Dog trainer

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Devoted to dogs

I charge $*information hidden*for 5 sessions. Clients can pay $110 at the first session and $110 at the third session.

For puppies I provide a house training schedule, this is geared to the dog guardian's schedule so I will inquire as to the person's work schedule, whether anyone is home during the day, and when they get the puppy out for the first walk and bedtime schedules. For first-time dog guardians, I will discuss nutrition, discuss how to read dog food labels, and if the client is open to discussing alternate feeding such as raw or cooked diet I will discuss how to do this.

I am a retired social worker. I have a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Criminology. Upon retirement took a course from the Animal Behaviour College to become a certified dog trainer. While still working, took courses from IPDTA (International Positive Dog Training Association) and won awards from this association. Have taken courses in canine nutrition.

I have been owned by dogs all my life. While still working as a social worker I worked part-time as an assistant trainer. As I have always enjoyed the companionship of dogs becoming a trainer seemed the logical choice as a retirement plan. I want to help dog guardians to enjoy their canine companions and for the dog to enjoy staying in their forever home and learning proper manners to live in harmony in their human family.

I work with all breeds of dogs and have worked in multiple dog households. Issues I have worked with include separation anxiety, pulling on a leash, resource guarding and some types of aggression.

Puppy training is extremely rewarding as it lays the foundation for good behaviour in the future. Puppy training should start the day the puppy comes to their forever home. I have enjoyed working with dogs that have behaviour issues such as jumping up on people and pulling on the leash. I do 5 sessions, after the five sessions I am available to the client should they encounter future behaviour problems or issues. Both current and past clients can contact me to discuss issues at any time.

When looking for a trainer, ask whether they are a positive or balanced trainer. Ask whether they use physical punishment, and advocate the use of prong collars, choke collars or electric shock collars. Positive trainers will not advocate the use of anything inhumane or use physical punishment. Balanced trainers use both positive and aversive (physical punishment termed negative reinforcement) Ask whether the trainer is an advocate of "dominance theory" It should be noted that good trainers will not give "guarantees" as to the training staying for life. It depends on the dog's life experiences, and whether the dog's guardian is consistent with the training. I help the dog guardian with the foundation for future training.

Some people think that 8 weeks is too young to start training. It is not. At 8 weeks the puppy will start learning the words for commands. Before hiring a trainer ask whether they are positive or balanced trainers and whether they are an advocate of physical punishment. It should be noted that by using physical punishment or "negative reinforcement" the dog complies out of fear, knowing something bad will happen if they do not comply. Positive trainers reward the behaviours that are wanted and ignore the behaviours that are not wanted. The dog complies as they know if they comply something good will happen, This type of training the dog has the choice to comply with the command, thus positive training stays with the dog as the dog complies with the command because they want to.