to empower guardians with tools, ensuring cats and their people can thrive together in a peaceful, force-free home.

🌐 https://www.felinebehaviourcoach.com/

📧 [email protected]

Since 2005, I have dedicated my career to understanding and improving the lives of cats. My journey began in veterinary clinics as an assistant and hospital coordinator, while starting my own cat grooming business. It was through grooming that I learned a vital lesson: the most effective way to work with cats is through minimal restraint, prioritizing cooperation over control.

I bring this same ideology to my behavior practice today. I focus on solutions that are minimally disruptive to the cat while respecting what the owner is capable of implementing. I have a particular passion for elderly cats, helping owners maintain their cat’s quality of life through the use of environmental modifications and collaborating with veterinarians for pain management. Ultimately, I believe that education is the key to bridging the gap between common myths and science-based behavioral health, building a deeper, more informed bond between cats and their humans.

I hold a diploma in Feline Behaviour Science and Technology from the Companion Animal Sciences Institute. I’m also a Fear-Free Certified Pet Groomer and a Supporting Member of the IAABC.

Contact details:

Cleopawtra Cat Services

🌐 https://www.cleopawtra.ca/

📧 [email protected]

Nicola Smith

Professional Pet Dog Trainer

Based in Southwestern Ontario, I am a professional pet dog trainer and behaviour consultant with a focus on clarity, structure, and the human–dog relationship. While I work with a wide range of behavioural challenges including reactivity, anxiety, and impulse control, my primary goal is helping people to build confident, sustainable relationships with their dogs.

My approach looks beyond surface-level behaviours and considers the dog’s history, environment, and emotional state, alongside the guardian’s lifestyle and expectations. By combining clear communication, thoughtful structure, relationship and reward-based training principles, I help people move from frustration and confusion to trust and understanding.

My work is centred on empowering dog owners with practical tools and education, ensuring training feels achievable, fair, and humane. My goal is to create calm, functional households where dogs and their people can thrive together with confidence and clarity.

I am a Professional Pet Dog Trainer through the Good Dog Academy.

Contact details:

Nicola Smith, Dog Trainer

🌐 https://www.dogtrainingwithnicola.com/, https://www.wewagtoronto.ca

📧 [email protected]

Gabrielle Messuti, BSc, KPA CPDT

Professional Dog Trainer

Gabrielle began working with dogs in 2016 as a dog daycare attendant at Park 9. Over 6 years, she gained valuable experience working with a variety of Toronto dogs of all ages, breeds, backgrounds and behaviour challenges. With a Toronto Metropolitan University degree in science and a minor in psychology, she became passionate about understanding dog behaviour. She began conducting behavioural assessments of new daycare dogs and offering private training for clients who were looking for 1:1 guidance through behaviour issues. She’s built a loyal client base, referrals and avenues of working with dogs—from dog sitting long-term clients to training at When Hounds Fly.

Gabrielle is also a graduate of the Aggression in Dogs Master Course by Michael Shikashio. She is known for her science-based and compassionate approach to dog training, and customized training plans that are specific to each client and their dog. TheDogMamaa stems from her reputation of having a gentle, nurturing yet highly effective training approach. She is proud to consistently demonstrate that no matter the breed, a kind and thoughtful approach works.

Specialties:

• Leash reactivity
• Fearful rescues
• Stranger danger dogs
• Resource guarding
• Puppy training
• Reactivity prevention

Karen Uglow-Cohen

Professional Dog Trainer

Karen is the founder of Healthy Houndz Dog Services in Toronto, where she provides heart-led training for calm, confident dogs. With over 15 years of experience and 1,500+ families helped, Karen specializes in guiding owners through puppy chaos and supporting dogs with “big feelings,” such as reactivity, fear, and anxiety.

She is the creator of the ROOTS™ holistic approach—Relationship, Observation, Origins, Temperament, and Surroundings—a framework designed to look beyond surface-level behaviours to address the emotional needs of the dog. She is also a graduate of the Canine Correspondence Course (puppy/dog training and behavioural work).

