Welcome Dog Lovers

We are Vancouver Island’s
Premier Dog Trainer

CONNECTING DOGS AND PEOPLE

CommuniCanine offers fun, effective dog training classes and lessons for the Saanich Peninsula and Greater Victoria, BC area. Private lessons and group classes are led by Darcie Jennings, veteran dog trainer and behaviour expert, and her staff.

Not on Vancouver Island? No Problem.
We also offer a range of Online Classes.

Voted Best Dog Training Company in Greater Victoria in 2022 & 2023

Imagine…

…taking your dog out for a nice, relaxing walk and coming home feeling good about it.

…letting him off leash at the park and feeling confident that he will come back when you call him.

…knowing you can trust your dog to make good choices when he’s socializing with others.

Those aren’t just dreams.

That’s what good training can do for you.

If you’re struggling to find balance in your relationship with your dog, solutions to problems bigger than you know how to handle on your own or just an inviting place to learn how to teach them the fundamentals of sit, down, come and stay, then we invite you to explore our website and let us help make those dreams your reality.

Imagine…

…taking your dog out for a nice, relaxing walk and coming home feeling good about it.

…letting him off leash at the park and feeling confident that he will come back when you call him.

…knowing you can trust your dog to make good choices when he’s socializing with others.

Those aren’t just dreams.

That’s what good training can do for you.

If you’re struggling to find balance in your relationship with your dog, solutions to problems bigger than you know how to handle on your own or just an inviting place to learn how to teach them the fundamentals of sit, down, come and stay, then we invite you to explore our website and let us help make those dreams your reality.

What Our Students Say

I really enjoyed the Total Recall training with CommuniCanine. I learned a lot, not just about recall training but also about some of my puppy’s preferences and more effective ways to work with him.
The training built each week, starting out with simple drills and increasing the distraction/difficulty as we progressed. It was effective and I would 100% recommend this course to others.

Caity Nicole, 7 month old Cockapoo

I can’t speak highly enough about the 1:1 training that my 8-month chocolate Lab and I had with Darcie – professional, knowledgeable, manageable and best of all, fun for both human and dog! I’ve had several dogs over the years but every time I get a new dog, I have more training to refresh my knowledge, learn new tricks and give my dog some time with a real expert! Thanks Darcie – an absolute pleasure! See you for Total Recall when classes resume.

Claire & Molly, 8 month old Chocolate Labrador

I have taken most of CommuniCanine’s classes over the last 10 years, with both Darcie (head trainer) and April. My dogs and I have learnt everything from manners, to training on trails, to coming when called, to fun with tricks, too! Darcie and April have an obvious love for dogs, are kind, have a terrific sense of humour, are patient and extremely knowledgable. Both the one-on-one and group classes have been invaluable, and they always feel like a safe and inclusive space! Thank you Darcie and April.

Heather, Craig and Laika & Amma, German Shepherd X (now passed on) and 1 year old Ridgeback X
Thank YOU, Darcie! I don’t know how you do it, but as I’ve said before, the only way that I can explain you to people is that you must have been a dog in a previous life. You just GET and KNOW dogs! Thank you for everything that you do. We hope to be taking more classes with you soon.
Brenna and Zara & Bella, 4 1/2 month and 11 1/2 year old Golden Retrievers

Darcie: thank you and Sarah for an excellent Total Recall program. Despite the weather … the content, sequencing of the fundamental steps and the pace of learning during each class were skillfully and thoughtfully taught. It was amazing to watch the dogs in the class progress from minimal or no recall to responding to their owners when called through some challenging barriers – especially in the last class.

Really appreciated Sarah’s presence and assistance in the classes and the comprehensive follow-up notes from each class. Bella and I are sorry that our sessions with you are over.

We’ve enjoyed all three classes (Manners, Tricks 1 and Total Recall) that we’ve taken with you in the past few months. They have certainly enhanced Bella’s transition from Mexico into her new home.

Maureen & Bella, 4 year old Mexican Mix

Thank you for all the wonderful training and insight you offered when I was learning how to communicate with Goose. I was out walking him the other day and thought of how far we’ve come, and I largely believe your lessons helped in getting us here. He’s been great, just over 6 now and extremely well behaved in nearly all situations – I often leave him with new people (front desk staff, dog sitters, vets) and always come back to a mountain of compliments. Thanks for all you do!

Alex & Goose, 3 year old Jindo cross

Darcie is so knowledgeable and my dog Otis absolutely loved her. Three years ago we put him in puppy school with Darcie. Now we decided to get a few private lessons. My husband and I are finally getting trained…lol Otis is a lot better behaved now that we know what we are doing. I would recommend CommuniCanine as your first choice if you are looking for classes or private lessons for your dog.

Wendy & Otis, 3 year old Leonberger

In the world of dog behaviourists, Darcie is a stand out. She got to the heart of a challenging behaviour quickly and unerringly, and continued to hone her analysis and understanding of my dog in ways that helped enormously. Darcie’s rare combination of knowledge, experience, and calm kindness meant I was motivated, supported and understood. And my dog loved her. Our sessions were fun, informative, and made a difference to us both. Darcie, you have my gratitude forever.

Susan & Florrie, 1 year old Labradoodle

Absolutely loved the Total Recall Class! It was wonderful to see how Darcie’s training techniques worked so successfully with all of the dogs, regardless of their breed, temperament, etc. So gratifying to have my dog come to me with such enthusiasm regardless of what was going on around her!

Maureen Garrity, 5 month old Sheltie

My pup was fearful of people/strangers and my vet recommended Darcie for training. From the very first training session, Darcie was able to analyze the behaviour challenges I was having with my pup, and gave me tips that I could use to help my dog feel safe.

