Cat Harbord

Well Hello! Thanks for taking the time to read my bio. I’m Cat Harbord, the founder and Chief Behaviour Geek here at ImPAWsible Possible in Calgary.

A bit about me: My journey into the world of professional dog training began in 2007, shortly after I started a dog running and walking business in SW Calgary. This work sparked a deep curiosity about dogs — and a desire to understand who they are, what drives them and why they do all the cute, fun, confusing (and sometimes exasperating) things they do. It also ignited a passion for the human-canine relationship. In 2009, life took me on a detour that eventually led to the founding of ImPAWsible Possible and a shift towards dog training and dog behaviour — a journey that continues to evolve to this day.

For the past 15+ years, I’ve continued in my relentless pursuit of better understanding the human-canine bond. I never could have imagined the twists, turns, rugged terrain, and beautiful places this adventure has taken me. This journey has resulted in the emergence of a purpose-driven approach to dog training that flips the script, seeing behaviour through the dog’s eyes (rather than the observer’s). I have been blessed to collaborate with my friend, colleague, and fellow canine cyberneticist, Brian Fleming, in developing this approach, with the support of some truly amazing researchers from around the world.

My late dog, Mouse (the cute dog in the photo), played a pivotal role in shaping this approach. Mouse, a long-term shelter dog whom I rescued in 2011 from the Bow Valley SPCA in Canmore, challenged me in ways I never imagined and pushed me beyond the boxes of dog training, forcing me to rethink all my paradigms about dog behaviour and training. Through my journey with Mouse, I learned that successful dog training isn’t about checklists, protocols, or “fixing” behaviours — it’s about truly seeing and understanding one another, working as a team, and growing through life’s challenges together.

With more than 15 years of experience spanning puppies, therapy dogs, rescue dogs, aggression, reactivity, and complex cases, my work combines cutting-edge science with real-world practice in an ongoing dialogue known as praxis. I hold a Diploma in Canine Behaviour Sciences and Technology, am a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant, Family Dog Mediator, and certified in Systems Thinking and Leadership through the Cabrera Research Lab at Cornell University. I’m also a member of the International Association for Perceptual Control Theory. One of the most exciting things to emerge from my work is a theory of conflict, conflict resolution, and transformation in the human-canine relationship, which I plan to co-publish (academically) in 2025/26.

I’m a proud Canadian, born and raised on the West Coast, and have called Calgary home since 1999.