About Pawsitively

About Pawsitively Service Dogs

Knowledge, skills, and compassionate care.

Our mission is to empower handlers with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to build strong, lifelong partnerships with their dogs — while treating every dog in our care as if they were our own.

Our approach

Professional support, with room for the whole dog.

We believe every dog deserves training that considers their individual temperament, needs and abilities.

For service dogs in particular, welfare and suitability matter just as much as training. Not every dog is suited to service work, and recognizing when a different path is in a dog's best interest is an important part of ethical service dog training.

Every training plan is tailored to the individual needs of you and your dog, using ethical, evidence-informed methods that build trust, confidence, and lasting results. We maintain high standards of safety and animal welfare in every service we provide.

Meet the team

Care is personal here.

Trainer — British Columbia

Jenn

Jenn brings 8 years of dog-training experience to Pawsitively Service Dogs and provides service dog and pet-dog training in the Greater Victoria and West Shore areas of British Columbia.

Her training approach focuses on building clear communication between dogs and their handlers using humane, evidence-based methods. She works with clients to develop practical skills that can be carried into everyday life and real-world environments rather than existing only within a training session.

Through Pawsitively's Owner-Trainer Program, Jenn supports service dog teams as they progress through foundational training, public-access skills, environmental confidence, neutrality and individualized disability-mitigating task training.

Her goal is to help handlers develop capable, confident working partnerships while keeping the individual dog's welfare and suitability at the centre of the training process.

Credentials

One-year apprenticeship with Pawsitively Service Dogs
Dog Training Diploma through Pearson College
K9 First Aid
Training service dogs for 8 years
Training pet dogs for longer still

Founder & Trainer — Nova Scotia

Melanie

Melanie is the founder of Pawsitively Service Dogs and brings more than 11 years of dog-training experience to her work with service dog teams and pet-dog clients.

Her approach emphasizes humane, evidence-based training practices, clear communication and the individual needs of both the handler and the dog. Rather than treating service dog training as a checklist of behaviours, Melanie focuses on developing reliable working partnerships while considering temperament, emotional wellbeing and whether service work remains appropriate for the individual dog.

Through Pawsitively's Owner-Trainer Program, Melanie works directly with handlers throughout the service dog training process—from foundational skills and public access to individualized disability-mitigating tasks and preparation for applicable testing.

She is committed to continuing education and to raising expectations for ethical, transparent service dog training in Canada.

Credentials

9 years specializing in service dog training
Training pet dogs for longer
Bachelor of Arts (Major: Family Studies, Minor: Psychology)
Social Work Diploma
UPK9 Academy Graduate
Victoria Stilwell Academy (In Progress)
K9 First Aid
CASDT — Canadian Association of Service Dog Trainers
CAPDT — Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers

Vice Chair, Service Dog Committee — Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers (CAPDT)

Administrator

Arielle

Arielle keeps the day-to-day running smoothly — from enquiries and scheduling to the details that let our trainers focus on the dogs. She's usually the friendly voice or reply you'll hear from first.

Credentials

K9 First Aid

Empower the handler

The goal is not dependence on a trainer. It’s a person who feels capable, informed, and connected to their dog.

Make learning humane

Good training respects communication, consent, rest, and the very real emotions behind behaviour.

Keep care dependable

Safety systems, clear expectations, and consistent professional care give families room to breathe.

Recognized by

Accredited & affiliated

Canadian Association of Service Dog Trainers round badge

Member, Canadian Association of Service Dog Trainers (CASDT)

Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers Member round badge

Member, Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers (CAPDT)

BBB RATING: A+

BBB Accredited Business — Nova Scotia

BBB Accredited Business — British Columbia

Nova Scotia

Halifax Regional Municipality

Service dog programs, potential service dog assessments, pet training, puppy socialization, obedience, and consultations.

British Columbia

Greater Victoria & West Shore

Service dog programs, pet training, consultations, and safety-first dog walking with local support.

Meet the organizations we work alongside

Let’s work together

The right plan begins with a real conversation.

Get in touch