Canine Compass
Our Programs & Services
EXPLORE ALL FIVE PROGRAMS
Full details for each program are listed below. ↓
Navigating Dog Safety
Dogs and children share our homes, parks, schools, and communities. Learning how to safely interact with dogs helps build confidence, understanding, and safer relationships for everyone.
Using the Doggone Safe "Be a Tree" program, children learn how to recognize canine body language, when to give a dog space, and what to do if approached by an unfamiliar dog. Through interactive activities, movement, and discussion, children gain practical skills that can help prevent dog bites while learning to better understand what dogs are communicating.
A fun and engaging program for schools, libraries, community centres, and families.
Facilitated by Early Childhood Educator and Dog Training Professional Marnie Grey.
Navigating Family Life
Dogs are family too—and every family grows and changes over time.
Whether you're preparing your dog for the arrival of a new baby, introducing your newest family member, or helping your dog and toddler build a safe, positive relationship, Canine Compass provides personalized guidance to help every member of the family feel safe, comfortable and understood.
Areas of Support
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Preparing your dog for a new baby
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Introducing your baby and dog
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Helping your dog adjust to life with baby
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Supporting toddlers and dogs as they grow together
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Navigating common family challenges
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Creating routines that support the whole family
Every family is unique, and every dog experiences change differently. By understanding your dog's needs and helping you navigate each stage with confidence, we can build trust, strengthen relationships, and create a positive foundation for your growing family.
Navigating Separation Anxiety
Just like children, dogs can struggle when the people they love leave them alone. Separation anxiety can be stressful for both dogs and the people who care about them.
As an Early Childhood Educator for almost 30 years, Marnie has helped children and families navigate separation, transitions, and feelings of uncertainty. Combined with her professional dog training education and firsthand experience supporting her own dogs through separation anxiety, she brings a unique perspective to helping families understand and support their canine companions.
Drawing on her studies at Good Dog Academy, including learning from separation anxiety expert Malena DeMartini, Marnie helps families better understand separation anxiety and develop practical, compassionate strategies that help dogs feel safer and more comfortable when left alone.
Canine Compass offers guidance, education, and support to help both dogs and their people navigate time apart with greater confidence.
Finding Your Way Together
Helping you understand the dog you have, while helping your dog better understand you.
Life with our dogs isn't always as easy as we imagined. They may pull on walks, jump up to greet people, bark excessively, struggle to settle, or communicate in ways we don't yet understand.
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Finding Your Way Together is personalized, compassionate, force-free coaching available online or in person, designed to help you navigate everyday challenges while strengthening the relationship you share with your dog.
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What We Can Work On
• Enjoyable walks together
• Excessive barking
• Jumping, mouthing & nipping
• Counter surfing
• Recall & everyday life skills
• Settling & feeling comfortable at home
• Enrichment & meeting your dog's needs
• Building confidence
• Understanding canine communication
• Supporting anxious or worried dogs
• Building focus, trust & connection
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The Process
Before we meet, you'll complete a questionnaire and can send along videos or questions for me to review.
We'll meet in person or virtually via Zoom to explore what's happening, why it may be happening, and develop practical, force-free strategies tailored to you and your dog.
After our session, you'll receive personalized notes and recommendations to guide you as you practise together, with follow-up coaching available as needed.
Together, we'll look beyond the behaviour to understand what your dog may be communicating and what they need from you. We'll find practical strategies that work for your everyday life while building confidence, strengthening communication, and creating greater trust, comfort and connection.
Because training isn't only about changing behaviour. It's about learning to understand one another — and finding your way together.
Adoption Guidance
Thoughtful guidance before welcoming your newest family member.
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Finding the right dog starts with understanding your lifestyle. Whether you work from home, love hiking, have young children, live in an apartment, or are looking for your first rescue, I'll help you thoughtfully choose a companion whose personality, needs and energy are a good match for the life you want to share.
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Every dog is an individual, and every family has different routines, expectations and goals. While no match can ever be guaranteed, choosing a dog whose needs complement your lifestyle can help set both of you up for success.
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After seeing wonderful dogs returned to shelters simply because they weren't the right match for their families, I wanted to create a service that helps people make informed, thoughtful decisions before bringing a dog home.
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How I Can Help
Together, we'll explore your lifestyle, daily routine and what you're looking for in a canine companion. We'll discuss personality, energy levels, breed tendencies, rescue histories and your goals, helping you make an informed decision with confidence.
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I'll also help you understand rescue profiles, evaluate potential matches, and prepare thoughtful questions to ask shelters or foster families before bringing your new dog home.
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Optional Homecoming Consultation
Once you've found your new family member, you can choose to add a personalized Homecoming Consultation to help you prepare for their arrival.
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This session may include:
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Creating safe spaces and daily routines
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Food, bedding, equipment and enrichment guidance
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Preparing children or other pets
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Understanding the decompression period after adoption
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Helping your dog settle into their new home
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Introducing life skills and positive training
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A little preparation before your dog arrives can make those first days feel calmer, more comfortable, and help both of you begin your journey with confidence.
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Finding the right match is only the beginning. When your new family member arrives home, I'll be here to help you find your way together.