Dog-Friendly Trails in Guelph for Training Practice

Photo: A black Labrador Retriever peeking in between the fork in a large tree. His mouth is open, so you can see his pink tongue. His paws are up on the tree. He is wearing a navy blue collar.

You and your dog have been working hard to build a solid foundation.

She understands the commands you’ve taught her and can perform them reliably in your home, in training facilities, and in your backyard where there’s more distractions (I’m lookin’ at YOU, squirrels.)

You’d like to work her around more distractions, but you DON’T want off-leash dogs bombing up to you and making your dog feel overwhelmed.

Guelph has some beautiful trails where you can work with your dog, enjoy nature, and avoid the drama of off-leash dogs.

These hidden gems will allow you and your dog to deepen your bond and proof your commands (that’s the fancy way of saying “make sure your dog can do all her commands no matter what distractions are around.”)

If you're looking for dog-friendly trails in Guelph where you can practice walking calmly around distractions, recall, and placework while enjoying nature together, here are a few places to consider — along with some tips for making your training session successful.

If you want to avoid off-leash dogs bombing toward you while you’re working with your puppy or dog, these Guelph gems will get you the space you need. Photo: A large black and white dog running down a trail toward the camera with its tongue hanging out the side of its mouth.

First: A Training Session Doesn't Look Like a 5 Km Loop

This might surprise you.

When you're training your dog to walk nicely out in public, your goal shouldn’t be to cover as much distance as possible.

You’ll reach your goals faster if you focus on quality, not quantity.

If your dog is pulling, barking at other dogs, lunging at bicycles, or becoming completely overwhelmed by everything around her, walking another five kilometres down the trail isn't going to solve the problem.

Instead, find a nice quiet spot where you can practice your commands at a distance from the trail itself.

From this spot you’ll be able to see dogs, hikers, bicycles, etc, but now you’re at a distance where your dog can listen to you, rather than become overexcited by them. She gets the chance to practice listening to you around distractions, instead of pulling toward them.

Remember to pause and breathe. How you’re feeling matters.

If you brought your dog’s tug toy, this is a great time to take a break for play. Your dog learns so much during play — like how to drop the toy and how to be respectful to get it back vs. jumping on you or demand barking.

If you brought your dog’s place cot, you can practice heeling, place, recall, and tug while the world passes you by at a distance.

You have her whole life to walk in a straight line on a trail. Before she learns how to do that without pulling toward everything, this step needs to be mastered. Who knows — you may enjoy these training sessions a whole lots more than crowded trails.

Finding a space where you can engage with your dog at a distance from the distractions will help them learn all about the world, without being overwhelmed by it. Photo: A Corgi wearing a turquoise bandana looks up at the person (off-camera) who is holding the leash.

Speed River Trail

The Speed River Trail is one of Guelph's beautiful places to practice real-world leash walking.

The City of Guelph lists the trail as approximately 3.4 kilometres long, running from Speedvale Avenue East to Victoria Road North through Riverside Park.

Depending on where you enter the trail and when you visit, you may encounter walkers, joggers, bicycles, dogs, wildlife, and plenty of interesting smells.

In other words:

DISTRACTIONS.

And distractions aren't necessarily a bad thing.

They're training opportunities.

If your dog already has some basic leash skills, a trail like this gives you an opportunity to practice those skills somewhere more interesting than your neighbourhood.

When a cyclist approaches, can your dog stay with you?

When another dog passes, can you keep moving without being dragged toward them?

When a squirrel makes the questionable decision to run directly across your path, can your dog recover and continue walking?

These are the skills that make life with your dog enjoyable.

Just remember that your goal isn't perfection.

It's progress.

If your dog is reactive, you’ll want a nice spot away from the narrow trails to practice. During the day, when there’s no one playing disc golf, you’ll find that area to be a lovely distance away from the dog walkers on the sidewalk (on Riverview Drive) and the bikes and joggers on the trail by the river. You can find street parking, or use the little parking lot that’s near the fire station. This time of year, you’ll enjoy beautiful fall colours.

There’s lots of space around the disc golf course to work with your dog on-leash. Photo: A disc golf course with lots of grass and trees in the background.

Eramosa River Trail

Another beautiful option is the Eramosa River Trail. It’s about 4.1 kilometres long and stretches from the Gordon Street covered bridge (near York Road Park) east to Stone Road, passing through Eramosa River Park and crossing Victoria Road South.

A trail with natural sights, sounds, wildlife, people, and dogs can be a wonderful training environment for a dog who is ready for that level of distraction.

If you and your dog benefit from a little more space, instead of training close to Victoria road (near the volleyball courts,) train closer to the covered bridge. You can park on York and practice being calm on the soccer field as distractions flow by on the trail that runs along the river.

Tip: When you’re working around distractions, you’re searching for the distance between you and the distraction where your dog can still listen and take direction from you. If your dog is ignoring you when you’re 25 feet away from the trail. Try moving to 30 feet. If that doesn't work. Try 35. Don’t get discouraged. It can help to think of it this way: your dog is providing you with information. It has nothing to do with you being a good dog owner (or trainer.) The dog in front of you today, in this moment, needs a bit more space in order to take guidance from you. The next day, she could need more or less. One day, if you’re consistent, that distance will shrink and you’ll be able to look back on these days fondly. Until then, keep at it. You can do it.   

You’ll be able to see the covered bridge and the trail from the soccer field while you practice engagement activities with your dog. Photo: A soccer field with a copse of trees behind it.

University of Guelph Arboretum

The Arboretum is another option in the Guelph area if you and your dog enjoy being in nature.

It’s very rare to see a dog off-leash here (because dogs are required to be on-leash) and if you do, the sight-lines are so good that you can usually avoid running into it by creating space.

If you’re in the early stages of training your puppy or dog, avoid the narrow trails (unless you fancy trying to pass a reactive dog on a flexi-leash when you’re on a boardwalk with water on both sides of you.)

There are so many amazing green spaces to choose from where you can focus on your dog learning skills like recall and heel while all sorts of distractions pass by on the trails. You’ll see things like strollers, gardeners driving around in motorized vehicles, bikes, joggers, and lots of wildlife.

There’s so many nice spots on the lawn at the Arboretum where you can work with your dog as distractions go by at a distance. Photo: a wide trail lined with conifers. There is dappled sunlight on the trail.

What Should You Practice on Guelph Trails?

A lot of owners end up in trouble when they unclip their dog’s leash too soon. I’ve had owners call me after their dog has:

-gone missing for hours (and sometimes days) after taking off on a hike

-been in a fight with another dog

-almost been hit by a car

-bit a stranger who tried to catch them

Off-leash life begins on the leash.

Most owners don’t realize that you can keep a leash on while teaching:

-recall

-drop

-polite manners during tug and fetch

-and more

Find a space away from the trail to work on these skills. You’ll have way more fun than trying to weave through pedestrians, bikes, other dogs, etc before you and your dog are ready.

Here are some ideas of things to practice at a distance to the trail (remember: pick the distance that your dog can listen to you.)

Off-leash life begins on the leash with lots and lots of practice. Photo: A black dog with its turquoise leash draped over its face, covering one and and revealing eye. Its mouth is open and you can see its tongue and bright white teeth.

Practice calm leash walking

Beside a busy trail isn’t the place to begin teaching your dog how to walk nicely on a leash. This work begins in your home where distractions are minimal. Here, you can teach your dog a communication system that you can build on outdoors.

