Who We Are
Caryn Charlie Liles - Growing up in Mississauga and spending much of her time in Clarke’s Beach, Newfoundland on her grandparents’ farm, Caryn Charlie Liles was exposed to animals throughout her entire childhood. Her parents were adamant about teaching her and her brothers how to safely approach and handle a dog from day one and despite one bite-incident, Caryn never developed a fear of animals; only a deep respect for them.
In 1983 they were put to the test when the family adopted a Malti-Poo named Tassle; a rescue from an abusive home. From that moment forward, it was love. In 1995 when Tassle passed away, the family was heartbroken and not long after, unable to fathom life without a pet decided to adopt another dog - a Jack Russell/Corgi mix, named Mocha; a rescued stray. Mocha was definitely more of a challenge, with destruction issues stemming from separation anxiety and fear-based aggression with other dogs. Luckily with two strong parents who never gave up, Mocha turned into a wild but delightful pet who stole their hearts. Less than seven years later, Mocha was diagnosed with advanced kidney failure and passed away at home.
In spite of the heartbreak that follows a pet’s death, Caryn had grown accustomed to living with dogs as pets and was continually drawn to them. In 2004, Caryn and her best friend, Bobby, adopted a German Shepherd/Husky mix from the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA. They found Parker online through a friend and immediately fell in love with him. His story pulled on their heart-strings and so they booked time off work, rented a car and drove out to pick him up.
Parker’s Story can be found here.
Once Parker was settled in his new home, Caryn and Bobby found that there were a few issues that are very common with newly adopted dogs - separation anxiety, fear-based aggression, lack of socialization and the list goes on. They promptly hired a Trainer and within 6 weeks, they had a completely different dog.
This prompted Caryn to find a new career to look forward to; Dog Training. Where else could she do what she loves (spending time with dogs) and get paid for it?! It was the perfect scenario and from there, Whatta Pup! was founded in 2008 and grew quicker than she had ever imagined.
Now, in 2012, Caryn is a member of various associations and is the Executive Director of the IAFPP (International Association of Force-Free Pet Professionals), and is spending the rest of her waking hours dedicated to the growth of Whatta Pup!
Included in her training is:
- Obedience Training
- Kennel Care
- Private/Group Instruction
- Puppy Pre-School
- Health and Nutrition
- Behavioral Psychology
- Breeding and Whelping
- Temperament Testing
- Problem Solving
- Sale/Advertising
- Breed Differences and Ability
- Dog Shows/Trials
- Understanding Police, Security K9 Units
- Understanding Tracking, Narcotics, Bomb dogs
- Selection of dogs
The love and respect that Caryn has for animals is apparent in her work as she approaches each client with confidence and a positive outcome in mind.
What we will do |
What we won't do |
Parker Lewis - a three-legged Shepherd-Husky mix from the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA. Ten years old on July 8th, 2011 and still acting like a puppy. He’s got a laid-back personality and a gentle temperament. He loves to run and swim, but also loves to just hang around and people-watch. He is trained in Basic, Intermediate and Advanced and is currently studying Tracking for fun.
Buster - a Boxer-Boston Terrier mix from the Etobicoke Toronto Animal Services. Five years old on May 31st, 2011 and a big dog in a little body. He is a very playful and excitable pup who is a born runner. He loves to snuggle and sleep under the covers by your feet. He is trained in all the Basics and has successfully graduated his level one Tricks class with Rover Achiever's Julie Posluns.
