There is now a new — and the only — BC SPCA-approved dog trainer in town.
The Squamish company, Two Blue Tails Dog Walking and Training, has recently received the BC SPCA's AnimalKind accreditation.
While there have been other companies in the past with this accreditation, they have since left town, making Two Blue Tails the only company based in the region to hold the accreditation.
The company is owned and operated by local resident Hilary Webster.
“My first dog, Palmer, put me on this path. He found it challenging to see other dogs on leashes, and I had a deep desire to find out why,” said Webster, in an SPCA news release.
“I had worked with a trainer before, but their approach didn’t resonate with me. I decided to then seek out more information and found the world of science-based dog training.”
Two Blue Tails focuses on the dog's well-being.
“We focus on helping dog guardians adjust their expectations to allow their dogs to live their life to the fullest," Webster said in the release.
The AnimalKind accreditation program was created to help dog guardians find trainers who use evidence-based positive reinforcement training methods and are committed to dog welfare, according to the release.
To be accredited, the company must undergo an audit to verify it follows AnimalKind dog training standards.
"It could be extremely challenging for dog guardians to know who to trust when training their dogs, especially in B.C. where dog training is unregulated," said Nicole Fenwick, manager of research and standards for the BC SPCA.
"It is encouraging and inspiring to see trainers like Hilary work to raise the bar in their industry. Two Blue Tails’ commitment to animal welfare will greatly benefit dogs and their guardians in the region.”
For Webster, the lack of regulation makes BC SPCA AnimalKind necessary.
“AnimalKind provides immense value to the dog training industry. Dog training and animal welfare are synonymous; separating the two is impossible. The ability to show my commitment to that is important to me," she said.
The BC SPCA launched the first set of AnimalKind standards — for wildlife and rodent control companies — in 2018.
To learn more about AnimalKind accreditation, what to look for in a trainer, or find a trainer near you at animalkind.ca.
