About Laura

My first (very own) dog was a Chihuahua JRT cross named Muffin. I adopted him from the Edmonton SPCA when I was ten and he survived the Canadian north amidst starving sleigh dogs and animal traps. We roamed the hills beside Lake Athabasca together and he taught me the value of silence and going slow.

My longest love affair with a dog (so far), was with our Westie, Bonnie. She was in our lives for almost seventeen years. Bonnie was a Scottish Presbyterian teetotaller and our ‘West Highland White Land Anchor.’ She commanded respect and she got it. Not a cuddly dog nor fan of fetch, she was a lover of taking it easy. Bonnie was happiest outdoors, climbing over fallen logs, lying in the sun, and sniffing out rodents. She lived with us in three countries and I cried for three months when she left us. Bonnie is the reason I started my training with Turid Rugaas. I wanted to give back to dogs as much as this special Westie had given to me.

I completed my International Dog Trainer Education in Germany 2015 and have and will continue to take professional development courses as long as my grey matter absorbs the learning.

I am a fan of rescue dogs and currently live on Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, with three - a JRT named Izzy, a Weechon called Ted, and a Hungarian Puli Terrier cross called Pepi. They are, like myself, a work in progress. None of us is perfect and all of us learn together. Izzy is no longer a manic ball chaser, Ted is becoming more confident by the day, and Pepi, our latest family member is still very fearful and reactive.

In early 2020, I started the Slow Dog Movement C.I.C., a social enterprise with four directors in three countries and over 4.5k (and counting) members who engage on our FB page (and other socials) on a daily basis. We also have a PATREON page for supporters to follow us more closely.

The #slowdogmovement aims to foster deeper relationships between dogs and humans, educate by ‘showing the right way’ and grow a like minded worldwide community of dog lovers embracing the value of SLOW.

photo credit: LLE Photography by Claire Wilson, Falmouth