About
Polite Pets’ purpose is to provide high quality behaviour modification, training, and pet care services to anyone struggling with their pet, or to anyone who would like to positively enrich their pet’s lives!
Located in Charleswood!
Ben Micflikier - Trainer & Behaviour Consultant
Ben has been involved in the pet welfare, behaviour, and training industry for over 10 years. His family dog Sadie was adopted in early 2012 from the Winnipeg Humane Society who still remembers Sadie, as she had shown aggressive-reactive behaviour towards other dogs and some strangers while at the shelter. Through lots of patience, understanding, and consistency, Sadie eventually enjoyed the odd “playdate” and warmed up to strangers quickly! Sadly, she passed away just before her 15th birthday of liver cancer in October 2021.
Ben began his journey by working a summer job at a dog day-care in the city while taking Psychology at the University of Manitoba. While continuing his education in the fall, Ben also began to gain practical work experience in other areas of the pet and animal industry, including: Veterinary clinic, animal shelter, pet boarding facility, pet food store, in-home pet care, and training classes.
Ben worked for the Winnipeg Humane Society as a Behaviour Counsellor and as the Behaviour Programs Coordinator throughout 2019. He has recently returned to teach Puppy, Reactive and other classes!
Ben adopted Cooper (English Labrador Retriever) at 8 weeks old in early June 2020! Cooper is a wonderful training assistant and companion. He is also full of fun, love and energy! You will often see his sister Shug, (pronounced like sugar) the English Bulldog!
Education
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) - Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (2021, 2022, 2023)
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) - International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, (Completing)
Behaviour Bible Course by The School of Canine Science (2022)
Aggression in Dogs Master Course by Michael Shikashio-CDBC (2022)
St. John’s Pet First Aid Certified
Affiliations, Associations, and Partnerships
International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants
The Pet Professionals Guild
Manitoba Force Free Trainers Associations
Anderson Animal Hospital & Wellness Center
D’Arcy’s Animal Rescue Center
Polite Pets is proud to have positive working relationships with several organizations, businesses, and individuals involved in pet care, training and behaviour modification.
Anderson Animal Hospital & Wellness Center
Philosophy - Training Methods
Polite Pets believes in using positive-reinforcement, behavioural-science, reward-based, force-free training methods.
No prong-collars. No e-collars.
Our pets, whether they be dogs, cats, etc., are intelligent animals that deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Training methods and philosophy are consistent with the CCPDT “LIMA” policy; Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive. As well as the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants, Manitoba Force Free Trainers Association, and the Pet Professionals Guild “No Pain, No Force, No Fear”.