Helping People See the World Through Their Dog's Eyes
Meet Kelly
For more than twenty-five years, Kelly Dearlove has been helping dogs and the people who love them build relationships founded on trust, understanding, and communication.
She believes every dog is unique.
Every dog is learning.
And every interaction is teaching something.
Rather than asking, "How do we stop this behaviour?", Kelly begins with a different question:
"What is the dog trying to tell us?"
That simple shift in perspective changes everything.
At On Golden Paws, Kelly believes training isn't about controlling dogs—it's about understanding how they learn. Behaviour is communication, not disobedience. Dogs repeat what works for them, and when people understand how dogs learn, they can guide their dogs with clarity, kindness, and compassion.
Whether raising a new puppy, navigating the challenges of adolescence, helping a fearful or reactive dog, or strengthening the bond between a family and their lifelong companion, Kelly helps people understand why dogs do what they do—and how lasting change happens naturally through trust, communication, and positive learning.
In 2014, Kelly created the On Golden Paws Puppy Imprinting Program, recognizing that a puppy's earliest experiences help shape the dog they will become. Rather than focusing only on obedience, her program develops confidence, emotional resilience, curiosity, social skills, self-control, and the ability to make good choices—creating the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Kelly's philosophy extends beyond behaviour alone.
She believes that a dog's physical health, emotional wellbeing, nutrition, environment, and relationship with their family are all interconnected. Her holistic approach allows her to look beyond unwanted behaviours and understand the whole dog, creating practical, individualized solutions that respect both the dog and the people who love them.
Alongside her work in canine behaviour and training, Kelly also offers holistic wellness services for both people and animals. Through Reiki, Animal Reiki, intuitive guidance, kinesiology, alchemy, and gentle energy work, she helps support emotional balance, stress reduction, fear, anxiety, and overall wellbeing.
A lifelong learner, Kelly has studied with many of the world's most respected educators in canine behaviour and learning, including Dr. Ian Dunbar, Jean Donaldson, Susan Garrett, Turid Rugaas, Chris Bach, Leslie Nelson, and Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed® program, among many others.
Professional Qualifications
Professional Certified Dog Trainer
Certified Canine Behaviour Counsellor
Certified & Licensed Puppy Imprinting Facility
Service Dog Trainer
Canine Nutrition Counsellor
Separation Anxiety & Reactivity Specialist
Former Professional Groomer
Certified Animal First Aid Provider
Certified Canine Massage Practitioner
Reiki Master & Animal Reiki Practitioner
Yet Kelly believes her greatest teachers have never stood at the front of a classroom.
They have all had four paws.
Every dog she has met has reinforced the same lesson:
When we replace control with understanding, commands with communication, and correction with teaching, both dogs and people thrive.