If you and your puppy or dog have a solid foundation (eg. let’s go, heel, break, etc.) that you’ve been practicing indoors and outdoors, you may be ready to practice near a trail.

If you head to a distracting area too soon with the expectation of working on advanced concepts (heeling by reactive dogs, bikes, etc. on the trail itself), you may be setting yourself and your dog up for a very frustrating outing.

This isn’t to say that your young puppy should be kept away from distractions. When you’re socializing your young puppy (teaching them to be neutral around sights, sounds, and different surfaces) they’re going to be on a nice loose leash. You can practice engagement as well as having explore time and playtime. If you’ve been teaching them some foundational skills, you can practice those as well.

It’s important to consider the puppy or dog who is in front of you when you select where you’ll be training and what you’ll be working on in that particular session. Training is fluid. Ever-changing. Photo: A Golden Retriever puppy walking toward camera wearing a blue harness and leash. It is walking on a lawn with autumn leaves scattered around it.

Practice on-leash recall

You want a dog who comes when called and you want them to come back the first time you call them.

Like any command, you need to practice it in many different places so your dog learns that no matter where you are (parent’s house, your backyard, at the cottage, etc,) “come” means “come right now.”

If you’ve been working on on-leash recall with your dog inside your home, at puppy class, and while you’re out on your neighbourhood walks, you’re likely ready to add in some new locations to proof your recall.

Remember to keep the leash on so your dog can’t ignore you.

When your dog is listening well on the leash, you may switch over to a longline and do some reps that increase the distance between you and your dog, while sill obeying the leash laws.

If you want your dog to listen to you when you call — practice, practice, practice. Photo: A black and white dog wearing a green and brown leash looking up to the camera with brown eyes.

Practice placework

You and your dog have been working on placework in your home and in your yard. Your dog understands that her job is to relax on her place cot around indoor and outdoor distractions. You feel ready to practice around some more challenging real-life distractions, like bikes and joggers.

You’re adding a distraction, so your other two D’s (duration and distance) need to decrease. What this means is that you’re about to challenge your dog with more distractions, so you need to do shorter place reps and not move as far away from your cot as you may be able to do at home.

If this is your first time practicing placework out in public, make sure you’re far enough away from the distractions. You don’t want to make your dog a sitting duck as joggers and bikes come flying toward her.

Practicing placework indoors and outdoors helps our dogs learn how to settle no matter what distractions are going on around us. Photo: Beyond Dog Training client, Catherine, practicing placework with her dog, Jasper, on the lawn of their home. He is laying down on an elevated dog bed with his paws draped over the edge. He is a beautiful Shepherd mix.

Practice engagement

If your goal is to have a dog who can listen to you when you’re out in public and who doesn’t yank your arm out of its socket when you’re walking, you’ll want to be the most interesting thing in the environment.

You don’t need to run constant obedience commands the entire time you’re outside with her. Another way to engage with your dog is through play. You can play tug while on leash. You can even play fetch, you’re just not throwing the toy far away.

These games keep your dog interested in you instead of becoming overexcited by everything else in the environment.

Teach your dog how to play with you inside your home first, so you have rules in place that keep the game fun and safe for both of you, before trying it out in public.

Play is a fantastic way to keep your dog engaged with you instead of blowing up at things in the environment. Photo: A Yorkshire Terrier tugging on a rope. The dog is outside on the grass.

What If Your Dog Is Reactive?

If your dog barks, lunges, growls, or completely loses control when another dog or person appears, a busy Guelph trail isn’t the place to begin helping her through her reactivity.

If your dog is overwhelmed, repeatedly putting her into situations where she explodes gives her more opportunities to practice the exact behaviour you're trying to change. And as we know, what we practice, we get very, very good at.

Making sure your dog feels calm and understands commands inside your home and in your yard can’t be overlooked. Don’t rush to get her out in public. Focus on your foundational skills at home and build up from there. Helping a dog overcome reactivity is a marathon. Not a sprint. Take your time and be sure to celebrate the little wins along the way.

Working through reactivity takes time and patience. Be sure to celebrate the little wins along the way. Photo: A brindle dog barks and pulls on the leash as the person walking them tries to walk forward. The person’s arm is being pulled back and to the left, as the dog fixates on whatever made it bark.

Remember Your Leash

Dogs generally need to remain leashed on Guelph's trails unless you're in a specifically designated leash-free area.

If you dread walking your dog because of how much she pulls, check out our Calm Dog Package. Photo: A wet, black and white Spaniel, sits pretty while holding her leash in her mouth.

Imagine What Your Walks Could Feel Like

Imagine walking along the Speed River with your dog beside you.

A bicycle approaches from behind.

You don't tense up.

You don't wrap the leash around your hand three times.

You don't start scanning for an escape route.

Your dog notices the bicycle.

And then keeps walking.

A dog appears ahead.

You don't panic.

Your dog doesn't explode.

You simply continue enjoying your walk.

THAT is what we're working toward.

Dog training isn't about having a dog who performs perfectly in your living room.

It's about having a dog you can enjoy living your life with.

And Guelph's trails give us some wonderful places to practice.

If your walks currently feel more stressful than relaxing, you don't have to avoid trails forever.

Your dog can learn.

You can feel confident again.

And those peaceful walks you're imagining can become part of your normal life.

At Beyond Dog Training, we specialize in in-home dog training in Guelph and the surrounding area. We help families work through leash pulling, reactivity, fear, puppy challenges, and other behaviours that can make everyday life feel stressful.

Curious about what behaviour problems in-home dog training can help with? Check out this blog post: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/what-behaviour-problems-can-in-home-dog-training-help-with

We hope to see you out on (or beside) a Guelph trail one day soon.

Alyssa

Your walks can get better. Photo: Alyssa Foulkes, walking her Rottweiler, Magic, on a Guelph trail. The trail is narrow and there are wildflowers growing on either side of it.

About the author: Alyssa Foulkes is Guelph’s in-home dog training specialist who is recommended by veterinarians. She holds an MSc from the University of Guelph where she studied animal behaviour and nutrition.

Photos by: Upsplash Images and Alyssa Foulkes

What Behaviour Problems Can In-Home Dog Training Help With?

A short-haired, medium-sized, brown dog sits raising one paw as if she is asking a question. She is wearing a collar with a red, bone-shaped tag that reads “Mia.”

One of the most common questions I hear from dog owners is:

"Can in-home dog training help with my dog's specific behaviour problem?"

In-home dog training helps owners overcome a very long list of problem behaviours.

Some of the most common behavioural issues owners call about are:

-barking out the window

-charging the door and barking when guests arrive

-jumping on visitors

-stealing food off countertops (counter surfing)

-dragging owners down the sidewalk while on-leash and reacting at everything from dogs to blowing leaves

-chewing up things that aren’t theirs to chew

-separation anxiety

-nipping and biting

-losing their minds when the Amazon driver shows up

-bolting out the front door and running away

-fear of thunderstorms, fireworks, smoke detectors, construction noises, etc.

These behaviours can be frustrating, embarrassing, and sometimes even dangerous. Over time, they can affect your confidence as a dog owner and make everyday life feel more stressful than it needs to be.

The good news is that many of these issues can be improved significantly through in-home dog training.

When training happens where the behaviour occurs, we can address the root cause more effectively and create practical solutions that fit your real life.

