Toronto based canine behavior specialist, Deena Cooper, has earned certification from the Canadian Kennel Club as a Canine Good Neighbor evaluator.

The Canine Good Neighbor Program is an effort began by the Canadian Kennel Club in order to improve community attitudes toward dogs in public places. Pets that complete the Canine Good Neighbor Program can be counted on to behave well in crowds, high stress situations, and around other dogs. For Deena Cooper, this certification is another notch in her proverbial belt. Deena Cooper has made a habit out of collecting certifications from various canine advocacy groups for her talent in training dogs. This latest certification allows Deena Cooper to proctor tests for the Canine Good Neighbor Program as well as organize training programs.

Deena Cooper's mindset regarding this certification is that it is a benchmark that many dog owners should try to reach. The Canine Good Neighbor certificate is given after an owner and their dog pass twelve separate tests, evaluating their actions in high-pressure situations. Deena Cooper believes that if more dog owners would work with their dogs to meet these behavioral standards, public perception of dogs would change around Canada. Deena Cooper understands the tensions between pet owners and those who do not have canine companionship. “Currently, many citizens around Canada see dogs as a nuisance in public places, and rightly so. They have to deal with dogs acting out in parks, on trains, and on the street.”

Deena Cooper firmly believes that dogs have a place in modern society and that, when they are trained to behave better, it will only make sense to allow them to accompany their owners into more places. She also works alongside vets when a dog’s behavior modification is necessary, or in cases of a pharmaceutical intervention, in terms of separation anxiety, fear of people and interdog fear aggression.


As a certified evaluator, Deena Cooper offers an eight-week class to prepare dog owners for the difficulties of the testing process. In addition to being another avenue for her business to grow, this class will help Deena Cooper's clients have a higher success rate at the Canine Good Neighbor evaluation. Deena Cooper doesn’t just train dogs and puppies – she also works in behavior modification, to help dogs with fear issues and even separation anxiety.
For Deena Cooper, the greatest opportunity of this new certification is not the revenue potential, but the chance to improve her community and help dog owners integrate into the community at large.