Marla & Jessie, 3 month old Cockapoo

So grateful for Darcie and the CommuniCanine Team for all their services and training and wisdom provided to set my dog and I up for a great future together during his first year! I’ve done the puppy class, Mind Your Manners and Total Recall, which all provide a great foundation for the rest of my dogs life and so many tips. I have a crazy 90 pound Retriever, and I’m so glad that I did them all, and highly recommend!

Randy Kennett, 1 year old Golden Retriever
Darcie is a gift to our dog and our family. We are so grateful for the training she provided; we learned more from five one on one sessions than we did from months of book reading, video watching, and advice from friends.
Linda & James Franco, 1 1/2 year old Old English Bulldog

When you find someone who is really talented in a profession that seriously enhances your own life it’s wonderful. As you know, I love my Sable and being able to communicate and work with her, and see her joy in it, is a daily pleasure. Look forward to our next training session, Darcie.

Carol & Sable, 2 year old American Cocker Spaniel

We are taking puppy classes and have had a one on one consultation with Darcie. Darcie has helped us understand the reasons for our puppy’s problematic behaviours, and given us tools to correct him. We are happy to report that after only a few days of implementation we are seeing improvements. He is barking less at strangers, visitors, and we were able to keep him calm through fireworks. Highly recommend Darcie for her knowledge, skills and compassion.

Elise, Greg, Kate & Charlie Brown, 4 month old Australian Shepherd
Darcie, your training and advice has been life changing for us. All of us are so thankful we met you! Seeing the changes in Bailey is amazing, she is so much more confident and happy. Thank you so much for helping us understand her. ❤
Carleigh, Kyle and Bailey, 5 year old Coonhound X

What we offer:

Group Classes

In-person group obedience and specialty classes for any skill level.

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Behavioural Counselling

Discover areas of improvement with specialized training.

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Private Classes

Specialized canine tutoring just for your and your pup.

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Board and Train

Send them to us and let us do all the work for you!

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Online Programs

Our signature dog training but in the comfort of your own home.

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Free Resources to Explore

CommuniCanine wants to give you all the tools you need to have a healthy and happy relationship with your dog.

Our Dog Blog is filled with great advice, tips & tricks, yummy dog recipes, product reviews and more!

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The good news is your pup doesn’t need to meet hundreds of people and dogs... (continued) Continue Reading Six Holiday Safety Tips Since many of my friends, clients and relatives already have their Christmas decorations up, I wanted to share some simple safety tips for the holiday season to help keep your dogs safe, healthy and out of the emergency vet this... (continued) Continue Reading Week Six: A Wrap-up and Review at the Park In week six of our training series with reporter Maggie of A-channel’s Breakfast Television and her 7 month old Labradoodle, Lucy, we wrap up our lessons with a quick overview of what we covered, a demo of Maggie's now excellent... (continued) Continue Reading Preparing Your Dog Before Your First Baby Arrives For some dogs, transitioning into life with a new baby is effortless. For others? Not so much. So I'm sharing with you some of the most important things to start teaching your dog NOW, before that baby arrives, that will... (continued) Continue Reading Trail Etiquette: 5 Ways to Share the Trails We undoubtedly live in one of THE. BEST. places to walk our dogs in all of Canada, but sometimes we share very different views on how to best share our walking spaces. Here are 5 simple etiquette tips for you... (continued) Continue Reading Balance in Exercise Lately, I have been spending a lot of time telling people to change how they exercise their dogs. It is a common misconception - and one that I, myself, used to perpetuate - that dogs need a good hour or... (continued) Continue Reading Week Three: Discouraging Jumping & Moving to More Distracting Environments In week three of our training series with reporter Maggie of A-channel’s Breakfast Television and her 7 month old Labradoodle, Lucy, we talk about how to discourage your dog from jumping up on you. We also discuss why it's important... 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(continued) Continue Reading Socialization Myths: Part 1 There are so many myths about socializing dogs, that it inspired me to create a 3 part video series to bust some of the most common ones I hear. Tune in for Part 2 this week! Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRYxouBpEFc In this... (continued) Continue Reading 3 Tips to Help Reduce Barking When Your Dog is Alone We all know what a nuisance barking can sometimes be (especially if you own a Terrier like I do!), so to help you maintain a good relationship with your neighbours, I'm sharing a few simples strategies about how to help... (continued) Continue Reading No more biting issues! Charlie is doing great! The biting/mouthing is not really an issue any more. If it does happen, it ends pretty quickly without any drama- it’s great! I bought a 20ft rope which I let him drag around in the yard... 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(continued) Continue Reading How to Get the Perfect Dog (As posted in Monday Magazine February 2014) Imagine taking your dog to the park or on a hike, letting him off leash and trusting him to come back when you call him? Or bringing him on your next family trip with... (continued) Continue Reading Bark Box Halloween Fun If you haven't heard of Bark Box, it's a monthly subscription of dog products that are sent directly to your door. Each box is full of toys and treats customised to your dogs size and each month offers a unique... (continued) Continue Reading Tuna Fudge Training Treats These are healthy, easy to make training treats that appeal to even the fussiest of palates and can cater to dogs with food allergies. They also taste good enough that if you get hungry while you’re training, you can snack... (continued) Continue Reading Freedom is Earned, It's Not a Right I know how important it is to you to be able to give your dog(s) off leash freedom. 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Our Youtube Channel is all about expertise and advice surrounding common canine issues and behavioral training.

Join our Facebook page and stay up to date on all the latest canine news, including new program dates and specials.