About Us
The Crunchy Canine is a full service dog training company with trainers serving the Halton, Hamilton, and Norfolk County areas and almost everywhere in between. For over 10 years, we have been providing clients with simple yet effective dog training for the family pet! We use a no non-sense, holistic approach, and tailor our training to meet the unique needs of each dog and client we work with.
Katherine Vooys
Thanks for visiting our website! I am the founder and head trainer at The Crunchy Canine. I serve the Norfolk County area, and run our facility in Simcoe, Ontario. I have had a passion for animals from a very young age, having owned several dogs and a horse, but there was one special dog that sparked my desire to get into training. That dog was Jackson, a German Shepherd/Doberman mix that had a variety of behavioural issues, and is the reason behind The Crunchy Canine. We tried several “Positive Only” trainers to work on Jackson’s issues, without any results. Having personally owned a dog with serious behavioural issues, I knew I wanted to take my passion for animals and help other dog owners who are struggling with these same issues. I sought out a “Balanced Trainer” who took me on as an apprentice and we worked side by side with several serious behaviour cases.
With rescue dogs being so near and dear to my heart, I began working closely with a few local organizations. Seeing the number of dogs who are brought in to just one of the hundreds of rescues in Ontario, one of the thousands in Canada, and one of the tens of thousands in the world, has truly been an eye opener. My goal is to help dog owners before they feel the need to surrender their dogs, in hopes that there might be a few less dogs in the shelters waiting for their new forever home. I have also made it my mission to help the dogs who do unfortunately end up in a shelter become amazing canine citizens, increasing their chance of finding a new home.
Since starting the business I have made a commitment to expanding my knowledge in dog training and will continue to learn more in order to serve you better.
Training experience:
- 4 month apprenticeship with Dino’s Therapy Dog Centre
- Chad Mackin’s Pack To Basics Dogmanship 2 day workshop http://www.packtobasics.net/
- Tyler Muto’s Dogmanship Through Feel 2 day workshop https://tylermuto.com/
- Tyler Muto’s Aggressive Dog 2 day workshop https://tylermuto.com/
- Robin MacFarlane’s Remote Collar 2 day workshop https://robinmacfarlane.com/
- Karen Laws’ Introduction to Remote Collar 1 day workshop https://ontariodogtrainer.com/
- Monika Stuehler’s Creating A Calm Dog 2 day workshop
- Online Animal Psychology Course www.hollyandhugo.com
Dog Emotion and Cognition Online Certification - Duke Ferguson’s Unleashed Potential Dog Training Genesis Online Training Program
- Training Between the Ears 3 day workshop https://www.markmccabe.com/
- Nelson Hodges Lost Dog Recovery 1 day workshop https://sites.google.com/site/k9content/
- Nelson Hodges Relationship Based Behavior Modification 2 day workshop https://sites.google.com/site/k9content/
- Michael Ellis Puppy Training online course http://michaelellisschool.com/
- Robin MacFarlane E-Cademy for Professional Dog Trainers https://robinmacfarlane.com/
Lia Horta
Lia is one of our Head Dog Trainers in the Burlington and Oakville areas! Lia has loved dogs & animals for as long as she can remember. Her true passion for training began with rescue! She began fostering & retraining rescue dogs to provide them with the best chance at a new home. With each dog that transformed, her love for training grew stronger and she knew then it was something she wanted to pursue a career in.Providing dogs with a balanced & enriched life is something that is truly important to Lia. Dogs are such a meaningful part of our lives and it’s our job to set them up for success so that we can enjoy life together in harmony. Lia’s current dog Zita has been her guinea pig for all her dog dreams, they do agility, herding, frisbee and LOVE hiking off leash sometimes even on horseback! Lia brings many years of experience working with dogs in a structured pack setting as well as with obedience, agility & dog nutrition.
Training Experience
- Robin MacFarlane E-Cademy for Professional Dog Trainers https://robinmacfarlane.com/
- Canine Communication 101 Course at Family Pet Services
- Senior Dog Handler at Family Pet Services
- Darn Good Dogs Drill Team at BRB K9 Services
- Pack Leader at Dogs Reformed Daycare & Boarding
- Sales & Nutrition Associate at Global Pet Foods
Katie Dion
Katie is one of our Head Dog Trainers, and she serves the Ancaster, Dundas, Hamilton, Stoney Creek and Waterdown areas. Katie began her passion for dog training with her dogs Aubrey and Reddington who proved to be challenging dogs to train. With several group classes, and lots of private training under her belt, then shadowing another well respected local trainer, Katie came on to join our team! She is very passionate about dogs and is a very talented trainer!
Training Experience
- Don’t Blame ‘Em, Train ‘Em Level 1 Obedience Training
- Don’t Blame ‘Em, Train ‘Em Level 2 Obedience Training
- McCann’s Level 1 Obedience Training
- McCann’s Level 2 Obedience Training
- McCann’s Training Class on Walking with Reactive Dogs
- Invisible Fence Perfect Start Plus Training Course
- Invisible Fence Academy Dog Bites & Aggressive Dogs
- Shadowed Drew Hawyard in Private Training for Reactive Dogs
- St John’s Ambulance Pet First Aid Training
- Michael Ellis Puppy Training online course
- Training Between the Ears Level 1
Tracy Millette
Tracy is our amazing Office Manager. If you email or call, you are talking to Tracy and she provides the best customer service! She started out as a client of The Crunchy Canine when her new puppy Rigger proved to be more challenging than she expected! She is very passionate about dogs and customer service!
Chantelle Gagne-Wright
Chantelle teaches our Group Obedience classes in Hamilton and Stoney Creek as well as offers structured dog walking for our clients! Chantelle started as a client and when we were looking for a new trainer we knew we wanted her to join the team! She has five dogs of her own, but you will usually see her out with her Cane Corso Raya!
Danielle Persaud
Danielle is our apprentice Dog Trainer in Norfolk County.