Dana Patcas DVM, CBST-ABS

 I was born and I grew up in Timisoara, Romania, and my heart always ached for a furry friend. I often brought home stray kittens and pups that I found in the streets, only to have my parents quietly give them away, not wanting pets in the house. But this didn’t stop my dream of having a dog one day. A family friend who had a family dog called Cookie kept telling my parents to get me a puppy and eventually convinced them to do so and when I turned 13, that dream finally came true. We welcomed Evi, a beautiful apricot-coloured Toy Poodle, into our lives. I fell head over heels for her, learning to groom her for competitions and even showing her. She was absolutely perfect an won all the titles at the shows I took her to.

By the time I turned 14, I joined the Romanian Kennel Club and set my sights on becoming a veterinarian. I worked tirelessly, earning the highest admission score and graduating as valedictorian from vet school. While in vet school I started my own dog grooming business and became one of the best in my hometown. I also started breeding dogs. During this time, I adopted Cara, a lovable Bull Terrier and later on I adopted a male Siamese mix. The two of them became inseparable. Cara was a a lovely Bully and when the time came for her to have puppies we took a train journey to Bucharest to visit a handsome boy for Cara. It was during this trip that I made many friends at the Romanian Kennel Club, sharing our love for dogs and forging connections that would last a lifetime.

After earning my degree, I found myself working as a Teaching and Research Assistant in the Pharmacology Department at the University. While I valued the experience, the pay was modest, and a tenure position felt out of reach. So, I made a bold choice: I left Romania and came to Canada as an international student, pursuing an MSc in Molecular and Cellular Immunology at the Université de Sherbrooke. After I graduated, I decided to make Canada my home, and I spent nearly 20 years in the life sciences industry as a salesperson and Field Application Scientist. This latter role allowed me to flourish, working with people, teaching, and mentoring students and colleagues.

In 2020, my husband, Lucian, my daughter Ruxandra, and I eagerly welcomed Nala, our adorable Golden Retriever puppy, into our family. This marked the beginning of a wonderful friendship with Nancy, the owner at Good As Gold K9 School, who introduced us to her stunning dogs and her school and also re-ignited in me the desire to return to my first passion and work with dogs. Our trips to Romania in 2021 were filled with laughter and joy as we reconnected with the friends I had made at the Romanian Kennel Club while traveling with Cara. Together, we laid the groundwork to bring new bloodlines of Golden Retrievers to Canada. It felt like we were embarking on a doggy diplomatic mission, complete with wagging tails and joyous barks.

As my friendship with Nancy deepened, we began dreaming of a future collaboration. During the pandemic, I focused on studying for my Diploma in Canine Behavioural Sciences and Technology. By the end of 2023, I knew it was time for a leap of faith. I left my corporate job to start working as a Dog Behaviour Technologist under Nancy’s mentorship. It felt like trading in my lab coat for a dog collar, but with far more snuggles and tail wags.

I believe in building a genuine connection with your furry friend. When we take the time to truly understand them and listen to what they’re telling us, we can forge a beautiful bond where both you and your dog can thrive. It’s about becoming a little more ‘dog-like’ ourselves by tuning into their needs, honouring their boundaries, and fostering a warm sense of trust and understanding. My goal is to support you in becoming the best pet parent you can be, so your dog can lead a life filled with love, joy, and tail-wagging adventures!

As for our family, it keeps growing. We now have three loving Golden Retriever girls: Nala, who is my twin soul, her daughter Stevie, and our newest addition JoJo, who joined us from Romania. Each of these sweet girls brings immeasurable joy and love into our life, reminding me of the countless animals that have shaped my journey. This path has been rich with love, learning, and growth, and for each step along the way, I am truly grateful.