Welcome to The Calmness Club™

Welcome to The Calmness Club™ (Photo: A shaggy black dog relaxing on his owner’s outstretched legs.)

Forget everything you know about old school dog training class where you’re surrounded by other dogs lunging on leash and barking. No. That was never for you. 

You crave calmness and you want your dog to be calm too. This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. 

Welcome to The Calmness Club™ — a special place to practice calmness with your dog. 

Our location is spacious with lots of natural light and filled with plants. What better place to relax and foster a calm state of mind? 

You’ve been working on the place command and loose leash walking and it’s going pretty well, but you’re still struggling to achieve calmness on leash and on place in new settings, like when you visit your family and there’s other dogs present who have no off-switch or when you’re at your cottage and there’s lots of wildlife distractions. 

This is your chance to practice calmness and neutrality around other dogs and owners who have the same goals as you. 

This is a unique opportunity being offered to owners who are out there working hard with their dogs every single day. 

Get ready to love your Thursday mornings. Sip your tea. Wear your comfy clothes. And definitely don’t do your hair. 

Happy, smiling woman presents a tug toy for a German Shepherd mix while sitting on a gym floor.

The Calmness Club was created for you. 

You want your dog to be able to relax inside your home, on your porch or balcony, and in your backyard. You would also love it if she could chill when you’re at the cottage, on vacation (hotel, Air BnB, parent’s house, etc,) or while hanging out at a park or local patio. 

It takes practice to achieve a calm state of mind in all of these places, so we created The Calmness Club — a place for you and your dog to practice lifestyle skills and relaxation — together! 

Whether you want your dog to be calm on a patio or at your kid’s soccer games, you need to develop and practice your calmness skills around other like-minded owners. (Photo: Golden Retriever puppy relaxing on a restaurant patio.)

Here’s what Calmness Club members are saying about The Calmness Club: 

““It was a great experience for us and our dog.”
”

— CK -- Guelph

““Looking forward to next week!”
”

— KN - Guelph

Other amazing benefits? 

-Our space also has a long elevated table with chairs — can you say “what a great place to practice calmness at patios and restaurants?” I sure can! 

-The room has movable partitions, so if you need to carve out a little space for yourself and your pup, you can.

-Dreamland Pet is right next door, so if you need anything for your pets you can shop in a relaxing environment after enjoying your time at The Calmness Club. 

We also have access to a large, quiet parking lot to practice calm car exits and loose leash walking. There’s a long and narrow stretch of grass for potty breaks which can also be used as a distraction if your loose leash walking skills are advanced. 

Here’s what Calmness Club members have to say about our training space: 

“I’m in love with this room. There’s so much light. It’s the nicest training space we’ve ever been to.”

— AC -- Kitchener

Here’s the details:

Location: Dreamland Pet in Elora 

Dates: Thursday April 11th, 2024 kicks off 4 consecutive weeks of calmness: (April 11, April 18, April 25, and May 2nd.) 

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Register now and you’ll receive a 10% early bird discount. Click the link to register.  I'm an early bird!

Hurry. This early bird pricing will only be in effect until midnight on March 24th. 

Early bird price: $225 + HST 

After the early bird sale is over, the cost will be $250 + HST, so what are you waiting for? Sign up now. Spots are limited to set everyone up for success. 

THERE’S ONLY THREE SPOTS LEFT IN THE CALMNESS CLUB. REGISTER NOW TO SECURE YOUR SPOT IN:  The Calmness Club

It’s your time to build a beautiful relationship with your dog built on calmness and trust. 

What do you want your life with your dog to look like? (Photo: A woman wearing a toque reaches down to pet her dog while enjoying a beautiful view of a lake at the top of a cliff.)

One more perk?

This space used to be a gym, so if your goal is to be able to work out at home and not have your dog ruin your workout by stealing (or chewing up) your yoga mat, bring it along so you can practice the lifestyle you want. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to try meditation and you’d like to sit calmly on the ground and have your dog stay on place. Whatever your calmness goals are, this is the place you’re going to achieve them. This is real life dog training. The place where dog training becomes a part of your lifestyle and starts to feels easy. 

You’re ready to be surrounded by like-minded dog leaders to keep advancing your skills. Use this direct link to grab your spot right now: Yes! This is what I've been waiting for! 

Whatever your lifestyle goals are for yourself and your dog, The Calmness Club is the place to achieve them. (Photo: woman doing yoga outdoors beside an Australian Shepherd.)

This club is going to bring much needed calmness into your life and your dog’s life.

Imagine the possibilities life holds once you practice calmness in this setting. Envision yourself being able to do yoga in your living room, without the drama of your dog stealing your mat (or chewing it to bits.) Picture yourself being able to sit and meditate beside your dog’s cot, both of you in a totally relaxed state. Visualize sipping your favourite beverage out on the patio this season with your dog relaxing at your feet. Imagine hiking with your dog on a trail and finally feeling calm.

Dream big and bring those dreams to Dreamland for The Calmness Club. 

Dream big and bring those dreams to The Calmness Club (Photo: silhouette of a person facing their dog with a sunset in the background.)

I can’t wait to watch your calmness skills flourish. 

Yours in calmness,

Alyssa 

Photos by: Graham Smith @smithographic (shaggy black dog relaxing on his owner’s outstretched legs,) LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR @lgnwvr (happy, smiling woman presents a tug toy for a German Shepherd mix,) Anders Ipsen @andersipsen (Golden Retriever puppy relaxing on a restaurant patio,)Coral Ouellette

@coralouellette (A woman wearing a toque reaches down to pet her dog while enjoying a beautiful view of a lake at the top of a cliff,) Alonso Reyes @alonsoreyes (woman doing yoga outdoors beside an Australian Shepherd,) Patrick Hendry @worldsbetweenlines (silhouette of a person facing their dog with a sunset in the background.)

MOVING DAY TIPS: PART 2

Is your dog ready for moving day? (Photo: small dog stands on grass in front of a house)

Are you moving soon? If so, you’re most likely stressed out. If you want to know how to keep yourself and your dog stress-free leading up to moving day, check out last week’s blog post: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/moving-day-tips-part-1-67gzg

If you’re worried about how your dog will react to your new home, you’re in the right place. 

