Partners in Canine was founded in 2019 to offer one-of-a-kind training programs to people and dogs in Southern Maine. The company's name was inspired by the relationship that our trainers have developed with each other, with their own dogs, and the dogs and handlers they work with every day...a true partnership. At Partners In Canine, we strive to educate ourselves and the people around us. We believe in relationship-based training built on clear communication and balanced and fair boundaries.
Meg Terrio
I got my start with animals as a young kid in Girl Scouts working during the summertime with the horses at camp outside of Atlanta, GA. I found my passion for training with the horses and worked for many years as an instructor providing riding lessons to kids. After I moved to South Florida in my early twenties, I discovered I had a knack for helping people with their dogs. This hobby quickly became my job and rapidly became my passion. I started seeking certifications and looking to learn from leaders in the industry. In 2014, I moved to Maine with my husband Alex, and shortly after that I met Merri. Although we both had our own businesses, we continued to cooperatively teach alongside one another until it became evident that joining our efforts would maximize our ability to help more people and their dogs. Hence, Partners in Canine was born!
I currently live in Sebago, ME with my dog Cable (5 yr, GSD) my loving husband Alex, my eight-year-old-year-old daughter, Natalie - and my two-year-old daughter Ripley! I enjoy all dog sports and actively participate in GRC and IGP with Cable.
At Partners In Canine, we strive to offer a full spectrum of activities, sports, and training for you and your dog.
Meet the amazing humans that help to round out our team!
Noelle Libby
No Frills Dog Training
Noelle Libby is a dog trainer who promotes a balanced training style centered around the relationship between dog and handler. She helps clients learn how to communicate effectively and use positive reinforcement to build a relationship that enriches the lives of both the owner and their animal. Noelle enjoys working with other trainers as both a student and a collaborator, and in this way is constantly growing her own practice and learning what works and what doesn’t.
Noelle has always owned “bully” breeds and is a purposeful breeder of bullmastiffs and English bulldogs. She is motivated by finding ways to put their natural drive to work and helps her dogs have their lives enriched by this drive rather than frustrated by it. Noelle believes there is a place for both rescue adoption and ethically bred puppies, and owns both. A lifetime animal and nature lover, she is happiest when she’s working with her own dogs or helping other people learn how to coexist with their dogs. She is motivated to help people build a sense of clarity around dog behavior and learn how to change their own behavior while shaping the behavior of their animal.
In addition to dog training, Noelle is a photographer and artist. She has given up wedding photography in favor of pet portraits, and loves capturing the personality of animals on film. She lives on a small farm in New Gloucester, where she maintains a herd of dairy goats, too many chickens, and a few rabbits. Noelle homeschools her three boys; Oliver, Milo, and Simon. She and her husband, Derek, have an endless stream of projects in the works, including aspirations for a Board and Train space on their property.
Noelle enjoys doing private lessons catered to the dog and handlers individual needs, group classes, guided pack walks, and puppy play groups. She is currently working on her Master’s Class with CATCH. Noelle is pleased to have found her own pack through GRC dogsports and the trainers at Partners in Canine. She has found her people here, and looks forward to endless years of learning and growing as she ages into a crazy dog lady.
Cindy Lester
Cindy has spent the past 15 years showing English Springer Spaniels and Rottweilers in AKC, UKC, and CKC conformation dog shows. She grooms her own English Springer Spaniels and has learned canine behavior through her own experiences and research. She has been breeding ESS for about 10 years.
She learned to show dogs from professional handlers and once had the opportunity to participate in a weekend seminar presented by George Alston. Cindy has been teaching her own classes for 2 years.
In addition to showing, Cindy is currently studying breed standards and has had the pleasure of judging several matches, two English Springer Spaniel sweepstakes and one Brittney sweepstakes.
Cindy's full-time pathology laboratory job kept her busy M-F, but evenings and weekends, her time was spent loving and training her own dogs, as well as taking care of “guest dogs” in her home.
Cindy does basic grooming to include bathing, nails and ears. She earned a Brusher Bather Certificate at The New England Grooming Show which is held annually in the fall. She recently was awarded second place at The Whole Pet Grooming Academy’s grooming competition in Portsmouth.
Join Cindy Lester with your future “show dog”, or with your best friend who you just want to have fun with while learning some basic good behavior skills.