Let's look at some of the most common behaviour problems that in-home dog training can help with.

A black and white Staffordshire terrier staring out a window

Barking out the Window and at Neighbourhood Sounds

This is one of the biggest frustrations dog owners face.

A dog sees another dog walking by.

They bark.

A squirrel appears.

They bark.

Someone closes a car door three houses away.

They bark.

Soon, your dog is spending most of their day scanning the environment and reacting to every movement and sound.

Not only is this exhausting for you, but it's exhausting for your dog as well.

What many owners don't realize is that barking is a self-rewarding behaviour. It feel good to blow off steam, so they keep doing it.

In-home training helps interrupt this cycle by teaching your dog what to do instead.

Rather than rehearsing barking all day, they learn calm behaviours that create a more peaceful home environment.

A black, off-leash dog barks intensely at the camera. He is standing on a tiled floor, in front of an open door. His tail is standing straight up in the air and the whites of his eyes are showing. This is likely a warning: don’t come any closer, but since I didn’t take the photo, I can’t know for sure.

Reactivity Toward Dogs and People

If your dog lunges, barks, growls, squeals, or becomes overly excited when they see dogs or people, you're not alone.

Reactivity is one of the most common reasons owners reach out for help.

Many people assume they need to expose their dog to more dogs in a group setting.

Often, the opposite is true.

Before dogs can make good decisions around distractions, they need clarity, structure, and communication.

In-home training allows us to build those foundational skills first.

When dogs learn how to focus, settle, and respond to guidance at home, those skills become much easier to transfer into the real world.

The result is a dog who can remain calmer and more composed during walks and social situations.

An on-leash brown doodle barks and lunges toward the camera.

Pulling on the Leash

Walking your dog should be enjoyable.

Unfortunately, many owners find themselves being pulled from one tree to the next while their dog zigzags down the sidewalk.

Over time, walks become frustrating.

Some owners start avoiding them altogether.

And when that happens, behaviour problems often get worse.

In-home dog training addresses leash pulling by teaching dogs how to walk with their owners rather than dragging them around the neighbourhood.

The goal isn't just a loose leash.

It's a calmer, more enjoyable walking experience for both ends of the leash.

A German Shepherd mix with a docked tail leaps across a grass lawn.

Bolting Through Doorways

Few behaviours create more panic than a dog charging through an open front door.

Whether it's chasing a squirrel, greeting a neighbour, or simply exploring, a dog that bolts can quickly find themselves in danger.

This behaviour is surprisingly common.

Many owners manage it by holding collars, blocking doors, or constantly reminding family members to be careful.

But management alone doesn't teach the dog what to do.

In-home training helps dogs learn self-control around doors and entryways.

Instead of rushing through openings, they learn how to remain calm and wait for direction.

This creates safety, confidence, and peace of mind.

A woman smiles as she is about to open the door to a house and enter. A Golden Retriever is seated inside facing her.

Jumping on Guests

Most dogs aren't trying to be rude.

They're excited.

The problem is that not everyone enjoys being greeted by a dog launching themselves into their personal space.

Jumping can become especially problematic around children, seniors, or guests who are uncomfortable around dogs.

Because this behaviour happens in the home, it makes sense to address it in the home.

We can work through real-life scenarios and teach your dog how to greet people calmly instead of turning every arrival into an event.

A King Charles Cavalier chewing on a large bun covered in seeds.

Counter Surfing

Have you ever left a sandwich unattended for ten seconds only to discover it mysteriously disappeared?

You're not alone.

Counter surfing is incredibly rewarding for dogs.

After all, it works.

Every successful attempt reinforces the behaviour.

The challenge is that most owners only intervene after the dog has already made the decision.

In-home training focuses on teaching alternative behaviours and building impulse control so your dog learns that staying off the counters is more rewarding than helping themselves to your lunch.

A Golden Retriever mix stares out a window wearing a concerned-look on its face.The dog’s front left foot is white with golden spots on it. Its paws are on the window sill. The window is open slightly and the dog’s nose is near the screen.

Separation Anxiety and Difficulty Settling

Some dogs struggle when left alone.

Others struggle even when you're at home.

They pace.

They follow you everywhere.

They seem unable to relax.

Many owners assume their dog simply has "too much energy."

Often, the issue is actually a lack of structure and clear expectations.

One of the most valuable things we teach dogs is how to settle.

When dogs learn how to relax, it transforms life for both the dog and the owner.

A calm dog isn't just easier to live with.

It's a happier dog.

Nine silhouetted people watching a large display of colourful fireworks.

Fear of Noises

Fireworks.

Thunderstorms.

Garbage trucks.

Construction equipment.

Smoke detectors.

Many dogs live in a constant state of vigilance because the world feels unpredictable.

This can significantly impact their quality of life.

While we can't eliminate every scary sound, we can help dogs develop confidence and coping skills.

Through confidence-building exercises, many dogs learn to navigate their environment with far less stress.

A Parson terrier puppy stands in a garden, surrounded by purple flowers.

Prevention

In-home dog training also sets new puppies and rescue dogs up for success by helping their pet parents learn how to prevent everything from separation anxiety to pulling on the leash.

A lot of owners have grown up with dogs who counter surf, jump on guests, and bark at every noise they hear. These owners want to prevent those issues from ever happening with them and their dog.

Our Happy Puppy Package is all about prevention and it’s not just for puppies. If you’re adopting a new rescue dog and want to start off on the right foot, this package will help you teach your dog how to walk nicely on the leash, how to relax in your home (and in your vehicle), and how to behave when guests come over.

Beyond Dog Training client, Melissa, relaxes in the back of her hatchback vehicle, celebrating finally being able to have her St. Bernard mix, Norm, jump into the vehicle by himself. He is heavy and lifting him was hurting her back. Norm is standing in the back of the vehicle, mostly blocking our view of Melissa.

Why In-Home Dog Training Works So Well

The biggest advantage of in-home dog training is simple.

We work where life happens.

Instead of trying to recreate household problems somewhere else, we address them directly in the environment where your dog experiences them every day.

Your living room.

Your front door.

Your backyard.

Your neighbourhood.

Your vehicle.

This allows us to create practical solutions that help owners build skills that fit naturally into their daily routines.

Training becomes more relevant.

More personalized.

And more effective.

Because ultimately, most owners aren't looking for a dog who behaves perfectly in a training facility.

They want a dog who behaves well at home.

They want to enjoy their walks.

Welcome guests without stress.

Leave food on the counter without worry.

Open the front door with confidence.

And relax at the end of the day with a dog who knows how to settle.

Those are real-life goals.

And those are exactly the kinds of goals that in-home dog training is designed to help you achieve.

If you're struggling with barking, reactivity, leash pulling, jumping, door dashing, counter surfing, separation anxiety, or any other behaviour challenge, know that you're not alone.

More importantly, know that things can improve.

With the right guidance, clear communication, and a training plan tailored to your dog and your home, meaningful change is absolutely possible.

And it all starts right where the behaviour is happening.

Whether you’re in prevention-mode or you’ve been struggling with a behavioural issue for months (or even years), you’ll find hope with a free call.

This call allows you the opportunity to share what’s going on with your dog. What you’ve tried. What’s worked. What hasn’t.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, this call is the perfect place to start — and it’s free. You have nothing to lose.

Looking forward to helping you with your dog.

