Ministik Hills Dog Training

Kris Rooney, B.Ed., CPDT-KA

Kris brings an educator’s point of view and many years of experience as a teacher and counsellor to her company, Ministik Hills Dog Training & Consulting. Now retired from the classroom, Kris was employed by Battle River School Division and teaching in Holden School, using her dogs, Angus and Spencer, as Activity Assistance Dogs in her classroom and in her role as counsellor.  Prior to that, Archie served in Holden School for several years, and is the golden dog featured on many Ministik Hills publications.

During the past 14 years, Kris worked as a dog trainer at Dogspaw, in Edmonton,  employed by the company as the Head Trainer up until the disruption of training classes due to COVID-19 in March of 2020. Up until then, classes taught included Basic Manners, Manners Refined & Therapy Dog Prep Class, Loose Leash Walking, Growl Dog Class, and Puppy Socialization Class. Kris also worked extensively one-on-one with clients, evaluated and screened dogs for Growl Class, and developed numerous behavior modification plans for dogs with issues, such as fear, aggression and reactivity.  In 2010, Ministik Hills Dog Training & Consulting was launched, allowing for rural residents to access professional dog training services closer to their own communities. It is at this time that Kris is able to devote all her attention to her own company.

In 2009, Kris earned her professional designation as a Certified Pet Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed, from the Council for the Certification of Professional Dog Trainers, and maintains this designation through regular attendance at conferences, workshops and seminars. Kris is a professional member of the Alberta Force Free Alliance, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers and The Pet Professional Guild. Kris is also certified in pet first aid, having completed the training with Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid in May 2017. 

The first recipient of the Alberta SPCA Teacher of the Year award in 1990, Kris has been a long time supporter of the Alberta SPCA and served on the Board of Directors from 2004 - 2012. Although no longer on the Board, Kris is ocassionally consulted by the Alberta SPCA Education Department for information and interviews.

In 2016, Kris became involved with the evaluation and certification of therapy dogs for Chimo Animal Assisted Wellness and Learning (CAAWLS) and taught a Therapy Dog preparation class at Dogspaw in addition to evaluating and certifying CAAWLS therapy dogs.

Kris and her husband, Daryl, live on an acreage named Ministik Hills, in the Tofield, Alberta area, sharing the land with their furry family, which includes aging border collie x retriever and retired "school dog" Angus, two young Golden Retrievers, Cooper and Quinn; cats, Ruby and Gretchen; and a wide variety of native wildlife.