Cat is the Director of ImPAWSible Possible Inc. in Calgary, Alberta Canada and the creator of Thrive Learning System™. Cat has spent the last 15 years working with aggression, fear, reactivity, and other complex dog behaviours, mentoring other trainers, and most recently developing and teaching Thrive Learning System™ the worlds first complexity sciences driven framework, worldwide. Cat is a Family Dog Mediator (FDM) and a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC). Cat is the co-host of The Canine Complexity Podcast.
Cat has spent almost two decades educating herself in a variety of scientific disciplines and fields through online courses, workshops, reading, and other research methods. Cat has a Diploma in Canine Behaviour Sciences and Technology (Dip. CBST) from The Companion Animal Sciences Institute in Plantation, Florida, as well as a Federal Aviation Administration Aircraft Dispatcher License and dispatcher certification from Sheffield School of Aeronautics in Plantation, Florida.
Cat has extensive practical experience working with a diverse range of dogs and their owners in a variety of settings, such as rescue, shelter, and therapy dog, to name a few.
Cat spends her down time cooking plant-based food at home, walking, and spending time with her rescue dog, Mouse.
Karen Baxter
Karen Baxter has loved dogs all her life and feels privileged that she has the ideal job…following her life-long passion and working with dogs. Beginning her professional career with dogs over 20 years ago, Karen brings an experience and joy to her work that can be felt by each dog and dog owner that she works with regardless of the size or the breed of dog. Karen’s training philosophy is “one size does NOT fit all!” and true to the Unified K9 philosophy, tailors her training protocols and/or treatment plans to the needs of the dog and the lifestyle and goals of the dog’s owner. Her positive and fair techniques are designed to bring out enthusiasm in each dog so they learn to love training which results in building stronger relationships with their humans, based on trust.
Karen has participated in various training programs over several years preparing for her career in dog training. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer having passed the Knowledge Assessment examination through the Certification Council for Professional Pet Dog Trainers. She is a graduate of Animal Behaviour College’s Certified Dog Trainer program. Karen has also studied and completed training on the practical application of Behaviour Adjustment Training for fearful, anxious and aggressive dogs and Aggressive Dog Conflict Resolution with Behaviourist and author Cheryl Smith. Her most recent accomplishments include completing the Master Aggression Course with world renowned Behaviour Consultant and expert on dog aggression, Michael Shikashio and she is currently completing her diploma in Canine Behaviourology with a specialty in working with aggressive dogs. Karen has also worked with local animal shelters and Rescue organizations to assist in the care and rehabilitation of rescued dogs who are usually suffering from trauma and stress related behaviour issues. Her continuing education and experience have ensured Karen has developed expertise in dog psychological issues manifesting themselves as anxiety or aggression.
Karen’s training specialties include Rally Obedience, Agility, Working Dogs Tracking, Scent work, and puppy foundations. She is a member of the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants, The Agility Association of Canada, the Canadian Association for Professional Dog Trainers and is certified in Pet First Aid and CPR.
Karen lives in York Region with her dogs most of which compete in obedience, agility and Rally Obedience. Her dogs have reached master level in all sports.
Marlene holds her Masters in Social Work and for the last 20 years has worked as a Child and Family Therapist, specializing in the impact of trauma and attachment disruptions on parent-child relationships. She is a Certified Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator and a Certified Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. In 2019, she began fostering and subsequently adopted Cooper, a bulldog-mix. When Cooper began to struggle with sensitivity to noises, novel experiences and strangers, Marlene found herself searching for new perspectives in the field of dog training and subsequently became fascinated by the impact of caregiving for challenging dogs on the humans who love them. The Ruff Relationship Road™ is the culmination of this journey.