Will your dog be stressed out on moving day? Do they hate car rides? Is the only place they’ve ever been their own backyard (and the veterinarian?) What about the new home? Do you feel badly because you’ve downsized and are afraid they might miss their yard? Are you super excited to introduce your dog to the new swimming pool, but kind of scared because they don’t really know how to swim? 

You want your dog to feel happy and relaxed on moving day. A lot of people think that talking in a high-pitched voice and tossing treats into the backseat like tasty confetti, will make their dog feel at ease. This can actually have the opposite effect, by making an excited dog more excited and a fearful dog more confused and afraid. 

Talking in a high-pitched voice may make you feel better, but it doesn’t help your dog feel calm (Photo: Pomeranian with whale eye)

Here are a few steps to make moving day easier on everyone: 

1. EXERCISE - Your dog needs daily exercise and so do you. Take a structured walk first thing in the morning on moving day. What’s a structured walk?  In a nutshell, a structured walk looks like this: You lead the way, your dog follows beside/slightly behind you, and you allow them to take sniff breaks, bathroom breaks, and bounce-around-chasing-butterfly breaks. Read more here: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/give-your-dog-a-break

2. BREATHE - Your dog picks up your vibe. If you’re sitting in the front seat worrying about traffic, unpacking, and whether or not your dog will eat dinner in the new house or not, your dog will sense your nervousness and happily take over the leadership role in your relationship. This could look like: herding the children when you reach your destination, barking at strangers and dogs who come over to the house to meet you, or chasing the cat all over the new apartment. Do your best to enjoy the car ride — unroll the windows and breathe the fresh air, listen to music, or play a fun game with your kids. 

Relax and enjoy the ride. Your calm energy will be passed along to your dog. (Photo: woman in the passenger seat with her head and arm stretching out of the window)

3. WALK - When you arrive to your new home, take your dog for a structured walk around the property and the neighbourhood. This allows them to burn off energy from the car ride and to be introduced to their new environment calmly. 

Walk your dog BEFORE introducing them to your new house (Photo: person walking a white French Bulldog in front of a bright yellow house)

4. THRESHOLDS MATTER - You need to enter the house first and invite your dog in when they are calm. This sets the tone for what behaviour you would like to see more of inside your home (calm behaviour.)

5. LEASH ON INDOORS - Keep a leash on your dog and calmly lead them into your new home. If your crates or place cots are already set up, you can lead them there to rest. Be sure to take the leash off when your dog is in her crate or any time she will be unsupervised. Your dog does not need to wander all over your new home unsupervised. Unsupervised dogs (and puppies) make mistakes and if you’re not there to say no, they will learn it’s a go. You don’t want your dog to learn to bark out the window, chew the baseboards, or mark their territory. Prevention is the key to you reaching your goals with your dog.

6. CALM and CONFIDENT - The easiest way for your dog to feel calm and secure about moving day is for everyone in his human family to be calm and confident. The quote from the Navy Seals: “Calm breeds calm, panic breeds panic,” may help you to visualize the situation. If I walk into an elevator and begin pacing, acting nervous, and wringing my hands together, how will you feel? Panicked. If instead, I walk into the elevator and give you a confident smile, nod my head, and mind my own business, you will feel calm. Your dog is a master of reading your moods and feelings. Work hard to find happiness and balance in your life, and then watch your dog’s behaviour adjust like magic in front of your eyes.  

Calm breeds calm (Photo: Yellow Lab relaxes on his owner’s legs.)

If you’re stressed out because your dog barks at everyone who walks by your current home, guards the fence in the backyard like a police dog, and won’t get off the couch when you ask them to, there’s still hope. Leadership doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re moving and want to prepare yourself, your family, and your dog for this big change, call a dog behaviourist and begin working on any issues you and your dog are currently facing at least two months in advance of the move.

You need to become your dog’s leader before you move and you need a strategy to set you up for success on moving day. You also need a coach who can help you prevent separation anxiety, fence fighting, and barking from happening after the move takes place. No one wants to be that new neighbour with the noisy dogs. Schedule your free call now.

We hope that you enjoy moving day and that you have fun exploring your new neighbourhood with your dog. 

Alyssa

Photos by: Natalia Shiel (small dog stands on grass in front of a house,) Michelle Tresemer (Pomeranian with whale eye,) averie woodard (woman in the passenger seat with her head and arm stretching out of the window,) Harry Cunningham (person walking a white French Bulldog in front of a bright yellow house,) and Taylor Kopel (yellow lab relaxes on his owner’s legs.)

Last updated: December, 2023

MOVING DAY TIPS: PART 1

Moving is stressful. Let’s make it better for you and your dog. (Photo: person wearing a hoodie, covering their eyes and sitting on a couch surrounded by boxes)

Are you moving soon? If so, you’re most likely stressed out. You’re up to your eyeballs in packing peanuts and if you stub your toe on that box in the kitchen one more time…!!! 

Your dog is a barometer for your stress level. They feel every ounce of your tension, frustration, and packing-deadline panic. If you’re exhausted from folding (okay, shoving) clothes into garbage bags until three in the morning, your dog will slide into the leadership role in your household in the blink of an eye. 

You may not notice it at first, because you’re so tired, but here are some examples of things that happen when your dog takes over your (current) house before you even move: 

-excessive barking in the home

-growling at your house guests

-charging the fence in your yard

-nipping and/or herding you or other family members

-stealing socks, shoes, and other inappropriate items

-counter surfing

-chasing your other pets

-claiming thresholds

-refusing to get off the furniture

-mouthing you

What is your dog trying to tell you about your own stress level? (Photo: a red dog with pointy ears howling)

As you’re packing everything into boxes and bustling around, you may see these changes as well: 

-following you from room to room 

-getting into the garbage (even if they never did that before) 

-attempts to escape your home (breaking out of crates, eating drywall, scratching underneath doors, and jumping through windows)

These are signs of separation anxiety and should be addressed with a trainer immediately. Separation anxiety will not disappear when you move. In fact, the symptoms will most likely worsen when you move.

