What our students say

This was our 2nd course by CommuniCanine.

Great classes. We and our dog learned a lot. Classes are very focused. Both instructors were great with us and our dog!

Highly recommend CommuniCanine.

Have only wonderful things to say about our experience with Darcie & the trainers at CommuniCanine! We just finished their Puppy SuperStart class, and the lesson plans, individual attention provided even in a group setting, and the trainers knowledge was all phenomenal. Highly recommend!

Kismet and I just completed the Puppy Super Start training. The small classes and patient and knowledgeable guidance from Darcie and Tatum made going to class so enjoyable and fun. Received great tips for socializing Kismet into a people world, as well as super useful skills.

Added bonus of receiving emailed recap notes after each lesson is also very helpful to remember what was taught and to practice between classes and moving forward.

We’re already registered and looking forward to CommuniCanine’s Mind Your Manners classes in January.

The Puppy SuperStart class was informative and fun. Even if you have had dogs before it is a good reminder of how to deliver the cues and rewards, especially in an environment with the distraction of the other dogs. I would definitely recommend this class for you and your pup!

Communicanine’s Puppy SuperStart program is an excellent way to learn how to teach your puppy the basics. Tatum and Sarah are knowledgeable, kind and endlessly patient, while working through the planned lessons and while answering the many questions we have as new puppy parents.

I highly recommend these classes to learn or refresh the basics and to give your puppy a great start.

It was wonderful. Enjoyed the play time. Excellent trainers.

We enrolled our two dogs in CommuniCanine’s Puppy SuperStart classes and we’re very happy with the training that they received, as well as all the helpful tips and expertise that we received. We have also used CommuniCanine for other issues that have arisen with our dogs, when we weren’t sure what to do or how to handle the situation and have been very happy with the results. We highly recommend Communicanine and the approach they use!

Darcie is a fantastic trainer and really helped us turn around our dog’s behaviour. She also explained our dog’s personality so we could understand why.

Our dog has completed the Puppy SuperStart and Mind Your Manners programs and currently enrolled in the Recall one. We can’t say enough how much we enjoy these classes. The classes are fun, engaging and you can really notice the difference in all the dogs after 6 weeks. We will continue to enroll our dog in Darcy’s classes and are super grateful for her team’s help getting our puppy to be perfect.

I have taken a few group classes with Communicanine in the past (with my mom and the family dog) and this was my first time doing the Puppy SuperStart class with my own puppy! The trainers are very helpful and give great tips and tricks. The class is also a great chance for puppies to socialize and learn how to play well with others. Highly recommend!

5 stars all around, very friendly and knowledgeable trainers, we learned a ton of useful skills which has made puppy stage and training in general much easier.

Torrin is my second puppy to complete the Puppy Super Start training. Small classes and very patient and knowledgeable teachers. Lots of great tips for integrating puppies into a people world, as well as useful skills. Weekly emailed notes are also very helpful to remember what was taught and to practice between classes.

We attended the Puppy Super Start classes of CommuniCanine Training & Behavioural Counselling and we really gained a lot of great help with our dog, Millie.

With the three instructors covering our classes each time, we felt that support throughout the lessons. The instructors provided individual help with each task so we were able to work through each lesson plan with confidence.

After each lesson, we received a lesson summary email that provided detailed lesson instructions to work through that week.

We were really pleased with the classes and have already signed up for more.

I’ve recommended Darcie and Communicanine for years based on my experience with her via rescue and her wonderful reputation. I finally got the opportunity to join one of her classes with my personal puppy, a border collie, and we had a wonderful time! Darcie’s skills as a dog handler are apparent from the first class, she genuinely loves dogs and has excellent feel for them, and her skills as a teacher of humans cannot be underrated. She is kind, thoughtful, knowledgeable, approachable and patient, as are her training assistants. Her puppy class was creative, organized, and fun for puppies and people! I will continue to highly recommend Darcie and Communicanine as excellent, positive and kind trainers in Victoria. An added bonus is Darcie’s vast experience and knowledge with rescue dogs of a variety of breed origins!

We did the Puppy SuperStart program and it was great. Our 10 week old puppy learned all the basics, got to socialize with other puppies and is now set up for success. Thank you so much.

It was excellent. Highly recommend it. Darcie and her team are very knowledgeable and patient. Aside from the class, they took time to respond to my questions and guide me. Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience. Going to next course.

