Meet Kristi – Dog Trainer, Behaviour Nerd, and Human Support System
Hey, I’m Kristi! I’m the face behind Ideal Canine and your go-to girl for turning “WTF is happening?” moments into “Okay, I’ve got this.”
Before dog training, I spent 10 years working in mental health and addictions. That experience gave me a deep understanding of behaviour change… not just for dogs, but for humans, too. My approach is empathetic, real, and rooted in science.
I understand people. I know how hard it can be to ask for help, to feel judged, or to wonder if you’re somehow failing your dog.
Here’s the truth: You’re not failing. You just haven’t had the right support and that’s where I come in!
Now, as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Licensed Family Dog Mediator, I specialize in on-leash reactivity and helping overwhelmed dog owners go from frustrated, confused and burnt out to confident and loving life with their dogs.
Ideal Canine isn’t a cookie-cutter training operation. I work with families who are struggling. Like, really struggling with their dog’s behaviour. I specialize in reactivity, frustration, and big feelings (on both ends of the leash). I also train spicy working-line Malinois, so trust me when I say that nothing your dog does is going to scare me off.
Clients come to me after trying everything else: Big box stores, YouTube tips, Tiktok training advice, other trainers who promised fast fixes and left them feeling like failures. What makes Ideal Canine different is that I actually listen. I take the time to understand your dog, your lifestyle, and your goals, and I build a custom plan that works for you.
You'll never be judged here. Just supported, educated, and cheered on every step of the way.
This is training that feels right for you and your dog.
Meet Bren
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Bren was my very first Malinois, and like most Malinois, he came in hot and never looked back.
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At just 1.5 years old, he validated as a certified security patrol dog through the Justice Institute of British Columbia. We worked together across a variety of sites including, federal, residential, and everything in between.
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Bren isn’t just brawn. He’s also a bit of a legend. He became the first Malinois in history to earn an ADBA Top Dog Champion title. No big deal.
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We’ve trained and competed in PSA, Top Dog, and Weight Pull. We have even dabbled in Rally-O and dock diving, just to keep life interesting.
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These days, Bren is semi-retired from the sport world (don’t tell him that because he still thinks he’s in his prime). Now, he puts his experience and confidence to good use as my right-hand man when working with reactive dog clients. Basically, he’s a little canine mentor.
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Meet Baaad Juju
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Juju came all the way from the Netherlands.
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When Bren officially retired from PSA (bite suit and all), Juju stepped up as my next competition dog without missing a beat. She’s my current training partner and PSA teammate, and we’ve been loving the process together. With any luck (and a lot of reps), we’re aiming to hit the trial field in 2025.
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Juju is sharp, driven, and deeply loyal, but don’t let her serious working face fool you. She’s also a world-class cuddler… as long as you’re me. She’s very much a one-woman dog, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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