Meet the trainer

Mary MacLachlan is a Certified Professional dog trainer in Sherbrooke, Québec.  She has a lifetime of experience in dog handling and training. She grew up in a household full of dogs and other animals. Her parents were breeders of Labrador and Golden Retrievers, and she learned to care for and train dogs for basic obedience and field trials from an early age.

Mary is a certified teacher, spending her career teaching in the International School system in various countries. Of course, the biggest part of dog training is actually training the owners. Her knowledge and vast experience of best teaching practices help her deliver structured, easy-to-follow lessons to help dog owners develop their skills and have success in meeting their training goals.

Later in life, Mary trained at the International Academy of Canine Trainers in British Columbia, Canada to become a Professional Dog Trainer. She is certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, the leading independent certifying organization for the dog training profession. She is a member of RQIEC (Regroupement québécois des intervenants en éducation canine) which is a professional organization to ensure a high standard of expertise and service in dog training. In order to become a member, applicants must meet strict requirements such as using only ethical training practices and staying up-to-date with the latest science-based techniques and information. She is also a member of the Pet Professionals Guild, an organization that supports pet professionals who are committed to results based, science-based, ethical training and pet care.  Mary is passionate about professional development and continuing her learning of new skills and training methods. Her other training and learning include:

• Dog Trainer Foundations (clicker training), Karen Pryor Academy
• Dog Emotion and Cognition – Dr. Brian Hare, Duke University
• Animal Behaviour and Welfare – Edinburg University
• Pet First-Aid - Walks'n'Wags, BC, Canada
• Introduction à la détection d'odeurs (Introduction to Scent Work)- Anne-Marie Giroux, De main de maître académie, Montréal, QC
• Formation sur l'agression et la réactivité (Canine aggression and reactivity) - Simonne Raffa, De main de maître académie, Montréal, QC
• Rappel-express (Rapid Recall) - Eve LaForest, De main de maître académie, Montréal, QC
• Helping Fearful, Reactive and Stressed Dogs - Amy Cook PhD, Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
• Performance Fundamentals - Deborah Jones, Judy Keller, Fenzi Dog Sport Academy
• Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning - Nancy Tucker, Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
• Handling Aggression Cases - Michael Badial, Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
• Évaluation de la dangerosité du chien mordeur - Diane Frank DVM, DACVB, Université de Montréal
• Attendee of Fenzi Dog Training Academy Lemonade Conference 2020
• Attendee of The Aggression in Dogs Conference 2020
• Attendee of the International Dog Trainers Winter Summit 2020
• Attendee of Clicker Expo 2021, Karen Pryor Academy
• Attendee of Fenzi Dog Training Academy Lemonade Conference 2022
• Completed Susan Garrett's Recallers programme 2021-22
• Colloque Francophone sur le Comportement Animal et Canin: Peur et agression chez le chien 2022
• Aggression in Dogs Master Course by Michael Shikashio 2023
• Currently completing Canine Behaviour Professional Diploma Course - Canine Principles, UK
• Past member of Penang Dog Agility Association, Malaysia
• Current member of Club Éducation Canine de l'Estrie (dog agility)

Mary enjoys working with a wide variety of dogs and their owners.  Her particular passion is helping stray, abandoned, and shelter dogs gain a second chance in life.  Mary has volunteered for animal welfare organizations in Thailand, Italy, Malaysia and Canada by caring for, fostering and training these hard-done-by dogs, increasing their chances of finding a forever home.