Why I became a dog trainer.

I remember when I was 14 being asked what I wanted to do when I left school. Easy, "I'm going to be a wolf biologist" I replied. The lack of wolves in the UK didn't hinder my chosen career plan, though my teacher telling me I wouldn't be able to work in Canada because I couldn't speak French, did make me cry, a little.

Today B.C. has been my home for the last 13 years. I still can't speak French, but I have been privileged enough to work on a couple of really interesting wolf related projects, in some very beautiful parts the world.

The Wild Places

Life as a Zoologist took me to some wonderful and wild places. I've lived in Mongolia, studying the wild Przewalski Horses, worked on various wildlife rehabilitation and habitat restoration projects in both New Zealand and the UK, and I've spent time in Churchill, Manitoba - living on a decommissioned missile base on the edge of polar bear country! I've also sailed up and down the coastline of B.C. looking for whales, bears, and wolf poop!

Sounds like a dream-career come true, right? It was, but something was missing. I loved working on remote field projects but there were very few opportunities for me to implement a positive change. I really did want to create a better world, I just needed to find a better way to do it.

Going Off Track

I went back to school, putting my animal behaviour credentials to great use, and spent the next few years working towards my Professional Dog Trainer certification (CPDT-KA). Off Track was launched in the Spring of 2011, with the mission to create a better life for my clients, both two-legged and four.

In 2017 my daughter, Georgia, was born, bringing a new and exciting chapter to Off Track.  Becoming a Mom gave me the perfect opportunity to focus my skills, and share my experiences and knowledge in this specialized area of family dog training.

A Better Way

Though I'm no longer on the front line of conservation efforts, my work through Off Track has enabled me to financially support an organization that truly is making a big difference in the world: The Raincoast Conservation Foundation.