Applewood Team

Your Dogtopia Applewood Family, Dog Lovers Unite!

Our Dogtopia Applewood team is committed to welcoming every new furry friend into our family with open arms! We want every pet parent to know that their pups are in the best hands they could possibly be in. Our Team is made up of several people that all share a very important trait; a love of dogs!

A big shout out to one of our artistic coaches, Shawna, for making this beautiful image for us!

Jorge & Graciela, The Owner & The Love Of His Life

Jorge’s passion for dogs started at an early age. His father managed a cattle ranch where Border Collies were used as herding dogs. Jorge would hop on his horse from the age of 10 to “help” the staff herd the cattle with the dogs!

Jorge’s gorgeous wife is Graciela; a hard-working professional with such a big heart. She is sure to make the Team and our clients feel at home with her loving nature and cheery disposition every time she comes to visit us! Though she leads a busy life with her career, she makes time to drop off treats for our team whenever she has the opportunity!

Jorge’s fur baby these days is Milka, a 7 year old Chocolate Lab. Milka is the first Labrador that Jorge has owned, and he couldn’t have made a better choice! She is a sweet girl that LOVES to play fetch!

Sonia, Manager and Super Mom

Sonia has spent pretty much her entire life loving dogs! Her family has owned big and small dogs throughout her life, so she never discriminates against a pup’s size! Whenever a dog marches through our doors, you can see Sonia’s face light up at the opportunity to make another fur friend!

At the moment, Sonia doesn’t own a dog, even though she’d love to! She does own a 3 legged cat that she cares deeply for, even though Angel can be quite a rascal.

Becky, Pup Stylist and Resin Artist

Becky is our AMAZING groomer! Always friendly and ready to converse about pups! Becky has never lived in a home without dogs, and feels that her life would be incomplete without them. At home, she lives with 2 doggies with very different personalities!

Becky has been a certified groomer since 2016, we are so happy to welcome her to our team! Any time your pup needs a new haircut, just give us a call and speak to Becky directly about all of your needs!

Tommy, Canine Coach and Dog Behaviourist

Tommy has dedicated the last 12 years of his life to dogs, and wouldn’t have it any other way! From helping to train aggressive dogs in shelters, group dogs walks and working on farms, Tommy strives to learn all that he can about dogs’ behaviour! Tommy loves helping people connect to their pups by teaching them how their dog is trying to communicate.

If you are looking to have any training for your dog, Tommy is ready to help! He is our resident Dog Trainer and is always looking for a new challenge! Give us a call if you ever need to schedule a training appointment!

Shawna, Canine Coach/Social Media Helper and Digital Artist

Meet Shawna! Ever since she could crawl, she has been obsessed with dogs. As an only child, her best friends were her pets and her cousin Brandon. Her passion for canines came from her first puppy, a German Shepherd named Eli.

Shawna is the coordinator behind our social media posts on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. She is a loving mother of 2 children, and she freelance illustrates books and cartoons. Her busy schedule never stops her from showing up with the biggest smile whenever she comes in for a shift!

Jen, Canine Coach/Rover and Team Cheerleader

Say hello to Jen! This lovely coach has made her way to us through working with dogs for quite some time! Jen absolutely loves encouraging her coworkers to do their absolute best!

Jen has a pup named Cuervo, who she shows the utmost attention and love towards!

Brandon, Shift Lead and Amusing Streamer

Meet Brandon! His face is one of the most common faces you’ll meet in the mornings during the week. His deep wholesome voice and friendly demeanor draws all of us in extremely easily.

Brandon spends his personal time making incredible artwork, gaming, and streaming for all of his fans! He has an adorable cat named Poochie who he adores more than life itself.

May, Shift Lead and Student Extraordinaire

May is our resident giggler, as well as a beloved Shift Lead! Her love for living creatures–especially dogs– shines brightly through her sweet personality! She never misses an opportunity to greet the daycare pups!

She is currently in school working harder than ever, and still makes sure Dogtopia Applewood is right there on her list of most important things.

Ashley, Head Rover and Budding Behaviourist

Ashley is an absolute STAR. She is the primary team member that every new dog and pet parent meets on their Meet & Greet day. She knows every daycare dog by name, and she makes all of the pups feel incredibly comfortable and safe. Her position entails a lot; conducting Meet & Greet assessments, working on dog behaviours, preparing lunches, organizing boarding dogs and their belongings, and running every playroom constantly throughout her day.

She has grown immensely in her knowledge of canine behaviour and mannerisms. Everyone knows they can go to Ashley with any question. Dogtopia Applewood would not be what it is without this powerhouse of a woman!