Karen’s philosophy prioritizes the human-animal bond, moving away from rigid compliance toward genuine connection and understanding. As a dedicated force-free professional, she is passionate about bridging the gap between guardians and their pets to create harmonious, stress-free homes.

Specialties:

• Puppy foundation and chaos management
• Dogs with “big feelings” (reactivity, fear, and anxiety)
• Connection-based training and relationship building

Suzanne Mortimore

Professional Dog Trainer

Suzanne began working with dogs professionally in the 1980s starting as a volunteer with the Toronto Humane Society and continuing through roles in pet care, training, and daycare leadership. These experiences shaped her understanding that behaviour is deeply connected to a dog’s emotional well-being, not just obedience or control.

Suzanne’s work is grounded in advocating for the individual dog. She focuses on understanding each dog’s needs and creating environments that offer safety, choice, enrichment, and clear guidance. Whether in training, daycare, or photography, her goal is to support confidence, reduce stress, and strengthen the relationship between dogs and their people.

As co-owner of an enrichment-based daycare and founder of Rainfire Training and Rainfire Photography, she is committed to raising the standard of care through thoughtful, force-free practices that help dogs not just cope, but truly thrive.

• Enrichment-based daycare and low-stress group management
• Puppy foundations and relationship-based training
• Fear-Free handling across environments (training, daycare, photography)
• Building confidence in shy, sensitive or under-stimulated dogs

Contact details:

Embark Academy

🌐 www.embark-academy.ca

📧 [email protected]

Rainfire Training

🌐 www.rainfiretraining.com

Billie Shannon, CPDT-KA, CSAT, MSc

Professional Dog Trainer

Billie is a CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) and a CSAT (Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer) who owns and runs her own business, Bark to Basics, in Toronto.

In addition to her own business, Billie also works for Alliance Service Dogs helping people train their own service dogs.

Previous to starting Bark to Basics, Billie worked for one of the top dog training companies in Toronto teaching hundreds of puppy and foundation skills classes, as well as taking on advanced behaviour cases. 

Billie’s speciality is separation anxiety, but she also works with reactivity, aggression, fear and anxiety, and prey drive.

Originally from Ireland, Billie moved to Toronto in 2014 with her now husband. Together, they have a senior dog called Todrick and six rats! In her spare time, Billie loves lifting weights, hiking, painting, doing puzzles, and reading.

Maggie Wu, CCBC, Low Stress Handling Certified Silver

Professional Cat Behavior Consultant

Maggie is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC) focused on supporting both multi-cat households and individual cats. Her work helps families navigate challenges such as tension between cats, introductions and reintroductions, anxiety, fear, and stress-related behaviors. She also supports cats who do not show obvious problems but would benefit from structured training, enrichment, and thoughtful environmental design to build confidence and emotional stability.

Her approach is grounded in feline behavior science and welfare-centered practice, with careful attention to each cat’s thresholds, communication, and lived experience. Maggie works closely with cat parents to develop practical and individualized plans that fit real household routines. The goal is not short-term fixes, but sustainable change that protects emotional safety, supports choice and agency, and allows cats to coexist with greater ease and long-term harmony within the home.

She can help both English and Chinese-speaking families.

Specialties:

• Cat introduction
• Cat reintroduction
• Cat enrichment

Contact details:

🌐 https://xhslink.com/m/46PHVmdzWln

📧 [email protected]

Andrea Dinan, CDBC, FFCT

Professional Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant and Family Dog Mediator

Andrea Dinan is an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and the founder of City Dogs Training and Behaviour in Toronto. With a background in education and over a decade of experience, Andrea specializes in helping dogs and their people navigate the unique challenges of city living. Her work focuses on reactivity, fear-based behaviours, and supporting rescue dogs as they adjust to life in an urban environment.

Andrea is also the creator of ParCORE Dogs, an urban dog sport that transforms everyday environments into opportunities for building confidence, focus, and resilience. She is known for breaking down complex behaviour concepts into clear, actionable steps, helping both dogs and their guardians feel confident and capable in real-life situations.

