Island Discovery
& Training
835 Harewood Mines Rd.
Nanaimo, BC V9R 6P3
E-mail:
250-753-5246

Your Instructor

Donna Hill, B.Sc.(Zoology) B.Ed.
is a zoologist and experienced educator who specializes in animal behavior. She has an interest in how the environment affects behavior and minored in psychology at university. She has always had at least two canine companions and has been playing with, training and loving dogs since she was a child. She has taught hands-on workshops to children, families, adult and seniors and teaching professionals for over 20 years. She loves sharing her knowledge and skills and has a special way with children and dogs.

Donna started by dog sitting and walking for neighbors and has experience in private kennels, dog shelters, rescue organizations and doggy daycare. In the last few years, she has volunteered more than 350 hours for the local SPCA and other dog rescue organizations. She stays current by taking professional development workshops from positive trainers as Suzanne Clothier. She has taken DogSafe Canine First Aid, CPR, socialization and communication, and aggression workshops and is an avid reader. In 2007, she completed a North America-wide study of more than 30 dogs who were successfully treated for separation anxiety. She recommends books from www.dogwisepublishing.com.

In their younger days, her two family dogs (Golden Retriever and mixed breed lower left in above picture) competed in fly ball and agility, but hated obedience classes. At 12 and 13 years of age, they are eagerly learning new things in Rally Obedience. Donna's new pup is learning all the tasks to be a good member of the community and an awesome companion and helper dog. Playing mind and physical games and dabbling in many dog activities is part of the fun and a great way to stay in top mental and physical shape.

Donna finds games an ideal activity for non-competitive dog owners with busy schedules. She has written dog games and bicycling articles that have been accepted by magazines such as DOGSport, Dog & Kennel and Vancouver Island Pets magazines. Watch for her Canine Capers Column in Synergy magazine, a free local magazine available at drugstores, malls and health food stores.
She is also author of "You Don't Have to be  Dog Whisperer: Applying Principles of No Force Training for the Family Dog" audio book on CD so you can listen to her sharing training techniques in her own words! 

Donna believes training dogs should be a fun and positive experience for both the person and the dog, cater to the learning needs of both and the knowledge and skills learned should be useful in every day life. She is not into competition and titles (but her dogs have them) and believes that playing with and interacting meaningfully with family dogs is key to building a good relationship and a willing canine companion. She uses positive methods such as operant conditioning to help you build a stronger relationship with your dog(s). She is approachable and her enthusiasm is contagious. Her private classes & workshops receive rave reviews and clients return for other workshops and refer others!

Testimonials:

"Thank you so much for all that you have done for us and Molly over the past two weeks. We have loved every minute that we have had to work with you. It has been a real help!" The Ohs family  2007

"Thanks for the lesson last Sunday. I have been working on them and find your ideas useful." J. Mueller 2007 

"The (jumps & soccer cones) games were great the other day.  I had a good time and I think both dogs did also. Thanks again for the great games." J. Rowe 2007

"I just thought I'd tell you that I have used the (separation anxiety) strategies you suggested, with the little mill rescue English Toy boy who came up to us last April. He has done very well using your strategies. He is solid as a rock now when left." Mary 2007

"I really enjoyed speaking with you - you "got it" and it so nice to speak to someone else who has gone through this (separation anxiety) and you gave me hope that if I keep at it - Rory will get over this." Susan 2007

"Thank you so much for your help - nice to know we weren't the only ones to have this problem and the reassurance that our "problem" wasn't nearly as bad as some people had. So thank you again." Muriel 2007

"Wow! In never would have thought I would see so much improvement in his barking at other dogs in just one session. Amazing!"
L. Jones 2008

"I'll be back for more classes and I am going to recommend you to my friend who is trying to train his dog from a wheel chair." Sean 2008