Achieve the true potential within your dog - and yourself
Get the best education possible so you can provide for your dog’s needs in the best way possible.
Why we do what we do
While people want to live their best life with their dog, turning those intentions into reality can feel overwhelming without a guiding hand. Raising a willful puppy or struggling with serious behavioural problems affects how people see their dog and how they live together.
Our passion is found in the challenge of solving those problems so that people and their dogs live their best lives, side by side. We’ve built our little company on this passion.
When we empower the human end of the leash with knowledge and direction, we improve the quality of life for both dogs and people.
This is what we are all about.
How we handle our Dog Training
Sound Familiar?
Maybe you are struggling with a puppy tornado who has hit your home with a fury of teeth and inexhaustible energy.
Or you’ve just adopted a rescue dog from a far off land who finds his new world a scary place.
It could be that your once-darling baby dog has now turned into a teenage tyrant, and is now filled with big feelings that don’t always include you.
Your life could include a reactive dog desperately in need of space and understanding.
Our thoughtfully prepared courses offer both private coaching and group class options, empowering you with knowledge and direction so your training is purposeful and productive.
Our services were designed with Your Individual Dog in mind.
In a few sessions, you will have a deeper understanding of the dog you love and share your life with, and creative solutions to help you reach your goals.
What They Say About Us
Shannon is AMAZING - friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, thorough, flexible, and responsive - everything I could want in a trainer for my sweet little potato! Reggie responds to her immediately!I could not recommend Shannon and Zen Dog Training with any more fervour than I already do! Thanks Shannon - already looking forward to Puppy Grade One!
I am beyond impressed with Zen Dog Training and their exceptional training programs. They don’t just teach you techniques—they focus on building a true connection and effective communication with your dog. Before starting with Zen Dog Training, I was unsure how to train or communicate with my puppy, but now I feel completely confident and at ease with her. I know I can teach her anything I set my mind to!Shannon and Isabella are incredible dog trainers who go above and beyond to ensure you understand every step of the process. They provide fantastic support, answering all my questions and offering personalized advice to help me succeed. Their expertise has made a real difference in how I interact with my puppy, and I’m grateful for their guidance.If you’re in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver area) and want to build a strong, positive relationship with your dog, I highly recommend Zen Dog Training. Their courses are a game-changer for anyone looking to improve their dog’s behavior and strengthen their bond.
We have learned so much with Zen Dog, so happily. The classes are effective, with an outstanding trainer (Shannon) guiding our dogs to learn very happily. Everything is based on positive reinforcement and it all works so well. You will enjoy the training and your dog will thrive.Our Aussie Mountain Doodle puppy came home at 5 months. She is our first dog so we were a bit anxious about how to get it right. We quickly gained confidence with the Zen Dog JumpStart programme. It was astonishing on the first day to find that Indy could do so much already... when Shannon worked with her. Then we took over and things fell apart. It dawned on us that Shannon was actually training us, not the puppy! We applied ourselves, began guiding Indy better, and saw really rewarding results. Grade 1 was a great experience, too. We have made notable progress and, most importantly, now have considerable confidence as to how to proceed. We'll be back for Grade 2 with Zen dogs!
Many of my dogs have benefited from attending classes with Shannon. Her experience, expertise and passion for creating a partnership with your dog is evident in every step. I’ve brought dogs and puppies with varying experiences and all have shown marked improvements in being good dog citizens. I would highly encourage someone looking to develop a great relationship with their new puppy or dog to explore the many options and opportunities provided by Shannon.
Shannon is the BEST trainer I have ever had the pleasure working with. Thanks to Shannon, I finally feel confident when it comes to understanding and working with my dogs. For the last three years, Shannon has been an immense help in training my Border Aussie through puppy classes, Rally-O, Skills & Drills, and private sessions. These classes have been fabulous socialization opportunities for my dog who sadly became reactive after a traumatic experience as a puppy. Thanks to Shannon's help and classes, she now also has more ease around other dogs. Shannon is like a human encyclopedia when it comes to doggie knowledge, is extremely patient, encouraging, and one of my dog's favourite humans. After working with Shannon, I am a better dog owner! Highly recommend her as an amazing dog trainer!!
Shannon is the BEST dog trainer! She has worked with us for years - with our older pup and now our new little guy. She is thorough, thoughtful, clear and kind. I recommend her without hesitation.
This is my second time attending classes with Zen Dog. I trained with them for my first Golden Doodle named Konah. I also gave my god-son a gift certificate for Zen Dog classes for his new puppy back in 2018. Zen Dog creates a safe secure environment to learn training skills for your dog. I can't say enough about the owner Shannon. I first met Shannon almost 25 years ago and she has been working with me for all my pets. I am truly grateful to know her and to be apart of her program. Thank you Zen Dog and a huge thank you to all of the amazing staff working on the team!!
My dog Leela and I had so much fun at Shannon’s Rally-O classes. We started with no previous experience and within 4 classes we were able to complete an advanced course off leash! Shannon is a phenomenal positive trainer, very knowledgable and patient with doggies and humans alike. Highly recommend!
A friend referred us to Zen Dog Canine Training, and we are so glad they did. We took the Growl program for reactive dogs. Shannon taught us and our dog so much in just two lessons. As first-time dog owners of a reactive rescue dog, we were so overwhelmed, and Shannon was patient and understanding with all of us. We learned ways for Bailey to be less reactive on walks and for my husband and I to be more confident. I can't thank Shannon enough.
Shannon is incredibly helpful and an absolute expert with border collies. She is kind, efficient, and thoughtful in her approach. In our private lessons, she took the time to understand my training goals and concerns, and provided a wealth of resources to support us. Shannon’s candour, practical insight, and depth of knowledge has made me well-equipped to use these skills going forward. I look forward to working with her again in the future.
We did five private sessions with Shannon, and wow—game changer. Right off the bat, she nailed what Bami (our high-energy, lovable pup) needed and gave us actionable strategies we could use immediately.What I loved most was her focus on systems—not just quick fixes. She didn’t just train the dog; she trained us, showing us how to communicate clearly and set boundaries that actually work.Results? Night and day difference. Bami listens better, walks are way smoother, and there’s just less chaos in general. If you're on the fence about dog training, trust me: invest in Shannon. You’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.
Shannon was an amazing trainer for me and my rescue pup Rosie, my pup and I were both anxious and Rosie was very reactive with other dogs. Shannon taught me how to deal with stressful situations and create a positive environment for Rosie to be more comfortable / relaxed on our walks when encountering other dogs. She has a wealth of knowledge and is great at passing it on during sessions as well as following up by sending really helpful training exercises to work on at home. I recommend Shannon for anyone looking for help creating a more harmonious relationship with their dog.
Our Services
The Adult Dog
