Who should take this course?

If you...

  • are interested in a career with dogs
  • volunteer or foster with rescue organisations or shelters
  • are a current pet professional (dog walker, boarder/pet sitter, daycare staff, shelter worker, veterinarian, or technician)
  • love dogs
  • want to learn more about canine behaviour & body language
  • are tired of the 9-5 grind
  • want to run a business or join an already existing one
  • love being active in any weather
  • want to help people improve their relationship with their dog
Who should take this course?

Why I created this program

Years ago, I started out as a Dog Walker out of convenience; I had a dog with severe separation anxiety and couldn’t leave him alone. I was already working as an apprentice with a Dog Trainer, so it felt like the right path. I quit my corporate job and started walking neighbourhood dogs for a small fee. Word travelled fast, and I started taking on more and more clients. Before I knew it, I was walking dogs full-time and loving the experience I was gaining. I learned so much about dog behaviour and body language and it really helped me to build my dog training career. 

The only challenge was that it felt like trial-by-fire. I was learning everything on the fly and I felt like I was dodging bullets. I wished for a program that would teach me all I needed to know to have the confidence to run my business successfully and still love what I was doing. I studied other Dog Walkers and Pet Professionals and continued my education in animal behaviour, and finally launched Toronto’s first Dog Walker Course in 2009 - ten years ago! What started out as a four-hour program, grew into an eight-hour program, a two-day program, a three-day program, and finally, a four-day certificate program. 

My passion is people AND dogs. I can't wait to share my knowledge, skill, and experience with you, and get to know YOU and why you can't wait to work with dogs. 


What you'll learn

  • canine behaviour & body language so that you can confidently handle the dogs in your care
  • learning theory & myth-busting so that you can truly understand the dogs without having to be a "whisperer"
  • handling techniques that can be applied in real-life situations
  • transport safety and emergency management so that you can be sure the dogs in your care are safe at all times
  • tools & equipment so you're not fumbling with the basics
  • group management & screening so you can be sure you're taking on the clients you want and pairing appropriate dogs together
  • strategies for starting or improving your own business because while we do it for the love of dogs, we keep doing it because we can afford to!
  • sales, business practices & policies, customer service because not everyone has a masters in business administration
  • confidence in taking the next step in this career
What you'll learn

What our students are saying:

Chris, Toronto

The days flew by!

Chris, Toronto

“I had thought about making the jump to dog walking as a career for a number of years, but I wasn’t quite sure where to start. On paper, it is easy enough, however, I was looking for a little more guidance and direction, as there are a lot of variables when it comes to caring for pets – not to mention the mountains of misinformation in caring for dogs, in particular. Caryn provided a great deal of guidance and confidence in moving forward with my new career, and the course was loaded with quality information and personal experiences, which made the days fly by.”
Kim, Toronto

A refreshing outlook!

Kim, Toronto

“I took Caryn’s Dog Walker course and frankly didn’t know what to expect or what value I would get. The course was fantastic! Learned a lot and the hours flew by. Caryn definitely has a love for dogs and most importantly a willingness to share her knowledge and make the professional community more co-operative and cohesive. This was a refreshing outlook on top of first class information and delivery. I can’t wait to take the next course!! Caryn was also a wealth of knowledge for networking, reading and next steps.”A

Above and beyond what I was expecting

"I was wanting to express how much I enjoyed this course. I feel like I have benefited above and beyond what I was expecting, and that I have the skills needed to start and succeed at an ethically-run dog walking business. It has been my goal for many years to work for myself, and possibly grow a successful business.In the future when we need more walkers, they will need to be certified by your course. Let's change this city and its walkers for the owners and most importantly our dogs!"
Daniel, Toronto

Wildly impressed

Daniel, Toronto

“Caryn is both a fantastic resource and a consummate professional, wrapped up in someone with whom you feel like you’ve been friends forever. Both my partner and I took her dog walker training course and were wildly impressed with the amount of great information we received. Not only did we feel confident in embarking on this career change, but working with Caryn actually helped us grow and fill our business faster than we expected. Any time we have a problem, we know that Caryn has a great solution that benefits us, the pack, and our clients. I’d recommend her services to anyone looking to understand dogs or the business of dogs. And by business I don’t mean poop.”

Your Instructor

  • Caryn Liles

    Owner & Founder, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Fear Free Certified Professional, Family Paws Parent Educator

    Caryn Liles

    Caryn speaks from the heart, injecting humour and compassion into all her work. She strives to inspire pet owners and pet professionals to take an active role in learning the language of animals and teaching them appropriate behaviours through humane and science-based training. Drawing on years of experience in the corporate world, she shares a wealth of knowledge in communication, technology, and leadership. Having studied languages, human resources, finance, and psychology, Caryn brings a well-rounded and creative perspective to the table when working with clients both human and canine. As a lifelong learner, she earns continuing education credits each year, ensuring that she is up to date with her skills and knowledge. Caryn has trained dogs, cats, horses, chickens, a rat and even a goldfish. She has a soft spot for German Shepherds and other misunderstood breeds, and three-legged dogs.

What is included in the tuition?

This program is a knowledge certificate course for those currently working in the field or just getting started. Students must complete 20 classroom hours including assignments and a final exam.  

  • 20+ modules over four days - lectures, photo & video analysis, group assignments, and discussions
  • LUNCH PROVIDED on Saturday & Sunday - onsite cafe for snacks and beverages
  • A certificate upon successful completion & use of a graduate badge on your website and marketing material
  • Access to a closed Facebook support group
  • Excellent resources
  • Exclusive access to class auditing opportunities
  • Discounted Pet Pro Biz coaching with me! 

2019 Schedule

  • March 15-18, 2019

    Fri Mar 15 - 5:00pm-9:00pm
    Sat Mar 16 - 10:00am-6:00pm
    Sun Mar 17 - 10:00am-6:00pm
    Mon Mar 18 - 5:00pm-9:00pm

  • June 7-10, 2019

    Fri Jun 7 - 5:00pm-9:00pm
    Sat Jun 8 - 10:00am-6:00pm
    Sun Jun 9 - 10:00am-6:00pm
    Mon Jun 10 - 5:00pm-9:00pm

  • November 8-11, 2019

    Fri Nov 8 - 5:00pm-9:00pm
    Sat Nov 9 - 10:00am-6:00pm
    Sun Nov 10 - 10:00am-6:00pm
    Mon Nov 11 - 5:00pm-9:00pm

Location

QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK COMMUNITY & CULTURAL CENTRE
2302 Bridge Road, Oakville, ON L6L 3L5

$799 USD $599 USD

Register in January and receive an additional $50 OFF!

Countdown to March 2019 program

Sign up before it's too late!

  • 00Days
  • 00Hours
  • 00Minutes
  • 00Seconds
Sign me up now!