ABOUT CARLA

From bed bug detection to birds, from narcotics to nosework, Carla Simon has trained thousands of students worldwide since 1999. She is a sought-after speaker who presented at the World Detector Dog Organization 2021 Conference and drew a sold-out crowd of more than 600 at UBC’s Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. Carla is the owner of Hunter’s Heart Ltd., which breeds, trains, and deploys scent detection canines, in Calgary, Alberta. 

Carla Chairs the Working Dog Committee for the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers. She partners with Citadel Canine Society (Canada's longest-running mission specific PTSD service dog provider), to train medical service dogs for veterans, first responders, nurses and 911 dispatchers. She has been a member of the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) for 23 consecutive years. She served on the CKC Health and Genetics Committee, and advised on the creation of national rules and scent judges accreditation as the Senior Provincial Representative for the Scent Detection Council. She is a peer reviewer, author and supporting member for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She trained teams for mantrailing and truffle detection for Power Dog Training Centre in Italy. 

Carla was the Founder of Sniff Alberta, and judges scent detection for CKC, K9 ABC Games, and is a Certifying Official for UKC Nosework (the second largest kennel club in the world). She has conducted Behavior Assessments for the Calgary Humane Society, onboarding junior assessors. In her capacity as a Canine Good Neighbor Evaluator, she organized Alberta’s first CGN test, and has evaluated therapy dog prospects, owner-trained service dog candidates and pets at events such as Pet Expo. She chaired the American Brittany Club’s Performance Committee (AKC) and was a Contributing Editor for the American Brittany Magazine. She was featured in the Pointing Dog Journal, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants Journal, and the Clean Run Online Learning Centre. Her learning materials have been adapted internationally, and are used by several Search and Rescue groups. 

Hunter's Heart has trained detection trainers and handlers using diverse target odors, including law enforcement, human remains, bed bugs, birds, wildlife conservation, shed antlers, handler scent, narcotics, explosives, scent discrimination, lost items, tracking, trailing, truffles and pet dogs for scent detection and nosework competitions. Carla currently trains in person and online classes for detection, tracking, focus, working dog conditioning, and obedience for owner trained service dogs, therapy dogs, socialized puppies, and pet dogs. 

Carla has trained with the CNCA Law Enforcement Training Institute (USA), Penn Vet Working Dog Conference, NPMA Global Bed Bug Congress, Scandinavian Working Dog Institute, Dick Staal (Netherlands), Andrew Ramsey, Karen Kroyer, John Rogerson (UK), and tracked with Calgary’s Schutzhund club.  

In addition to urban and field tracking, field tests and scent detection titles, Carla’s Brittanys have won multi High in Trial international wins in UKC Elite Nosework, gold at AAC Alberta Agility Championships, National High in Trial Agility Brittany, and Best in Specialty Show at the Canadian National Brittany Specialty. Her Brittanys have consistently achieved numerous Top 5 national rankings in obedience, agility, and conformation.