Meet Don!
Don Hutton, KPA-CTP
At the core of my dog training practice is a sincere interest in developing lasting, loving, and trusting relationships with dogs. These are some of the most valuable relationships I’ve had in my life! I know that I’m not alone, why else would we be so infatuated with dogs!? It’s all about that companionship, those shared experiences, and that honest, easy love!
As is the case for a lot of us, dogs were a prominent feature of my childhood. I grew up with Rosie, then Marley, and then Haida (who is still with us); Remy, Cassie, Bailey, Bandit, Bowmore, and so many more who shared summers with us at the cottage. As my immediate family grew, more and more dogs entered the scene: Oso, Huckleberry, Hobie, Tenasi… and of course Bu.
Those formative relationships were brought back to life in the summer of 2009 when I met Bu, a scraggly mutt, while living out of a van way up north in Dawson City, Yukon. I knew I’d have a dog in my life at some point, but this was not how I envisioned it. What started as a favour to watch an acquaintance's dog slowly but surely changed the course of my life. Bu was a tough bush-dog who kept his distance from me during our first weeks together. It was easy at that time to know that this was just a short term situation, but before long we started to fall for each other. I’ll never forget taking him hiking to Grizzly Lake in Tombstone Territorial Park. With the freedom to run as far as he liked he stuck with us. That evening, after a swim, I sat on a large rock by the lake when Bu hopped over to join me. No tail wagging, no kisses or cuddles, he just sat beside me, but it meant the world!
We fell hard for Bu, and before the summer was out his owner agreed to let us keep him before we embarked on our cross-country journey back to Montreal. Things for Bu in his hometown weren’t always safe for him, but caring for this wild bush-dog in a major city also posed it’s own risks. Just months after returning to the city Bu escaped from a friend while on a walk and was hit by a car, and then another… he died in our arms after having made it halfway back to our home. To date, losing him was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. He was a force to be reckoned with and I loved him for this, but he also helped me to realize some very important things about myself.
Bu was in my life for such a short time - just 6 months - but he managed to completely change my path and put me on a course to finding my career and livelihood, the work that brings me joy, purpose, and fulfillment.
Don with Bu
So began my search for ‘dog jobs.’ I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I was unaware of the possibilities and didn’t even consider dog training for years to come. I did have a lifetime of experience in outdoor education though, and that led me to guiding dog sledding tours in Northern Ontario. I’ll never forget coming back from my first interview covered in more dog hair than you can imagine and the biggest grin on my face! I think I knew then that working with dogs in one way or another would define my career.
Over the next 4 years, I got to know hundreds of sled dogs on a first-name basis over countless hours of cleaning, feeding, caring, and running trails. I was honoured to have the very rare opportunity as a “southerner” (read: not from the far north) to work directly with an elite team of sled dogs who competed at the highest level in the world. It was an immersive experience that I’ll never forget, and it laid the foundation for the next stage in my career.
Tenasi
Between my second and third seasons dog sledding, I spent a year at the Toronto Humane Society. I started as an Animal Care Worker cleaning the dog runs before sunrise, and walking the more demanding dogs through to the afternoon. During my first week, as I made my way through the kennels, I came across a young, lanky, coyote-looking dog. His name was Chester and he was in the stall with the tall gate that went all the way up to the ceiling; “the jumper run” for those with a history of escaping. I was in love!
I didn’t have a dog at the time, and I knew that I wouldn’t last long working at the shelter before I’d want to invite a new dog into my life. I had figured I’d earn at least two pay cheques before considering adoption, but there he was grinning at me with mischief in his eyes. Three days later we were sitting together in my living room sizing each other up, wondering who this other individual was. Chester, who had been Bandit the previous week, took on his third name in his short life, Tenasi, and a new chapter began in both of our lives.
Before long I was promoted at the shelter and managed a small team leading all of the dog adoptions. In a short amount of time I was exposed to the gamut of dog behaviour issues, and this is when I started to really pay attention to training and dog behaviour. I had a rocky start finding the science-based philosophy that I practice today. A certain self-proclaimed “expert” celebrity dog trainer was at the peak of his influence at the time, and I definitely drank the Kool-Aid! Something about “being the pack leader” made intuitive sense to me, but as I kept learning and reading I started to see the out-of-date myths that were being perpetuated. This was still just the very beginning of my training journey, but I had changed course from my beginnings towards a more compassionate, science-based approach.
After a year at the Toronto Humane Society, it was time to move on and Tenasi and I embarked on an adventure that would have a huge impact on our relationship. I had been offered another dog sled guiding position, but this time in the Rocky Mountains! Ten and I drove and camped our way across the northern United States before spending winter in the mountains running trails through thick and thin. Ten was invited to harness up and join the other sled dogs on these tours, “if he could keep up.” I wasn’t sure if he would be able to; he was a very athletic dog and he had the right physique, but these were purpose-bred sled dogs from long lines. Could he possibly keep up? The answer was an emphatic YES! I had full control over how much Ten would run on any given day and I cautiously started small, gradually working him up to greater distances and longer days. Tenasi would contribute as much as some of the best dogs in the kennel that winter!! Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of other dogs that easily out-worked him on any given day, but I was so proud to see my guy enthusiastically pull off marathon days and be eager to get into the team the following morning!
Before the winter was out I knew I was going to study dog training in earnest, and so upon return to Toronto, I enrolled at the Karen Pryor Academy for their 6-month, mixed theory and practical, Professional Dog Trainer Program. Ten and I had developed a fantastic bond over that winter and it served us so well as we worked together to complete all of the practical training assignments the program required. Tenasi isn’t exactly what I would call a “handler focused” dog like a lot of traditional herding or retrieving breeds, which would present some challenges for me as his teacher. I had to adapt to a training practice that worked best for him which meant incorporating really exciting treats, lots of play, and plenty of breaks into our short 5-minute training sessions. While he could run for days pulling a sled, he was not driven in the same way for training sessions. This was a huge learning experience for me, but ultimately meant that I would become a better dog trainer for it, and for this I am grateful to him.
Don with Tenasi
Since graduating with distinction, I have started my own business and served more than 400 satisfied clients to date! I’ve continued my education with countless webinars, seminars, and a number of in-depth courses offered by experts in the field of dog aggression and applied behaviour analysis. I’ve been interviewed on a number of podcasts, and presented my own seminars and webinars on important topics close to my heart. After 5 years in business, I’m still excited to provide a high quality service to my clients, as well as to grow in new and exciting ways.