The good news is, you can help your dog overcome separation anxiety before you move and you can become your dog’s leader too!

The tricky part is learning to feel calm while simultaneously juggling work, kids, and getting ready to move. Dogs are hardwired to follow calm, balanced energy and leaders who are confident and fair. They will not follow tense, frustrated, tired, or fearful humans — and mastering your emotions is easier said than done. 

So what can you do? 

1. RUSH LESS - If you’re moving into a house and have time to pack slowly, do so. Take your time, listen to music, and of course, take walks with your dog to break up your day. 

Take breaks from packing and walk with your dog. (Photo: Golden Retriever walking on leash with a person)

2. DOGGY DAYCARE - If your deadline is impossible and you really need to pack quickly, consider taking your dog to doggy daycare*.

*If they are not accustomed to doggy daycare already, this is likely not your answer, as it may stress them (and you) out even more. If they already LOVE going to doggy daycare, then this solution might help you. Be sure that the doggy daycare you select practices placework and other calm rituals with the dogs in their care.

Other options:

-if your dogs love hanging out at your mom’s house, or with your sister, see if they are available to take your dogs for part of the day so you can pack in hustle-mode.

-Have their favourite dog walker take them out for a walk or play session.

NOTE: Simply sending them out of the home for a break will not magically fix the behaviours listed above. You must provide calm and confident energy when your dog is around you. 

3. TREAT YOURSELF - Allow yourself one hour first thing in the morning to walk your dog before the packing begins. Take another break halfway through the day for yourself. If we never practice being calm, then how are we supposed to remain calm on our dog walks/during day-to-day activities?! Do some yoga, practice meditation, play an instrument, pet the cat, or do a crossword puzzle — whatever helps bring you peace and joy.

Make time for calm activities (Photo: a hand petting a cat under her chin)

4. EXERCISE - Your dog needs daily exercise and so do you. Take a break from packing and go for a run (maybe you can even run with your dog.) Make time to play fetch or tug with them. Take time out of your day to go to the gym, go swimming, or play your favourite sport. 

Daily exercise reduces stress (Photo: person running with a dog on leash)

5. GET HELP - If your deadline seems unreachable and you can’t figure out how you’re going to pack and still work your 9-5 job, hire professional movers. The price is worth your sanity. Another option: friends and family will often work for pizza. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help (Photo: people carrying boxes and petting two dogs)

You may be thinking, why not slap a bark collar on the dog since they’re the problem. If that’s the case, reread this post. 

The problem is NOT the dog. Read that twice. 

Labelling the dog is easy. “What a bad dog! You got into the garbage!” OR “I don’t know what’s wrong with her. She’s acting nuts! Ever since we started packing up the house, she’s been so snippy.” 

Mmmm. Hmmmm. 

Self-reflection is one of the hardest things any of us will ever learn to do. The sooner you try this, the sooner you will develop an amazing relationship with your dog. Instead of asking “Why is my dog so stressed?” ask “Why am I so stressed?” and “What changes can I make to lower my stress level?”

Every day is a chance for you to start again. A chance for you to lead a balanced life, free from fear and anger. Let’s leave these emotions behind and embrace joy. Embrace peace. Embrace love. Quiet your mind from negative thoughts. 

The ripple effect of a calmer you is so much larger than you can imagine. It begins at home with your human loved ones and your furry family. It extends out to strangers as you travel to work and school. To your coworkers, your friends, your extended family. To grocery clerks, gas station attendants, baristas, and bartenders. 

It begins with YOU. 

We hope this post helps to reduce your stress (Photo: a man stands with his dog beside a SOLD sign)

We hope you have a safe and joyful move. Stay tuned for next week’s post about introducing your dog to your new home so they (and you) experience less stress.

Alyssa

Photos by: Christian Erfurt (person wearing a hoodie, covering their eyes and sitting on a couch surrounded by boxes,) Andriyko Podilnyk (Golden Retriever walking on leash with a person.) Robert Gramner (a red dog with pointy ears howling,) Yerlin Matu (a hand petting a cat under her chin,) Sergio Rodriguez - Portugues del Olmo (person running with a dog on leash.) Isaac Benhesed (people carrying boxes and petting two dogs.) Alyssa Foulkes (a man stands with his dog beside a SOLD sign - yes, that’s my man and our first dog, Brooklyn.)

Updated December, 2023

Is Your Dog Obsessed with Squirrels?

Who me? (Photo: a grey squirrel sitting on the grass with one paw on its chest.)

You’re trying to enjoy a nice walk with your dog. The only problem is that when she sees a squirrel, she yanks your arm out of its socket. Depending on how much your dog weighs and how much you weigh, you may actually be getting pulled to the ground. This isn’t what you had in mind when you adopted your dog. Your body aches and you’re so frustrated you want to scream. You’re also embarrassed by her behaviour when you’re out in public because she doesn’t just pull toward the squirrels, she whines, barks, and screeches in a way that makes people think you’re hurting her. You know that walks are good for her health (and yours as well,) but now they’ve turned into a stressful event that you’d rather avoid. Avoiding the walks isn’t making life any easier, though. Now you feel guilty all the time and she’s climbing the walls with all that pent up energy.

Tired of feeling embarrassed and frustrated by your dog’s behaviour around squirrels? Read on for tips. (Photo: a woman with long red hair hides her face behind her mittens.)

When our walks are feeling exhausting instead of fun, it’s very easy for us humans to accidentally get stuck in “fix it” mode. We want our dog to stop doing certain behaviours that drive us crazy, like yanking us toward squirrels, lunging at other dogs, or pulling toward every smell on the ground. What we need to do is become relevant leaders for our dogs so they will look to us for guidance whether in the home, in our yard, or on a walk. We need to build a solid relationship with our dog so they will put their trust in us to lead them on walks and we need a rock solid communication system so they understand to walk beside us instead of pull. 

There are many things that we need to keep in mind if our goal is to be relevant during our walks with our dogs (namely, we want our dog to stroll by the squirrel instead of lunging after it.) Here are a few things to help you get your relationship back on track. 

