FAQs:

1. How do I get started? 

Getting started with in-home dog training at Beyond Dog Training is simple and supportive. To begin, click the TAKE ACTION button, then follow the prompts to book your free 15-minute call. This call is a no-pressure opportunity to talk about your dog’s behaviour goals and figure out which path is right for your family.

During the call, we’ll listen to your concerns, ask a few clarifying questions about your dog’s history and behaviour, and explain the training options that best fit your situation. This personalized approach helps reduce overwhelm and ensures you choose a training plan that’s tailored to your dog’s real-world challenges, not a one-size-fits-all program.

2. I’m ready! How do I schedule in-person appointments? 

Scheduling an in-home training session is designed to be quick, convenient, and flexible around your family’s schedule. After you select the package that aligns with your dog’s needs, you’ll be prompted to choose your assessment date and time, and complete online payment securely. We will schedule your follow-up sessions at your assessment appointment. Follow-up sessions are  typically 7–10 days later, based on your learning goals.

Every training schedule is created with your daily life in mind. For dogs with more urgent behavioural concerns, such as aggression or resource guarding, we can adjust the timing to ensure consistent progress.

Need help? Schedule a free call and we’ll walk you through the booking process. 

3. I’m a returning client and need a little more guidance. What’s next?  

As a returning client, you already know the value of personalized support. You can continue your journey by visiting the TAKE ACTION page and selecting the option for existing clients. Many families choose follow-ups for refined skills like leash manners, polite greetings, or to build confidence in new environments — all guided by what you and your dog need today.

Ongoing support is a key part of lasting behaviour change. Even after a package ends, you can book refresh sessions to reinforce calm behaviour, build resilience, or address new challenges as your dog grows and life changes. This ensures behaviour improvements are long-lasting and supportive of your lifestyle.

We look forward to seeing you soon! 

4. How do you go BEYOND dog training?

At Beyond Dog Training, it is our mission to help all of the dogs, people, and other pets in your home lead calmer, happier lives.

We focus on real-life success — not just obedience cues in a controlled setting. Our in-home training helps dogs and families succeed where it matters most: at your front door, during walks, around kids, in the car, and during vet visits. We don’t just teach behaviours — we help you understand why dogs do what they do so you feel confident and empowered every day.

This real-world success comes from an individualized training approach that responds to your dog’s unique behaviour style and your family’s goals. We don’t use generic methods — we adapt strategies to help your dog learn calm responses that stick across different situations and environments.

https://beyonddogtraining.ca/our-vision

5. Why do you specialize in in-home dog training? 

We specialize in in-home dog training because dogs don’t live in classrooms — they live in your home. Training where you actually live and struggle gives us the opportunity to work on behaviours where they happen, not in artificial settings that don’t reflect real life.

Many dog owners have told us that group classes didn’t help when adolescence hit, or when real triggers showed up at home. In-home training lets us tailor learning to your dog’s environment, routines, and your family’s lifestyle, which leads to faster, more meaningful results that stick long term.

6. What behaviour problems can in-home dog training help with?

In-home dog training helps resolve separation anxiety, jumping up, reactivity, pulling on the leash, fear, resource guarding, barking, puppy biting, housebreaking issues, and more.

The reason that in-home training solves these issues better than classes is because it allows your dog to learn in his home where the issues are occurring. Here we have access to your front door, countertops, vacuum cleaners, crate, the carpet he loves eating, etc. and can help your dog learn how to relax and make better choices.

One of the biggest struggles dog owners face is trying to open their front door to visitors and have their dog stay calm. This issue often resolves in our very first session in a matter of minutes.

Perhaps the most wonderful part of in-home training is that the whole family is encouraged to participate, so no one has the pressure of taking the dog to class and then teaching everything to their family themselves.

7. What training methods do you use? 

We use reward-based, science-informed training that never relies purely on treats. We help owners build better relationships with their dogs through clear communication. Our teaching style is designed to help owners and their dogs boost their confidence as they move through life together as a team. We believe that training your dog should feel fun — not stressful.

We are life-long learners and love attending dog training workshops in order to provide our clients with the most up-to-date strategies to help them and their dogs succeed.

8. Can you help prepare my puppy or new rescue dog for veterinary visits? 

   Absolutely. With over ten years of work experience with puppies and dogs at the University of Guelph, we know how to help dogs feel calm in a clinic.

We use behavioural conditioning techniques designed to help puppies and rescue dogs associate vet visits with calm, predictable outcomes rather than fear or anxiety. This includes desensitization exercises and building positive associations with equipment and handling.

We help your dog feel safe and you feel calm before veterinary appointments, which makes the experience better for both of you and for your vet team. Many veterinarians notice a real difference in dogs trained this way, especially in how they respond to handling and unusual stimuli in the clinic.

9. Does your training rely on treats?

No. We want your dog to maintain a healthy weight. For dogs who are food motivated, we use your dog’s regular kibble and veterinarian-approved rewards, like fruits and vegetables, and liver treats. We also teach you how to fade food rewards so that your dog responds reliably without food. This helps dogs learn how to listen to you, whether you’re wearing your treat pouch or not.

