By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: June 18, 2019
Paw in Hand, a local dog training company, has become one of the first AnimalKind accredited dog company in the Sea to Sky region.
The BC SPCA launched the innovative program to accredit dog-training businesses in British Columbia in January this year. The program sets out science-based training standards to ensure humane treatment for dogs.
The first companies to become AnimalKind accredited were based in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island, and two companies in the West Kootenays were recently accredited.
The BC SPCA aims to reach more areas of the province to connect people with humane dog trainers.
The dog training industry is unregulated. Many trainers say they are using humane methods, but until now SPCA had no way to assess this or to make a referral.
“With the new accreditation program, we can confidently recommend AnimalKind companies that have been audited by the BC SPCA, knowing they are committed to using positive and effective training methods,” said Dr. Sara Dubois, chief scientific officer for the BC SPCA.
Maren Muller Bruun, the owner of the Paw in Hand, said she was excited to be the first one in the Sea to Sky to be dog accredited.
“We are so proud to be part of the AnimalKind community and to have the support of BC SPCA so we can in turn support dog owners and animals everywhere,” she said.
Reward-based training is not only effective, but it protects the physical and emotional health of your pet and the special bond that you share, said Dr. Karen van Haaften, the BC SPCA’s senior manager of behaviour and welfare and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviourists.
“We hope the AnimalKind accreditation program will be a resource to help dog owners find the right trainer for their dog,” she said.
