About Us
Tina Ferner, PCT-A (Professional Canine Trainer)
Canine Karma-Owner & Trainer
I started my professional career many years ago as a registered dietitian working at Mercy St. Vincent specializing in nutrition for cancer patients. I went on to become a Massage Therapist, Reiki Master and Yoga Instructor. I developed the Integrative Medicine Program at Mercy Cancer Centers that provided these services for cancer survivors to help ease the suffering caused by this disease.
The teaching and holistic experiences were wonderful building blocks that helped pave the way back to the desires of my heart. Since I was a child, I was an animal lover, and always wanted to become an animal trainer. My first and best dog, Clifford, inspired me to pursue this dream and become a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. My other red dogs with issues, Callie and Gracie, were also catalysts to continue my education and training of dogs with behavioral problems. Living with 3 reactive dogs became extremely stressful and trying to solve these problems led to sampling most of the training techniques used in the Toledo area (they were not all positive!). I ultimately realized how switching from punishment, fear and force to positive reinforcement and connection based training changed my relationship with my dogs. Instead of reacting to their response, I started to create a different way of responding and connecting. This helped change their behavior and ultimately our relationship. I organized a local seminar with a national training expert and author, Ali Brown, who inspired me to continue working and training in a positive, force free way with my own reactive dogs. I used the knowledge gained from this seminar to create Canine Karma’s own Reactive Dog Protocol. 1000’s of teams have completed this protocol! I have felt pain, sadness, and sometimes overwhelming stress living with reactive dogs and have a deep desire to help relieve the suffering of others dealing with the same issues. My training concentrates on helping pet parents envision a different way of life with their dog. I provide training skills to accomplish this based on science. I also offer something different by using the mind-body connection to create a new way of managing and relating with your canine companion
Tina teaches a variety of classes at Canine Karma from puppy preschool through Therapy Dog Classes. She specializes in connection based training and applies this to all the dogs she works with including those with behavior challenges: Reactive, Aggressive and Fearful dogs. She especially loves being involved in the transformation of reactive and fearful dogs and providing support to the pet parents along the way. She is a certified Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator through the American Kennel Club (AKC) which allows her to administer tests for STAR Puppy, CGC and AKC Community Canine. She is also a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) which requires continuing education and positive, force free training methods from their members.
She is very proud of her certification that is through Pet Professional Guild which requires trainers to NEVER use shock or prong collars as training methods, They recognizes trainers who use only positive forms of training.
Clifford’s Story
The groundwork for Canine Karma was laid years ago on a cold, winter night in the parking lot of a local Mexican restaurant. The “biggest, reddest” dog I had ever seen was running wild and decided to claim me as his own. I’m not sure if it was the margaritas or “destiny”, but I decided to take him home, give him a nice meal, warm bed and relaxing massage. As quickly as he snored himself to sleep, he had worked his way into my heart and home. That was the first night and beginning of our journey together.
“Clifford” eventually developed some challenging behaviors reacting to dogs, school buses, garbage trucks, UPS, FedEx and mail trucks. Walking him in the neighborhood turned into a trip filled with anxiety and strained muscles as all 90 pounds of him lunged, growled and slobbered at all passing dogs and most vehicles. I became hyper-vigilant, constantly on the look-out for any approaching triggers. His behavior was embarrassing, to say the least, and very dangerous as it led to a fracture of 2 of my fingers. We tried many training techniques offered in the Toledo area by various trainers. Most of them did not work and our relationship started to deteriorate . Eventually, it was the work of Ali Brown, a national trainer and author that I brought to Toledo that altered our course. Clifford and I were able to work together through our Reactive Dog Protocol and eventually ended up competing and winning Rally trials all the while working very closely with other dogs. What an accomplishment! This different way of connecting and communicating with Clifford completely changed our relationship and formed an unbreakable bond.
Unfortunately, my big, red dog developed osteosarcoma at the age of nine. That was another journey we took together and I was able to be with him to the very end. Even at the end, he inspired me to help others going through the same painful experience, and together we created an “End of Life Resource Guide” for pet parents.
Clifford’s brave and generous spirit continues to be felt at Canine Karma. We have created 1000’s of calm, content canines AND their companions by blending the science of positive reinforcement training with holistic services in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.