Alyssa

About the author: Alyssa Foulkes is Guelph’s in-home dog training specialist who is recommended by veterinarians. She holds an MSc from the University of Guelph where she studied animal behaviour and nutrition.

Photos by Upsplash Images and Alyssa Foulkes

How to Choose the Best Dog Trainer in Guelph

If you’re looking for the best dog trainer in Guelph, this blog post will help you. Photo: a woman presses her hands on her temples as she looks at the laptop on her desk

If you're searching for the best dog trainer in Guelph, chances are you're not looking for someone to teach your dog a few tricks.

You're looking for someone who can help you solve a real problem.

Maybe your dog is barking at every sound in the neighbourhood. Maybe walks have become stressful because of pulling or reactivity. Maybe your dog bolts through the front door, jumps on guests, counter surfs, or simply won't settle down in the house.

Whatever challenge you're facing, one thing is certain: you want results.

The problem is that finding the right dog trainer can feel overwhelming.

A quick search for "dog trainer Guelph" produces dozens of options. Group classes. Board and train programs. Online courses. Trainers using completely different methods and making completely different promises.

How do you know who to trust?

More importantly, how do you know which type of training will actually help your dog?

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when searching for a dog trainer. Photo: a woman with long hair sits with her hands on her cheeks as she looks at her laptop screen.

Let's walk through what to look for when choosing a dog trainer and why more and more owners are discovering that in-home dog training is often the fastest path to lasting results.

If you're searching for the best dog trainer in Guelph, start by looking for someone with experience in canine behaviour, proven client success stories, and a training approach that works in real-life situations rather than only in classroom settings.

That last point is more important than most people realize.

Many behaviour problems don't happen in a training facility.

They happen in your home.

Your dog isn't barking at the training centre window.

They're barking at the window in your living room.

They're not charging the front door at a training class.

They're charging your front door when deliveries arrive.

They're not reacting to dogs while standing in a classroom.

They're reacting while walking through your neighbourhood.

This is one of the biggest reasons why in-home dog training can be so effective for struggling owners. Training takes place where the behaviour actually occurs, allowing the trainer to see the problem firsthand and create practical solutions for your everyday life. Trainers who work inside the home can address behaviours in the environment where they naturally happen, rather than trying to recreate those situations somewhere else.

Many owners find that in-home dog training is the most effective way to solve their real-world problems because the work happens in their home and in their neighbourhood, where the problem behaviours are occurring. Photo: Two small dogs face each other on a sidewalk.. Both are wearing leashes.

When evaluating trainers, ask yourself an important question:

"Can this trainer help me achieve the life I want with my dog?"

A good trainer doesn't just focus on obedience.

They focus on outcomes.

Do you want a dog who can relax while guests visit?

Do you want peaceful walks?

Do you want to stop feeling stressed every time someone knocks on the door?

The best trainers connect training exercises to real-world results.

That's why client success stories matter so much.

Look for reviews that describe specific transformations. A dog that stopped barking out the window. A dog that can now walk calmly on leash. A family that can finally have visitors over without chaos.

Those stories tell you far more than marketing claims ever will.

When looking for a trainer, read their reviews and testimonials to find a trainer who has solved the issues you need solved. Photo: a woman wearing glasses points to her laptop screen. Her phone is sitting on the white desk.

Another important factor is whether the trainer takes the time to understand your goals.

Every dog is different.

Every family is different.

The trainer who worked well for your neighbour's puppy may not be the right fit for your reactive adolescent dog.

Quality training should be tailored to both the dog and the owner. One-on-one coaching allows a trainer to focus entirely on your dog's unique challenges, learning style, and environment rather than delivering the same solution to everyone.

It's also worth paying attention to what happens after the training session ends.

Many owners feel motivated during a lesson but become unsure once they start practicing on their own.

The best trainers provide ongoing guidance, accountability, and support between sessions. That support often makes the difference between temporary improvement and lasting success.

As you're researching trainers, don't be afraid to ask questions.

How do they assess behaviour problems?

What does a typical training plan look like?

How do they help owners maintain progress after sessions?

Can they provide examples of similar cases they've successfully worked through?

A professional trainer should welcome these conversations and be transparent about their process. Experts recommend looking for trainers who can explain their methods clearly, answer questions openly, and demonstrate a thoughtful approach tailored to the individual dog rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions.

Your trainer should care about your specific goals with your dog and be happy to answer all of your questions. Photo: a happy woman with brown hair talks on her cellphone while sitting on a grey couch.

One mistake many owners make is assuming that group classes are automatically the best place to start.

Group classes can certainly be valuable for some dogs and owners. However, if you're dealing with barking, leash reactivity, anxiety, door dashing, fear, or household behaviour problems, private training is often the more efficient option because the trainer can focus specifically on the issues you're facing. Behaviour challenges such as barking, fear, separation anxiety, jumping on visitors, and reactivity are frequently addressed more effectively in the home environment where they occur.

The reality is that dog training isn't just about changing your dog's behaviour.

It's about changing your daily life.

The right trainer helps you feel confident.

They help you understand your dog.

They provide clarity instead of confusion.

And they create a plan that fits your real-world routine.

Imagine being able to answer the door without chaos.

Imagine enjoying a peaceful walk around your neighbourhood.

Imagine having guests over without worrying about what your dog might do.

That's what good training should deliver.

Not just better behaviour.

A better relationship with your dog.

If you're looking for the best dog trainer in Guelph, take the time to find someone who understands canine behaviour, has a proven track record of helping owners achieve real results, and works with dogs where life actually happens.

Because the goal isn't to have the best-behaved dog in a classroom.

The goal is to have a calm, confident, well-behaved dog in your home.

And that's exactly where the training should begin.

About the author: Alyssa Foulkes is Guelph’s in-home dog training specialist who is recommended by veterinarians. She holds an MSc from the University of Guelph where she studied animal behaviour and nutrition.

Photos by Upsplash.

How to Help a Fearful Dog Overcome Their Fear of Fireworks (and Finally Believe Things Can Get Better)

Ready to help your dog move past her fear of fireworks, thunderstorms, and garbage trucks? Read on for hope. Photo: fireworks in the sky

If you have a dog who struggles with fear, you know how heavy it can feel.

Fireworks season rolls around and your stomach drops before the first one even goes off. You’re already planning your evening around how your dog might react. You’re worried about the pacing, the panting, the shaking. You feel terrible watching her suffer.

And if we’re being honest, it’s not just fireworks.

It’s thunderstorms.
Garbage trucks rumbling down the street.
The sharp beep of a smoke detector.
Even everyday sounds that most dogs barely notice, like when the wind blows in the long grass, puts your dog on edge.

Even if it feels like your dog is afraid of everything — you can help her move through it. Photo: lightning forking across a night sky

When your dog lives in that constant state of hyper alertness, it doesn’t just disrupt your home and walks, it decreases their quality of life.

They’re not relaxing.
They’re not settling.
They’re not feeling safe.

And that’s where a deeper fear starts to creep in for you.

“What if this never gets better?”

That question sits quietly in the background. And over time, it can turn into frustration, guilt, and even a sense of being judged as a bad owner — especially when your dog reacts in ways that other people don’t understand.

You might feel embarrassed when guests come over.
Worried about what your neighbours think.
Unsure if you’re actually helping or accidentally making things worse.

