Samantha DeJong, B.Sc, CCUI, CTB.ccs, IPDTA-CDT

Professional Certified Canine Trainer & Behaviour Therapist

My name is Samantha DeJong.  I grew up with a love of animals from an early age having pet dogs, cats, birds, rats, bunnies and also spending a lot of time at my grandparents' farm and working for a veterinarian in St. Thomas, ON.  I started training my family dog in 1996, who taught me how to create and cue lots of fun tricks and also how to puppy proof a home! He passed away while I was at the University of Guelph studying Animal Biology and Psychology, and when I finished my degree in 2007, I began to foster dogs. That is how my late dog, Dexter (see photo), found me and in 2010, he led me to Greg Ceci and Norma Jeanne Laurette of CCS (Canine Correspondence Studies)

In June of 2013, I started running Puppy Classes at Dreamland Pet & Equine while continuing to assist in Norma Jeanne & Greg Ceci's Reactive classes to get as much hands-on practice as I could working with a variety of dogs that were reactive to dogs and/or people.  I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with them, and I was honored when they suggested that I run Puppy Power when they decided to move out of the area and embark on their next adventure.

Dexter passed away in 2020, which is the same year Leslie McDevitt reached out to me about becoming a certified instructor for her Control Unleashed program.  In 2021 I graduated her program and am SO excited to be able to share her vision of moving away from the old cue & response type training to conversational training that will help empower animals with the voice and tools to be able to direct their own training process.

I love puppy training (who wouldn't!) and showing pet-parents how to fade undesirable behaviours and shape them into acceptable ones. My current mandate is to help people build and maintain a trusting relationship with their dogs, using positive reinforcement methods that do not create distrust, which damages the bond that every dog deserves to have with their owners.  I believe that Norma Jeanne has offered KW and surrounding areas the absolute best in dog training and I will do whatever I can to continue the same level of service she has offered for the past 23 years. 

I can't wait to meet you and show you not only how to get the best out of your dog but also how to manage (and still love your dog for) the rest <3

---

Jen Maciel, CTB.ccs, IPDTA-CDT

Professional Certified Canine Trainer & Behaviour Therapist

Jen's dog training career actually started with a phone call to Puppy Power over 15 years ago.  Norma Jeanne (Puppy Power's founder) suggested that she go to her local Humane Society and volunteer with the dogs, while enrolled the Canine Communications Studies Course.  Volunteering for the Humane Society turned into dedicating her life to rescue work, and she is still advocating and being a voice in animal rescue today.  She currently teaches puppy classes for the Humane Society as well.
Jen also worked with Amanda in a fear-free vet clinic, and she has teamed up with Puppy Power in the past by sharing a facility, where she co-owned and operated Happy Tails doggie daycare with Amanda.  It's only natural that the three are back together.