About Us

Helping Dogs Thrive, Their People Succeed, and Partnerships Grow

You and your dog are on a lifelong journey, and I'm here to walk it with you... supporting you, celebrating your wins, and helping you both thrive

Pooch Partners isn't just about teaching obedience ; it's about empowering your dog with the skills to navigate the world confidently and joyfully. Together, we create a happier, more balanced life for both you and your dog.

The partnership you've always dreamed of and the happy, fulfilling life your dog deserves is within reach… let's get started!

Meet the Team!

Shelly Korobanik

Owner & Trainer

Hi, I'm Shelly, and I believe every dog deserves to live their best life – and their humans deserve to feel confident and connected with their best friend.

Your dog's best life starts with a true partnership and an understanding of what they really need. Many "problem" behaviours happen because there's a mismatch between your dog's natural instincts, the modern world they live in, and what we expect from them. Most dogs were bred for specific jobs, which can make life tricky for them in today's world. Here's the thing: your dog isn't broken or a project to "fix" – they're family just trying to figure out this crazy world.

As a Fear Free Certified trainer with unique qualifications and extensive experience, I help you understand what your dog truly needs and how to meet those needs. Using games-based, positive training methods that are fun for both you and your dog, I go beyond basic obedience training. I focus on your dog's total well-being and building a partnership based on cooperation, understanding, and respect for who your dog really is. That means looking at everything from their physical health and environment to their need to just be a dog and do dog things.

Whether you're seeking guidance for a new puppy, effective solutions for tough behavioural struggles, or ways to enrich your dog's world, I'm here to guide you every step of the way.

Sila

Sila brings a ton of enthusiasm and energy to everything he does, even as a senior. Life is always an adventure with him. Canicross, agility, weight pulling, skijoring, kicksledding, and scootering – Sila has done it all, along with competing in conformance, obedience, tracking, scent detection, tricks, stunts, canine fitness and has earned numerous titles. More importantly, he has been an amazing companion in my life!

Suka

Suka is a joy to work with even with his shyness of strangers . He is very strong, fast and overflowing with enthusiasm no matter what I may ask of him. Like Sila, he has done canicross, agility, weight pulling, scootering, tracking, scent detection, and more! He also competed in conformance, obedience, tracking, scent detection, tricks, stunts, canine fitness and has earned numerous titles. He keeps our journey in life exciting!

Kallik

Kallik is our newest team member and is currently a learning sponge! So he has already got titles in Novice, Novice Masters, Intermediate, Intermediate Masters, and Trick Puppy Champion. He is going to be a go getter for sure and I am excited to see what the future holds for him in my pack!

Qilaq

(In Memoriam) Jan 18, 2007 – Jul 4, 2018

I thought we’d have more time to spend, but it was not to be.

He’s now with his sister Sesi, forever seizure-free.

My soul’s filled with great sadness and my heart feels such great pain,

I will miss my sweet boy Qilaq, until we meet again.

Run free my boy…..

Qilaq was an amazing dog, and with his sister Sesi, was an active participant in activities since Pooch Partners was created.

He was epileptic and despite being on daily medication, experienced 20-35 seizures over a 1-3 day period every month. It wasn’t always easy having an epileptic dog, but it was so worth it! He taught me many important lessons and I miss him every day.

Sesi

(In Memorium) Jan 18, 2007 – Jul 4, 2017

The decision was not easy,

but because I loved her so,

Her pain has now been ended

and I have let her go,

To be in peace and comfort,

more coughing, pills or pain,

I will miss my sweet girl Sesi,

until we meet again.

Run free my girl….

Sesi was an active participant in activities since Pooch Partners was created. Sesi tore her ACL at age of 1, but after a slow recovery period she was good as new! She also suffered from a breathing disorder which she was on medication for, and while it slowed her down, she always enjoyed her outings although less often in her senior years. Sesi was definitely the leader of my pack and kept the boys in line.

Sadly, due to deteriorating health, Sesi departed on her journey over the rainbow bridge July 4, 2017. She is thought of and missed every day.

Giving Back

Pooch Partners believes in giving back to the community! Our annual Doggie Duathlon and other fundraising events have allowed us to support animal related charities, including but not limited to the Vernon and Salmon Arm SPCA branches, Sit Pretty Pit, Hug-A-Bull, Vernon & District Animal Care Society, the Okanagan Humane Society, Vernon Pet Soup Kitchen, the Road Home Safekeeping & Rescue Society, Critter Care Wildlife Society, Forever Home Sanctuary, and the University of Guelph’s Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund.

What Our Credentials Mean

Certified Dog Trainer

Animal Behaviour College - clicker training

Professional Dog Trainer

Absolute Dogs - games-based concept training

Diploma - Animal Behaviour Science & Technology (ABST) for dogs, cats, parrots & equine

Certified Canine Fitness Trainer (CCFT)

University of Tennessee, Veterinary Academy of Higher Learning (VAHL) - Assess fitness level and create fitness plans for dogs

Certified Dynamic Dog Practitioner

Dynamic Dog Practitioner Programme - intensive functional analysis resulting in a 2-page report for vets with accompanying photos and video

Certified Licenced Whole Energy Body Balance™ (WEBB) Bodywork & Energywork Practitioner

Developed by a veterinarian, these healing somatic systems interacts with the entire physical body and energy systems of pets to relieve tension in the neuro-fascial network, that has a positive effect for the entire body.

Certified SA (Separation Anxiety) Pro™ Behaviour Consultant

Julia Naismith’s program to help dog’s that struggle with separation related behaviours.

**Licenced Family Dog Mediator* (FDM)**

Kim Brophy, CDBC, CPDT-KA. Applied Ethologist -incorporating the L.E.G.S. (Learning, Environment, Genetics and Self) model into dog services to satisfy their natural needs in training

Treat/Retreat Certified Instructor

Suzanne Clothier - program to help dogs fearful of people

Certificate - Aggression in Dogs Master Course

Mike Shikashio – approaches to training and management when dealing with aggressive dogs

Certified Predation Substitute Training Instructor

Simone Mueller – a program developed to enable prey motivated dogs an outlet for their natural behaviours in a safe way

Certified Trick Dog Instructor

Do More with Your Dog – assist clients to achieve titles up to Grand Master champion recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club

Certified Canine Conditioning Fitness Coach

Do More with Your Dog – assist clients to achieve titles up to Grand Master champion

Trick Dog Evaluator

Do More with Your Dog – enables me to evaluate clients and their dogs for all levels of their trick dog titles

Stunt Dog Judge

Do More with Your Dog – enables me to evaluate clients and their dogs for all levels of their stunt dog titles

Certified Animal Actor Evaluator

Do More with Your Dog – enables me to evaluate clients and their dogs for all levels of their Animal Actor titles

Canine Good Neighbour (CGN) Judge

Canadian Kennel Club - enables me to evaluate dogs for their CGN title

Pet First Aid

St. John Ambulance and Absolute Dogs

Fear Free Certified Professional

Fear Free - works to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets

Grief Coach for Pet Loss

Certified Excellence guardians during preparation and loss of their beloved pet.

Personal Trainer Specialist

CanFitPro – personal trainer

What Our Clients Are Saying

"Shelly was amazing! She taught us basic games, boundaries and all the tools we need to be successful on walks! I highly recommend Pooch Partners."

-Ashley Browne

"Absolutely amazing! We learned so much and Moose is now a different dog! He understands boundaries, and has manners! Would definitely recommend."

-Candice Mikkelsen

"Shelley is very thorough and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend Pooch Partners for anyone looking for personal training for their dog or group classes."

-Alana Tkachenko-Shultz