One thing’s for sure, you can’t keep living like this. You’re stressed out and losing sleep. You’re also noticing that you’re in an anxiety loop with your dog. Now both of you are stressed in anticipation of the storms, fireworks, walks, etc. and you’re feeding off each other.

You can’t keep living with these levels of stress. Neither can your dog. Photo: a stressed person sitting in front of their laptop holding their head in their hand

Let me reassure you of something important:

Your dog can overcome her fear.

And more importantly, your dog can learn how to feel safe again.

But it doesn’t happen by chance and it doesn’t happen by just waiting it out.

It happens through clarity, structure, and guidance that your dog can actually understand.

We see this often with dogs who are sensitive to noise and environmental triggers.

They whine.

They pace.

They hide.

They’re afraid and they need your help.

And that’s where in-home dog training becomes so powerful. You learn how to help them through it.

Instead of trying to eliminate every trigger — which is impossible — we focus on teaching your dog what to do when those triggers happen.

We give them a role. A job. A clear path forward.

One of the most impactful tools we use is placework.

Place isn’t just about getting your dog to lie on their bed. It’s about creating a predictable, safe space where your dog can settle — even when the environment feels uncertain.

When fireworks go off, your dog doesn’t have to pace the house or escalate into panic.

They have somewhere to go.
Something to do.
A way to regulate.

And over time, that changes everything.

Because what your dog practices, they get really good at.

If they practice panic, they get better at panic.

If they practice calm, they get better at calm.

Oakleigh was terrified of the smoke detector and this rippled to the sounds her gas oven made. She would race from the kitchen and hide upstairs. Placework changed that, helping her move past fear and into calmness. Photo: Oakleigh, a beautiful, golden-coated dog lies on her place bed calmly looking up at her owner.

This is how we start to shift their experience from one of constant fear to one of growing confidence.

Now, I want to be clear — this isn’t about “fixing” your dog overnight.

Fear-based behaviours require thoughtful, consistent work.

But what might surprise you is how quickly you can start to see progress when the right structure is in place.

We’ve worked with many dogs who began in a state of constant reactivity — startled by every noise, unable to settle, always on edge.

Through in-home training, we help owners build routines that create predictability. We guide dogs through clear expectations so they’re no longer guessing how to respond. And we support you through the process so you’re never left feeling stuck or unsure.

Because that’s the other piece of this that matters.

You shouldn’t have to figure this out alone.

When you’re worried your dog won’t improve, it’s often because you haven’t been shown a path that actually works.

And when you finally have that path, something shifts.

You start to feel hopeful again.
You feel less reactive yourself.
You begin to trust the process.

And your dog feels that change too.

They begin to settle more quickly.
Recover faster from triggers.
And experience more moments of calm in their day.

That’s not just good for your home.

It’s life-changing for your dog.

Because a dog who isn’t living in constant fear is a dog who can finally enjoy their life.

They can rest.
They can exist without being on edge.
They can feel safe.

And that’s what we want for every dog we work with.

If your dog struggles during fireworks, thunderstorms, or everyday noises, and you’re worried that things will never improve, know this:

There is a way forward.

With the right guidance, your dog can learn how to handle the world around them and you can feel confident supporting them every step of the way.

If you’re ready to help your dog move from fear to calm, and from chaos to clarity, we’re here to help.

Book The Confident Dog Package with Beyond Dog Training and start creating a calmer, safer, more peaceful life for both you and your dog.

Looking forward to helping you and your dog feel more confident.

Alyssa

About the author: Alyssa Foulkes is Guelph’s in-home dog training specialist who is recommended by veterinarians. She holds an MSc from the University of Guelph where she studied animal behaviour and nutrition.

Photos by: Arthur Chauvineau @arthurchauvineau (fireworks in the sky); Michał Mancewicz

@kreyatif (lightning forking across a night sky): Elisa Ventur @elisaventur (a stressed person sitting in front of their laptop holding their head in their hand); Alyssa Foulkes ( Oakleigh, a beautiful, golden-coated dog lies on her place bed calmly looking up at her owner.)

How to Get Quick, Visible Results with Your Dog — Without Guesswork or Frustration

Want quick, visible results for your dog? Read on for tips. (Photo: Smiling beagle)

If you’re like most dog owners, you don’t just want progress— you want to see it.

You want to know that what you’re doing is working. That the time you’re putting in is actually paying off. That your dog is capable of change, and you’re not stuck managing the same frustrating behaviours forever.

Because when you don’t see results, it’s easy to lose momentum.

You start second-guessing yourself.
You try different things.
You wonder if your dog is the exception.

But here’s the truth: dogs can change quickly — when they’re given clarity.

Not more exercise.
Not random corrections.
Not a mix of conflicting advice.

Clarity.

Clear expectations. Clear communication. Clear outcomes.

When you give a dog that kind of structure, the results don’t just happen — they become visible, often faster than you expect.

We all thrive with clarity and coaching. Our dogs are no different. (Photo:: a soccer coach providing clarity to his player before she goes on the pitch)

I want to share a story that illustrates this perfectly.

Scott came to us after a pretty serious incident. His dog had escaped out the front door, ran across the street, and attacked another dog. It was the kind of moment that shakes your confidence. Suddenly, you’re not just dealing with worrisome behaviour that your dog could get hit by a car — you’re dealing with a safety risk to other dogs and people.

And that wasn’t the only issue.

Inside the home, his dog would bark at the window every time another dog walked past. It became constant. Predictable. Stressful.

So now, not only was Scott worried about what could happen outside — he couldn’t relax inside his own home either.

If you feel like your dog’s behaviour has you feeling constantly on edge, schedule your free call now. Photo: a boxer leaning out its window beside a sign that reads: Beware of Dog

This is where many owners feel stuck.

They try to stop the barking.
They try to block the window.
They try to manage the door.

But the behaviour keeps coming back.

Because the dog hasn’t been shown what to do instead.

That’s where we shifted the focus.

We introduced something simple — but incredibly powerful: the place command.

Place gives your dog a clear job.

Instead of reacting to every sound, movement, or trigger, your dog learns:
“This is where I go. This is where I stay. This is how I relax.”

It removes the guesswork for them — and for you.

And here’s where things get interesting.

The results started showing up quickly.

The window barking stopped.
The reactivity toward other dogs decreased.
The chaos at the front door disappeared.

Because as we always say — what dogs practice, they get really good at.

Before, Scott’s dog was practicing:

• barking at passing dogs

• rushing the door

• reacting impulsively

Now, she was practicing:

• staying on place

• relaxing around triggers

• choosing calm behaviour

That shift in practice creates a shift in results.

Placework provides clarity to your dog (Photo: Lily practicing the place command. She is a mini Australian Shepherd sitting on a grey cot.)

Today, Scott can open his front door to welcome visitors or bring in groceries, and his dog remains calmly on her place.

No bolting.
No barking.
No stress.

Just clarity and control.

And this is why placework is one of the most effective tools we use in in-home dog training.

It doesn’t just fix one issue.

It addresses a wide range of common frustrations, including:

• counter surfing

• destructive chewing

• jumping on guests

• door dashing

• general restlessness in the home

• window barking

All by teaching your dog a single, repeatable behaviour.

For you, that means fast results you can actually see.

Not subtle changes.
Not “maybe it’s improving.”

But real, noticeable shifts in how your dog behaves day-to-day.

And that kind of progress builds something even more important than obedience — it builds confidence.

