Welcome to CanineSidekicks.
My name is Niomi Smith, and I have dedicated my life to helping dogs and their handlers build stronger relationships through communication, trust, education, and ethical training practices.
I began training dogs in 2004 as a student at a local dog training school. In 2005, I was invited to enter a formal apprenticeship program, where I spent several years studying canine behaviour, learning theory, instructor development, and practical dog training under the guidance of experienced trainers and instructors.
In 2013, I earned my FCI/MEOE Training Director Certification in Hungary after completing an intensive instructor development program. Admission to the program required demonstrated success in advanced dog training and competition, including performance titles and practical training experience. The certification process included formal coursework in canine ethology, behaviour, communication, learning theory, anatomy, training methodology, safety management, and client instruction. Candidates were required to pass both written and practical examinations demonstrating advanced knowledge of canine behaviour, training mechanics, class management, and instructional skills.
As part of my certification, I travelled to Hungary and completed advanced training alongside veterinarians, canine nutrition specialists, breeders, exhibitors, obedience instructors, tracking trainers, protection sport trainers, and working dog professionals from a variety of disciplines.
Since beginning my professional career, I have evaluated and worked with more than 10,000 dogs representing a wide variety of breeds, temperaments, and behavioural challenges.
My professional experience includes puppy development, behaviour rehabilitation, sport dog development, hunting dog training, companion dog training, and service dog development. I have worked extensively with dogs experiencing anxiety, environmental sensitivities, human reactivity, dog reactivity, and other complex behavioural challenges.
In 2015, I began specializing in service dog development. Since that time, I have assisted in the development of service dogs trained for PTSD support, autism assistance, mobility assistance, emotional regulation, seizure response, medical alert, gluten detection, and other disability-mitigating tasks. Several of these dogs continue to actively support their handlers in daily life.
Over the past several years, I have focused on building a service dog program that emphasizes ethical training practices, public access reliability, handler education, and long-term team success. My goal is to create stable, capable service dog teams while making professional service dog training more accessible through multiple training pathways and educational opportunities.
In 2018, I founded Nose to the Grind, a specialized training and rehabilitation facility in Alaska focused on behaviour recovery and advanced dog training. In 2022, I relocated to Alberta and founded CanineSidekicks, where I continue to provide professional training services, mentorship, and educational programming for dog owners and future service dog teams.
In addition to my training experience, I have bred, raised, trained, and competed with multiple breeds, including German Shepherd Dogs, Pomeranians, German Shorthaired Pointers, and Labrador Retrievers. This experience has provided me with a deep understanding of genetics, temperament, puppy development, working ability, and the long-term factors that contribute to successful canine partnerships.
Throughout my career, I have competed in and instructed numerous dog sports and working disciplines, including obedience, rally obedience, agility, tracking, hunting, protection sports, temperament testing, and canine good citizen programs. I have earned multiple High in Trial and High in Class awards and have coached numerous competitors and trainers throughout their own development.
Today, my mission remains simple: to help people and dogs succeed together through ethical training, clear communication, and practical real-world skills. Through CanineSidekicks Service Dogs Inc., I am committed to developing exceptional service dog teams that demonstrate reliability, professionalism, welfare, and teamwork at the highest level.
References
https://www.fci.be/en/Presentation-of-our-organisation-4.htm
https://www.kennelclub.hu/
