About Us

A blonde dog on the left looking up to the right at her owner, who is wearing jeans, a burgundy shirt, and orange jacket

Emily da Mata-Wiens CDBC, CTDI

Hello! My name is Emily, and I'm the face behind Cosmic Companions Dog Training. I got into dog training 4 years ago when I adopted a dog during the height of the pandemic, who had some big feelings and needed support. Teaching her silly tricks quickly transformed into a passion for dog training. I am a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant (CDBC) with the IAABC, and a Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI) through Do More With Your Dog!.

I trained professionally for one year conducting group classes, doing training walks, and private sessions before stepping back to take a break. I am in my 4th year of my B.Sc. Psychology Honours degree, and am very excited to be doing my honours thesis on dogs in the 2025/26 school year. Continuing education and staying up to date is very important to me!

I have a particular interest in dogs that are fearful, anxious, and reactive. My training approach will always prioritize the well-being of your dog. I will never train with pain, fear, punishment, or aversive tools (including, but not limited to: e-collars, choke chains, prong collars, & Haltis/head collars). My training involves lots of patience, going at the pace of your dog, and setting realistic expectations.

Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant certificate

Certified Trick Dog Instructor certificate

A blonde dog looks slightly left while laying down on the grass in front of pine trees

Interstellar New Beginnings 'Nova' ATD

This is Nova, my rescue mix who came into my life at 9 weeks old in October of 2020. She was intended to be just a pet, but was destined for so much more. Nova is a silly girl who enjoys doing tricks, playing frisbee, going for sniffy walks, and playing in the water.

Nova is also dog reactive, struggles with confinement, has separation anxiety, and has a love of countersurfing. Whenever I am working on her behaviours, I am working on them for her. Reactivity training is so she can feel less stressed when seeing dogs. Separation anxiety training is so she can feel less stressed when I leave. Although there are benefits attached to training these for me, the human, ultimately the choices I make and training I implement is for her comfort.

My pretty blonde lady is the primary subject of most of my canine photography and is my very best friend. She teaches me so much, and I am honoured she is the face of Cosmic Companions!