Does your dog ignore you inside your home? 

You ask your dog to sit. She doesn’t. You repeat yourself. She still doesn’t sit. Instead, she looks at the cookie jar. You walk over, get a cookie, and ask her to sit again. She does. You pay her with the cookie. She eats the cookie and then gets up and walks away. 

If you’re not relevant inside your home, you won’t be relevant out on walks either. If your dog blows off your commands the first time you ask and/or releases herself from commands after she’s been paid, begin working on building your relevancy inside your home before expecting her to ignore squirrels outside on walks. A dog who doesn’t listen to you inside the home will not listen to you outside the home. 

What to work on: 

-Practice saying your command only once. It’s more difficult than it sounds, but you can do it. It just takes practice. 

-Keep a leash on your pup when she’s supervised inside your home so she can’t ignore your commands. Use the leash to guide her if she needs a little reminding at first. 

-Teach your dog a release command so that she knows when work time is over and it’s time for something else. She shouldn’t break that sit command until you tell her what to do next. By providing her clear direction inside your home, you’ll be on your way to improving your relationship. Better relationship —> better walks. 

-Teach your dog the place command. If your dog currently runs around grabbing kid’s toys, herding your children, barking out the window, jumping on guests, etc. she needs to learn what to do instead of those behaviours. 

If your dog ignores you inside your home use a leash to help guide her to success. If she blows off your commands inside your home, she will do the same outside. (Photo: Husky standing on her hind legs looking out a picture window.)

Does Your Dog Spend Time Watching Squirrel TV?

While cats can enjoy squirrel TV without developing annoying habits (like barking at the squirrels, whining at the squirrels, etc) dogs can learn lots of bad habits while watching squirrel (and mail carrier/Amazon driver) TV. 

What to work on:  

-Calm activities like crate and place help your pup keep a calm state of mind in your home. Your walk begins inside your home, so inviting a dog off of place and then out for a walk has a much better outcome than putting a leash on a dog who has just watched an hour of squirrel TV and is vibrating and vocalizing as you open your front door.

-Waiting politely at thresholds. If you can’t currently open your front door without your dog bolting through it, begin teaching her that door open doesn’t equal run out (it means be calm and look at my owner for direction of what to do next.) 

Squirrel TV isn’t nurturing calmness. Squirrel TV is allowing your dog to obsess over squirrels and it is negatively affecting your walks. (Photo: a beagle looking out the window. The beagle has pushed the curtains aside to stare out the window.)

Can your dog walk on a loose leash beside or slightly behind you when there are no squirrels around? 

If your dog doesn’t understand leash pressure (they think pulling you makes you move forward, rather than yielding to your gentle leash pressure) then it’s time to teach them how to yield to pressure, not pull through it. If your walks currently look like: dog pulls, human follows behind, then you allow pulling. Your dog has no way of knowing not to pull you toward squirrels, her dog friends, your neighbours, your kids when you pick them up from school, etc.  

What to work on:
-Heeling with no distractions around (in your home)

-Once that is going well, you can gradually add distractions to your loose leash walk inside your home. Can your dog still heel when a family member walks by at a distance, or does she lunge toward them, bark, try to jump on them, etc? Keep practicing until she listens to whoever is holding the leash without getting distracted. 

-Gradually add more distractions to your heeling. A great next step is to practice in an empty parking lot because grass is way more distracting and smelly than asphalt. Areas with lots of asphalt also tend to have less trees. Less trees, less squirrels. Get those positive reps in. We want to set your dog up for success. 

-Teach a solid break command, so your dog knows when it’s work time (when to follow you on leash) and when it’s break time (time to sniff, have a pee break, time to roll, play with a pinecone, etc) 

Teach your dog how to walk beside or slightly behind you. Teaching this indoors decreases the distractions and sets your dog up for success. (Photo: person practicing heeling with their dog indoors. The person is wearing socks. The dog is walking right beside them.)

Does your dog come when called? 

If your dog doesn’t come to you every time you call the first time you call them, work on recall in distraction free environments and build up to Squirrelapalooza gradually. 

We need our dogs to come when we call them no matter what’s going on in the environment. Once you are relevant to your dog, they know how to heel. and you can call them to you, you’ll have the tools you need to pass by squirrels (and other distractions, like sticks, skateboards, joggers, other dogs, etc.) 

What to work on: 
-Teach your dog to come when called no matter what furry critter is running, climbing, or jumping nearby. Keep a leash on your dog and practice this life-saving command every day. Practice in areas that have low distractions first (like inside your home) and then gradually add distractions. 

Practice recall every day. It saved Harper’s life. It could save your dog’s life next. (Photo: Client dog Harper, a Cattle Dog mix, practicing her recall. She is running to her owner who is taking the photo.)

Do you know how to switch your dog from prey drive into pack drive? 

There’s a lot to know when it comes to living in harmony with a dog. If your dog never follows you on a walk and is always pulling you toward whatever they want to smell, they are in prey drive. If you’re using food rewards on walks, they are in prey drive. It’s a very easy side step to go from salivating and eating a treat to BAM - chase the squirrel. Instead, teach your dog how to calmly follow you on walks without food and you’ll be surprised when your calm dog doesn’t stay stuck in prey drive the whole time. When your dog follows your lead on walks, that’s pack drive. It’s way easier to walk a calm dog who is in pack drive than a dog who is in prey drive (scouting/hunting/on high alert.) 

What to work on:

-Teach your dog to follow you on the leash. You can call it “heel” if you want. It should look like: your dog walking beside or slightly behind you and calmly facing forward (their nose isn’t on the ground and their head isn’t on a swivel scouting for perceived threats.) It should feel: calm for both of you.

When your dog is in pack drive, you’ll both feel calm. (Photo: a dog walking beside its owner on a gravel trail beside a field of sunflowers.)

Are you fulfilling your dog’s breed needs? 

