Breaking Barriers - Inclusivity in Dog Training with Neika Smessaert

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, Victoria Stilwell speaks with Neika Smessaert, a veterinary technician, certified dog trainer, and trailblazer for inclusivity within the dog training and veterinary worlds. Neika shares her journey from working in small animal clinics to becoming a vital advocate for deaf and hard-of-hearing trainers. With humor and humility, she recounts how learning ASL during the pandemic led her to mentor VSA’s first deaf student, Leah, opening the door for broader accessibility within the program. Together, they co-created the Puppy Progress Planner —a 12-week confidence-building resource for puppies and their humans—and launched a beautifully inclusive e-course designed to support learners of all backgrounds. Neika candidly discusses the importance of community, the emotional impact of hearing loss, and how curiosity—rather than perfection—is the true key to inclusion. This episode isn’t just about dog training. It’s about seeing each other fully and creating spaces where everyone belongs. To find out more about Neika, visit Vet Tech Coach .

You can listen to Breaking Barriers - Inclusivity in Dog Training with Neika Smessaert online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Breaking Barriers - Inclusivity in Dog Training with Neika Smessaert is an episode from Positively Dog Training - The Official Victoria Stilwell Podcast by Victoria Stilwell.

This episode is 51:16 long.

This episode was published on Apr 29, 2025.

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