About Us

Meet Our Team

Gwen Little is a devoted dog trainer with a CPDT-KA certification, signifying her unwavering commitment to sound training principles and ethical standards. She also holds a Pet First Aid certification and a BSc. in economics. Gwen is an honours graduate of Animal Behavior College, mentored under Sharon Worsley, and a graduate of Absolute Dogs' PDT and Geek programs.

Gwen's dedication to ongoing education is paramount. She actively participates in conferences and consistently pursues additional courses through Animal Behavior College and Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, ensuring her knowledge remains current.

She advocates for science-based training with a focus on positive reinforcement, a humane, enjoyable approach that strengthens the bond between dogs and their owners.

Beyond her qualifications, Gwen hosts monthly seminars for new puppy owners and contributes articles to prominent publications. Her lifelong connection with animals led her to a fulfilling career as a dog trainer, where she harmonizes relationships and spreads happiness. Gwen Little is more than a trainer; she's an inspiration, a force for good, and a true advocate for our four-legged companions.

Kyla McNeill, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, is very happy to have joined the Paus-n-Train team in the fall of 2018. Kyla is dedicated to helping dogs and their humans understand each other while creating a rewarding, lifelong relationship together.

Kyla’s passion for dog training began when she was 8-years-old and her family adopted a high-energy, independent, Siberian Husky. This special dog inspired Kyla to begin researching and learning everything she could about dog training, putting it into practice with her own dogs as well as family and friends’ dogs. Kyla has previously worked as a dog walker, in a dog daycare, apprenticed with another trainer and assisted in training classes prior to becoming a full-time dog trainer.

Kyla believes that continuing education is extremely important and strives to keep her knowledge and skills up to date by frequently attending and participating in seminars, workshops, and courses, both online and in person.

Kyla has found that positive reinforcement and motivational techniques are the most effective way to train behaviours, while also creating great understanding in the dog, and fostering a strong relationship between dog and handler that is based on communication and trust.

Kyla lives with her fur-family of three cats, a border collie, and two rescue dogs; a miniature dachshund and a wire fox terrier. Kyla greatly enjoys training and competing in the sport of agility with her border collie Niamh. Kyla and Niamh have competed in both Regional and National agility competitions. Kyla and Niamh also love being members of the performance dog team Woofjocks Canine All Stars.

Kyla brings her great love of dogs, years of experience, and keen observation to her work with all breeds, sizes, and personalities of dogs.

Meet Jess, an animal lover whose passion for nurturing the bond between humans and their furry companions is nothing short of remarkable. She began her journey as a Vet Tech in Toronto, gaining over a decade of experience in Animal Nutrition and Health.

Jess's path to becoming a certified Trick Dog Instructor and a Trainer of the Year, along with her Animal Actors Certified Evaluator designation, is a testament to her dedication. Her love for training and behavior, kindled during her college years as a Vet Tech, extends beyond dogs to various species, including cats, bunnies, and even her pet fish, who respond to her cues.

With her first dog, Jasper, a Papillon, Jess achieved astounding success, earning him a Trick Dog Champion title at just 8 months of age. By the age of one and a half, Jasper had mastered over 100 tricks and claimed the Grand Champion Trick Dog title.

Beyond her love for animals, Jess is also a talented artist and amateur photographer, immersing herself in the beauty of the world through her lens and canvas. In her free time, she finds serenity in hiking and painting.

Jess's inspiring journey showcases the power of passion and dedication. As a certified Trick Dog Instructor, Trainer of the Year, and Animal Actors Certified Evaluator, she's committed to strengthening the bond between people and their pets. Join Jess in this extraordinary adventure, and together, we can make the world a better place for animals and their human companions.

Jen started as an assistant trainer in 2010 with Who’s Walking Who Dog Training when she was looking for new things to try with her first dog, a Havanese, named Missy. Together they found agility, and have never looked back! Missy earned her agility Gold Standard Title and Gold Award of Merit, as well as her Silver Versatility Award, and won the 2018 AAC National Championship.

Her current dogs include Master Chief, a Havanese, River, an Australian Shepherd, and Ivy, a German Shepherd. All of her dogs play agility, and Chief has also competed at the Agility Association of Canada's Provincial and National competitions. Chief is already at the Masters level, has earned his Expert Trick Dog title, and has also earned his Excellent title in Rally-O. River is just getting started in competitions, and is working on her Novice Rally-O title, and has already earned her Expert Trick Dog Title! Ivy is a high-energy girl who is teaching Jen how to up her training game!

