Okanagan Trick Dogs

04/29/2026

Slurp slurp 🌊

04/20/2026

🌊🌊🌊

04/11/2026

I present to you… Oakland.
The It’s Yer Choice final boss.

I’ve taught your It’s Yer Choice game to hundreds of dogs…
and never—not once—have I seen a dog simply pass away at the sight of snacks.

Elite strategy. Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

04/08/2026

The next Skills for Service Dogs 🐕‍🦺 classes (levels 1 and 2) will be offered Saturday afternoons June at the beautiful Jazzed Up Agility facility in DM me for more info!

04/05/2026

🐕🦮🐩🐕‍🦺

04/02/2026

🐕‍🦺 Skills for Service Dogs Foundations (Level 1)
4 Week Indoor Group Class | Kelowna

Hey Kelowna dog people — I’ll be running my Skills for Service Dogs Foundations class again this June.

This is a 4-week indoor group class focused on building the core foundation skills needed for future service dog teams, with an emphasis on real-life reliability.

📅 Saturdays: June 6, 13, 20, 27
📍 Jazzed Up Agility, Kelowna BC
⏱ 1:00–2:00 PM
💰 $325
👀 Auditing option available $175

⸻

What this class focuses on

This course covers the foundation skills needed to train toward the BC Guide Dog and Service Dog Assessment.

We focus on clear communication, building engagement, and helping dogs stay calm, neutral, and responsive around distractions.

The goal isn’t just obedience — it’s building a working relationship that’s durable and reliable in public.

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Who this class is for

• No previous service dog training required
• Young dogs welcome
• Dogs with no history of aggression
• Owner-trained teams exploring service dog work

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What’s included (working spots) 325$

• 4 structured group classes with dog handling
• Weekly lesson notes and at-home training plans
• 3 months of follow-up support in a private Facebook group
• A settling mat to take home
• Use of training props during class
• Opportunity to meet local certified service dog teams
• Guidance with BC service dog application if needed
• Option to continue training through private lessons

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Auditing option — $175

• Attend all 4 classes as an observer
• No dog handling
• Access to the private Facebook group
• Learn the training framework used in service dog foundations

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✨ Instructor
Taught by Shona Gagnon of Okanagan Trick Dogs.

I’m a professional dog trainer specializing in service dog foundations, public access skills, and working dog behaviour. I’ve worked with both psychiatric and physical assistance dogs.

I also hold a Master’s degree in Social Work and use positive reinforcement training informed by trauma-aware principles.

⸻

Limited working spots to keep the class small and focused.

📧 Email [email protected] to register
Or reach out if you want to chat first — happy to help you decide if it’s a good fit.

📸 Sara Nicole Pet Photography

04/02/2026

Skills for Service Dogs -Level 2

Training your own service dog?

Level 2 is where we start turning foundation skills into real-world reliability.

This 4-week course is for teams who are ready to build focus, consistency, and calm behaviour in more challenging environments.

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📍 Jazzed Up Agility

3980 Todd Rd

Kelowna, BC V1W 4B3

🗓 Saturdays in June (6th,13th,20th,27th)

⏰ 2:15–3:15 PM

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In Level 2, we focus on:

• Fading food rewards and building working drive

• Transitioning off the lure to clear verbal communication

• Handler focus and engagement

• Introduction to chaining behaviours for task development

• Proofing recall with increasing distraction and distance

• Calm, consistent behaviour at thresholds

• Hold, carry, and early retrieve skills

• Paw and nose targeting for future physical assistance tasks

• Introduction to deep pressure therapy (DPT)

• Toileting on cue for public access readiness

• Advanced socialization with an emphasis on neutrality and handler focus

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Prerequisites:

Dogs should be able to respond reliably to basic obedience verbal cues and work comfortably in a group setting.

Dogs who have completed Level 1 or have developed equivalent skills through private training with Okanagan Trick Dogs.

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What’s included:

• Structured weekly training progression

• Detailed weekly training notes

• 3 months of online support through a private Facebook group

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Tuition: $325 for a working spot

175$ to audit

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This is where skills become reliable and durable in public settings.

Email Shona at [email protected] to register

🐕‍🦺Certified Service Dog Leo Michelle Hewitt

📸Sara Nicole Pet Photography - Okanagan BC

03/29/2026

🛎️

03/29/2026

03/12/2026

Live long and prosper 🖖 🐕