Get to know more about Shannon Malmberg
As an avid runner, Shannon began her dog training journey in 1988 by volunteering with Project Safe Run, a personal protection-dog organization for women athletes, while she completed degrees in journalism and political science at the University of Oregon.
Upon graduation Shannon moved to Vancouver and worked as a civilian decoy with the Vancouver Police Dog Squad from 1991 until 2003: a “hired bad-guy” to assist in the training of young patrol dogs in tracking and criminal apprehension. Hiding in dumpsters, running down dark alleyways, and getting bitten by German Shepherds gave her an insight into working with high drive dogs and dog aggression.
It was here Shannon truly got the dog training bug.
She founded her company Zen Dog Canine Training Ltd. in 2002, teaching dogs and their people across Vancouver and the lower mainland. To date she has worked with close to 10,000 clients on a broad range of issues from puppy raising to behavioural cases, and all things in between.
As a professional dog coach, Shannon is enthusiastic and creative, committed to teaching in a way that is positive for both humans and dogs. She has a gift for bringing dogs and their people closer together while meeting the needs of each client she works with. Shannon stays current with science-based methods and is a lifelong student in all things dog.
My Great Dog Story
She tirelessly attends multiple seminars and on-line coursework a year, getting the opportunity to work with some of the world's leading dog trainers in developing her own craft. Shannon is driven by her passion to learn more and do better by the dogs she lives and works with. She also has a keen interest in building relationships through toy/tug play, and understanding canine nutrition, fitness and body conditioning, rounding out her understanding of dogs' needs.
Shannon is recommended by breeders, veterinarians, rescue organizations and related industry peers for the work she does. She currently shares her life with two amazing border collies and can be found in the agility ring or out in nature.
About the company
The company targets specific classes and personal coaching for rescue dogs, as well as reactive dogs, puppies, adolescent and adult dogs, honouring their unique stages and transitions in life. Zen Dog is committed to positive reinforcement-based strategies when working with clients and their dogs and seeks to engage the learner with effective game-based methods so that learning is fun for all.
What do Dog Owners think?
Very happy with the training, tools and help that Shannon provided during our one on one sessions. She gave me so much info on behaviour and was very patient with every question we had. I feel like I have so much more confidence with my reactive Daisy , and slowly we will be able to influence and correct her behaviour issues. Highly recommend , her follow-up with emails/ videos and website were all excellent . Thanks Shannon!
We loved Shannon's Puppy Kindergarten and Puppy Grade 1 classes, and also adored her assistant Isabelle! Learned a lot and practiced a ton of socialization. Definitely stressful as first time puppy owners to try to handle your pup around other dogs in a class setting, but ultimately I think it made a huge difference in giving us great exposure and better tools to do so! Every time we doubted a command or trick and wondered if we'd use it, we'd end up realizing how right Shannon was a week or two later haha. Hope to continue taking her classes and have heard folks sing her praises around Vancouver for good reason! She's the best
I have worked with Shannon for 13 years! From help with my reactive rescue GSD, to my baby GSD boy ( now 10 years old!) and my rehomed to me at 5 months old Belgian Malinios girl. Currently taking Rally-O classes with my 10 year old GSD. He is loving it! Lots of incredible feedback. Highly recommend Zen Dogs Canine Training
We went through puppy kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2 with Shannon and cannot recommend her classes enough! Her patient and positive approach to training has absolutely helped us through some growing pains as new puppy parents. We left each course with the confidence to build on our pup's training and navigate ongoing behaviour with a supportive approach that truly has enhanced our relationship with our pup.
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!!
I have been taking my two dogs to classes with Shannon and the other great trainers at Zeno Dog for a couple of years and am loving it. We are currently enrolled in the Nuts and Bolts class with Shannon. Her classes are challenging, and she makes you work, but her program is creative , practically helpful and very fun. One of the things that makes Shannon such an engaging teacher is that she is constantly taking courses and incorporating new ideas into her teaching. There is nothing stale or repetitive about Zen Dog! One of my dogs could be reactive towards other dogs but has done so well in Shannon's classes. It makes me proud to see her so focussed and relaxed around other dogs. I think that we were so busy and concentrating so hard during class that my dog forgot to worry about other dogs and I forgot to worry about her. At the end of the day, I leave Shannon's classes with tired and content dogs and a really great feeling about my relationship with them. I highly recommend Zen Dog.
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.
I cannot say enough good about Zen Dog and especially Shannon. Anyone who registers with Zen will not be disappointed!!!😊
Shannon is an amazing trainer, we took the reactive dog training “GROWL” and learned how to help our dog be more relaxed and focused on us more than any trigger or distraction. Shannon explains everything very clearly and easy to follow. She is the best, we definitely recommend her!
Zen dog classes are amazing! They really challenged our dog and taught him practical and fun skills to take out into the world. Would highly recommend the classes, especially if you have an active dog!
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!!
Shannon has transformed our understanding of our large 4 y.o. rescue. We did 1:1 sessions to address some reactivity on leash and within a week of homework, we were amazed at the difference. Now we are working on other cool commands and our dog really seems to love learning, thanks to Shannon. She really knows her stuff, and explains the 'why' of the behaviour and how our human behaviour can help or hinder our dog's learning. We ask her all kinds of dog questions and she always responds with patience and wisdom. It is so much more than just training and the session flies by! I especially appreciate how she sends us our specific lessons as homework after our session, ensuring ever important consistency in our household. We highly recommend Shannon for you and your dog.