Many dog breeds were bred to work all day long. Some breeds were bred to hunt for rats. Some for herding sheep. These breeds were bred to be tenacious and tireless. Be sure that you are fulfilling your dog’s mental and physical needs every day. A dog with pent up energy is extremely difficult to take on a stroll. 

What to work on: 

-Research your dog’s breed(s) and learn what they were bred to do so that you understand them better. 

-Fulfill your dog’s exercise needs and balance that with placework so that you don’t create an adrenalized athlete with no off switch (because having no off switch doesn’t feel good to your dog.)

Client dog Kano is a cattle dog mix. He has his needs met through frisbee and structured walks. Here he is relaxing on place during one of our in-home sessions. (Photo: Client dog Kano relaxing on his place cot inside his home)

Are you walking your dog on a harness? 

Harnesses were designed for dogs to pull (think sled dogs) and also come in handy for sports like skijoring (where our dogs pull us while we are on skis.) If you’re walking your dog on a harness, she has learned that pulling is what moves humans forward. If you’re allowing her to pull you wherever she wants to go (to say hi to her dog friend, to greet the kids off the bus, etc) then she will continue to pull you toward things (including squirrels.) We can’t expect our dogs to understand they can pull toward everything except for one thing (squirrels.) 

Walking your dog on a harness or a flat collar with them in front of you and you pulling back on the leash leads to opposition reflex. If you’ve ever seen a police officer rev up their dog to go bite the person in the bite suit, that’s using opposition reflex for something that helps humans. When we pull back on our pet dogs, the same thing happens to them (they want to pull toward whatever we’re holding them back from.) This makes it very difficult for us to walk them and also harms their trachea from all the pulling. I’ve seen harnesses choking dogs out as well, not just flat collars. Instead of allowing your dog to pull you, check out the “what to work on” section below to protect their trachea from being damaged. 

What to work on: 

-A clear communication system that will teach your dog to stop pulling on leash and start following your lead (when your dog understands heel, break, come, waiting politely at thresholds, and let’s go, you’ll be well on your way to stopping the squirrel lunging.)   

-Switching tools with someone who can teach you how to use them safely is your best bet for teaching your dog to stop pulling during walks. 

Harnesses were designed for pulling (Photo: a hound pulling his owner on the leash. The hound is wearing a turquoise coloured harness.)

Need help teaching your dog not to pull on the leash? We’ve helped so many owners stop leash pulling and create amazing relationships with their dogs both on the leash and inside their home. 

Schedule your free call now. 

Don’t wait for your shoulder to get injured or for you to get pulled into traffic when your dog sees a squirrel. Get help today. Winter is coming! 

For more tips to stop leash pulling be sure to sign up for exclusive tips and special offers at the bottom of the page. 

Have a safe and wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders!

Alyssa 

Photos by: Bryce Caritheds @bryce_carithers_photography (a grey squirrel sitting on the grass with one paw on its chest,) Dmitry Ratushny @ratushny (a woman with long red hair hides her face behind her mittens,) Alyssa Foulkes (Photo: Client dog Kano relaxing on his place cot inside his home,) Upsplash Images (Husky standing on her hind legs looking out a picture window,)
Frames For Your Heart @framesforyourheart (Photo: a beagle looking out the window. The beagle has pushed the curtains aside to stare out the window,) Upsplash Images (person practicing heeling with their dog indoors. The person is wearing socks. The dog is walking right beside them,) Claire Atkinson (Client dog Harper, a Cattle Dog mix, practicing her recall. She is running to her owner who is taking the photo,) Upsplash Images (a dog walking beside its owner on a gravel trail beside a field of sunflowers,)
Jeffrey F Lin @jeffreyflin (Photo: a hound pulling his owner on the leash. The hound is wearing a turquoise coloured harness,)

Puppy School Dropouts

Kicked out of puppy school with nowhere to go. Until now! (Photo: Tan-coloured puppy looking sad and laying on its side)

Puppy school was an awful experience for you and your puppy. You didn’t get the one-on-one guidance that you needed. Your puppy was singled out as the “naughty” one and it made you feel anxious and embarrassed. You didn’t attend all of the sessions because the other puppies were bullies and your puppy seemed afraid to go to class. Some of you even got asked to leave because your puppy was disruptive. You had nowhere to go — until now. 

So many of my in-home clients have a puppy school story like this. They felt embarrassed, singled-out, ignored, and anxious. Quite a few also felt that their instructor was mean and rude.

We created Puppy School Dropouts for owners just like you. 

Finally! A small class size where you can get your questions answered and solve your puppy problems. (Photo: Woman jumping for joy)

You deserve one-on-one attention and an instructor who is kind. 

We’re keeping the class size small. With only four participants, there’s lots of space for everyone which makes it easier for puppies and adolescent dogs to learn and listen to their owners. 

If you’re struggling with: 

-pulling on the leash

-chewing inappropriate items (baseboards, flooring, remote controls, etc) 

-selective listening (especially when you’re calling your pup out of your backyard) 

-barking out the window (and at every noise outside) 

then this is the class for you! 

If you’re struggling with leash pulling, this is the class for you! (Photo: large brown dog pulling hard through his flat collar)

You’ll learn: 

-loose leash walking to stop leash pulling 

-place command 

-recall (how to get your dog to come to you the first time you call) 

-car manners 

-how to help your pup be neutral and calm around other dogs 

You’ll also learn: 

-how to use those skills in the real world because no one wants a puppy who was a rockstar in class to be a nightmare in the home

You’ll learn how to get your pup to pay attention to you instead of ignoring you (especially around distractions.) Photo: A white dog sitting on the grass looking up at his owner.

If you weren’t kicked out of puppy school, you can still join this super fun class. So many of our clients say that they only learned “sit” and “shake a paw” at puppy class. There are so many more important things you need to know in order to have an amazing relationship with your pup. Sit and shake a paw don’t help your dog know not to jump on Great Aunt Suzie, that the food on your countertop is not for them, or that chasing the cat is off limits. 

Imagine life with a quiet household. No more yelling at your dog to stop barking out the window, to leave that tea towel alone, to drop that kid’s toy for the nineteenth time that day. That level of peace and harmony is so easily achieved when your dog learns the place command. Sign up now to reserve your spot. 

