COVID-19 Update: 

November 13, 2023:

Rest assured that the health and safety of you and your family remains extremely important to us. In-home sessions are available. You are welcome to switch over to online training at any time.

Our one-on-one online sessions are tailored to suit YOUR individual learning style and are geared 100% to YOUR dog. We go beyond. That means you’re never going to receive a one-size-fits-all approach with us.

Alyssa

FAQs:

1. How do I get started?

To get started, click the TAKE ACTION button and follow the instructions at the top of the page under the heading NEW CLIENTS. 

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

We’re so excited to help you reach your goals! 

Scheduling your package is simple.

-Click the TAKE ACTION button below

-Click on a package

-You’ll be directed to select the date and time that work for your assessment and to make your payment online

We will schedule the dates for your FOLLOW-UP appointments at the end of your assessment. Follow-up appointments are usually scheduled 7-10 days after your assessment date*.

*During your free phone call, we may decide that 7-10 days is too long to wait. If you have an aggressive dog or a dog who guards resources (food, toys, thresholds, people, furniture, etc,) weekly sessions are recommended.

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

3. I’m a returning client. I’ve done the assessment and my follow-up sessions and need a little more guidance. What’s next?  

     Visit: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/take-action

     Follow the instructions at the top of the page under the heading: Returning Clients. 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 to lead calmer and happier lives. We go beyond basic dog training to help you and your dog succeed in REAL LIFE settings. 

https://beyonddogtraining.ca/our-vision

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

You asked - we listened. 

We heard you were unsatisfied with your experiences in group classes. Many of you said that what you learned didn’t help you when adolescence hit. A staggering number of you said you felt unequipped for how to handle your dog in real life situations. 

6. What training methods do you use? 

We use reward-based training that doesn’t rely solely on the use of treats. Our goal is to help create strong relationships between dogs and their human families by improving the communication between the two. 

We know that the learning style of your dog is as unique as your own. Our background in education (for people of all ages) and our creativity during training sessions is what sets us apart. 

We are life-long learners, open-minded, and welcome new ideas that will help more dogs and more people to succeed. 

Beyond Dog Training was created to help you in your home, your backyard, your neighbourhood, your car, and at your cottage because these are the places that matter the most. 

7. 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 exactly what types of dogs technicians and veterinarians love to have in their exam rooms. We’ll turn trips to the veteri-scare-ian into fun visits with the veteri-care-ian. 

8.  My last trainer used a LOT of hotdogs. Is that what you use? 

       No. Most hotdogs are full of chemical additives that we wouldn’t put in our own bodies, let alone our dog’s. 

       At Beyond Dog Training we use natural food rewards, like the liver treats your veterinarian uses. We also use your dog’s kibble. 

       WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN RAISING DOGS WHO ONLY WORK FOR FOOD. We will show you how to fade out food rewards if you’re having trouble getting your dog to listen to you when you’re not wearing your treat pouch. We’ll also show you how to use other types of rewards that your dog will LOVE. 

We want your best friend to stay healthy and maintain a healthy weight. 

We do not use food on walks or when teaching the place command. This helps your dog achieve a calm state of mind and helps them listen to you, as opposed to listening to the food. 

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

You can schedule as many follow-up sessions as you need. Many clients schedule follow-up sessions to brush up on their leash skills, to practice guest greetings, or improve their dog’s recall.

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

      Yes! We LOVE working with dogs in cars. Whether your dog paces, whines, pants excessively, or jumps into your lap while you’re driving, we can help. Many owners struggle to lift their dog into their car. If you’re suffering from back pain and sore knees, let us help you.

 11. 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.

12. 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.

13. I want to work with you online. How do I book online sessions? 

Visit: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/take-action

        After your online sessions are complete, you may schedule more online training follow-ups as needed.

We are excited to help you and your dog! 

14. 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.

15. 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. To see how calm dogs around the swimming pool can still have lots of fun, visit us on Instagram to see our IGTV videos.

16. 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 Confident Dog package to help nervous, anxious, and fearful dogs and puppies feel brave and safe.

17.  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 six session 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.

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,)

Video by: Alyssa Foulkes