I wanted to send you an update to let you know how well Bosley has been doing. We have been going for walks at the Gorge and various beaches, and he is doing so well! Sometimes he wants to meet other dogs, other times he wants to avoid them, but he is no longer reactive. He has made friends with the new puppy who lives upstairs and shares the yard, and I no longer have to worry about taking him out on a leash, he can run free and play. This has alleviated so much anxiety in my daily life. Dog walkers are able to take him out and always say he is such a sweet boy. We dog sat a friend’s Labradoodle this past weekend and they played and slept on the same bed.

He is living his best life and so am I! We are even thinking of joining the next Dachshund meetup in town. I wanted to say a huge thank you because the training sessions with you helped both of us build so much confidence! I can’t believe the anxiety it has relieved for both of us. I’ll likely book again in the summer:) I hope all is well with you!

Thank you very much for another fantastic class. Both Chris and I (and now Simon as well) are huge fans of the CommuniCanine experience, the style of classes, amount of support and resources provided as follow up.

Simon and I are currently also enrolled in other classes with other organizations….and it’s so noticeable that your approach is to set them up for success while learning every step of the way, which is so appreciated and also (IMO) allows the dogs to learn faster.

I also want to add that the diversity of classes offered is awesome! We have our 10 yr old dog, Archer, on a waitlist for the next tricks class, while our puppy participates in your SuperStart class. We love that all ages and abilities can participate in the classes. Hope to see you for more classes in the future!

Puppy class was so much fun. I’ve had eight puppies to train over my history of having dogs. This was definitely the most enjoyable puppy class. Lots of fun, practical homework, no stress.

Great classes, me and Ben learned a lot. I have already signed up for the next course.

I have always been a “dog person” and thought I knew a thing or two about my four legged family. I can’t begin to express how much I have learned from Darcie the dog trainer (Victoria’s best!) and how many “aha moments” I have had since working with her.I hired Darcie for private lessons to help me tap into successful behavioural training with my 18month old Flat Coated Retriever Frankie. Frankie is a big, lovable goof but full of mischief and a desire to run off without a care in the world. Darcie has taught me how to read and “speak” his language – or as her company clearly states “communicate” with my canine.I have learned so much about my dogs behaviour and how to work with him in terms that make sense to him and me.Yesterday someone working in our yard left a gate open (my worst fear) and Frankie took off into the adjacent forest. Thankfully we saw him run away so I blew his whistle (as we had been training for recall) and he came running back so fast he flew into the house skidding on the carpet! I was so relieved I almost cried. This is all because Darcie taught me all the tools.I had been on the wait list for Darcie ( someone this good is very popular) and glad I waited. Thanks Darcie!

Before working with Darcie, our anxious young bernedoodle, Koa, was scared of humans and other dogs. Relaxing and fun were not the words we used to describe walks. The idea of off leash was a complete nonstarter. Just the thought of it would create anxiety. Would she run away? Would she come when we called? Would she get hurt playing with other dogs? Darcie taught us how to read Koa’s signals and we slowly developed the confidence to provide Koa with the freedom and guidance she needed to enjoy safe and successful socializing. Words can not describe how wonderful it was to walk Koa off leash for the first time and watch her choose which dogs to play with and truly have fun. She even came to us when called! Yes, Darcie is amazing at training dogs but she is equally amazing at helping dog owners be the best they can be for their dogs. Darcie, we can’t thank you enough for taking the time to understand us as dog parents and explain to us the impact we have of Koa’s way of being. Now, we love taking Koa with us wherever and whenever we can and we often get comments about how mild mannered and friendly she is. All because of you – You are truly gifted. Thank you.

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!

I’ve just started my second class with Communicanine, and I have walked out of every night with a huge smile on my face! They make training fun and accessible, and answer all my questions with information that proves invaluable to the connection with and training of my puppy! I’m so happy I found them. Thank you especially to Darcie and Sarah! I highly recommend Communicanine.

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. Darcie has a true gift for assessing/correcting dog behaviour, and was able to help me set realistic goals and expectations for myself and my pup. Darcie was patient, kind and offered great advice that helped to change my dog into an enjoyable member of our family. I am so grateful for her help, and I highly recommend training with Darcie!