This class is for pups aged 16 weeks - 7 months. If your pup is not in this age group, don’t panic. Send us an email to be added to the wait list. Be sure to let us know your pup’s age. 

If your pup has severe reactivity or aggression, in-home sessions will be a better fit for them to learn without distractions and build a solid foundation with you. 

Join us for four one-hour sessions, beginning Wednesday, October 18 at 6:30 PM. 

Location: Pinetree Pet Resort (5951 Highway #6 Guelph, ON N1H 6J2)

Our location allows us to work both indoors and outdoors. Please dress appropriately for the weather so that you can enjoy all that class has to offer and be comfortable while doing so.

Spaces are limited to four participants, so reserve your spot now.

Sign up now so you don’t miss out.

You’ll find this class under GROUP CLASSES. 

Looking forward to seeing you and your pup in class! 

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders!

Alyssa 

Photos by: Tan-coloured puppy looking sad and laying on its side Stas Svechnikov @svechnikov ; Woman jumping for joy Dmitry Shamis @dimashamis; large brown dog pulling hard through his flat collar (Upsplash Image); A white dog sitting on the grass looking up at his owner (Upsplash Image,)

Camping Goals

What are your camping goals? (Photo: black and white Cocker Spaniel sits calmly in a green boat on the water)

You love camping and you want to bring your dog along but you’re worried about how she reacts: 

-on the leash

-on your campsite

-in the car

-around children

-around strangers

-and around other dogs

The last time you took her camping she blew up every time a dog walked by your campsite. It was so embarrassing.

Now your mind is filled with what ifs.

What if an off-leash dog ran up to her? What if I can’t hold her back and I drop the leash? What if her tie-out snaps?

It’s so overwhelming.

You can achieve your camping goals. All you need to do is start small. (Photo: a woman and her dog sit calmly in a tent overlooking the water and mountains)

This may sound surprising, but the first thing that will help you is to envision success. Imagine hanging out at your campsite with your dog. Picture her being calm when dogs walk by. Breathe and believe.

Now, you’re ready to make this dream a reality. Let’s get started.

Step One: 

Write down your vision. What activities do you want to enjoy with your dog while camping? Do you want to go stand up paddle boarding with her? Canoe with her? Would you like her to be able to lay down and be chill at the campsite without defending it (and you) the entire time? Would you like her to be calm on walks through the campground?

Write them all down. The big goals. The small goals. 

Don’t forget to add: 

-calm in the car

If your dog spends three hours being over-excited or anxious on the way to the campsite, camping will be a struggle.

All set? 

Cheers to you reaching your goals with your dog (Photo: a couple cheers with wine glasses at a campsite. Their dog is lying calmly on the ground)

Step Two: 

Choose one small goal. Anything off the list that you can work on today. 

PRO TIP: Pick something that you can practice inside your home. A dog who doesn’t listen to you inside your home will not listen to you outside the home. It’s that simple. 

The biggest hurdle dog lovers have is getting started. Taking that first step. Right now, your list of goals may look like a mountain of work. But guess what? No one is asking you to move the mountain today. All you have to do is move a pebble. You can do that. Move one pebble today.

Here are some things to practice in case you’re having trouble picking where to begin. All of these can be done in your home.

-on-leash recall

-placework

-teaching your dog to walk nicely on the leash

Step Three: 

Commit to practicing this small goal three times today. Five minute sessions. That’s 15 minutes. You can make time for that. Keep your sessions short, fun, and positive. Always end the session after your dog has done something correctly.

It doesn’t matter where you start. It matters that you’re brave enough to start. Be brave. 

Let me know what you’re working on in the comments below. 

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders. 

Alyssa 

Photos by: John Cameron @john_cameron (black and white Cocker Spaniel sits calmly in a green boat on the water,) Patrick Hendry @worldsbetweenlines (a woman and her dog sit calmly in a tent overlooking the water and mountains,) Jimmy Conover @jimmy_conover (a couple cheers with wine glasses at a campsite. Their dog is lying calmly on the ground,)

DOGS AND FIREWORKS

Let’s make sure you and your dog have a happy Canada Day! (Photo: fireworks in the sky about a city skyline)

Are you dreading Canada Day? Do fireworks go off in your neighbourhood throughout the day, and sometimes on the following day as well? Are you feeling anxious just thinking about it? Here are some tips to get you and your dog prepared. 

Fulfillment:  

Dogs who are fulfilled are able to go into a resting and relaxed state far more easily than dogs who are not fulfilled. Fulfilling your dog is more than simply exercising them until they are physically exhausted. In fact, oftentimes this has the opposite effect. Have you ever taken your dog for a long hike, two hours of fetch, or a playdate with other dogs only to come home and have your dog begging to play fetch inside your home all evening, having zoomies all over your couch, or destroying your couch cushions? What’s happening is that the type of exercise owners are providing often lacks structure, so they accidentally create an adrenalized athlete who can play for hours, but unfortunately has no “off switch.” This often presents as a dog who is unable to settle in the home and is always on high alert. This doesn’t feel good to our dogs.

Adding structure to your dog’s exercise routine helps to slow them down and allows them to connect with you rather than connecting with the environment instead of you (i.e. ignoring your recall command because they found a dog friend, interesting smell, or something dead to roll in.)

Examples of structure to add into your daily routine:

-waiting politely at all thresholds (crate door, front door, garden gate, car door, etc.)

-working some obedience into your fetch game (leave it, drop it, heeling, recall, obedience commands, etc.)

-placework on a tree stump, boulder, or bench during your hike to add calmness to your hike/walk

All dogs require daily fulfillment. In the days leading up to Canada Day, fulfill your dog every day. Make the time. Be sure you are fulfilling your dog’s breed needs and remembering to take into consideration their age, health, and the outdoor temperature as well.

On Canada Day, begin with a nice walk before breakfast. Make time to fulfill your dog’s needs throughout the day, so that when the fireworks begin your dog is relaxed, not wired.

