In 1988, Aleita Downer was forced to leave her job as a computer operator for health reasons. Like most people, she hadn't chosen her career; her career had chosen her. This transition gave her a chance to think about her talents and what she wanted to do with her life - to do what she loved and "hope that the rest would follow" - and Cape-Able Canines was born.

Aleita developed her dog training skills through a one-year apprenticeship with an obedience trainer and an eighteen-month apprenticeship with Canine Support Teams, an organization that provides service dogs for persons with disabilities other than blindness. She recently retired as the San Diego County Field Advisor and Trainer/Instructor for Canine Support Teams. Aleita also studied under Bonnie Bergin, the founder of Canine Companions for Independence and current director of the Assistance Dog Institute, and developer of the concept of service dogs. To further her skills, Aleita regularly attends seminars and workshops offered by the top trainers in the field (including Ian Dunbar, Terry Ryan, John Fisher, and Karen Pryor). She is an active member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, and is an Associate Member of Assistance Dogs International. Aleita is active in pet therapy and has taught Therapy Dog Team Training workshops for UCSD Medical Center's Tender Loving Canines. Her story about a very special pet therapy visit was published in Southern California Dog Magazine. Aleita regularly contributes to various trade publications, like the National Labrador Retriever Club newsletter.

Summer, the Cape-Able Canines co-founder and junior instructor, is an 8 year old Golden Retriever, who serves tirelessly and loves unconditionally. She has passed the American Temperament Test and the Canine Good Citizen Test and holds an AKC Companion Dog title. She is certified as a Service Dog with Canine Support Teams, performing many tasks such as turning lights on and off, pulling a wheelchair and bringing a soda from the fridge! She is a retired Therapy Dog with Tender Loving Canines at UCSD Medical center, and psychiatric therapy dog with County Mental Health. She's an excellent "personal coach," keeping her family from turning into "couch potatoes." Summer works as a demo dog and class mascot, and alerts Aleita to potential problem situations in the classroom.

The mission of Cape-Able Canines is to improve communication and enrich the relationship between owners and their dogs, and to promote responsible dog ownership through training and education. Cape-Able Canines offers puppy classes, general obedience training, specialty classes, and therapy dog team training. Aleita also offers private services, such as hourly individual training, doggy day care, boarded training, and problem-solving consultations. Cape-Able Canine classes include lectures, demos, speakers, games, handouts, interesting distractions, and exposure to obstacles for your dog.