Darcie is a fabulous dog trainer and I highly recommend her! I have just completed the Puppy Superstart Class which was great for socialization and learning basic commands but also, understanding your dog’s body language and how to communicate with him/her. I’m a first time dog owner and already feel a lot more confident. I strongly believe training will give you and your canine a more fulfilling relationship throughout all the years of your adventure together. I’m planning a lot more training in the near future and I’m looking forward to it.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Your classes have been GREAT. Thank you so much. I am really enjoying them. You are a fantastic dog (and people) trainer!

Darcie is a bright woman who listens and understands our issues. She designed the hour appropriately. It is obvious she loves and respects dogs.

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.

Thanks again Darcie! I’m very grateful for your help with Finn. As you probably remember, I was beating myself up over Finn when I first reached out to you. It’s hard to describe the depth of responsibility one feels as a breeder. I feel like you’ve given Finn a new lease on life, and you’ve certainly helped me to take a step back and gain the perspective I need to work with him.

One month ago, I adopted a 6-year old male rescue who was unneutered and had never been walked on-leash before. Several collars, leashes of varying lengths and correction paraphernalia (not to mention Chiropractor appointments for my aching shoulder…) later – I was quite honestly at the end of my tether, and contemplating re-homing the little man. Enter the expertise of the incredibly skilled and talented Darcie Jennings, Owner & Head Trainer of CommuniCanine. No small wonder she’s won awards!

Having taught me one, just ONE, on-leash technique requiring absolutely no elbow-grease or fancy pieces of equipment, I am thrilled to report that our daily walks are now a thoroughly enjoyable experience for both of us. Thank you so much, Darcie.

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.

Darcie is a God-send! I was having tremendous trouble with my rebellious 7 month old puppy, Malia. Darcie made me aware of so much more than just getting my dog to obey me. She taught me how to understand and communicate with Malia. Malia and I became teammates and now we understand each other in a way I could never have dreamed of before. Darcie is a guru of dog’s body language and how to use your own body language to communicate. Thank you, Darcie, for all of your help that is continuing on today.

My wife and I are immensely grateful for the time we spent learning from Darcie at CommuniCanine, and were blown away at how well she was able to quickly understand and help Fern, our recently rescued Saluki. Even after spending the first year of her life as a stray on the rough streets of Doha, and having been recently attacked, Darcie was able to give us direction and tactics that immediately worked, and have already begun to help us calm and better communicate with our new family member. Our time with CommuniCanine far exceeded expectations, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Darcie to anyone.

Thank you so much for your expertise and guidance. I look forward to continue training. I have been able to enjoy walks, meeting other dogs and people with the boys and have had many great moments channeling their behaviour with the many great tools you have given me, which I am so grateful for, as well as your patience and support. You are always so positive.

Luna is such an incredible and beautiful dog but she is definitely complicated, too. You have helped us so much and I am determined to keep working away. She is so worth it! One thing you have taught me is that if one approach isn’t working, we have to find one that does work and make the shift. I SO appreciate all that you have offered us …. such amazing experience, knowledge and guidance! You bring so much to your life’s passion. Thanks again, Darcie.

A huge thank you for changing Buddy from a totally non-responsive and unruly 2 year old, Jack Russell Terrier, into an unbelievably well behaved and responsive companion. How you achieved it in just five sessions is truly amazing. It has been well worth travelling from East Sooke to Sidney every time to achieve this result. I cannot recommend you highly enough to anyone who has what they believe is an untrainable dog.

Your expertise, professionalism and dedication shines through and shows how much you understand dogs and their owners. My previous dog you trained (an English Springer Spaniel) was relatively easy. Buddy, on the other hand, was a challenge that had me beat, until I brought him to you!

I guess what I am trying to say is without your help, I would still be getting dragged along on the end of a rope and not daring to let him off leash. Once again, a huge thank you, Darcie.

India, Mike and I can’t thank you enough Darcie. I left the dog park in tears a month ago because I did not know how to handle India’s excessive resource guarding. Totally out of control, she had me, other dogs and people all chasing her to get their toys back. She thought it was great, but it was making other people mad and me upset.

Now 6 lessons later, today we went to the dog park ourselves. India’s behaviour was 100%. We were both ecstatic, I could tell she was pleased with herself too. We have the knowledge and confidence to go to the park and be able to play and get her needs met and listen to commands all while other dogs, people and toys are around. Every dog owner will benefit from your excellent training skills.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

As our two year old Boston Terrier, Charlie reached maturity he suddenly became extremely aggressive and fearful of certain people (mostly men) and certain dogs. He became very protective of us, his owners. To add to the mix he is one of the most prey driven dogs we have ever met. Although he had not bitten anyone, as responsible dog owners we did not want his behaviour to progress further than it already had. We had successfully put both of our Boston terriers through puppy classes with Darcie (CommuniCanine) and I had also heard MANY amazing stories of how she has helped people I know with their dogs, especially aggression issues.

