For the love of dogs
Upper Brookside dog trainer passionate about her work
Being bitten by a dog at the age of three didn’t deter Yan Mowatt from spending time with the animals. On the contrary, she believes it contributed to her desire to work with dogs.
“The dog took a chunk out of my cheek and that was something I didn’t want to happen to other people,” she said.
Over the years she has helped many dogs and people through training and education and she’s been operating her own business (Little Moe’s K9 Academy) for about 30 years.
Her father, who was known as Big Moe, was a forest ranger with Department of Lands and Forests. He began breeding German shepherds when Yan was 10 years old and he got her involved in caring for the dogs.
Although she studied travel and tourism after finishing school, Mowatt’s heart was in working with dogs. She used a grant for female entrepreneurs to start a small kennel in Greenfield and put in long hours every day.
“I worked on my own, seven days a week, for years,” she said. “It wasn’t easy.”
She moved her business to Onslow Mountain and then to Jennifer Drive, in Bible Hill, before relocating to Brookside a couple of years ago. The facility offers overnight stays, training, behaviour consultations, agility classes, obedience classes and grooming and has also hosted shows. A bite prevention program for children has also taken place.
Things are busy, with two classes being held six evenings a week, year-round. Mowatt employs eight regular staff members, as well as someone who comes in once a week.
“I get a lot of the dogs others won’t take,” she said. “I get a lot of pitbulls and mastiffs and dogs with problems.” She uses operant conditioning, where rewards are given for desired behaviour. She cautions against being over indulgent with dogs.
“There’s a difference between spoiling and coddling,” she said. “You can spoil your dog but it still needs to learn. You need to teach them to have confidence.”
Mowatt sometimes breeds her dogs and pups are usually spoken for before they’re even born.
“I try to breed healthy dogs,’ she said. “With every litter, I want to produce something better. I love German shepherds. They’re loyal and versatile and don’t mind the cold. They’re smart and can do so many things. I really like that noble look and I really love black shepherds.”
A dog that is extra special to her is Czech (Czech n Out Van Den Heuvel).
“She’s a once-in-a-lifetime dog. I brought her from Montana and she’s from working lines. She’s taken part in the bite prevention program, making so many kids happy. She’s done obedience and she’s just so smart and so kind. Talking to her is like talking to a person most days.”
The dog was also flower girl when Mowatt married Grant Campbell in August. Czech, at 14, is the oldest of the six dogs in their home and is now retired.
Mowatt has dealt with health and personal struggles while building her business. In 2012, while in Chicago for a dog show, she suffered a stroke. She has a pacemaker and suffered problems with it for more than a year before surgery was done to correct a problem with the wiring. She also had a cancerous tumour removed. A couple of years ago she realized alcohol was playing too large a role in her life and now attends AA meetings. She’s also gone through two divorces.
“Grant is a huge help and big support for me,” she said. “He helps a lot with the property and he really adores the dogs. My children are supportive. I’ve been lucky the last few years to have so many good people in my life and so much support. I want to encourage women to keep on going; don’t give up.
“It’s not been an easy road, but I’m finally where I want to be. I have a true love of what I’m doing.”
Mowatt hopes to take part in competition with the younger dogs again this year. She also hopes to add to her facility.
“We’re planning some new stuff,” she added. “I’m not done.”
More information on Little Moe’s K9 Academy can be found online at https://littlemoesk9academy.com/