You start to feel back in control.
You stop avoiding situations.
You enjoy your dog again.

That’s the outcome we’re always working toward.

If you’re feeling stuck, or like you’ve been trying everything without seeing results, it doesn’t mean your dog can’t change.

It just means they haven’t been given enough clarity yet.

And once they have it, everything starts to move faster.

If you’re ready to see real, visible progress with your dog, we’re here to help.

If your dog has a bite history, don’t lose hope. Book our A Dog Who Listens Package and start creating the kind of calm, controlled home you’ve been working toward.

Our in-home training covers Guelph, Elora, Fergus, Cambridge, and Kitchener.

We can’t wait to help your household go from chaos to calm.

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders.

Alyssa

About the author: Alyssa Foulkes is Guelph’s in-home dog training specialist who is recommended by veterinarians. She holds an MSc from the University of Guelph where she studied animal behaviour and nutrition.

Photos by: Milli @marliesestreefland (smiling beagle); Jeffrey F Lin @jeffreyflin (a soccer coach providing clarity to his player before she goes on the pitch) Upsplash Images (a boxer leaning out its window beside a sign that reads: Beware of Dog): Alyssa Foulkes (Lily practicing the place command. She is a mini Australian Shepherd sitting on a grey cot).

How to Turn Chaos at Home into Calm, Confident Living with Your Dog

Beyond Dog Training client, Dr. Anneka Sutton, pushing a stroller with her dog Honey walking calmly at her side.

Every dog owner wants the same thing — a calm, well-behaved dog who feels like a joy to live with.

Not a dog you’re constantly managing.
Not a dog who reacts to everything.
But a dog you can relax with, walk confidently, and truly enjoy.

The challenge is, life doesn’t always set us up for that.

Sometimes, things shift. Priorities change. And before you know it, your dog has developed habits that feel overwhelming to fix.

We recently worked with a family who found themselves in exactly that situation.

They had just come out of the postpartum trenches with their first baby — something many people can relate to. Naturally, their focus had shifted, and their young dog, not yet a year old, had been pushed to the side a bit during that time.

What started as small behaviours quickly snowballed.

Their pup became reactive to everything — dogs, children, birds, bikes, joggers, squirrels, even leaves. Inside the home, she would run from window to window, squealing at the top of her lungs at any little sound outside. On walks, she’d be at the end of the leash, up on her hind legs, barking and squealing at anything that passed.

Having a reactive dog that wakes your newborn baby up from his naps is beyond stressful. (Photo: A woman holding her head in her hands with her head bowed.)

And then came the cycle that so many dog owners fall into.

Walking her became stressful and unenjoyable… so they stopped.

And that only made the behaviour worse.

If you’ve ever been there, you know how quickly confidence fades. You start to feel stuck, unsure of what to do next, and maybe even a little defeated.

But here’s the good news — this is fixable.

When they reached out, we didn’t jump straight into corrections or overwhelm them with complicated techniques. We started with a conversation. We talked through their frustrations, their challenges, and most importantly — their goals.

They didn’t want perfection.

They wanted a dog who was far less reactive… and one they could actually enjoy walking again.

So we built a plan around that.

We focused on clear communication and consistency. We provided their dog with structure she could understand. It’s so much easier to teach your dog what to do instead, rather than trying to play defence and stop her every time she blows up at your window or on the leash.

Your experience with Beyond Dog Training begins with a phone call and ends with results. (Photo: A woman smiling at her cellphone.)

After just a few sessions, and by sticking diligently to their homework, things began to shift.

Their dog now heels beautifully by their side, with little to no tension on the leash. When another dog approaches, they don’t panic — they have the tools to stay in control and move through the situation calmly.

And the reactivity?

Dogs. Children. Birds. Bikes. Joggers. Squirrels. Leaves.

No longer an issue.

That’s the transformation that happens when your dog learns how to be calm — and when you know how to guide them there.

It’s not about suppressing behaviour.
It’s about replacing chaos with clarity.

When your dog understands what’s expected, everything changes. Your home feels calmer. Your walks become enjoyable again. And you regain that sense of confidence that may have felt lost.

As this client shared with us afterward, the experience didn’t just change their dog — it changed their daily life. And as a small animal veterinarian, they now feel confident recommending training that they’ve seen work firsthand.

That’s what we want for you too.

If you’re ready to move from frustration to calm, from stress to confidence, we’re here to help.

Book The Calm Dog Package and start building the peaceful home you and your dog deserve.

We look forward to helping you soon!

Alyssa

About the author: Alyssa Foulkes is Guelph’s in-home dog training specialist who is recommended by veterinarians. She holds an MSc from the University of Guelph where she studied animal behaviour and nutrition.

Photos: Alyssa Foulkes (Beyond Dog Training client, Dr. Anneka Sutton, pushing a stroller with her dog Honey walking calmly at her side); Upsplash Images (A woman holding her head in her hands with her head bowed.); Upsplash Imanges (A woman smiling at her cellphone):

Why I Don’t Recommend Puppy Pee Pads

A fuzzy puppy laying on a fleece blanket

If you’re struggling with housebreaking your puppy right now or getting ready to bring your new puppy home, this tip is going to save you a lot of time, money, and headaches.

Don’t use puppy pee pads.

Here’s why.

1. Puppy pee pads are confusing to your puppy. When you use puppy pee pads, your puppy is learning to pee and poo when she feels soft fabric beneath her paws. This results in a puppy that learns that carpet, blankets, and her fuzzy bed are for peeing and pooping on.

A woman lies on her back with her hands covering her face. She is laying on a soft, white blanket.

2. The second reason that I don’t recommend puppy owners use pee pads to potty train their puppies is because your puppy’s feet may be on the pad, but their bum often hangs over the edge, so the mess ends up on your floor. This leads to two frustrating issues for sleep-deprived puppy parents. The first is that the owner scolds the puppy for soiling on the floor, so the puppy ends up more confused, because its feet were on the special pee pad, but now their owner is mad at them. This creates another potty training nightmare, where the puppy now sneaks away from the owner to potty. Now every room in your house is a toilet for your puppy. The second issue is one that I’ve heard about from countless owners who tried puppy pee pads before finding our in-home dog training services. This issue is that any mess that ends up on your floor or carpet that isn’t cleaned up properly acts like a homing beacon to your puppy — they will mark that spot again and again. Be sure to purchase an enzymatic spray to clean up any accidents. These sprays work because they eliminate the odour completely. You can purchase them at your local pet store.

A hand wearing a bright pink rubber glove holds a yellow spray bottle against a turquoise background

3. You want your puppy to learn to potty outside your home. Using a puppy pee pad teaches them to potty inside your home. The pee pads are preventing you from reaching your goal of being able to go to work and not worry about your puppy having accidents all over your home.

Minion painted on a fire hydrant

You’re probably wondering how to housebreak your puppy without using pee pads. The easiest way to housebreak your puppy is to crate train her, supervise her, and take her outside frequently throughout the day to teach her to potty outside.

A brown and white puppy with blue eyes laying in a wire crate with the door open

If you live in Guelph, Elora, Fergus, or Cambridge, and you’re feeling overwhelmed as you struggle to potty train your puppy, our in-home dog training sessions will help.