While I would say we are knowledgeable and responsible dog owners, we wanted to have the correct tools to approach Charlie’s behavioural issues. We didn’t want just anybody helping us and so we looked to Darcie for help. Fast forward roughly five months later and through our own hard work but mostly the astounding expertise of Darcie we now have a dog that I can take on walks in downtown Sidney without the fear he will try to bite someone or something.

Darcie is so experienced, patient, kind and caring towards her clients, both human and dog! It is through those positive attributes, and many more (too many to list) that we not only feel like better dog owners, but Charlie is a better member of society. He, like any dog, will always be a work in progress but with Darcie’s help he was brought forward to become such a good boy and we now have the tools necessary to upkeep his good behaviour training!

I would 100% recommend Darcie of CommuniCanine to anyone needing any kind of canine training. Whether it is your new puppy learning his first commands, a tune up on basic training, or a dog you consider to be unmanageable. Thank you so much to Darcie of CommuniCanine!

When Zoe and I first came to Darcie, we had been to 3 other trainers and I was almost ready to give up. Zoe and I had very little bond and my patience was maxed out. She’s a Beagle/Lab cross…with severe anxiety, separation issues, guarding food, aggression to other dogs, counter surfer with the ability to jump a 6ft high fence and enjoyed bouncing off people.

Darcie gave us hope, reminded us every visit we were working in the right direction, responded to my panic texts and emails with clear directions on our next step or new method to try. She never gave up on us, and today we are forever grateful. A bond has been created between Zoe and I like I have with my other dogs. A new dog sits before me (and by sits I mean sits!), a dog who wants to learn, a dog that thrives on a challenge.

We know our training is lifelong, new goals will be set everyday. It won’t always be easy, but when even the smallest task is completed successfully, it’s a good day. Darcie will always be my go to trainer. We will follow through with her group classes and know that when a freshen up is needed, her support is there. Thank you Darcie!!!

We have a 4 year old Husky and he is not our first, so we have had many experiences with dog training, puppy training and behavioural training with or beloved Huskies over the years. Chris and I couldn’t agree more that Darcie was the one who made the difference in having a happy and mutually respectful relationship with our guy. She is loving with your dog BUT she gives you insight and skills on how to have a long, happy future with your family member. She is a wonderful human being for all that she does on her OWN time to make the world a better place for all dogs and I couldn’t be happier than to recommend her. She is a busy lady, so check out her website as she has group classes, although private family lessons with our 3 children made the difference for us, so I would also recommend those. And she has a package that I found was key in having some consistent training. Enjoy the fun and the education on dog communication.

Thanks for your assistance with Solana. Your expert knowledge and words of encouragement have made a huge difference for both of us. I would happily recommend you to anyone!

Darcie! I’ve tried a couple of different trainers in Victoria and I’ll always come back to you. Good recall.

I contacted Darcie because I have a high strung dog with anxiety that is exacerbated when his people are not around. He is a 4 year old, well mannered dog that we adopted over a year ago.

I wasn’t looking for sit, stay, heel type training. Rather, I wanted some feedback as I found I was struggling with the anxiety which I knew myself and my family were unwittingly contributing to. Darcie came in and spent some quality time with us and our dog and made some suggestions that dramatically changed the family/dog interaction right there in the room during that one session. My dog, that paces non-stop all day with energy and stress, for the first time in over a year actually sat, lay down and even fell asleep in the room, something he could never do while there were things going on around him before unless he was completely exhausted. I cried when I saw it happen.

Darcie tuned into our dogs needs, as well as those of mine and the family as a whole. She is committed to helping us follow up on the changes and is checking in on our progress since we met. For us, it was the perfect way to “hear” our dogs needs and help us all listen to him in order to make his life the best it can be.

Riley, a two year old Wheaten Terrier, had been making life miserable for the older dog in our daughter’s home, so we offered to take her. She’s a pretty sweet girl, but was poorly behaved on walks and especially when we came in contact with other dogs. We are fairly new to Sidney , but I saw Darcie’s cards at Sidney Feed Barn. Riley and I attended the Basic Family Manners class and also had a couple of one-on-one sessions with Darcie.

