ABOUT DR. CARLA SIMON
From bed bug detection to birds, from narcotics to nosework, Dr. Carla Simon MD BSc MBA has trained thousands of students around the world. Since 1999, she has bred and trained Brittanys for hunting, working and sniffer dogs, under Hunter’s Heart Kennels. Hunter’s Heart provides bed bug inspections, and has been featured in the Pointing Dog Journal, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants Journal, Dogs in Canada, and Clean Run magazines. Carla is a Contributing Editor for the American Brittany Magazine, and 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 has been a member of the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) for 23 consecutive years, and is serving her second term as Sr. Provincial Rep. for the CKC Scent Detection Council. Carla is a professional member of the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers. She is a peer reviewer, author and supporting member for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.
Carla is the Past President 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 appointed to the Health & Genetics Committee of the CKC.
In 2019, Carla trained teams for truffle detection and mantrailing for Power Dog Training Centre in Italy. 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.
CARLA'S APPROACH: SCIENCE MEETS FUN
With degrees in Biology and Medicine, Carla’s approach is to help students evaluate current research on canine olfaction and how dogs learn and apply it to training their unique dogs. Her evidence-based protocols minimize errors and confusion to improve reliability of scent detection teams. Not only does her method help teams to achieve their goals, it’s also fun for handlers and dogs.
In addition to field and scent 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.
Carla teaches online and in person in the Calgary area, where her science based approach helps students to understand and apply the latest research on canine olfaction and dog training. Carla has trained detection trainers and handlers using diverse target odors, including: bed bugs, human remains, birds, wildlife, antlers, handler scent, narcotics, explosives, handler discrimination, tracking, trailing, truffles and pet dogs for scent detection and nosework competitions. She 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 supports a Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) approach to dog training. She uses errorless learning, where possible. She focuses on motivating dogs, so that working becomes the dog's favorite game. Her experience helps teams to build a solid foundation, avoid common mistakes and overcome challenges to produce reliable, fully engaged partners.
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