A NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER
My connection to animals began
long before I had words for it.
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For as long as I can remember, every creature I met, be it a dog catching a ball mid-air, a rabbit pausing mid-nibble, or a hamster cramming an improbable amount of food into its cheeks, brought an immediate, unguarded smile to my face. That feeling never left me. It evolved into a conviction I still hold today: every creature, big or small, deserves love and respect, and regardless of size, deserves appropriate care and proper medical attention.
That conviction moved from belief into practice early on. I began enriching my own companion animals' lives through structured training sessions — not to make my life easier or more entertaining, but to give them confidence, agency, and a clearer way to communicate with me.
For the past ten years, I have carried that same commitment further still, advocating for small companion animals whose welfare needs are too often overlooked simply because their voices are quieter.
It was through this lens that I began to notice something troubling across the dog training industry in British Columbia: a wide and persistent gap between what dogs and their guardians genuinely needed and what many services were actually offering. Kindred Canine was founded to close that gap — to help dog guardians truly understand their dogs, communicate with them more clearly, and remove the behavioural hurdles that come between them, so that life together can be what it should be: enjoyable, respectful, and built on mutual trust.
With love,
Florence Lai
Founder, Kindred Canine
My hope reaches beyond any single household. Behavioural misunderstanding is one of the most common and most preventable reasons dogs lose their lives: through surrender to shelters that cannot guarantee a future, or through fear and frustration that go unaddressed until they escalate into a bite, a "dangerous dog" designation, and a court-ordered euthanasia. Each dog who finds a clearer understanding with their guardians, long before their unwanted behaviours turn into a crisis, is one step closer to a future with fewer surrenders, fewer needless losses, and more dogs living the full, respected lives they deserve.
CREDENTIALS
My qualifications.
A rare depth of expertise.
Dog training is not legally regulated in Canada, so anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. Kindred Canine offers formal, science-based expertise in animal behaviour that you and your canine companion can count on.
MSc Anthrozoology
Canisius University, Buffalo NY
The scientific study of the human-animal bond — the academic foundation of everything we do.
Certificate in Applied Animal Behaviour
University of Washington
University-accredited applied behavioural science. No other local provider holds this qualification.
Fear Free Certified
Fear Free LLC
Internationally recognised certification in minimising fear, anxiety, and stress in animal care.
Pet First Aid Certified
Walks 'N' Wags
Trained to respond to medical emergencies. Your dog's safety is covered from every angle.
Bilingual Services
English · 普通话 · 廣東話
All services — walking, behaviour modification, and puppy training — are available in English, Putonghua (普通话), or Cantonese (廣東話). Language is not a barrier to understanding your dog's needs.
Dog training is an unregulated profession in Canada. Kindred Canine invites you to ask your other options about their qualifications. Then compare.