We tailor rewards to your individual dog’s preferences, so not to worry if your dog isn’t food motivated. Some dogs are more motivated by toys or praise than food rewards.

10. Can I schedule more sessions after my package is complete?  

Absolutely. Many clients choose follow-up sessions after their main package to refine skills like leash-walking, polite guest greetings, recall training, and calm behaviour around distractions. Each follow-up is designed to build confidence and help your family maintain consistency.

Ongoing support is especially helpful as you move through life changes together. Whether you’re adding a new family member, adopting a new pet, moving, or want travelling together to be calmer, follow-up sessions will help keep progress strong and adaptable over time.

11. My dog hates the car. Can you help her? 

Yes! Many dogs experience fear, anxiety, nervousness, and reactivity in the car. Pacing, whining, and barking not only make travel feel stressful for everyone, these behaviours can make driving unsafe.

We help dogs associate the car with calmness using gradual conditioning and confidence-building techniques tailored to your dog.

We help dogs learn that car rides are calm and predictable, so you can both enjoy travelling to vet appointments, family outings, and vacations with confidence.

 12. Can you help my cat? 

      Yes! By helping you train your dog inside (and outside) your home, your cat will reap the benefits (and so will the other pets who share your home.) When your dog is calm and well behaved, other pets feel safe and happy.

13. I have three children. Can they participate in the sessions? 

      Definitely! We LOVE teaching children. You may recognize us from the Guelph Grotto and Scientists in School, where we enjoyed working with children of all ages for many years. We have helped children who were being herded by their new rescue dog, children who were fearful of dogs, and children who were dog lovers who wanted to become dog leaders.

14. Do you offer online training?

Yes, we offer virtual dog training. We have helped clients all over the world with everything from crate training anxiety to jumping up on visitors.

Our online training package will help you reach your dog training goals, whether you’re in Ontario or Edinburgh.

15. Can you teach my puppy or dog to swim? 

Nothing would make us happier than to teach your puppy or dog to love the water as much as we do. Whether you want to show your puppy how to swim in a lake, river, or swimming pool, we can help. We can also recommend life jackets for your next camping trip and help your dog learn to LOVE wearing it! 

We also help dogs learn how to be calm on land when family members are swimming. No one has any fun in the water when their dog is barking non-stop, whining, or trying to rescue children with their mouths. Ouch.

Schedule your free call now.

16. My dog is too excited around my swimming pool. She has bloody foot pads, bleeding nails, and also jumps on my children. Can you help?

Yes! At Beyond Dog Training, we encourage all of the dogs we work with to be in a calm state of mind. Dogs who have a calm state of mind do not jump on people, act obsessed over activities (like swimming and fetch,) or constantly chase children and other pets. Calmness is at the centre of all that we do. Let us show you how to achieve calmness with your excited dog.

17. I’ve had dogs all my life, but this new puppy is very different from the dogs I’ve previously owned. I’m struggling with crate training for the first time in my life. She’s also very, very nervous. She submissive pees when people come over, is scared of her own shadow when we’re outside, and won’t leave the driveway to go for a walk. Which package would you recommend?

We created The Happy Puppy package to help owners gain confidence. This package will help your nervous puppy boost her confidence so she can feel brave and safe.

18.  Which package is the best fit for me? I’m getting a puppy and I’m a first-time pet parent.  

     If you’ve never owned a puppy before, you may struggle with crate training, teaching your puppy to be calm around food, jumping up, biting, chewing inappropriate items, and housebreaking. You will benefit from our Happy Puppy package to give yourself time to learn these important skills. We’ll also show you how to teach your puppy not to chew on the leash or pull on the leash while walking. 

We recommend that all new clients make use of the free phone consultation to help figure out which package will be the best fit to begin your journey. 

Click the TAKE ACTION button and schedule your FREE 15 minute phone consultation with us.

19. Do you have liability insurance?

Yes. We are fully insured.

Photography by: Leohoho @leohoho (Smiling woman holding her dog’s front paws in the sunlight,)bruce mars @brucemars (smiling woman sitting in front of a laptop with her phone in her hand,) Jamie Street ( dog wearing glasses,) Sheri Hooley (children with dogs,) Przemyslaw Smit (two dogs show off a sit-stay,) Alyssa Foulkes (Alyssa and Cooper in the car,) paje victoria (puppy with its tongue out,) Jake Oates (black dog with ball,) Sergio Rodriguez - Portugues del Olmo (dog jogging with owner - black and white,) Andrew Pons (dog in car,) Ancaro Project (cat sitting on dog,) sabina fratila (children with Retriever,) Drew Hays (Golden Retriever with people and computers,) Marcia Soligo (swimming dog,) Upsplash Image (Brown Pitbull puppy sitting calmly on a dog bed,) christian buehner @christianbuehner (woman sitting beside a pool while talking on her phone,) Ghen Mar Cuaño @ghenmar (woman holding a cellphone and smiling,) dog shaking hands with a person wearing a striped top (Fabian Gieske @fbngsk)

Video by: Alyssa Foulkes