Growing up, there was never a day Lindsay didn’t share with animals. She spent her free time riding and caring for horses, working at a cat boarding facility, and training her household pets.

In 2013 Lindsay apprenticed under Sublime Canine Services, then started teaching their Agility Foundations course. She earned her Operant Conditioning Behaviour Analysis Levels 1 and 2 through Dalhousie University and Cloverfield Behaviour Services. In 2015 she opened Nova Dogsport to accommodate the growing agility and dog sport community within HRM.

Lindsay and her family Shelties Quincy and Mocha joined the Sublime Agility group in 2010 and successfully compete in agility, disc dog and previously obedience and conformation.  New addition Pinto arrived in 2012 and has already participated in disc dog, agility, and obedience events.

Lindsay instructs all levels of group and private agility classes. She also helps organize training practices and fun matches, and builds agility equipment (www.facebook.com/connaughtagilityequipment)

Lindsay can be reached at [email protected] or Ph#: 902 402 4127

Adina MacRae first studied animal learning and behaviour when she earned a Psychology degree at Dalhousie University. After completing her Bachelor of Public Relations at MSVU, she adopted her first dog “Buddy,” a Boxer/Pit Bull mix from the Bide Awhile Shelter (www.bideawhile.org) and got a crash course in dog behaviour. Shortly after Buddy’s adoption, Adina began training dogs and conducting behaviour assessments on behalf of the Metro SPCA. She remains current in her understanding of dog behaviour and has graduated from the Companion Animal Sciences Institute and attended conferences held by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers (CAPPDT). She has presented at the NSSPCA Animal Wellness Conference and hosted seminars on various dog behaviour and training topics.

After becoming involved in Flyball as an outlet for Buddy’s energy, Adina discovered her passion in Canine Agility. She began competing in 2003 and has instructed others with a focus on relationship development and confidence building since then. She has trained 15 dogs to competition level including two rescued Chihuahuas, her deaf Border Collie mix and Borzoi. In 2015, Adina and her Papillon Dare were selected to represent Canada at the World Agility Open championships in the Netherlands, she has won a UKI National and has had multiple podium finishes at the Canadian Open.

Adina also enjoys competing in Disc Dog and has dabbled in Rally Obedience and Conformation. Adina’s other life passion is professional dog walking and she has operated Dogs on the Go, a dog walking and pet care service, since 2003. She currently services the west and south ends of the Halifax Peninsula. Please contact Adina MacRae by email at [email protected] or by phone at (902) 441-9775

My name is Jenn Embree of Happy Hooligans K9 Training. I teach regular classes here at Nova Dogsport and Grand Desert. My journey into the world of agility truly began when I decided to take my dog Mufaasa, a rescue dog from the Halifax SPCA who’s rambunctious too-smart-for-his-own-good attitude had resulted in him being returned to the rescue three times before he finally came home with me, to our first foundation agility class in 2011. Little did I know then that agility would blossom into one of my greatest passions. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with many incredible dogs, pushing the boundaries of what I thought was possible and reaching new milestones. Through it all, I’ve never lost sight of what’s most important – a dog’s all-encompassing well-being. That’s why my approach revolves around motivation, fitness, and laying strong foundations to set our four-legged friends up for success. Teaching classes over the years has been a fulfilling experience, and I’m ready to continue to share my knowledge and passion with all those eager to explore the world of dog sports.

Jane McNee, who is newly arrived in Mahone Bay NS (May 2017), is the embodiment of Change of Pace Dog Training. She has been working with dogs and playing the game of Obedience for over 35 years. While her first love is Obedience, her passion and experience include Rally, Agility, Herding, as well as dog behaviour. ​

An accomplished obedience competitor, first with Shetland Sheepdogs, then with Australian Shepherds, and currently with her Pyrenean Shepherd Fidjit, Jane has successfully competed in local, regional and national trials. Through the years, her dogs have achieved over 40 HITS, Top Dog rankings with the CKC, AKC & ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) and have earned All-Star Top 10 placements in both Obedience and Rally. Jane’s teaching philosophy is to develop attitude and attention in the dog while laying the foundation for accuracy and drive. 

To discuss and/or to book a private lesson, contact Jane at [email protected].  For more information on Change of Pace Training visit www.achangeofpace.ca

Leanne started working with dogs in 2008, being heavily involved in rescue. She initially started working with a pit bull rescue then began volunteering her skills in training and fostering for several other local rescues. Along the way she immersed herself in training, reading books, taking online courses and seminars and shadowed other local trainers.

She launched the Not Naughty Dog in 2020 with a mission to help people who are unnecessarily struggling with their dogs. Her true passion is puppy training and helping owners set off on the right foot to building a strong relationship and solid foundation that will carry forward as the dog matures.

In her free time she loves hiking off the grid with her 3 dogs Oleander, Monty, and Artie, as well as competing in agility and disc.

Logan has always had an interest and love for dogs and animals. He worked at a dog boarding facility for 5 years where he also did some grooming. He has studied and gone to several seminars on canine body language and behaviour. Logan is now starting up a dog walking business (The Forward Paw Dog Adventures and Training Services) and instructing group classes. Logan loves to teach tricks and helps others live their best lives with their dogs.

Surrounded by dogs, horses, cats, and birds, Lily Jackson spent her childhood developing a strong relationship with her furry and feathered friends. Her love for dogs started so young that even her first word was “woof!”. In 2022, she pursued her passion and founded Big Stick Dog Training, a dog training business focused on positive reinforcement. Lily helps clients build and maintain strong relationships with their dogs while accomplishing training goals effectively and efficiently. She strives to teach dogs and handlers engagement, connection and clear communication so they can be successful in life, and in any sport.

Lily is passionate about Rally Obedience. In 2023, she is organizing the return of Canadian Association of Rally Obedience (CARO) trials to Nova Scotia so that more people and dogs can play in RallyO. She looks forward to hosting CARO trials and fun matches in Nova Scotia, teaching Rally classes, and becoming a CARO Judge. She offers rally classes and private lessons here at Nova Dogsport She has two Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers who love to play RallyO, Agility and Scent Work. On their free days they love to hike in the woods for decompression walks. You may recognize Lily and her dog Gene who have been taking home HIC in nearly every Rally trial they have competed.

Elizabeth was always the quintessential animal lover. Since childhood bringing injured birds and abandoned kittens’ home to nurse, it was only natural that she pursue a career involving the care of all creatures great and small. She graduated in the early 1980s as an Animal Care Technologist (now called Veterinary Technician) from St. Lawrence College, Kingston Ontario; and has had a full and varied career using her vet tech skills in animal hospitals from Ontario, to Scotland, and now Nova Scotia.

Her interest in alternative therapies was piqued while working at an animal hospital in Dartmouth Nova Scotia that utilized chiropractic, acupuncture, myofascial releases, and traditional Chinese herbals. With encouragement from that veterinarian, she pursued and became a Certified Canine Massage Therapist. The next steps in her career were to expand this knowledge base and have certified in Canine Kinesiology taping and Certified Canine Athlete Specialist.

Her main aim is to bring her knowledge and tools to help all dogs; be they the old timer with arthritic problems, the dogs recovering from orthopedic surgery, or the couch potato to the elite canine athlete.