A promotional graphic for Terra Nova Canines featuring Tara, a pet care professional and owner of Terra Nova Canines. The image shows Tara smiling and holding two dogs, one in each arm, with a cheerful background and text introducing her.

My name is Tara and I am a trainer whose passion for animals has been a lifelong journey - and it shows in everything I do. From rescuing “lost” bugs as a child to growing up alongside a menagerie of pets, I have always been fascinated by animal behavior and communication. While attending university, I found myself missing that daily connection and began offering pet care to friends and coworkers, gaining hands-on experience that would shape my professional path.

I am Pet First Aid & CPR certified and a Fear-Free Certified Professional, meaning my approach is always humane, compassionate, and rooted in trust - no aversive tools, ever. I’m deeply committed to continuing education, with focused study in dog body language, proper socialization, and the foundations of effective training. Through live-in pet sitting and long-term care, I discovered how powerful consistent, intentional training can be, watching dogs grow in confidence and skill day by day. That experience inspired me to become a science-based, positive-reinforcement dog trainer.

Educated though the Victoria Stilwell Academy, I have been teaching small group classes since March 2022 - earning rave reviews through thoughtful coaching, attentive listening, and the ability to help teams troubleshoot and progress. I can’t wait to help you and your pup build a stronger foundation for success - together, through positive reinforcement. 🐾

Education & Certification

Certifications:

  • Victoria Stilwell Academy - Fundamentals of Dog Training & Behavior

  • FearFree Pets: Pet Sitter Certification Program

  • Pet Sitters International & Pet Safety Crusaders: Pet First Aid & CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals

Continued Education:

Malena Demartini

  • Mission Possible - Separation Anxiety Training

Separation Anxiety Dog

  • DO-IT-YOURSELF Separation Anxiety Program

All Paws On Deck

  • Shadowing/Assisting with puppy & intermediate group classes

Victoria Stilwell Academy

  • Building Your Dog's Confidence

  • Being a Good Pet Neighbor

BravoDog

  • The Basics of Dog Body Language

Memberships:

  • Professional Member, Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT)

  • Professional Member, Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers (CAPDT)

  • FearFree Pets: Boarding & Daycare Individual Membership

  • Supporting Member, International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC)

Pet Sitters International

  • Canine to Human Connection

  • Social Development of Puppies

  • The Pet Sitter’s Guide to Safer, Smarter Dog Walking

  • What Pet Sitters Should Know About Resource Guarding

  • Separation Anxiety: How Pet Sitters Can Help

  • Collars 101

  • Harnesses 101

  • Leashes 101

  • Greeting Pets at the Initial Consultation

  • Dietary and Nutrient Requirements for Dogs and Cats

  • Pet Behavior and Body Language

  • Solving Common Behavior Problems in Dogs and Cats

  • Bite Prevention for Pet Sitters

  • Promoting Harmony in Multi-Pet Households

Logo for Victoria Stillwell Academy of Dog Training & Behavior featuring a silhouette of a person with two dogs, all enclosed in a circular design with the academy's name and the words 'Fundamentals' in the center.
Profur logo with the text 'Protected by Profur, Insurance for Pet Care Professionals'
Gold star badge with a black maple leaf symbol at the top, text reading 'Canadian Choice Award Winner' in black, with a background of a blue and gold ribbon.
Fear Free Certified Professional logo with a checkmark enclosed in a circle.
Logo of the Pet Professional Guild featuring large blue and orange letters 'P' and 'G' with a line drawing of a dog's profile and the text 'The Pet Professional Guild' and 'The Association for Force-Free Pet Professionals'.
Logo of the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers featuring a white dog silhouette sitting in front of a red maple leaf with a green background.
Badge with ADPT logo, 4 stars, and the words 'MEMBER Expires August 31, 2026'.
Silhouette of a person with two dogs in front, and a banner with the word 'STARTER' on top, all inside a circular badge.
Logo for Victoria Stillwell Academy with a silhouette of a person and three dogs, surrounded by the text "Building Your Dog's Confidence" and "Starter" in the center.
Certificate of completion awarded to Terra Nova Canines for Fear Free Pet Sitter Certification Program, signed by Dr. Marty Becker, dated January 2, 2022.
Certificate of Completion awarded to Tara Wuennenberg for Fundamentals of Dog Training & Behavior from Victoria Stilwell Academy, dated February 1, 2022.
Certificate of completion awarded to Tara Wuennenberg from Victoria Stilwell Academy for successfully completing Building Your Dog's Confidence on December 26, 2021. The certificate features a blue intricate border and the Victoria Stilwell Academy l
Certificate of completion awarded to Tara Wuennenberg from Victoria Stilwell Academy for successfully completing the Being a Good Pet Neighbor starter course on December 26, 2021.