Meet The Pack

Lise Hargrave – Senior Instructor and Owner of Blue Ribbon

Has trained dogs and taught obedience and other dog sports classes since 1995. She first began teaching for a training club in Pierrefonds then also at a school in Sorel, and now owns her own dog training facility in Dorval. Teaching and training at Blue Ribbon includes Agility, Competition Obedience, Rally-O, Nose Games, Freestyle and Tricks classes. Lise has attended numerous training camps, seminars and lectures covering all facets of dog training and behavior as well as pet nutrition and health. An avid student of all that is dog-related, she incorporates this knowledge and enthusiasm into her daily interactions with handlers and dogs. Her extensive experience allows her to be creative in problem solving and to incorporate the latest in current training techniques in her classes. She is currently loved by her Boxer Storm, Chieftain’s Stormy Weather.

Karen Broadway – Companion Class Instructor

Has always loved animals, dogs especially, boxers in particular and has owned many over her lifetime. She has been training at Blue Ribbon since 2009 with her first boxer Knuckles (Knuckles Go Habs Go PCD RN), Nilan (Nilan Go Habs Go PCD RA THDX) joined the pack two years later and 5 years after, Vegas (GCH Chieftain’s Hit The Jackpot RBISS PCD RN CGN) arrived. Karen has mentored under Lise since day one and has been teaching classes since 2015.
Karen competes in Obedience, Rally and Conformation with her dogs. Karen has completed training in pet CPR and first aid.

Lara Tabakian – Companion Class Instructor

Dogs have been my passion in life for as long as I can remember. Growing up I somehow always found myself surrounded by them; friends and family often invite me to walk, baby-sit and train their dogs. It was not until my first dog’s passing that the thought of becoming a dog trainer first occurred to me. That is the path which led me to Blue Ribbon, where I have been a dog trainer since 2015. I have an American Cocker Spaniel, Simba. The training methods at Blue Ribbon are based on postitive reinforcement, which is precisely the type of training I support. I look forward to working with dogs and their owners, as it is a constant learning experience for all involved!

Jaime Borenstein – Agility Instructor

Jameson and I have been training at Blue Ribbon since we brought him home. Jameson has just started to compete in agility where he has achieved a few qualifying runs in AKC, CKC, and AAC. He has earned his title in Jumps and Tunnels in CKC! We compete in Obedience as well where he has finished his pre-novice title and is one leg away from his novice title. Jameson is always learning new tricks and has earned his Novice, Master Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced trick dog titles. We are always having fun trying new things together. With his boundless energy we practice scent detection, ratting and he is constantly teaching me new handling techniques in agility. I always love our training time as it gives us time to bond and I continue to grow as a handler and an instructor. Having a fast dog and a dog full of attitude can be tricky, but it is constantly teaching me which allows me to grow as an instructor. I am constantly attending workshops with Jameson to help me grow as an instructor

Marie-Johanne Cloutier – Obedience and Rally Instructor

My first dog “Uschi”, a German Shepherd Dog came into my life in 1977 to change it forever! We took our first obedience classes that same year and NEVER looked back! She was the first of nine German Shepherd Dogs that I have trained and showed in Conformation, Obedience, Rally, Agility and Scent Detection in Canada, the United-States and Bermuda.

Since the early1980s, I have been teaching Obedience and Rally classes for many clubs and schools in the Montreal area as well as in the US.

In 2001 I became a licensed CKC, AKC and BKC Obedience judge and have had the pleasure of judging in all ten Canadian provinces, in the United-States as well as in Bermuda.

I have the pleasure of instructing all the Obedience and Rally Competition classes at Blue Ribbon Canine.

Presently, I share my life with Jackie and Elvis, my German Shepherd Dogs and two Australian Cattle Dogs, Billie-Jean and Bobbie McGee.

Melanie Baylis – Companion Class Instructor

I am a graduate of Animal Behavior College where I earned my certification as an ABC Certified Dog Trainer. My year-long commitment to this program, along with my ongoing work with Blue Ribbon Canine Centre has provided me with a formal education in canine obedience training and understanding behaviour and its motives.

I am a dog lover first, and a dog trainer second. I have been working with dogs and their owners for many years and there is nothing that satisfies me more than to see a happy dog and a happy owner! In the photo is my sweet girl Halo, she has graduated Companion Rookie and Pro and enjoys participating in Agility and Competition Obedience classes at Blue Ribbon. She has also earned her CGN certificate (which means she’s a “very good girl”!)

