Meet The Dog School
Vancouver's most accomplished force-free dog training studio
Not Your Average Neighbourhood Dog Trainers
When you join The Dog School you're not just signing up for a class. You're welcome into a community of wonderful dog guardians passionate about science-backed training and becoming the best dog owners they can be.
Our Community
An exclusive Discord (Online forum) for our clients where we share successes and our trainers offer advice and suggestions on your videos
Free Office Hours
In addition to being able to join us on Discord, we have free online office hours once a week where you can get answers from Sarah and Katrina on anything you like about dogs and dog training!
Course Manuals
We have comprehensive manuals for course content so you can always go back and refresh your memory or get ahead and try things before a class!
Badge Catalogue
With over 60 Badges you can earn at The Dog School, never run out of fun things to teach your dog and improve your bond and earn a $5 Cash Credit for every badge earned
Members Only Events
Ever wanted to get together with other dog nerds? We have no pressure get-togethers and events for you to join. We believe in community and this is just one of the ways we like to build it!
Free Puppy Play
We raise money for P.A.D.S - a fabulous organization that raises service dogs - via our Free Saturday Morning Puppy play. These are supervised sessions with our trainers and allow for safe early socialization in a clean, safe and fully supervised environment.
Meet Your Dog School Training Team
Dr Sarah Shapiro-Ward
Co-Owner & Head Trainer
PhD, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP
Sarah is a professional dog trainer in Vancouver best known for her viral trick training videos featuring her cockapoo Percy playing Jenga, Connect 4 and painting on canvas.
Beyond viral moments, Sarah brings extensive expertise in working with reactive and aggressive dogs, combined with a genuine passion for teaching group classes throughout Vancouver.
As a frequent guest on CBC BC Today's live call-in radio show, Sarah answers dog behaviour questions and helps pet owners across British Columbia.
Her work has been featured on Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, The Daily Mail UK, NHK Japan and The New York Post.
Sarah lives in Vancouver with her standard poodle Elle, her cockapoo Percy and also has a horse named Niamh. She brings her PhD background as a scientist to every class, private lesson and behaviour consultation at The Dog School.
Trick Training, Reactive Dogs, Aggressive Dogs, Puppies, Group Classes, Complex Behaviour
@prancingpoodles
Katrina Per-Carruthers
Co-Owner & Head Trainer
BA Psychology, CASI-CBST Pending
Katrina is a professional animal trainer with more than 15 years of experience supporting dog and horse owners across Canada.
Katrina blends an academic foundation in psychology with extensive continuing education through organizations such as IAABC and CASI, and has trained with respected industry leaders including Hannah Branigan.
Katrina's unique background as a former pain-science focused Registered Massage Therapist gives her exceptional insight into biomechanics and body language — allowing her to recognize subtle physical changes that may influence behaviour and helps her to design elegant solutions for even the most complex training challenges.
Katrina has been featured as a guest on the Lead a Horse to Water podcast where she discussed cross-species behaviour and practical training strategies. She lives in Ladner with her Pembroke Welsh Corgi Maeve and her Haflinger horse Samwise