Our Philosophy at ImPAWSible Possible Calgary
Science. Heart. Purpose.
Have you ever wondered what your dog is really thinking? At ImPAWSible Possible, we believe the best starting point for dog training is curiosity. Since 2009, we've been on a mission to understand what makes dogs tick. Whether you're navigating the chaos of puppyhood, managing reactivity, or trying to get your dog to chill out, we combine cutting-edge science, compassion, and a healthy obsession with behaviour to help both you and your dog thrive.
Mission
To connect dogs, people, and communities through Science, Heart, and Purpose.
Vision
To build a better world for dogs and people, one nerdy insight at a time!
What Makes ImPAWSible Possible Different?
Great question! Most methods approach dog training from the outside-in—changing or shaping what a dog does by tinkering with the relationship between inputs and outputs: through methods that apply rewards, punishment, counter-conditioning, redirecting, or tweaking the environment (also known as antecedent arrangement).
But here’s the thing: when we put on our detective hats and think critically about this, we realize something important is missing—the dog’s perspective. What is the dog experiencing through their eyes? And the big follow-up question (we weren’t kidding about being curious) to this is: do input-output models truly reflect what happens in the real world? In other words, is the way that “we” (the cultural we) understand and train dogs and dog behaviour, based on an accurate representation of how behaviour actually works?
A number of researchers would say no.
In fact, in a recent paper by Dr. Henry Yin at Duke University (2025), Yin noted that while science has made big advances in studying the brain, we’ve fallen behind in how we study behaviour. Why? Because many researchers still see behaviour as something simple—just an output, a reaction, or a one-time event. But behaviour is more complex than that. It's continuous, purposeful, and tied to what matters most to the animal.
By perspective, I mean the dog’s actual subjective experience, not our interpretation of it.
Every dog, and every human for that matter, has their own sensory universe—their Umwelt.
As Alex Gómez-Marin and Asif Ghazanfar (2019) said:
“Every animal shares a common world, but not every animal shares a world in common.”
If we take some time to reflect, and get really curious about this idea, the implications are profound for training, welfare, and the human-canine bond.
This is an industry-shifting insight with the potential to reshape the landscape of the industry, but most importantly, as per our mission and vision, transform the lives of dogs and dog owners everywhere. In fact, this is so revolutionary, that with the help of my colleague Brian Fleming and support from some of the most inspiring researchers around the world, we’re working to bring this approach to the forefront.
Our Inside-Out Approach
At ImPAWSible Possible, we train from the inside-out. We don’t start by asking “What is the dog doing?” or “What should they be doing?”. We start by asking:
What is the dog experiencing?
What matters most to them?
What is their goal in this moment?
Through Perceptual Control Theory (PCT), we understand that behaviour is not just a reaction to external events—it’s a process of controlling perceptions. Dogs act to bring their experience of the world into alignment with their internal goals, and their behaviour is a tool they use to maintain balance. This process of perception control is dynamic and adaptive, constantly adjusting to the environment to meet their needs.
For example, if a dog feels uncomfortable with another dog nearby, their behaviour (like pulling, barking, or lunging) is not "misbehaviour." It’s an effort to restore alignment with their internal goal—whether that’s gaining more space, seeking safety, or ensuring comfort. This is not about suppressing or modifying the behaviour, but understanding it as a moment-by-moment process of control in response to perceived disruptions in their environment.
Rather than focusing on "fixing" behaviour, we focus on helping dogs and humans understand the process of realignment—supporting both the dog and human in achieving a shared understanding of how the dog is adapting to their environment.
We don’t train dogs to “comply”; instead, we help them engage with their world more confidently and effectively by guiding their internal control processes.
At ImPAWSible Possible, we’re here to work with both the dog and the human, so that together, they can find better ways forward.
Behaviour is not static—it’s dynamic and ever-changing, adapting in real-time to internal goals and external challenges. It’s a continuous process that allows dogs to stay aligned with their needs in a constantly changing world. Our role is to help both the dog and the human understand and work with that process to find solutions together.
That’s inside-out training. That’s ImPAWSible Possible.