Tumblewood Canine


Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

We’ll work with you to become a good lifelong leader for your pup, and to develop the skills they need to join you in all of life’s adventures!

Contact Kim to learn more about our programs
and to discuss your training needs

Group Classes

Group Classes offers a variety of courses and is a great way to start or continue your training with your dog in a fun and positive learning environment.

Private Lessons

Private Lessons offer flexible, one-on-one training that can work around your busy schedule, and address issues not covered in typical group classes.

Board and Train

An immersive training experience with a certified trainer, customized to the needs of your dog. Includes daytime and overnight options.

“Words cannot express how great Kim is with dogs. She took the time to work on the things that my Mini Australian Shepherd puppy, Cricket, really needed, as well as things I never thought of – things she knew would benefit us. Her approach to training is built on positive reinforcement and has set me and Cricket up for success. Kim has set the right foundation for me to build on, so I can continue to strengthen my bond with my pup. I highly recommend her.”

~ Lynn and Cricket

About Tumblewood Canine

Tumblewood Canine’s training facility located on our 93 acre, fully-forested property. It provides the perfect environment to optimize your dog’s ability to learn with an indoor training space that can be used in all seasons, an outdoor obstacle course and fully-fenced outdoor training space. So whether you need to limit distractions and triggers, provide exercise and mental stimulation, or develop your dog’s ability to focus with distractions, we can work with you and your dog to help them be the best they can be.

Training Philosophy

We know that most people who get a dog want them to become the perfect canine companion. They want a versatile, well-behaved dog that integrates well with friends and family, does what it’s told, and that can go anywhere. We believe that the biggest key to success when training your dog is building a relationship based on mutual trust and respect. We’ll work with you to become a good lifelong leader for your pup, giving you the tools you need to set them up for success. Through a combination of proper socialization and formal training, we’ll help you lay the foundation for your pup to become the perfect addition to your family.

Training Methodology

We use the ‘Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive’ (LIMA) training methodology for all training and behaviour modification therapy. Before starting any training, we must first make sure our dog’s physical needs are met. For example, a dog will not be able to learn if it is too hungry, thirsty, injured, or simply has too much energy. We must also control our dog’s environment to improve their ability to learn. This could be things like the cues we are giving, the setting we are in, and what we are using to motivate them to work. We use positive reinforcement as our primary training technique, which is associated with the lowest incidents of aggression, attention seeking, avoidance and fear in dogs.

About Kim

Kim French started training dogs in 2010. She decided to leave the corporate world behind after 15 years to pursue dog training full-time and founded Tumblewood Canine. Kim is passionate about teaching and coaching people and their dogs. She loves working with dog owners to build a better understanding of their dog, helping strengthen their bond and get measurable results with their training.

Kim graduated with the highest honours from Canine Academy’s Professional Dog Training and Canine Behaviour Therapy program, with a final grade of 98%. She is a member of the Canadian Kenel Club, Canadian Association for Professional Dog Trainers, and is certified in Canine Emergency First Aid. She has taught at various dog training schools as well as privately, and has experience in puppy development and socialization, obedience, rally obedience, agility, scenting, tracking, and canine behaviour modification therapy.

“Kim is a natural when it comes to training dogs and graduated from Canine Academy’s Professional Dog Training and Canine Behaviour Therapy program with the highest honours. Kim understands that different dogs require different training techniques to be successful and can apply them effectively. She is also excellent at communicating with clients, helping them to learn how to get the most out of their dog. I would highly recommend Kim to anyone looking for help training their dog.”

Sue McMullen, Owner and Trainer at Canine Academy



“It has been awesome working with Kim at Tumblewood Canine! My puppy, Rocky, and I have been training with Kim for a couple months now, working on basic obedience and behaviours. It’s great to see the progress, especially with Rocky’s recall and jumping issues. Kim really takes into consideration the dogs personality and breed and tailors the trainings around each individual dog. We would definitely recommend Kim for anyone looking for any type of dog training.”

~ Jayoung Kim



“I could not be happier with Kim’s training of both our dog, and us. Kim is the kind of trainer who thinks about things. Not only was she able dig into the underlying causes of certain behaviours, but she also used that information to adjust her training. I feel like I have learned to speak a whole other language, and communicate more effectively with my canine family member thanks to Kim!!”

~ Carrie Thomas


“Apollo and I had a great session with Kim today. She began evaluating Apollo as soon as she met him and was able to give me great tips and pointers during our session. Kim is very knowledgeable and uses positive reinforcement, which I appreciate.”

~ LaToya Montague


“Since our dog Kobe has been home from a Board and Train with Kim he has been more obedient, happy and open to going to new places with us!!! We are so motivated to keep this going and would highly recommended Kim at Tumblewood Canine to anyone who is looking for training of any type for their furry friend!!!”

~ Kamal Mangat