Fulfilling your dog’s breed needs is a great way to prepare for fireworks (Photo: person biking with an off-leash dog)

Mental Exercise: 

Dogs are intelligent animals who need mental stimulation. Searching for food, doing obedience, and having fun with new tricks are all ways of draining your dog’s mental energy. 

Why not teach your dog a few life-saving skills, like “come,” “leave it,” and “drop it?” Not only will these activities tire your pup out, they could save your pup’s life. 

Placework is another amazing activity to do with your dog which provides a great mental workout. Placework helps teach our dogs how to be calm. Placework shows your dog what to do instead of pacing, barking, jumping on guests, and being on high alert in your home.

Nosework is a great way to drain your dog’s mental energy (Photo: dachshund sniffing the sand at a beach)

Calmness: 

I quote former Navy SEAL, Dan Crenshaw, all the time for a reason: because this quotation sums up how to live with dogs — “Calm breeds calm. Panic breeds panic.” 

If you overreact to fireworks, your dog will overreact to fireworks. 

Your dog is looking to you for your reaction. If she looks at you and sees a worried pack leader, she will become worried too. 

Communicate calmness to your dog by acting calm and confident while the fireworks are going off. 

Exposure: 

If you have a new puppy, now is your chance to let them learn that fireworks are no big deal. If you’re out and about in the evening, keep moving and keep your own energy calm and confident. Your puppy is a master of reading your energy and your body language. Show your pup there’s nothing to fear. 

If you’re outside on a walk, you’ll be allowing your puppy to learn in a way that is natural to her: nose, eyes, ears. She will be able to get used to the way the fireworks smell, how they look, and what they sound like. Since fireworks are very loud, I would recommend taking a stroll somewhere where fireworks will be going off in the distance, as opposed to right near where the fireworks are being set off.

Teach your puppy to be calm around the things you wish them to be calm around as an adult (Photo: person walking a dog at sunset)

Prevention: 

Be sure to have your dog’s tags on, in case she runs away. Call your microchip company and ensure that they have your address up to date in their system. 

If you are reading this article several weeks prior to fireworks, you can begin to desensitize your dog to the sound of fireworks by playing it on your phone at a very low level prior to and during enjoyable activities (eg. while you are working on obedience commands and tricks using your dog’s meal ration as her reward, doing longline work, or even playing fetch in your home.) Gradually increase the volume and remember to simply act calm and confident when you do this activity.

How to keep yourself calm? 

Tell yourself that this year’s fireworks are going to be the best ones ever for you and your dog. Mindset is so important. If you spend all day baby-talking to your dog and acting strangely, she will be on edge. If you cringe the moment you hear the first firework of the evening, you’re setting your dog up to be afraid. 

Exercise, breathe, and remind yourself that you can do this. 

Happy training, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Happy Canada Day! (Photo: moose with mountains in the backdrop)

Photos by: maggie hung @maggie__1105 (fireworks in the sky about a city skyline,) Patrick Hendry

@worldsbetweenlines (person biking with an off-leash dog,) Emma Charles

@emmacharles (dachshund sniffing the sand at a beach,) Helen Cramer

@helencramer (person walking a dog at sunset) Cora Leach

@coramaureen (moose with mountains in the backdrop.)

Help! My Dog Won’t Get in my Car

Photo: Doodle standing beside a car

Your puppy is getting really heavy. Lifting her into the car hurts your back. If she gets any bigger, you’re worried you won’t be able to take her on hikes, to the groomer, or to the veterinarian. 

There’s another problem too — it’s almost impossible to get her to walk toward your car. She balks. She plants her feet and leans in the completely opposite direction and drags you along with her. 

Photo: Boston Terrier pulling on the leash

You feel terrible because you know she’s scared. You feel helpless because you don’t know how to help her through this. And you’re also feeling so embarrassed because your neighbours all seem to have perfectly trained dogs.  

If your dog won’t follow you on leash, whether it’s past a construction site, through your neighbourhood when it’s dark outside, into your vehicle, or into the vet’s office, it comes down to leadership and trust. Don’t panic. You can teach your pup to trust you and your leadership skills and have fun doing it.  

If your dog has learned to pull, pull, pull on leash walks (towards people she loves, other dogs, and squirrels) you need to work on this first. Your dog has learned that pulling gets them rewards (they pull toward your neighbour and your neighbour pets them and gives them a treat; they pull toward their dog friend and get the reward of roughhousing with their dog friend, etc.) 

Have you accidentally taught your dog that pulling on the leash gets them rewards (play time with other dogs, treats from your neighbour, pets from strangers, etc?) Photo: two dogs pulling toward each other on the leash

Your dog has likely also learned that pulling on the leash makes you, their human, follow behind them. From your dog’s perspective, pulling is the correct way to move you forward, because it works. 

So how do you change this relationship and teach your dog to follow you on the leash (because you need them to follow you and jump into the car)? There’s no cookie cutter method, but these steps help my clients reach their goals. 

Your dog likely gets really excited when you bring out her leash. She may jump on you, be unable to sit calmly, or bite the leash. It’s important to create a new association with the leash. We want to teach her that the leash represents calmness. It is so much easier to walk a calm dog than an overexcited (or anxious) dog. Wait for calmness. You can even set the leash back down and try again a few minutes later. Dogs learn very quickly. Before you know it, your dog will be calm when you pick up the leash. 

The next thing you want to work on is teaching your dog to follow you on the leash. I recommend teaching this inside your home first, where there aren’t any squirrels, sticks, or bunny poops around creating distractions. Remember that when you’re teaching your dog to follow you that you need to be calm and relaxed as well. Take a deep breath, tell yourself you can do it, and then walk with your head up and shoulders back and down. 

Photo: person walking inside their home with their dog heeling beside them

Another question to ask yourself is: does my dog bolt out the front door ahead of me? If the answer is yes, you’ll want to teach your dog to wait politely at all thresholds (all doorways, crate door, stairwells, and eventually your car door as well.) If you invite your dog outside after you’ve walked through the front door and then provide them with direction (what to do next - sit, stay, heel, etc,) then you’re in the leadership role. The only other available role is follower. 

