Kari and Elysia’s journey started through shared experiences—they both became Family Paws Parent Educators around the same time, both in the midst of mentorships with Jenn Shryock(founder of Family Paws), and built family-oriented businesses to balance work with raising kids. Brought together by mutual interests and a deep understanding of the unique challenges of being dog trainers and mothers, they quickly found a rhythm of complementing each other’s strengths. Before they knew it, daily conversations and shared insights became a regular part of their lives, strengthened by the uncanny coincidence of both having dogs named Mika/Mikka!
From growing up in California to moving to the Yukon, then to Alberta, my enthusiasm for training dogs has never waivered. Being a mother and navigating having children in a home with dogs has given me an understanding of the feelings and complexities involved with children growing up with dogs. My love of both children and dogs has motivated me to focus my training on the dynamics between dogs and children both young and old. This drew me to becoming a Licensed Family Paws Parent Educator(FPPE). Educating children about dog safety and how dogs communicate is one of my favorite parts of what I do. My eagerness for knowledge has driven me to always continue my education, staying up to date with the latest science based training methods. With a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture I have gone on to become a Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP), Animal Behaviour Certified Dog Trainer(ABCDT), and completing the L.E.G.S Applied Ethology Family Mediation Course. I am a supporting member of Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers(CAPDT) as well as the Alberta Force Free Alliance. Watching relationships form and blossom with families and their dogs is why I do what I do. Because dogs are family too!
I am a passionate dog trainer with a background in education, dedicated to enhancing the bond between families and their canine companions. Becoming a Mother myself fostered a passion to spread awareness and support in navigating the chaos that kids and dogs in the same home bring. This deep love for working with new and expecting families led me to completing the Family Paws Parent Education program and focusing my attention on cases involving babies and small children. Holding a CPDT-KA certification, I specialize in positive reinforcement techniques and am committed to safe and humane practices to foster a strong relationship between dogs and their families. I completed the Master Course in Aggression in Dogs and am fascinated by the complexities that dogs sometimes bring to their people. As a proud supporting member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and the Alberta Force Free Alliance, I am committed to force free methods that are supported by ongoing research in the dog training field. I believe that every dog deserves a chance to thrive in a loving home and I work tirelessly to empower families with the tools and provide the support and resources they need for successful training and happy, well-adjusted pets. The most rewarding part of my career is watching bonds strengthen and form between dogs and their families.
Whether you're a seasoned pet parent or new to the world of dogs, we invite you to embark on this adventure with us.
Join us at Pawsitive Families Education & Training where your family becomes an extension of ours, and together, we'll create tales of love, companionship, and wagging tails.
