Our passion is helping dogs, both young and old, become obedient, kind and well-adjusted. At the West Coast Canine Academy, we love to compete and more importantly watch our students succeed. We believe that anyone can be a good dog trainer—they just need the right tools to do the job. Our goal is to provide you with as many tools as we can, so that dog owners and trainers can have the highest level of success possible.
With years of experience behind us, we have seen training evolve from the snap, push and yank corrective method to shaping and clicker training and everything in between. We believe that a relationship of trust and respect is paramount for a dog to want to look to his handler for guidance. It is the trainer’s job to teach the dog to think, make good choices, behave appropriately in his effort to understand what we want of him. He will learn to look to the handler to let him know when he’s going wrong so he can try again; then, when we reinforce him for the correct choice, he understands.
We have owned multiple breeds of dogs from poodles to hounds, from shepherds to border collies, and have enjoyed their love and loyalty to us. We have never had a dog we couldn’t appreciate for his or her unique personality. We raise them right, keep life in the correct balance, meet their mental and physical needs. We will show you how to enjoy your dog to the max.
At the West Coast Canine Academy, we take our own training very seriously. Improving our own skills and expanding our own toolbox is tremendously important to us. We love to compete because it shows us what skills we need to work on with our own dogs. We continue to train and take seminars and workshops in order to keep up to date with the latest advances in training techniques. We do our best to walk the talk.
Julie and her dog Bobbie took home 1st place in the Victoria Highland Games sheep dog trial.
“My six weeks class with Julie at the West Coast Canine Academy was one of the best investments I have ever made. I’ve always wanted to be able to train dogs, and now I’m confident I can not only do that, but train their owners as well. Julie and her assistant Dorothy taught me so much, answered all of my questions, and erased my doubts. I was really sad when it was over because I enjoyed the course so much. I feel a lot more confidence now as I start my own business as a dog trainer. I highly recommend the West Coast Canine Academy!” — Clio Doris Flores
"Julie is an excellent instructor. She knows her subject inside and out. She gets results with the dogs she works with and is able to impact (her) knowledge clearly to the students. I thoroughly enjoyed it!" — Joanne Gwynne
“Before I started taking classes from West Coast Canine Academy, I did not even really understand the sport of agility. Now I understand that it is a team sport – that my dog Levi and I get to work together to move through a course with speed, efficiency and fun! The classes are set up to give the handler experience on a wide range of equipment including weaves, tunnels, A-frames and jumps. The instructors give great feedback, both encouraging words and constructive criticism. The transformation I have seen in Levi has been unbelievable, he is way more confident and the sessions have really helped to strengthen the bond between us.” — Chantel Miller
Dorothy and her dog win their highest agility title — Agility Trial Champion of Canada (ATChC).
“Get ready to learn from the best. Both Julie and Dorothy have great teaching skills and were able to pass on their knowledge in a clear and concise way. We trained with a variety of dogs in different environments which helped reinforce the techniques that they taught. When Julie worked with a dog she got results immediately proving her positive reinforcement techniques work. The course is full of information that will be applicable to starting your own business as a dog trainer. I really enjoyed the course and would recommend it to anyone who wants to get into working with dogs. I feel that I now have the tools I need to start my own business... bring on the puppies.” — Starlene Wiseman
“Training with Rick is the highlight of my week for both me and my dog who adores him.” — Julie Carter
Julie Carter
Head Instructor and Owner
Julie Carter has been teaching agility, herding and obedience for over 15 years. She's studied under the top handlers of Canada and the USA including Susan Garrett, Kirsten Lloyd (both of whom have been on the Canadian National Team and competed at the World Agility Championships), Peter Gonnet Lee Lumb, and Bill Burhow (all of whom have competed and placed at Canadian and US national herding championships). Julie is committed to ongoing personal development and strives to be the best coach for her students. She thanks those who have shared their knowledge and continue to guide her on her journey of learning.
Competitive Highlights
Agility
Won three times the Regional Agility Championship in Canada with three different dogs
Reached the Masters Level — the highest award in agility
Qualified 6 consecutive years for the Canadian Nationals
Coached 6 students that reached the Regional Podium and Masters Level
Herding
Won BC Dog of the Year as a novice handler
Qualified 4 young dogs for the USA finals over 4 years, at the Nursery Level
Won over 12 trials at the Pro Novice Level and reached the Professional Level with two of her dogs
Placed in the top ten for the past two years and completed all the trials (#?) she's entered
Education and Teaching Experience
Master Instructor for agility classes for the past 10 years
Herding Instructor, Beginners to Open
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Manager of Thoroughbred breeding farm 6 years (? dog related?)
Manager for Canadian Institute for the Blind (? dog related?)
Dorothy Jones
Professional Dog Trainer
Dorothy Jones is the West Coast Canine Academy's instructor for Foundation, Intermediate and Masters Agility. She has been training with Julie Carter for over ten years and has competed in agility trials for the past seven years. Dorothy also volunteers for the Capital Comets Agility Club in Victoria, B.C.; is a member of the Agility Association of Canada and the Canadian Stock Dog Association. Dorothy's extensive background in teaching makes her the ideal instructor for the West Coast Canine Academy's Youth Programs.
Competitive Highlights
Agility
Earned the bronze award of merit in 2015
Placed 3rd in the 16-inch special class in the 2013 BC/Yukon Agility Regional Championships
Placed 9th in Standard 1, 22-inch regulars at the Nationals in Nanaimo, BC
Placed 4th in the 2011 BC/Yukon Agility Regional Championships
Earned her Agility Trial Champion of Canada (ATChC) in 2009, the highest level of agility in Canada as well as her Masters Snooker title.
Earned Masters Agility Dog of Canada (MAD) in 2010, Masters Gamble Dog (MGDC), and Masters Jumpers Dog (MJDC) titles.
Stock Dog Work
Placed 1st at the 2014 Sterling Acres Sheepdog Trial
Won the 2014-15 Vancouver Island Winter Fun Trial Series
Placed 1st at the 2011 Coldstream Classic in Vernon
Placed 3rd and 1st at the Lacamus Valley Sheepdog Trial
Education and Training Experience
Completed the Professional Dog Trainer's Program at the West Coast Canine Academy in 2012
Holds a B.Sc. in Animal Behaviour from McGill University
Over 15 years experience as a pre-school and kindergarden teacher
Rick Powshuk
Professional Dog Trainer
Rick has over 25 years experience in dog training for the competitive sport of IPO.
He has trained and titled various breeds in tracking, obedience and protection.
IPO (previously called Schutzhund) was originated for breed surveys for the German Shepherds but has grown and expanded into a popular sport for all working breeds. The elements of the sport include:
Tracking on various grounds of deep ground search and indication of lost articles
High level of Obedience, including technical and precise heeling, motion exercises, dumbbell work and send outs
Protection is the competitive version of the K9 police work. It includes searches, indication and protection to dog and handler; it is not uncommon for the police to approach IPO handlers for dogs for sale.
Rick has spent time in Europe to train with some of the best trainers and competed in various levels over the past 20 years. Furthermore, Rick has been a certified helper for protection and performed for over 27 events on various levels (local, regional and national).
His high-caliber training creates a very well-behaved dog and an extremely close bond between dog and handler.
The West Coast Canine Academy is thrilled to welcome Rick who will help our clients develop high-performing and obedient dogs. Julie Carter has been training with Rick for a year with her own dog and enjoys his kind, fair and clear style of teaching.