Whistler dog training, accredited by the BC SPCA.
I’m Abbey Smyth, the only AnimalKind accredited trainer in the Sea to Sky. Puppies, reactive dogs and mantrailing, without fear or force.
Every service is force-free and built around what your dog needs to feel safe, so what they learn sticks.
Puppy classes
Give your puppy the manners and confidence that last a lifetime, in small classes at Myrtle Philip.
Reactive and anxious dogs
Pass other dogs, bikes and people without the lunging and barking. One-to-one, where your dog struggles.
Day training
Your dog gets a training walk while you are at work, and you get a report after every session.
Mantrailing
A scent sport that builds confidence and tires busy minds, taught by a certified Mantrailing Global instructor. Ideal for dogs who find groups hard.
Not sure which fits?
Book a free 15-minute call and I’ll point you in the right direction.
Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer in BC.
There’s no licence and no regulation, so methods vary a lot. I’ve chosen to go well beyond the industry standard: force-free training only, independent certification, and ongoing education, so your dog learns through trust rather than fear.
BC SPCA AnimalKind
The BC SPCA reviewed how I actually train and confirmed it’s humane and science-based. I’m the only AnimalKind trainer in the Sea to Sky.
Karen Pryor Academy
Six months of assessed, hands-on training in positive reinforcement, completed with distinction. It’s why sessions feel like a game to your dog, and why the results last.
Fear Free Certified
Dogs learn best when they feel safe, so I never use force. Less stress means a happier dog who learns faster and trusts you more.
Canine First Aid
Certified by DogSafe, so if something goes wrong in class or on the trail, your dog is in capable hands.
Mantrailing Instructor
Assessed and certified to teach mantrailing, so every trail is set at the right level for your dog and they finish each one a little more confident.
Dogs almost always warn us before they react.
Most “bad behaviour” starts as a quiet signal nobody noticed. Learn to spot these six and you can step in early, before your dog feels they have to growl, lunge or snap. It’s the first thing I teach every client.
Whale eye
The whites of the eye showing in a crescent.
Lip lick
A tongue flick with no food nearby.
Head turn
Looking away on purpose. A polite ask for space.
Paw lift
One front paw held up while standing still.
Slow yawn
A long yawn in the middle of something hard.
Shake off
A full-body shake when they are not wet.
In 2020 I founded Doggy Tales Whistler and spent my days on the trails with Whistler’s dogs. The more time I spent with them, the more I wanted to understand why they did what they did, so I committed to formal training in dog behaviour.
Since then I’ve graduated with distinction from the Karen Pryor Academy, become Fear Free certified, earned the BC SPCA’s AnimalKind accreditation, completed Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs master course, and in September 2026 qualified as a Mantrailing Global certified instructor. I keep adding to it, because every dog I meet deserves the most current, kindest approach.
I sit on the board of the Pemberton Animal Wellbeing Society and live in Whistler with my husband and our two rescues, Tucker and Boomer.
What clients say
“Abbey was easy to talk to, professional and listened to my concerns. I highly recommend her if you have a reactive pup like mine.”
— Ruby’s owner, Whistler
“She really gives you the tools and information to be successful, and is there for every question you have.”
— Puppy and rescue owner, Whistler
“We loved both the beginner and intermediate classes. Informative and genuinely fun.”
— Life Skills classes, Whistler
Before you book
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Reward-based, and nothing else. No prong collars, no e-collars, no leash corrections. Dogs trained this way stay happier and more confident, and it’s the standard my BC SPCA accreditation is audited against.
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Life Skills: Beginner is for puppies 8 to 20 weeks with their first round. Intermediate is for dogs 5 to 24 months with their third round. Private sessions are arranged case by case.
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Almost always. A dog who will not eat is usually too worried to eat, which tells us where to start.
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Yes, as long as they’re happy to sit and watch without distracting the puppies. Learning alongside you is a great way for the whole family to be consistent at home.
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I recommend one. A clicker sounds exactly the same every time, which makes it the clearest way to tell your dog “that’s it.” A marker word like “yes!” works too, for times you don’t have a clicker with you, for dogs who are hard to handle, or if a clicker is tricky for your hands.
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No. While your dog is learning something new we reward generously. Once it feels easy for them we move to rewarding some of the time, and your dog keeps responding just as reliably. Every dog needs a reason to work, so for some dogs that reward becomes play with a favourite toy.
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Prices are before GST and already include card fees, so there are no other surprises at checkout.
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No. Dogs keep learning their whole lives. Adult and senior dogs do really well one-to-one, and mantrailing suits dogs of any age.
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Private sessions and day training run Tuesday to Friday in Whistler and Pemberton. Classes are Tuesday evenings, and Parallel Walks are Thursday evenings from May to October.
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Private sessions and day training happen around Whistler and Pemberton, usually at home or on the streets and trails where your dog struggles, because that’s where the change needs to happen. Group classes are at Myrtle Philip Community Centre.
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Yes. I’ve completed Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs master course, and this work is always one-to-one, starting with an initial consultation and a written plan for your dog.
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It depends on your dog and your goals. Many families start with the four-session Reactive to Proactive package, which gives enough time to see real change. The free call is the quickest way to find out what fits.
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All the time, including my own two. Rescues often arrive with a history we’re still learning about, and a gentle, force-free approach is exactly what helps them settle.
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Yes, and you should. The fifteen-minute call is free and books online. You will get a real read on your situation whether or not you book anything after.
You’ll get an email straight away confirming your message arrived, and I reply personally within one working day.