You’ll enjoy:

-weekly puppy training sessions

-homework that you and your puppy will actually enjoy doing

-email support between sessions to keep you on track

Our Happy Puppy Package is the perfect solution for overwhelmed owners who are struggling to potty train their puppies. This package also helps owners overcome puppy nipping, destructive chewing, and jumping up. Your puppy will also learn how to love leash walks and napping in their crate.

Want more housebreaking tips? Check out our previous blog post for 5 tips to stop your puppy from peeing inside your home. You can read it here: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/help-my-puppy-is-peeing-in-my-home

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders.

Alyssa

About the author: Alyssa Foulkes is Guelph’s in-home dog training specialist who is recommended by veterinarians. She holds an MSc from the University of Guelph where she studied animal behaviour and nutrition.

Photos by: Samuel Sng @samuelsngx (A fuzzy puppy laying on a fleece blanket); Anthony Tran

@anthonytran (A woman lies on her back with her hands covering her face. She is laying on a soft, white blanket. ); Upsplash Images (A hand wearing a bright pink rubber glove holds a yellow spray bottle against a turquoise background); Dorrell Tibbs @whatuprell (Minion painted on a fire hydrant); Ayla Verschueren

@moob (a brown and white puppy with blue eyes laying in a wire crate with the door open)

Help! My Puppy is Peeing in my Home

Black and white image of a woman grabbing her hair and scrunching up her face as she bows her head in frustration

If you have a new puppy, you may be struggling with this common housebreaking issue: sometimes when you take her outside, she’s too distracted to pee — and as soon as she comes back inside, she pees on the floor.

I get calls from frustrated owners about this issue all the time.

Here are 5 tips to help your puppy learn to potty outside instead of inside.

1. Be a tree. Take your puppy out to the spot in your yard where you would like her to potty. Have her on a lightweight leash. Plant your feet like the roots of a tree and be boring. If you wander all over the yard, your puppy will likely get distracted by every new smell and blade of grass (yum!) that she encounters. By keeping her in a smaller area, you’ll increase the chances that she’ll get down to business quickly.

A tree sitting on a pink slope. The sky is blue and white.

2. Be intentional. Your puppy just woke up from a nap. This is your chance to teach her something new, play with her, and provide her with the opportunity to potty outside. Bring a toy and some of her kibble with you so that if she doesn’t potty right away, you can engage with her by teaching her something and/or having a little play session. You may also bring a water bowl out with you. If she doesn’t pee right away, teach her something and play with her and then give her the chance to potty again by following the steps in #1. If she’s super young, odds are you’ll get at least one pee, if not a poo. After you’ve fulfilled all of her needs, you’re going to take her to her crate and teach her how to feel comfortable in there. Puppies are den animals, so the crate is going to help her get her much needed rest after your lesson, as well as decrease the chances that she’ll pee inside. Puppies don’t like to soil where they sleep.

Braxton the Bulldog mix napping in his crate for the first time. He is a brindle-coloured puppy who had severe separation anxiety.

3. Supervise. If you’re going to have a little play session or indoor training session, you need to be paying attention to your puppy. Anytime she sniffs the floor, paws/scratches the floor, walks near your door, or you think “hmmm, I wonder if she needs to pee,” take her straight out to the designated potty spot.

Australian puppy wearing a blue leash and laying down on the ground

4. Praise. Be sure to praise your puppy for peeing and pooping outside with a calm “good pee” or “good poop.” You can give them a treat or a piece of kibble too, if you like.

A person giving a dark brown dog a piece of food

5. Be present. In order to teach your puppy to potty outside, you need to be out there with her to praise her for getting it correct. There’s so many benefits to going outside with your puppy to potty train them. You’ll prevent her from developing bad habits, like barking at the neighbour’s dog, digging up your garden, and chewing things that aren’t her toys. You’ll also be there to help her feel safe, as some puppies easily startle at loud noises.

A dog laying in a large dirt pit

If you’re struggling with potty training issues and your puppy is losing her mind in her crate, in-home sessions with Beyond Dog Training will help bring your life back into balance.

You’ll enjoy:

-weekly sessions

-homework that you and your puppy will actually enjoy doing

-email support between sessions to keep you on track

Our Happy Puppy Package also helps owners overcome puppy nipping, chewing, and jumping up. Your puppy will also learn how to love leash walks and napping in their crate.

Looking forward to helping you teach your puppy how to potty outside.

Alyssa

About the author: Alyssa Foulkes is Guelph’s in-home dog training specialist who is recommended by veterinarians. She holds an MSc from the University of Guelph where she studied animal behaviour and nutrition.

Photos by: Simran Sood @simran01_fashionphotography (Black and white image of a woman grabbing her hair and scrunching up her face as she bows her head in frustration); simon

@simon_berger (A tree sitting on a pink slope. The sky is blue and white. ); mtsjrdl @mtsjrdl (Australian puppy wearing a blue leash and laying down on the ground); Nick & Djalila @nickanddjalila (A person giving a dark brown dog a piece of food ); mehrab zahedbeigi @estoymhrb (A dog laying in a large dirt pit )

"Leave it" and "Drop it" Holiday Edition

Want your dog to leave that ornament or decoration alone? Read on! (Photo: dog wearing a Santa hat yawns at the camera)

Does your dog grab holiday decorations and run around the house playing a frustrating game of keep-away? 

Does he scare you when he growls and guards the items that he steals? 

Perhaps he likes to also practice this outside in your yard. You’re scared that he’ll hurt himself swallowing bits of sharp plastic. 

Why isn’t shouting “leave it” or “drop it” working? Read on for tips to get clarity for yourself and your dog. 

Teaching your dog “leave it” will clearly communicate that countertops and tables are off limits (Photo: star-shaped gingerbread cookies with white icing on a countertop)

If you have a puppy or a dog, it’s so important to teach them these important life-saving commands: “leave it” and “drop it.” The important part of that sentence is “teach them.” Many new pet parents follow their puppy around yelling “leave it” when the puppy grabs a shoe, starts chewing a couch cushion, or snags a Christmas ornament. Yelling doesn’t help. Imagine if math teachers simply yelled at their students: “wrong” every time they answered a question incorrectly. There’s no teaching going on there and no one would learn anything, other than “this human yells a lot.” 

“Leave it” and “drop it” are different from each other. Read on to learn why you should teach your dog both of these commands.

When your dog knows “drop it” or “aus,” fetch becomes a lot more fun for both of you (Photo: Golden Retriever holding a spiky blue ball in his mouth)

Do you know the difference between “leave it” and “drop it?” If you’re not sure, then you’ve come to the right place. After all, if you’re confused about which is which, then your dog is confused too. 

These two commands, along with recall (teaching your dog to come to you no matter what) are three of the most important things you should teach your dog. 

“Leave it” communicates to your dog “don’t touch that with your mouth.” It could be toxic for your dog (joints, edibles, grapes, chocolate, etc.) or simply something you would like to enjoy later on yourself (like the steak on your countertop or the butter tarts on your kitchen table.) This same command applies to dead things on the ground, bunny poops, goose poops, and, you get the idea. 

“Leave it” allows you to pick up the ball, without your dog snatching it up and playing keep-away (Photo: Border Collie lying on the grass looking at a tennis ball a few feet away from her)

Be sure to check out our 10-part series on teaching the “leave it” command featuring Missy Marcus, a one-year-old Australian Shepherd. Find us on TikTok @BeyondDogTraining. Find us on IG and FB @GoBeyondDogTraining.