I am so pleased with what I have learnt in these sessions, and Riley now seems like a totally different dog. I think she is much happier knowing what is expected of her and I feel more confident in her behaviour when we are out in public. She’s become very sociable with other dogs and we now meet regularly off-leash with other dogs and new friends. I would highly recommend Darcie’s classes or helpful one-on-one sessions to anyone who would like to improve their confidence and enjoyment of their ‘best friend’. Thank you Darcie!

Thank you so much Darcie!!!!! You have such a gift with people (after all, you are really training the human side of the equation) and also with the dogs. I learned so much about what Enzo considers rewarding. We are still a work in progress. You have inspired me to figure out my most “natural” approach by educating me on my dog. I cannot wait to see you in the spring for the Trails course. In the meantime, maybe we’ll see you as we sit calmly and quietly for a lovely cup of coffee in Sidney.

I wanted to thank you so much for all your help over the first year of Trigger’s life! You truly are an amazing trainer and were very encouraging when I felt like I was never going to be able to change to help Trigger grow up to be a well behaved dog. Now he is 2 and we could not love him any more! We leave him out of the crate at night, let him in the front yard (he doesn’t run away), let him off leash at parks and he comes when called! Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!

I contacted Darcie because I have a high strung dog with anxiety that is exacerbated when his people are not around. He is a 4 year old, well mannered dog that we adopted over a year ago.

I wasn’t looking for sit, stay, heel type training. Rather, I wanted some feedback as I found I was struggling with the anxiety which I knew myself and my family were unwittingly contributing to. Darcie came in and spent some quality time with us and our dog and made some suggestions that dramatically changed the family/dog interaction right there in the room during that one session. My dog, that paces non-stop all day with energy and stress, for the first time in over a year actually sat, lay down and even fell asleep in the room, something he could never do while there were things going on around him before unless he was completely exhausted. I cried when I saw it happen.

Darcie tuned into our dogs needs, as well as those of mine and the family as a whole. She is committed to helping us follow up on the changes and is checking in on our progress since we met. For us, it was the perfect way to “hear” our dogs needs and help us all listen to him in order to make his life the best it can be.

Darcie was recommended to me as a fantastic trainer from numerous acquaintances and colleagues who are dog owners. She is sincere, dedicated and knowledgeable. We discussed the behavioural aspects of my dog, Sophie, that I wanted to address, in length, and decided that private sessions would be most beneficial because she is a reactive dog.

After our first session, I noticed improvements in my dog, and I left feeling empowered and prepared to handle situations that could arise. Darcie provided me with many tools and tips to help with day-to-day situations. After five lessons, Sophie is a different dog. Training never stops, and requires dedication, but Darcie guided us through that process successfully.

Sophie is now able to enjoy walks without growling and barking at dogs. She is confident on walks, and she is able to make wise choices on her own. The most amazing part of the journey was when Darcie brought her three dogs along for a walk with Sophie. My dog was a little uncomfortable at first, but warmed up to her dogs, walked with them, played with them, and there were no issues at all! Two months ago, that would never have happened!

My expectations were certainly exceeded with Darcie. Thank you for all your help! Not only will I recommend you to those needing a great dog trainer, but I will use your services again in the near future!

I can’t rave enough about how the Trail and Recall classes have helped with Buddy. He’s still not the best listener when we first get to the park but he’s pretty good about staying within sight, staying on the trails, and coming to find me when I hide. I trust him not to bolt or get himself lost when we’re on empty trails. It’s been great being able to enjoy hiking with him!

I have been to a number of dog trainers over the years and I have to say that Darcie is excellent. Her greatest asset, among many, is her ability to listen carefully to you, your dog and your particular problem. So many trainers are just waiting to tell you their views without being prepared to tailor their approach to the individual person, dog, time and place. Keep it up, Darcie!

Hi Darcie! I HAD to write to tell you what an awesome dog I have (yes, this is ME talking). The last two times at Cy Hampson have been quite remarkable….just came back tonight with my head held high!! He came when called 9/10 times – all when interacting with other dogs, near and far. Just thought you’d LOVE to hear of his progress and your MARVELOUS training tips!!

Darcie, Chickie was chosen for major motion picture role to be the decoy for the “bad guy.” I was nervous, of course. I wasn’t sure if she would react and behave properly (never done this before)… thanks to your training, she was exactly the dog for the movie. She was natural, well behaved, trusting to all of the crew that passed her around, good on leash and did what she was supposed to on command. Thanks for the great training!! She even showed a bit of fear when the gun was almost at her head!!!

