Education, Skills, and Certifications:
Fear Free Sheltering Certified
Canine First-Aid CPR Certified
Defensive Leash Handling
Shelter Adoptability Behaviour Assessments
Pilling and Sub-Q Injections
Can You Help Me Train My Service Dog Certificate, Hosted by: Sharon Wachsler w/PPG (18-07-2024)
Conferences and Events Attended:
AASAO 2021
Woofaroo Pet Festival - Sylvia Kocerzuk - CPDT-KA Certified trainer Seminar
Resource Guarding Seminar Hosted by: Sylvia Kocerzuk - CPDT-KA (07/31/2023)
Cases & Trends: Dog Bites and Attacks Hosted by: Attorney Claudine Wilkins - Animal Law Expert and Activist (09/14/2023)
Designing Fear Free Environments Hosted by Fear Free Pets & Roger Layman (10/06/2023)
Creating Inclusive Spaces in the Pet Professional Industry 🏳️🌈 Hosted by Fear Free Pets & Dr. Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, FFCP-V; Dr. Robin Downing, DVM, MS, Doctor of Bioethics DAAPM, DACVSMR, CVPP, Elite FFCP-V; Dr. Mo Miller, DVM, FFCP-V; Dr. Megan Bauer, DVM, Elite FFCP-V; and Dr. Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC (IAABC), FFCP-V (27/06/2024)
Introducing the Newcomer: Dog Daycare & Cage Free Lodging, Hosted by: Fear Free Pets, Presented by: Stephanie Shepley CPACP CPACP FFCP PTI (29/04/2025)
Decoding Your Canine Summit, Hosted by: Ness Jones SAPBC ISCP.Dip.Canine.Prac CACE CPDT (01/06/2025)
Ashley is the founder of The Den and the caretaker of Jack as well as a rescued senior bearded dragon named Ignatius, and various foster animals that come into her home. She has been working with animals since she was a young teen and hasn't stopped since. Ashley started out privately pet sitting and dog walking for colleagues, friends, and family and has since decided to branch out.
Ashley is not afraid to work hard and get her hands dirty, she spent her first years out of high school as a stable hand at Affleck Quarter Horses before pursuing an interest in Horticulture and graduating as a Landscape Horticulture Technician. She soon discovered that Horticulture was more of a hobby and her true passion still lay with animals.
Ashley got her dream job not long after and worked at the Windsor-Essex County Humane Society for 4 years in Animal Care and also gained experience as an Animal Protection Officer as well as working with the Pet Behaviour Department with a focus on canine behaviour and completing dog behaviour assessments. She was mentored by CPDT - KSA certified trainer Andrea French, and Department Head and Professional Trainer Brooke Dumouchelle. During this time she worked with dogs struggling with behaviour issues including: separation anxiety, resource guarding, touch sensitivity, reactivity, and more. Her time at the shelter also gave her lots of experience with cats of various sizes, ages, and temperaments as well as a variety of exotic animals. She also helped to update and reimplement the Small Animal Enrichment program for volunteers in 2023.
In June of 2023, Ashley was invited out to Zhingwaako Za’Iganing (Lake of the Large Red Pines) also known as Lac La Croix First Nations where she was able to interact with the loose dogs of the reservation and gain perspective on animal care and welfare issues on the reservation. She also had the opportunity to work with the endangered and Semi-Feral Lac La Croix, Ojibwe ponies and was honoured with a foal being born during her stay and being asked to assist in moving the mother and foal into their care pen.
Ashley continues to seek education opportunities and plans to attend the ICS College for Canine Training before obtaining her certifications with the CCPDT to become a certified dog trainer and behaviourist.
Letter - Ashley Dennis reference.pdfASHLEY-DENNIS-Fear-Free-Shelters-Fear-Free-Shelters-Course-Certificate-Fear-Free-Shelters.pdfWachsler- Attendance Certificate Can You Help Me Train My Service Dog.pdf