"Hi, I’m Yamika - proud pet parent, certified canine nutritionist, dog trainer and the heart (and paws!) behind Clever Canine.
My love for animals kicked off in childhood, surrounded by pets of various species - thanks to my nature-loving dad. By the time I moved to Toronto for university in 2008, it was clear that my “side hustle” would be the thing I loved most: dog walking and pet sitting. Basically, I found a way to turn hanging out with pets into pocket money - best student job ever!
When I returned to India, I dove headfirst into the world of dog training. I was fortunate to learn from some of the best - the legendary John Rogerson in the UK and Shirin Merchant here in India. For two years, I worked with puppies and their families in Bangalore, teaching good manners and building strong bonds.
Around that time, I adopted Pixie – a sweet little rescue Staffordshire Terrier with big health challenges. Figuring out how to help her led me down the path of canine nutrition. After countless hours of research, professional studies (and lots of kitchen experiments), I discovered that fresh, wholesome food could completely transform her health. Soon, friends and family were asking me to make meals, biscuits, cakes, and even ice creams for their pets too. And just like that, Clever Canine was born in 2015 - right out of my home kitchen.
Fast forward to today - Clever Canine has grown into a full-fledged brand with its own commercial kitchen in Bengaluru. Every single recipe and product is still formulated by me, with equal parts science, passion, and a sprinkle of creativity. Our most loved innovation? The award-winning Lickin’ Licious Frozen Yogurt Popsicles for Dogs (yes, pups get their own ice cream now!). What makes Clever Canine more special is that we now feature brands we love and believe in to offer a wide range of products in wellness, nutrition, training and more!
Outside the kitchen, I share my life (and lots of educational content) with my two adopted bullies, Tiana & Dora. Through my social media platform, custom diet plans, and more recently - CC Compassion Squad, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with thousands of pet parents and championing causes close to my heart - from animal welfare to better pet nutrition and wellbeing.
A few of my proud moments & professional credentials (and not to brag but more to give you assurance that your pup is in great hands):
* Pet Nutrition Certification, NAVC * Certificate of Canine Nutrition, CASI * International Dog Training & Behaviour – Northern Centre for Canine Behaviour, UK (John Rogerson) * Canine Behaviour & Training – Canines Can Care, India * Certificate of Dog Walking – Liefdog, Canada * Hons. BA, University of Toronto, Canada * Power Women Award 2021, Lead India Foundation
At the end of the day, Clever Canine isn’t just about food - it’s about building healthier, happier lives for our pets. And I’m so glad you’re here to be part of that journey with us."
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