Gillian Ridgeway, AHT
Director

Gillian began her dog training career in 1972 as a dog training apprentice and has been involved in the animal world ever since. Having worked behind the scenes in pet stores in her early years, she saw the need for suitable breed selection and public education.

Attending Centralia College for Animal Health Technology, she graduated with honours in 1984 and was the recipient of the Cormach Award for Most Proficient Student. Gillian has continued her education by obtaining Certificates in Small Animal Nutrition and Small Animal Dermatology and is in attendance at the many trainer seminars and workshops.

She has served on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association of Animal Health Technicians and helped set up, and participated in the Pet Visitation/Therapy Program at Toronto East General Hospital. When PIJAC introduced an Animal Husbandry course at George Brown College, she soon jumped in to assist teaching.

A Founding member in good standing of both the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers and International Positive Dog Trainers Association, Gillian believes that education combined with experience is the key to helping clients teach, and manage, their dogs. This involvement ensures that she remains up to date on all current training issues. Serving as Public Relations Co-ordinator in 2001-2002 for the CAPPDT, she helped promote and encourage humane dog training to the public.

Paws For Thought was a pet boutique in the 1980’s that was a staple of the Toronto Beach community. Gillian was always on hand in her shop to help with advise. Her love of dog training continued and she founded Who’s Walking Who in 1989. Since then, Who’s Walking Who has been serving the greater GTA, opened a second location in Ajax in 1999 and adding their third location at Urbandog in the Distillery District in 2004. They now see over 250 dogs per week with a very skilled training team to provide you with all your dog-training needs. (See “Our Pack for more staff bio's”).

Gillian has been featured on many television interviews and radio talk shows plus in magazines and newspapers. As well, she is the feature writer for Dogs, Dogs, Dogs and penned a weekly Pet Care Column for Metro Toronto newspaper from 2000 - 2004. She was also the feature trainer for Dogs TV in 2003 (now seen on many stations in reruns).

Gillian is also very proud of “Citizen Canine”, her first published book (available direct from WWW). Her column by the same name has been in Dogs in Canada monthly magazine since 2002, concentrating on issues surrounding pet dog training, and has twice been nominated for the Dog Writers of Association of America for Best Magazine Column.

With her gift of public speaking, Gillian continues to entertain and educate dog owners through her Puppy Points and Dog Sense Seminars and is much sought after to bring this information to communities outside her hometown. She was recently added to the curriculum of the Psychology Department of The University of Toronto, addressing the students on the topic of learning theory, using her own dogs to demonstate the practical application

In the spring of 2007, Gillian travelled across Canada, with Levi, as the National Spokesperson for Greenies Dental Chews. She launched the media campaign along with input into the website pertaining to their Chews To Care dental program. Due to her media experience and easy to understand approach, the campaign was a great success.

Gillian shares her home in Ajax with her husband, Ken and her dogs – Cruiser, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has titles in Obedience and Flyball did compete at the Masters Level in Agility. Levi is the actor of the family. Being involved in many commercials (Kentucky Fried Chicken, Sprint, Bell, Quaker Oatmeal Bars to name a few) plus TV shows and movies has Levi believing she is quite the Queen Bee. Her English Cocker Spaniel, Yardley was Gillians Co-Host for Canoe Live TV, a live call in show done every second Wednesday...and her newest addition is Noah, a Pyrenean Shepherd. And in their spare time? Gillian and the dogs travel with the International Superdogs Performance Team!