A Chilliwack dog trainer has been recognized by the BC SPCA for outstanding work with canines.
Erynn Tomlinson, owner and trainer at Creekside Canine in Cultus Lake, has been awarded BC SPCA AnimalKind accreditation.
It is only handed out to a “select group of dog trainers” who exhibit the highest standards in evidence-based, positive reinforcement training methods, according to the BC SPCA.
“Dog training is unregulated, and unfortunately, this means a lot of poor treatment of dogs being sold as training,” Tomlinson said. “I love that AnimalKind does such a thorough job of assessing trainers, providing clear and simple guidelines for dog owners to use while researching trainers to ensure they are going to find someone who will be kind, safe, and effective.”
She has loved dogs all her life, but it wasn’t until she began fostering as a volunteer for the BC SCPA that she decided to help dogs through training.
“I loved fostering dogs whose behaviour issues prevented them from finding new homes. My first ‘foster fail’ was one of these dogs, and she sparked me to go deep down into animal behaviour education,” she said.
Tomlinson didn’t start with reward-based training. Like many people, she said started with aversive methods in the guise of good ‘leadership.’
“It was education that turned me towards a positive-based path. The more I learned and applied, the more confident I became that harsh punishment was not needed in any case.”
The BC SPCA created the AnimalKind accreditation program to help dog guardians find training companies that are committed to using good animal welfare practices in their training methods.
“Reward-based training is not only effective, but it protects the physical and emotional health of dogs and the bond that dogs and guardians share,” said Nicole Fenwick, manager, research and standards for the BC SPCA.
Creekside Canine offers training services in Chilliwack and surrounding areas, specializing in behaviour modification for reactive, nervous, and fearful dogs, including leash reactivity, aggressive behaviour, resource guarding and predation.
“Dogs deserve to be treated kindly, and building a strong relationship of trust pays off for the dog and the human,” Tomlinson said.
For more information on Creekside Canine, visit www.creekside.dog. Learn about AnimalKind accreditation at animalkind.ca.