Donald Gallagher – Assistant Trainer
Is a graduate of Animal Behaviour College and has been a certified trainer since 2018. Committed to providing the most effective, convenient solutions to clients’ dog training needs, Donald avidly pursues ongoing continuing education and professional development by keeping current on all industry literature. When not helping clients to enjoy easier lives with their canine companions, I can be found training my two dogs Mako and Gunner.

Alyssa Teixeira – Assistant Trainer

Graduated Companion Rookie and Companion Pro with dog Indie (Indiana Bones) and then enrolled in the Blue Ribbon Apprentice course. Since completing she has been an assistant trainer in our group classes.

Randal (Randy) Saul – Assistant Trainer

I have had dogs all my life. I decided when I got my “meant to be” dog Schultz that I was going to train him right. I found Blue Ribbon on line and was impressed with the way they trained the humans to train their dogs. After training my 2nd dog (Baby Girl) I knew what I wanted to do in life, to train dogs, so I took the Blue Ribbon apprentice course and now I am living my dream. My passion is to train people to train their dogs so they can have a wonderful relationship with their furry friend.

Elise de Bussac – Assistant Trainer
Is pawsitive that life is made better with dogs. Her first family dog was a Poodle Terrier named Snuggles. She was a little white puffball of energy. Then there was Trinity, a Collie Retriever cross and the sweetest dog you’d ever meet. Trinity was Elise’s best friend and is dearly missed. Elise graduated with her BFA in acting and had been pursuing a career as an actor. Things were progressing slowly but surely until the pandemic hit. During this time Elise began to re-evaluate her career path. She loves dogs and has always thought about studying to become a trainer. In order to immerse herself in everything dogs Elise took a few online dog behaviour courses, quit her part time restaurant job to start a small dog walking business and researched the best training facilities in Montreal. Enter Blue Ribbon! She completed the six-month training program and is now an assistant instructor at Blue Ribbon. She’s learning so much from the wonderful trainers here and is grateful to be a part of the team. Elise doesn’t currently have a dog of her own as her living space won’t allow it, but she does implement her training with her walking companions, which include a Golden Retriever, a Chocolate Lab, a Golden Lab, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a Portuguese Water Dog, a Sheepdog Poodle cross, two Schnauzer’s, a Chihuahua and a Shih Tzu Poodle cross.

Jessica Moore – Assistant Trainer
Is a graduate of the Dog Obedience Trainer/Instructor online program at ICS College. She shares her home with her 3 rescue dogs: Tazi and Bonnie, who are American Pit Bull Terrier mixes and Louie, a Chihuahua mix. Jessica is an advocate for animal welfare and rescue, and started volunteering at local shelters when she was 12 years old. She has always had a special spot in her heart for dogs. Since most dogs are brought to shelters because of behavioral issues, Jessica believes training can play a fundamental role in reducing the suffering of animals as well as creating safer communities for dogs and people. Jessica and Tazi graduated Companion Rookie and Companion Pro together at Blue Ribbon and look forward to starting agility. She assists with companion classes at Blue Ribbon.

Shelley Borenstein
Has been a dog owner for many years, and has been a student of Blue Ribbon for over ten years training her dogs. Whiskey, her Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier competes in three different sports classes. Shelley and Whiskey have achieved their rally advanced excellence the highest level at the time she will now begin work towards the new master program. Shelley brings her experience and love of Rally to students of our classes. Shelley is certified in dog first aid, and is also a therapy dog volunteer with Whiskey. She is a member of the CKC and the AKC.

Jennifer Murray – Assistant Instructor

After fostering several dogs, I adopted Miyagi, who suffered from severe separation anxiety, which triggered my interest in dog training and particularly helping those with anxiety issues. With a true love for malamutes, my current two, Diesel & Vega were fully trained with Blue Ribbon, and I continued on with their program to become a dog trainer.

Louise O’Grady – Adminstrative Assistant & Assistant Instructor
If you have called the Centre at any time, you have most likely spoken with me. I am also a certified trainer. I have always had a passion for dogs and I have finally found my forever home at Blue Ribbon where I get to interact with both people and dogs. I have completed Companion Rookie and Companion Pro with all of my dogs – my current dogs Diamond, Quest and Phoenix enrich my home and life. Will be starting Competition Obedience with Phoenix at Blue Ribbon.