About
Thank you so much for visiting my website! FLOPPS is a local owned dog training business in Edmonton that’s owned and operated by Joanna. From 2011, she created a unique company in Edmonton that offers certified professional dog training and premium dog walking services. Joanna enjoys helping people train their dogs so they can live in harmony. Whether you need private or group dog training FLOPPS is here to help!
Joanna, CPDT-KA, ABCDT
About Joanna and Bear
Working with dogs and their people gives me great happiness. I know first hand how difficult and frustrating it can be to have a dog that misbehaves and acts nasty in public. Eleven years ago, my then four month old rescue dog Bear was frantic and out of control. He was surrendered by his previous family for nipping, jumping up and growling at them. At the shelter, Bear hid at the back of his run, too scared to meet anybody and mostly kept to himself at first when we took him home. Our first walk with Bear was a struggle as he pulled hard on my arm, barking and lunging at people and sadly, scared one child to tears. Our first off leash experience with Bear was stressful because he didn’t listen or come when we called him.
It was pretty awful, but after dedicating time and patience training Bear, I’m proud to say he passed the Canine Good Neighbour CKC test! Having a reactive dog like Bear propelled me to learn all I could about problem dog behaviour and about the quickest most effective ways to train a dog with problem behaviour. It’s my goal to help people train their dogs and solve problem behaviour, bringing joy and peace back in to their lives.
I keep my dog training skills sharp staying abreast of the latest in dog training by studying leaders in the dog training world. I have enjoyed rescuing several different delightful dogs of various breeds each with their own personality traits. Each dog has challenged me to understand dog behaviour, learn new training methods by taking Puppy, Basic Level 1, Manners Unleashed, Tricks, Growl for Reactive and Fearful Dogs, Scent Detections and Agility training class to better my leadership skills and deepen my knowledge of interpreting dog body language. My dog Bear started out as a dog that was reactive to people and understand the difficulty of trying to manage a fearful dog that lunges and barks at people. I’m proud to say that after dedicating a lot of time training Bear that he’s has passed his Canine Good Neighbour CKC test!
I also enjoy horseback riding, barrel racing, jumping, reining and working cows on my fast and feisty quarter horse named Fame.
I love learning more about horse behaviour, their body language and how to communicate clearly with them by applying the Doug Mills Training Thru Trust Horse Program doing liberty work in the round pen and halter/
List of my Education & Certification
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPTD-KA) the highest level of recognition in dog training. This certification is given by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) and has world wide recognition. This means I have completed hundreds of hours as an instructor, volunteered training dogs and passed a rigorous dog training exam. In order to keep this designation, I must attend continuing education courses taught by leaders in the field. I have chosen to pursue the CPTD-KA designation because of its code of ethics, scientifically proven dog training techniques and level of professionalism that comes with completing the continuing education units needed to maintain my certification, keeping my skills cutting edge. Please visit https://www.ccpdt.org for more information.
- Dog Trainer Certification (ABCDT) from Animal Behaviour College (www.animalbehaviourcollege.ca) and have completed the Dog Trainer Apprenticeship Program at Dogspaw (www.dogspaw.ca).
- Currently – Studying to become a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine – Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA), only 2 trainers in Edmonton with this certification as of Sept 2017, and Certified Behavior Consultant (CDBC) from International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants(IAABC), only 1 other trainer in Alberta with this certification.
I also enjoy horseback riding, barrel racing, jumping, reining and working cows on my fast and feisty quarter horse named Fame.
I love learning more about horse behaviour, their body language and how to communicate clearly with them by applying the Doug Mills Training Thru Trust Horse Program doing liberty work in the round pen and halter/ground work.
Certification, Education, Community Partnerships and Accomplishments
Currently – Studying to become a Certified Behavior Consultant
Sept 2019 – A Dog Wellness Seminar by Turid Rugaas at Dogspaw
May 2019 – BAT 2.0 (Behavior Adjustment Therapy) for Fearful, Anxious or Aggressive Dogs to help your dog to be more comfortable with what she is fearful or upset about by Grisha Stewart MA, CPDT-KA, KPACTP at Dogspaw
Nov 2108 – Teaching Sporting Detection Seminar by Roseanna Gullekson BFA, CPDT-KA at Dogspaw
May 2018 – Aggression in Dogs, Safety, Defensive Handling, and Training Seminar by Michael Shikashio, CDBC and Trish Loehr MS, CPDT-KA, ACCBC, CDBC at Dogma, Calgary.
Apr 2018 – Veterinary Behavioural Medicine for Dogs and Cats Seminar by Dr. Karen L. Overall, MA, VMD, PhD, DACVB, CAAB at Cochrane & Area Humane Society
Nov 2017 – recommended dog trainer for Zoe’s Animal Rescue
Sept 2017 – A Guide To Living With & Training A Fearful Dog Seminar by Debbie Jacobs, CPDT-KA
Aug 2017 – Assessing Aggression Thresholds Seminar by Sue Sternberg
July 2017 – Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid Participant and course completer
June 2017 – recommended dog trainer for Heart Prints Dog Rescue Society (one of only two recommended dog trainers as of Oct 2017)
May 2017 – Member of the Alberta Force Free Alliance (AFFA)
December 2016 – recommended dog trainer for Soi Dog Rescue
November 2015 – Head Dog Trainer at Hollywoof Grooming Parlor
September 2015 – Certified Professional Dog Trainer designation CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed Testing one out of only seven trainers in the Edmonton with this designation as of Sept 2017)
June 2015 – Nicole Wilde Seminar at Dogspaw
May 2015 – CPDT Candidate (Certified Professional Dog Trainer)
May 2015 – Canine Good Neighbour obtained for Bear from CKC (Canadian Kennel Club)
January 2015 – Dog Trainer at Dogspaw
December 2014 – Dog Trainer Apprenticeship Program at Dogspaw
June 2014 –BBB Accredited Business
May 2014 – “Dogs Everywhere!” by Trish King, CPDT-KA
February 2014 –Introductory Sporting Scent Detection Seminar by Roseanna Gullekson BFA, CPDT-KA at Dogspaw
December 2013 –Manners Unleashed Graduate by Kris Rooney, CPDT-KA at Dogspaw
November 2013 – Trick Class Gradate by Savanna Garries and Kathy Belec (ABCDT) at Dogspaw
October 2013 – Growl Class Graduate by Kris Rooney (CPDT-KA) at Dogspaw
July 2013 – ABC Certified Dog Trainer at Animal Behaviour College
February 2012 – Pet First Aid & CPR Certification at the Edmonton Humane Society