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 , it gives him some more freedom and we are able to play more. He hasn’t tried to jump the fence. Yeah! He is such a great dog. Thanks again for your help.

Thanks for all your help with Charli and being so patient with us (mostly me!) as we transition to this new style of training. I found your advice really helpful, and we both saw the wisdom in it. We’re both really excited about moving forward with this. As an aside, Charli certainly looked happier than she’s ever been in a training class – she even seemed to be enjoying herself and that’s a big relief for everyone.

Thank you so much for the many insights you gave me into my body language and physical communication with Wookie. I know I will need corrections as I lapse into old habits but hopefully Wookie will be patient with me as I work to become a better communicator. I can’t thank you enough for the huge difference it has already made and I look forward to more learning with you and especially the opportunity to learn agility from you. Thanks again from Wookie and I as you have helped us attain another level in our being together.

As I have a high drive dog, I have had many challenges curbing her energy and focusing her on a goal that is mine, not hers. Darcie is right on top of Sam’s every move, never missing a prick of the tail or a locking of her eyes and in the most positive and skilful way, redirects and refocuses Sam. I’ve had a lot of advice about how to handle my dog; Darcie challenges me to learn and practice positive, clear, direct and also subtle skills to help me get the very best out of my dog. Darcie has taught Sam and I how to play on the same team! Thanks so very much for the amazing classes you gave to me and Sam!!! A highlight of our summer.

Molly and I are doing well together. Thanks much in part to you, we are improving a little bit every day — the past two days Molly has began initiating fun play with other dogs on her own and even though I still have to watch her on the leash, I find that I am able to read and understand her so much more than what I did before. I feel like our communication has really grown and want to thank you for your role in helping facilitate that.

I have been to a number of dog trainers over the years and I have to say that Darcie is excellent. Her greatest asset, among many, is her ability to listen carefully to you, your dog and your particular problem. So many trainers are just waiting to tell you their views without being prepared to tailor their approach to the individual person, dog, time and place. Keep it up, Darcie!

Thank you Darcie, everyone has sure noticed a big difference in Cyan. Our tenant who takes Cyan out sometimes can’t believe it is the same dog. Big paws to you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you so much for taking on the challenge of training our little girl, Tia. You are the only one we had total trust and confidence in.

April has been terrific to work with and we have learned so much from her. She is not only extremely knowledgeable, but kind, flexible and I feel always has Sophie’s best interests at heart. I think it is important for people to know how fortunate we are to have your team’s services right here on the Peninsula.

Amazing experiences with April. Our dogs’ behaviour is improving because of her help. Easy to understand and super helpful, you can really tell that April cares about what’s best for the dogs in your life. We weren’t sure what to expect originally, but every time we meet, some lightbulb gets switched on! Highly recommended.

After one hour with Darcie, our lives were changed dramatically. Our beautiful Golden Retriever, Paddy, learned very quickly that pulling on the leash is not much fun when wearing a Halti. We learned to respond positively to all of the good behaviour that Paddy began to show immediately. Three months later we are doing even better, having moved beyond treats and rewards. Now we are able to enjoy safe and wonderful walks together. Darcie’s approach and teaching style is fantastic and just short of a miracle!”

Dear Darcie……..thanks for all the help you gave in making our new dog Riley become a welcome member of the family…….we adopted Riley from the CRD Animal Shelter and despite his lovable looks, he came with a few issues we felt we had to deal with quickly.When we inquired about a trainer, your name was recommended and your “Gentle, Reward Based” training was discussed………We decided to invest in our new pet by getting some one-on-one private training. This is the best thing we could have ever done.

Hi Darcie, just thought you might want a progress update. I am very pleased to report that Buddy is making great progress and is well on his way to being a happy little dog. Since we saw you, he has learned many tricks – sit, down, spin, crawl, speak, etc. He has learned to bark when he needs to go out, and we have established a pretty good routine. Now that the weather is nicer, we take him out into our garden with us each day and he is becoming less and less afraid of his surroundings when there are other people around. He isn’t quite there yet with other people, but his confidence grows daily. We were happy to see him rolling in the grass like a normal dog this past week and to come and sit quietly by my side while I talked with someone at the beach. He was unleashed so the decision to come was voluntary.

