About Us
Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) Dogma Dog Trainer (DDT)
Tara Cockerline, DDT, CPDT-KA is a certified professional dog trainer and member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. She completed her apprenticeship program and obtained her Dogma Dog Trainer (DDT) certificate in fall of 2014. This program allowed her to gain hundreds of hours of hands on experience with hundreds of different dogs before beginning to train dogs on her own professionally. She has since worked with and helped countless other dogs and has also obtained her Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed designation which means she been tested on and passed rigorous standards for knowledge and skills in science-based dog training.
Meet the Trainer
Tara had two rescue dogs of her own, each with their own special needs. This was the start of Tara's passion towards dogs and dog behaviour, and led her towards the path of becoming a professional dog trainer. Living with fearful and reactive dogs has given Tara valuable hands on experience.
Prior to moving to Red Deer and having her two children, Tara spent many years volunteering with a rescue group in Calgary. She served on the board of Directors for Pawsitive Match Rescue Foundation for several years. Among many other roles with the rescue, Tara fostered dozens of dogs over the years. This has given her valueable experience with all types of dogs and all their special needs.
Meet Tara's Dogs
Tilly
Tara adopted Tilly in the fall of 2010. Tilly is a small dachshund terrier mix who was rescued as a young pup off the streets of Mexico. From there she went to a shelter in LA and was scheduled to be euthanized as she was too shy, timid, and unsocialized. They deemed her unadoptable. Luckily, Tilly was pulled by a rescue group in Canada and her life was saved. She was then fostered by Tara's roommate for several months before Tara fell in love and adopted her. Tilly slowly went from a shy pup who was scared of everything, to a reactive, growly, dog who was still scared of everything but showed it in a different way. This led Tara to seek help with a professional trainer and she has been actively training and working with Tilly ever since. Tilly has progressed leaps and bounds with her reactivity, and at home, where she was comfortable she was the funniest little dog ever. She enjoyed tummy rubs, stealing clothing, singing, and lots and lots of snuggles. Sadly, Tilly passed away the summer of 2021. She will be forever loved and never forgotten.
Cami
Tara adopted Cami in the fall of 2012. Cami was Tara's foster dog, but after a few months Tara knew Cami was there to stay and adopted her. Cami was a stray dog in the jungles of Mexico. She was rescued at around 2 years old and spent over a year at a shelter in Mexico before coming to Tara. After having only been at Tara's for a few days, Cami got out of the yard and ran away from home. She was missing for 5 long nights before she was found. Cami was so scared of people so although there were lots of sightings of her, nobody could get close enough to catch her. Eventually Cami showed up in Tara's backyard! Cami has since grown very brave in many situations that would have previously sent her running under the bed to hide. Cami's favorite activities are meal time, running in the snow, snoozing in the sun, and trying to catching bees.