In real life, Jen is a high school Music Teacher, and when she isn't performing with her bands, she can be found performing with the "Woofjocks Canine All Stars" at various fairs and festivals, and attending dog competitions or seminars almost every weekend.

Stephanie has always been passionate about all animals, helping friends and family with pet sitting at every opportunity.

Stephanie has been playing agility for 4+ years with both of her dogs. She has achieved multiple Q’s working towards her first titles. She has been apprenticing under Kyla for more than 2 years and is now teaching our Beginner Agility classes.

Stephanie is attentive to detail when teaching. She wants to give every team as much information and feedback for them to be as successful together as possible and her students love her for it.

She started as an assistant agility trainer with Kyla and has been apprenticing for more than 2 years.

Stephanie is positioning herself to learn from every member of the team to develop her handling and teaching skills. She is also working towards her CPDT-KA designation.

Jacquie possesses the remarkable ability to steer the Paus-n-Train Team on a steady course. With a warm and welcoming demeanor, she's the cheerful voice guiding phone calls and managing inquiries.

A dedicated canine enthusiast, Jacquie has honed her training skills in nearly every class offered by Paus-n-Train. In the near future, she'll open her heart and home to a new four-legged companion. Notably, she has also accomplished the rigorous PDT and Geek training courses under the tutelage of Absolute Dogs.

Jacquie's passion for training and her role in team coordination make her an essential part of Paus-n-Train, where her expertise, enthusiasm, and commitment shine.

Mission Statement

"Empowering Bonds, Transforming Lives: Unleashing Potential Together"

At Paus-n-Train, we've always believed in the transformative power of rewards-based dog training. For years, we've dedicated ourselves to creating happy, well-behaved pet dogs and fostering unbreakable human-canine bonds. But now, it's time to take our mission to new heights.

Our vision is to become a beacon of hope and empowerment in the world of canine companionship. We're not just about training dogs – we're about cultivating lifelong relationships that enrich the lives of both humans and their four-legged friends. As we stand on the threshold of a new chapter, we are excited to introduce a monumental expansion that will change lives on an even grander scale.

Introducing our visionary initiative: "Empowering Bonds, Transforming Lives: Unleashing Potential Together." This bold mission is rooted in the belief that every dog has the potential to be a loving family member and a source of unwavering support. But we're not stopping at happy pets – we're extending our reach to embrace a wider purpose.

In collaboration with our dedicated team and Atlas Assistance Dogs, we're embarking on a journey to provide owner-trained service dog programs that redefine what it means to live with purpose and independence. By combining our proven rewards-based learning techniques with the unique needs of those who require assistance, we're pioneering a new era of compassionate service dog training.

This endeavor isn't just about training dogs to perform tasks – it's about empowering individuals to lead more fulfilling lives. We're striving to create a world where every service dog is a testament to the extraordinary potential of collaboration between humans and animals. Our commitment to science-based practices, unwavering dedication, and the magic of the human-canine connection will drive this vision forward.

Join us in shaping a future where dogs aren't just pets, and people aren't just owners – they're partners in a journey of empowerment and transformation. Together, we can unleash the boundless potential within every dog, every person, and every relationship. Together, we can forge unbreakable bonds and inspire lives to reach new heights.

Are you ready to be part of a movement that goes beyond training and truly changes lives? Welcome to the evolution of Paus-n-Train. Welcome to a world where empowerment knows no bounds. Welcome to "Empowering Bonds, Transforming Lives: Unleashing Potential Together."

Vision Statement

Our vision is to transcend the realm of traditional dog training. We are a guiding light, leading the way to a future where the relationship between humans and dogs is a harmonious symphony of love, trust, and endless potential.

In this vision, we stand at the forefront of progress. Our methods are deeply rooted in cutting-edge research, and we are unapologetic champions of humane practices that elevate your dog's well-being and enhance your journey together. We don't just train dogs; we unlock their true potential and enrich your life in ways you never thought possible.

Values

Passion – the fire within us inspires those around us to achieve their training dreams
Transparency – open and honest for all to see HOW we interact with ALL species including human end of the leash
Continuous Learning / Constant Improvement – stagnation is not an option for our Team of trainers
Commitment to Customers – they are the reason for our success and why we remain so passionate about training
Diversity – we are inclusive of all dogs and all people