Specialties:

• Reactivity and fear-based behaviours
• Rescue and newly adopted dogs
• Urban dog training and behaviour (city living challenges)
• Enrichment specific to city living

Contact details:

City Dogs Training and Behaviour

🌐 https://citydogs.ca/

ParCORE Dogs

🌐 https://parcoredogs.com/

📧 [email protected]

Chantal Howard, ABCCT

Certified Cat Trainer, IAABC Supporting Member

Chantal provides cat-centred training and behaviour services designed to support both cats and their humans through her business, Feline Focus Training. She works with families to better understand their cats through personalized training, behaviour support, and enrichment-focused care.

Chantal enjoys working with all types of behaviours. Her favourites are teaching new cat owners how to prepare for their first kitten or cat, litter box concerns, aggression, and clicker training.

Specialties:

• Live-in cat behaviour and training
• Inappropriate elimination
• Aggression
• Food-seeking behaviours

Contact details:

Feline Focus Training

🌐 https://www.felinefocustraining.ca/

📧 [email protected]

Alissa Nenoff, CPDT-KA, BSc

Professional Dog Trainer

Alissa Nenoff, CPDT-KA, is Toronto’s Positive Puppy Pro and the certified professional dog trainer behind The Dog Next Door. She specializes in force-free, shame-free training to help overwhelmed city dog parents raise calm, confident dogs and overcome the “puppy blues.”

With a Bachelor of Science in animal biology and a diploma in animal behaviour science and technology, Alissa has nearly a decade of experience in animal behaviour, including work with dogs and exotic species.

The Dog Next Door offers highly focused private coaching and day training (tutoring) programs. Her expertise covers City Smart Puppy Tutoring, coaching for adult dog reactivity, manners, and multi-pet integration. Alissa is dedicated to teaching urban survival skills so city dogs can navigate loud, rapidly changing environments with confidence.

Specialties:

• Socialization of puppies to city life
• Reactivity
• Inter-species households

Contact details:

The Dog Next Door

🌐 www.thedognextdoor.ca

📧 [email protected]

Daniella Zamora, RVT, KPA CTP, Fear Free Certified

Professional Dog Trainer

Daniella is a Registered Veterinary Technician and KPA-CPT certified trainer, with over a decade of experience in the veterinary industry. She is passionate about the connection between pain and health and how they affect behavior.

Daniella has worked with a wide range of animals globally and is dedicated to teaching dog owners to read body language, address fears, and identify pain signs to aid in recovery and prevent injuries. In 2025, she started her own dog training business called Paws with Bonds where she offers virtual training sessions helping dogs and their owners to feel more comfortable with vet care and husbandry tasks, as well as providing support in canine fitness and weight loss. She also works as a rehab technician at Blue Springs Animal Rehab Center in Acton, Ontario.

Daniella shares her home with three cats and three dogs and can be found escaping to the outdoors whenever possible.

Specialties:

• Pain management and veterinary rehabilitation
• Handling/husbandry sensitivities
• Cooperative care
• Liaising between pet owner and veterinary team

Contact details:

Paws with Bonds

📧 [email protected]

Dr. Michelle Nicholson, DVM, MSc, MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)

Veterinarian

Dr. Michelle Nicholson is a licensed veterinarian with a special interest in veterinary behaviour. Originally from the East Coast, she graduated with the inaugural class of the Atlantic Veterinary College in 1990 and has since worked in companion animal practice in both rural and urban communities across Nova Scotia and Ontario.

Throughout her career, Michelle has been passionate about animal behaviour, welfare, and the human-animal bond. She is particularly interested in how animals learn, communicate, and interact with people, as well as the behavioural and mental health challenges that can affect their quality of life and relationships with their families.

Michelle has pursued extensive postgraduate education in veterinary behavioural medicine, including studies through the University of Sydney and ongoing advanced training in North America. She is a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Veterinary Behaviour) and is Fear Free Certified, with additional memberships in several veterinary and behaviour-focused organizations.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband and their beloved collection of pets.

Area of specialty: 

• Veterinary behaviour

Contact details:

Ottawa Veterinary Behaviour Services

🌐 http://www.ottawavetbehaviour.com/

📧 [email protected]