“Leave it” is a transferable skill. Once your dog understands what it means, you can communicate to your dog not to pick up: their leash, kid’s toys, clothing, garbage on the ground, food in your toddler’s hand, dinner on your table, etc. It even works on squirrels.

You may wish to use “leave it” for squirrels as well. Whatever you choose, be consistent. (Photo: a black squirrel and a grey squirrel eating nuts on a lawn)

Drop It: Drop it, or Aus (which is German for drop it/out,) is the command you teach so that your dog knows to drop things out of her mouth when you ask. This could be a dead thing she picked up on a walk, your children’s toys, her ball (during fetch, so you can throw it again,) her bone (so you can inspect if it’s still safe to chew), another dog’s toy, your remote control, etc.)

If your dog knows “leave it” and “drop it,” your cat and rooster will finally be able to play in peace (Photo: a calico cat and a rooster looking at a bb-8 droid toy on the kitchen tiles)

The earlier you teach these commands the better. It’s far easier to teach your dog to never touch steak on the counter from day one, than it is to train them not to once they’ve developed a habit of it (and get a very tasty reward of steak every time they do!) 

All dogs can learn these commands regardless of how old they are. It’s never too late to begin training your dog. I promise you, he’s smarter than you think. 

It’s never too late to teach your dog these life-saving commands (Photo: senior Collie holding a dirty tennis ball)

Have a wonderful holiday season, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos by:Danny Bezak @harvison (dog wearing a Santa hat yawns at the camera,) Lydia Matzal

@lydia_matzal (star-shaped gingerbread cookies with white icing on a countertop,) Elisa Kennemer @elisalou (Golden Retriever holding a spiky blue ball in his mouth,) Robin Jonathan Deutsch @rodeutsch (Border Collie lying on the grass looking at a tennis ball a few feet away from her,) Claudia McMahon @scmcmahon (a black squirrel and a grey squirrel eating nuts on a lawn,) Daniel Tuttle

@danieltuttle (a calico cat and a rooster looking at a bb-8 droid toy on the kitchen tiles,) Tadeusz Lakota

@tadekl (senior Collie holding a dirty tennis ball)

Updated: December 2025

How to Bring More Ease Into Your Life With Your dog

A person sitting cross-legged to meditate. The photographer captured only her knee and her hand in Gyan Mudra

You’re worried that your dog can sense your anxiety. In fact, you can see him get more tense when you start wrapping the leash around and around your hand (which you always do when you see a dog…or a squirrel…or a jogger…actually, now it’s cars too. Eek!)

You’ve heard that stress travels down the leash and now you’re living it.

You can almost see the negative energy racing down the leash toward your dog like lightning and then BAM! - he blows up. He’s barking, lunging, and standing on his hind legs. This makes you feel embarrassed on top of anxious.

a large brown dog pulling on the leash

Your neck and shoulders constantly feel tight and your wrists hurt from holding her back when she lunges on the leash.

You feel like you’re caught in a stress hurricane with no end in sight.

How can you bring ease into your life with your dog when nothing feels easy.

The first thing I invite you to do is pause and breathe.

Set a timer on your phone for one minute. Sit down somewhere comfortable and close your eyes.

Breathe in for a count of four. Hold for two seconds. Breathe out for six seconds. When our exhale is longer than our inhale, it naturally calms us down.

One minute may be so enjoyable that next time you try 90 seconds. Make this a daily habit. The more you develop this calm muscle, the more you can call on it in times of stress (like after a reactive blow up.)

A person meditating on a yoga mat.

The next thing I invite you to do is to try the place command with your dog.

The place command is not only an amazing strategy to clearly communicate to your dog - go here, be calm, and stay until I release you, it’s also an opportunity for us to practice calm breathing while training our dog (instead of what’s currently going on during walks - a whole lotta breath-holding.)

Before you begin placework, you will need an elevated dog bed (place cot) with grippy feet. Be sure to set the cot on a non-slip surface before you introduce it to your dog.

Something amazing happens when we do placework with our dog.  We begin to notice whether or not our dog can listen us in an area free from distraction - for example, inside your home. When we strip away all the things our dogs find distracting or stressful, we can begin to teach them how to be. All we’re asking for is calmness, and they respond with relief.

Phillip the foster dog sleeping on his place cot

Through this process, you become a detective, and uncover the reasons that your dog is so reactive on walks.

Maybe you’ll find out he’s afraid to step on the cot at all. He’s afraid of stepping up onto something and he isn’t trusting you to guide him through it yet. Don’t beat yourself up about this, this is just information your dog is sharing with you. You’ll get through it. But now you understand that if he can’t do what you ask inside your home, it makes sense that he won’t listen to you when he sees a dog, squirrel, or jogger coming at you on your walk.

Perhaps your dog has no problem hopping up onto the cot, but once he’s up there he jumps on you and bites the leash. This is very pushy and rude behaviour. This can tell us that our dog has become our boss, so he doesn’t think he needs to look to you for direction on the walk - he’s the boss of the walk.

Using placework as a diagnostic tool helps us reveal what we need to change in our relationship with our dog in order to improve it.

Sam the Golden Retriever laying down on her place cot. Her owner is holding her pink leash.

And something else amazing happens. We adopt a calmness practice as we practice place. Place isn’t just about your dog learning how to calm down - it’s an opportunity for us to learn calm skills as well.

While your dog is on place, you can practice breath work. You can practice being in the present moment. You can meditate. Did you know you can meditate standing up? You can!

As you work your dog on and off the cot, you can use this calmness that you’ve cultivated to improve your leash handling skills. If your dog gets off the cot and immediately pulls toward his favourite toy or another family member, it’s a reminder that if you allow him to do this inside your home, he will do the same thing on walks.

Before you know it, you have created a ritual that calms you and your dog down. You can use this routine before your walks to make sure you’re both present and connected before you leave home.

Lily the Australian Shepherd sitting on her place cot in her home.

Take your time and enjoy developing these newfound calmness skills.

The more you practice, the better you’ll both feel.

Before you know it you’ll be able to put your dog on place and:

-sit on your couch and meditate (or read a book)

-practice yoga without being stepped on, mouthed, or mounted

-have a friend over for a chat

-turn your dining room table into a place for painting, crafting, or puzzles

With your dog on place, she’s no longer:

-anxiously barking at your visitors

-jumping all over you, your family, and your guests

-racing from window to window barking at every sound she hears

-panting, pacing, and nervous

-bolting out the front door and running away

-stealing food off the countertop

With those worries gone from your list, you can be free to be a calmer version of yourself. A more peaceful version of yourself.

If you’re nervous about trying placework on your own, in-home sessions will quickly help you build your confidence.

With weekly sessions, homework that you and your dog will actually enjoy doing together, and email support to keep you on track, you’ll feel like you have a trainer on speed dial.

Schedule your free call now. You deserve more calmness in your life.

Yours in calmness,

Alyssa

Photos by: a person sitting cross-legged to meditate. The photographer captured only her knee and her hand in Gyan Mudra Ksenia Makagonova @dearseymour; a large brown dog pulling on the leash (Upsplash Images); person meditating on a yoga mat (Katerina May @kat_vagary); Phillip the foster dog sleeping on his place cot (Alyssa Foulkes); Sam the Golden Retriever laying down on her place cot (Alyssa Foulkes); Lily the Australian Shepherd sitting on her place cot (Alyssa Foulkes)