About Us

Our story begins in 2002 when Founder, Megan Stanley, adopted her first dog, Guinniss. She quickly learned that the sweet and affectionate boy at home became a scary and reactive dog once out in the real world. Guinniss was terrified of our urban environment and demonstrated his fear through over-the-top reactions. Megan knew that through patience and the right training approach, she could teach Guinniss that the world was safe and help him integrate successfully into the busy human environment.

Guinniss was Megan’s best teacher and is credited as being Dogma’s Canine Co-Founder. Through her work with Guinniss, Megan learned that there were limited options for dogs with reactivity and fear concerns. All options available utilized punishment, which Megan knew put Guinniss at risk to become a dangerous dog due to the behavioural fallout from such harsh methods. Existing facilities at the time were operated by well-intentioned dog owners who put far too many dogs in groups with only one or two inexperienced supervisors with little to no education on canine behaviour. She knew then that she needed to create an organization to set the standard for care and training and advocate for improving the lives of dogs and the people who love them.

Dogma opened its doors in 2008 and quickly became the go-to place to visit for complete dog education, day school and training. At Dogma, we know that successful dog training is about relationship building. It's about communicating with your four-legged companion, building a relationship based on mutual respect and learning together. It's positive, it's peaceful and, yes, it's productive.

 As part of the Dogma Difference, we are the only facility to offer a variety of education programs ran entirely by reward-based certified dog trainers. Dogma was the first to have only certified trainers conduct training, segregate play groups based on size and play style, mandate an assessment before dogs were allowed to attend day school, maintain strict capacity numbers, ensure a low staff-dog ratio, and provide rubber-flooring and solid, high walls to ensure each dogs’ safety.

We maintain the highest standards of excellence through staff training, 100% supervision, the lowest staff-dog ratio, facility design, equipment used, and we make every decision to ensure the emotional, physical, and behavioural well-being of each dog in our care. We continue to innovate dog training to ensure training is easy and accessible. We have training to fit every budget and schedule and work with any breed or behaviour.

Community and giving back are extremely important to Dogma. We provide free education and training to many rescue groups around Calgary, conduct regular fundraising initiatives, and do our part to help elevate the industry and its future leaders.

Awards and Recognition

  
Current Opportunities

We're Hiring! Junior Dog Trainer

Build a career doing what you love, while making a difference for dogs and their people.

Dogma Training is growing, and we're looking for a passionate, compassionate, and motivated Junior Dog Trainer to join our Calgary team!

With our Day School at capacity and increasing demand for group classes, private training, and events, we're excited to welcome another trainer who shares our commitment to humane, reward-based training and raising the standards of dog care.

At Dogma, we believe dog training should be more than a job. It should be a rewarding, sustainable career with opportunities to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact.

Why Build Your Career at Dogma?

We know that becoming a great dog trainer takes more than a love of dogs. It takes education, experience, mentorship, and a willingness to keep learning.

That's why we invest in our team.

As a Dogma trainer, you'll benefit from:

• Employer-funded professional education, including opportunities to complete our Dogma Academy DDT and DCBC certification programs, continuing education, and workshops.

• Hands-on mentorship from experienced, certified trainers who are committed to helping you succeed.

• A clear career pathway with opportunities to expand into group classes, private training, advanced behaviour services, and leadership roles as your competencies develop.

• Meaningful, practical experience working with dogs of different ages, breeds, personalities, and training needs.

• Competitive compensation and benefits, with starting wages of $18–22/hour and opportunities to progress into salaried positions.

• A supportive, inclusive team environment that values collaboration, accountability, professional development, and animal welfare.

• Work-life stability without the challenges of running your own training business or finding your own clients.

Our employer-funded certification opportunities are subject to applicable professional development agreements.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who wants to build a long-term career in professional dog training.

Our ideal candidate has previous dog training education or certification, at least one year of relevant experience, and a strong foundation in humane, reward-based training.

Just as importantly, we're looking for someone who is curious, collaborative, open to feedback, and excited to continue developing their knowledge and practical skills.

We recognize that trainers come from different educational backgrounds. Our competency-based development process helps us recognize your existing strengths, identify opportunities for growth, and support your progression into additional responsibilities.

You don't need to know everything when you join us. But you do need to be committed to learning, growing, and doing what's best for the dogs in our care.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll work alongside our training team to deliver high-quality care, education, and behaviour support through our Day School programs, with opportunities to expand into group classes, private training, workshops, and events as your skills develop.

You'll collaborate with fellow trainers, support clients, contribute to individualized training plans, and help maintain the high standards of safety, welfare, and professionalism that Dogma is known for.

Join a Team That's Raising the Bar

At Dogma, we're committed to building a better future for dogs, their people, and the professionals who work with them.

We're proud members of the Trans Affirming Network and are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and supported.

If you're looking for a place to develop your skills, build a meaningful career, and be part of a team that's working to make our industry better, we'd love to hear from you!

Ready to Join Dogma?

Send your resume and cover letter to megan@dogmatraining.com and tell us why you'd be a great fit for our Junior Dog Trainer position.

We look forward to hearing from you!