Jason is certified master professional dog trainer and dog behavior specialist based in Guelph, Ontario and has trained dogs internationally. Jason studied the art and science of dog training with Michael Ellis at the Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers in Santa Rosa, California, and also with Ivan Balabanov in Plant City, Florida. Jason has the distinction of officially being the 1st Canadian dog trainer to be certified by Ivan Balabanov in his unique play based system, Training Without Conflict. He apprenticed with master dog trainer Dave McMahon in Niagara Falls, and has also studied the Science of Working Dogs with Professional Animal Behavior Associates at the University of Guelph and attended scent detection seminars with Urban Search and Rescue, ATS K9 Services, Search and Rescue Ontario, and FireK9, an arson detection dog unit based in California.

Jason’s international dog training experience includes working in Cebu, Philippines with the Island Rescue Organization (2012, 2014, 2016) to provide behavioral rehabilitation and obedience training for many of the 54 Pitbulls rescued from the dog fighting syndicates in Manila and was also a guest presenter at the annual Cebu City, Philippines Dog Expo in 2012. In 2019 Jason taught a series of dog training seminars throughout the Philippines. Jason has worked extensively with street dogs in the Philippines and in India alongside Red Paws Rescue and the Gandhi Animal Care Centre, and has taught dog training seminars and workshops in Delhi, India. In the United States, he has trained dogs in California and for private clients on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Jason has trained scent detection dogs for use in conservation and research of rare and endangered species and has been a consultant at an Ontario Veteran’s Care program, helping Canadian military veterans with their PTSD service dogs. Jason worked with Companion Paws Canada as an adjudicator and evaluator for therapy dog assessment and certification for 5 years and continues to work with the John Howard Society teaching “Paws for Praise” workshops to high-risk youth. Jason has also recently collaborated with Vets Beyond Borders and lectured to Veterinary students from universities all across Canada.

Awards

Voted Guelph’s #1 Best Dog Trainer by Guelph Mercury/ Tribune Reader’s Choice Awards 2024
Winner of Best Dog Trainer Award, Guelph Community Votes 2024
Voted Guelph’s #1 Best Dog Trainer by Guelph Mercury/ Tribune Reader’s Choice Awards 2023
Winner of Best Dog Trainer Award, Guelph Community Votes 2023
Winner of Best Dog Trainer Award, Guelph Community Votes 2022
Voted Guelph’s #1 Best Dog Trainer by Guelph Mercury/ Tribune Reader’s Choice Awards 2022
Winner of Best Dog Trainer Award, Guelph Community Votes 2021
Voted Guelph’s #1 Best Dog Trainer by Guelph Mercury/ Tribune Reader’s Choice Awards 2021
Voted Guelph’s #1 Best Dog Trainer by Guelph Mercury/Tribune Reader’s Choice Awards, 2020
Voted Guelph’s #1 Best Dog Trainer by Guelph Mercury/Tribune Reader’s Choice Awards, 2019
Voted Guelph’s #1 Best Dog Trainer by Guelph Mercury/Tribune Reader’s Choice Awards, 2018
Voted Guelph’s #1 Best Dog Trainer by Guelph Mercury/Tribune Reader’s Choice Awards, 2017
Voted Guelph’s ” Favourite Dog Trainer” by Guelph Mercury’s Readers Choice Awards, 2015
Diamond award winner for ” Best Dog Trainer” in 2012