#1 BEST RATED DOG TRAINER IN NANAIMO 2022, 2023, 2024
Our Certified Dog Trainers are ready to help you and your four-legged best friend live a happy life!
ALL ABOUT US
​If you have a new puppy, a newly adopted rescue dog, or a
challenging dog that needs certain behaviours to be guided
in a different direction, our expert trainers are here to help
you. Our dedicated trainers will work with you and your
dog to grow a powerful bond through extremely effective
and humane training, properly guided socialization and
exercise for the body and mind! .​
.png){kind=small}
​​Best Paw Forward and DAWG have merged! Two great businesses with over 40 years of combined experience, become one to serve you better. With classes in Cedar and our Satellite locations at the the BCSPCA at Westwood Road and at Beban Park and at various parks in the community, there is a option for everyone and every dog!
​
We are fully accredited and members of PACTA as well as BCSPCA Animal Kind Certified, following the very strict guidelines for animal welfare and safety.
​​
We offer indoor sessions in a climate controlled environment as well as outdoor group sessions for a variety of programs.
We do make house calls and in addition to group and private sessions at our training facilities or in the community, we also offer virtual sessions
​Training sessions and learning opportunities are available for booking 5 days a week.
Meet The Team
Linda
KPA-CTP, PRO DOG TRAINER, CBATI-KA, CTDI
Linda holds certifications for:
​
-
KPA-CTP Karen Pryor Academy - Certified Training Partner,
-
PDT Pro Dog Trainer,
-
CBATI-KA Certified Behaviour Adjustment Trainer - KA
-
CTDI Certified Trick Dog Instructor
​
Linda holds numerous other certifications for training and professional grooming! Linda is an avid student of all things new in regards to Humane Education in dog science! New developments in training skills and techniques, the science of learning and physiology connected to learning and behaviour modification training are her top interests
She loves to assist people and their dogs (including cats!) to build an excellent bond for life. "I want to help people better understand their pet so they can communicate effectively with one another and have the best quality life together".
​
She has an extensive background and many years of experience in dog behaviour training, and dog sports training including Agility, Tricks, Rally, Disc/Frisbee, Scent, Dock Diving, Obedience and more. Including participation in all these sports at the highest levels and a long professional grooming career.
​
Currently, she is owned by a collection of Chinese Crested (hairless and powderpuff) and two cats. All of her dogs have competed and titled in a wide variety of dog sports.
Adriana
CCPDT, KPA-CTP
Adriana has been a dog training enthusiast from a very young age.
She started out teaching her own dogs the sport of dog agility with DAWG and her enthusiasm for training has grown from this.
​
She holds the following certifications:
-
KPA_KA Karen Pryor Academy
-
CCPDT -KA Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
-
CTDI
-
Dog Safe First aid
Adriana is passionate about helping people to prevent behaviour problems before they even happen by applying her in debt understanding or dog behaviour and she loves instructing the pup and young dog classes.
She is dedicated to dog sports like: agility, dock diving, trick training , rally and scent work and helping her own three dogs and her many fabulous client dogs, learn strong foundation skills.
​
Adriana is currently studying to become a Certified C-BATI instructor, to help dogs with even the most worrisome reactive and fear or excitement based behaviour, become happier dogs that can survive and thrive with confidence and calmness in our busy world!
Her goal is for all her wonderful dog and human clients to become and excel at being the best possible team for a long and happy life!
Bernadette
CPPDT, CTDI, Pro Dog Trainer
Bernadette is a CCPDT , PDT, CTDI certified trainer with over 40 years of experience, who has completed more additional certifications than we can begin to list!
​
She has trained and competed with her own dogs and clients' dogs to the highest levels in Agility as well as Draft work and Confirmation and participated in all possible dog sports! She is a registered CKC and AKC judge for drafting (carting)tests, as well as a retired dog agility judge and CGN-certified tester. Her students have excelled in sports and in helping their dogs through struggles of all kinds!
​
Her passion is assisting dogs and their families to learn effective and force-free ways to change even the most severe behaviour struggles.
​
Coaching and teaching all dogs, from Puppy, Junior and Senior classes at all levels, Parkours, Real life, Recall, Scent work, Agility, Treibball, Draft work, and Show Confirmation.
​
Mild, moderate or even severe problem behaviour concerns are met with humane and animal kind effective training methods and all training advice is offered with a smile and genuine love for all living beings!