My husband and I are beyond happy with the progress our pup, Dakota, has had! We can’t thank April enough for her hard work and transforming our pup into a way more behaved little guy! Would recommend the Board and Train to anyone! Words can’t even describe how happy we are! Thank you so much.

Amazing experiences with April. Our dogs’ behaviour is improving because of her help. Easy to understand and super helpful, you can really tell that April cares about what’s best for the dogs in your life. We weren’t sure what to expect originally, but every time we meet, some lightbulb gets switched on! Highly recommended.

Thanks again for the great classes. Cooper and I have lots of fun things to practice and play with over the summer. Your methods, with the small steps, are easy to teach and hopefully with more practice Mr. Cooper and I will perfect them. We adore Cooper and credit you for helping us shape him into the dog he is. Puppy class really gave us the techniques and support we needed. Family Manners and Tricks helped to deepen our relationship with him.

Hello Darcie and April, just a quick note to say what a pleasure it has been to work with April in our mission to make Ms. Daisy the best that she can be! Bruce and I have learned a lot and this knowledge has certainly helped us in our effort to work with our often very excited dog. The private lessons with you, April, have been something we have looked forward to. Your professional, knowledgeable and straight forward manner achieved excellent results. She has progressed nicely in her meeting with other dogs, and is coming along well in her recall. Thank you!

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. Her warm and caring nature along with her tremendous knowledge and professional expertise was a winning combination for all of us. Time and money well spent! Thank you for everything.

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.


We recently booked our two year old English Cocker Spaniel “Calli” in the “Board and Train Program” CommuniCanine offers. April provides a Safe and Ideal setting amidst a Peaceful acreage where clients pet’s are homed in her private home during their stay, not in a separate kennel. This atmosphere left me confident and worry free that our beloved pet was being nurtured and mindfully cared for while on vacation. As well as the boarding, I took advantage of the Board & Train Program.

I thought Calli needed a refresher on Manners and Leash walking. I’m amazed after two weeks the remarkable results. We enjoy walks, beginning to end, Calli walking Perfectly at my side no more tugging! Calli also learned “Go to Your Place,” a place she must remain calm and quiet during dinner preparation, dining and as well the Entrance of Guests to our home.

I would like to give a Heartfelt Thank-you to April for giving me the Tools and Knowledge to assist me in training our dog in being a Well Mannered Enjoyable Fur Baby as well as her loyalty to her clients being only a call or email away.

I have taken classes from several different dog trainers and this was one of the best classes. Thank you.

The positive reinforcement that was emphasized throughout the training became very important to me as I noticed I could become frustrated and sometimes negative at home. This all changed with greater understanding of what was going on for Cody. The patience you modeled was excellent. I appreciated the follow up on my questions and the informative handouts. I enjoyed the training more than anticipated! You have a nice, contagious demeanour. Thanks.

I just wanted to say how much my nine year old daughter, Thea, enjoyed your class and what a difference it made in her relationship with our puppy. She has continued the training at home and doesn’t seem to encounter the frustration that children sometimes encounter with puppy training. The difference with her sister, who didn’t go through the training is very apparent, and we are looking forward to now bringing both dogs to you. Thank you for offering such an upbeat, basic approach. It clearly works for all ages.

I wanted to let you know that we really loved the classes we did with you. I am glad to see that you still have us on your mailing list and encourage you to keep in contact with us as we would like very much to continue learning how to train Bella to become the wonderful doggie she wants to be…lol. Keep up the good work and we look forward to seeing you again in the near future.

Just wanted to thank you. Your expertise has helped us both!! It was a great class! You have a wonderful, gentle way with the dogs and owners and are very knowledgeable……we learned a lot.

We’ve had many training sessions with Darcie and we love her! Our puppies really respond to Darcie and with her help we now have well behaved dogs. She inspires us to have confidence in our dogs ability to learn. The classes are fun and relaxed and we look forward to every class.

Since participating in your classes Monty has grown from a high strung stubborn dog who understood only to sit, to a dog who knows how to come, stay, lie down, and be more and more like a family member. His favourite activity is to be with us, whether at home watching TV or out on a trail off-leash, where he is now both comfortable with other dogs and people. Thanks Darcie.

Thanks for the great education you provided to Rio and I! He is our first puppy experience and I think we are blessed with an amazing canine pal (a great companion to our 12 1/2 year old rescue Dalmatian!)

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.