Want to know another activity that helps boost your dog’s confidence and helps them look to you for guidance (remember, we want them to jump in our car when we ask them to)? 

The place command. Teaching the place command to your dog teaches you a lot about who your dog is. If your dog also balks at the place cot and refuses to get on, be sure to check out our videos on Instagram and Facebook (at Go Beyond Dog Training) and TikTok (at Beyond Dog Training) to see client dogs overcoming this fear. 

By teaching your dog how to step up on an elevated surface (a raised dog bed,) you’ll be showing them that nothing bad happens to them there. You’ll also be showing them that they can trust you to keep them safe. This is the same concept you will be using to teach them to hop into your vehicle. 

Not sure what the place command is? Read this blog post: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/what-is-the-place-command

Once your dog understands to follow your lead on walks and how to do the place command with you, they will most likely happily jump into the car when you ask.

Once your dog trusts you enough to do this… (Photo: Tilly the Golden Doodle walking onto her place cot beside her owner.)

She will trust you enough to do this. (Photo: Tilly the Golden Doodle hopping into the car for her owner)

Some dogs may require a ramp. You can see lots of videos on our social media with ramps as well. Check out this blog post where we help a fearful puppy over his fear of the car using a ramp: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/puppies-and-cars

Remember, you can always rebuild trust between yourself and your dog. It’s not too late. They aren’t too old (and neither are you.)

Have a great weekend, Dog Leaders! 

Alyssa 

Photos: osher mizrahi @osher_m Doodle standing beside a car; Erik Mclean

@introspectivedsgn (Boston Terrier pulling on the leash,) freestocks

@freestocks (two dogs pulling toward each other on the leash,)
Evieanna Santiago

@evepsf30 (person walking inside their home with their dog heeling beside them,) Alyssa Foulkes (Tilly the Golden Doodle walking onto her place cot beside her owner,) Alyssa Foulkes (Tilly the Golden Doodle hopping into the car for her owner,)

How to Prevent Your Dog From Eating Chocolate

(Photo: a brown and white puppy being held by a person wearing an Easter Bunny costume)

Let me tell you what I saw on Valentine’s Day in the back room of my vet’s office.

I watched a dog throw up an entire box of chocolates. He vomited non-stop as wrappers and chocolate gushed from his mouth. His body pulsed with effort. He was drooling, miserable, and wide-eyed. 

Across from him, another dog was recovering from not one, but her second surgery in a week from ingesting the knot from her rope toy and clumps of her sibling’s fur. 

Please pause to digest what I have just told you. 

---

If you’re a part of the Beyond Dog Training family (working with us one-on-one, reading the blog, and watching our videos) you’ll know how much we value prevention. We don’t want your dog to have to spend an afternoon vomiting at the vet’s office and we certainly don’t want them to ever need surgery to remove something they’ve ingested (let alone two surgeries in one week.) 

Prevent your dog from having to undergo surgery after ingesting something unsafe. Surgery is painful. (Photo: female doctor performing surgery)

Here’s how to prevent your dog from ingesting things that are unsafe for them to eat: 

Supervision: Dogs require constant supervision while learning how to live in our confusing human world. Do not allow your puppy to race from room to room in your home unsupervised. Not only will this prevent them from eating something that could lead to a painful surgery, it will prevent window barking, unwanted chewing, cat-chasing, and kid-herding. If they are unsupervised it means you’re not there to teach them right from wrong, so how would they know that they aren’t supposed to toilet inside, chew couch cushions, or bark at the delivery person? They don’t know until you teach them. 

Prevention: Do not leave food that is toxic to dogs on countertops, in purses, or inside backpacks. Store this food inside of cupboards that your dog can’t access. 

It is your job as a pet parent to keep your dog safe. (Photo: black pug staring at a merengue on a table within his reach)

Crates: Dogs are den animals. Teach your dog to love her crate. If you tried when she was a pup and it didn’t go well, bring in an in-home trainer who can help you teach your pup to love the crate. When your dog learns to love napping in her crate, you can leave home knowing that she’s safe and can’t eat the chocolate that your roommate/partner/spouse/kids can’t seem to stop putting on the countertop. 

There’s still time to teach your dog to love relaxing in her crate. (Photo: a dog relaxing in her crate)

Toy Check: Check all of your toys. If any of your toys look unsafe (could it be swallowed accidentally?) toss it in the garbage. 

Leave It: Teach your dog the “leave it” command. Check out our ten part series on IG and FB @GoBeyondDogTraining and TikTok @BeyondDogTraining. 

Drop It: This command is different from the “leave it” command. You can use “drop it” if your dog is playing with a toy that suddenly rips apart. Imagine all of the stuffing coming out of the toy and your dog gobbling it up along with the squeaker. “Drop it” would allow you to communicate to your dog to drop the fluff/squeaker, so that you can pick it all up and throw it in the trash. 

Place Command: By giving your dog a job “lay calmly on your cot until I come and get you” while they are inside your home, you are keeping them safe from roaming around ingesting hair scrunchies, boxes of chocolate, shoes, and kid’s toys. The place command will also help you prevent window barking, jumping on your houseguests, separation anxiety, counter surfing, and chasing other pets and kids when you’re trying to cook dinner. 

This is Kano’s first session learning the place command. See how quickly a dog can learn how to relax on a cot? Your dog can do it too. (Photo: Kano the cattle dog mix relaxing on his place cot)

One of the biggest mistakes people make is giving puppies and dogs too much freedom too fast. The result of allowing your dog to roam around your home unsupervised is unwanted behaviour and can sometimes lead to them ingesting things that can only be vomited out or surgically removed. Freedom in the home does not equal kindness. If your dog lived on the street in a feral pack, their leader would tell them when to hunt, when to eat, when and where to rest, what kind of play is acceptable and what is not, and when it’s time to migrate as a pack. Providing leadership keeps dogs safe. 

There’s still plenty of time to teach your dog all of these life-saving skills before Easter. Schedule your free call now to prevent your dog from a painful surgery or from being very uncomfortable while vomiting on your vet’s floor. 

You don’t want your dog to suffer. It’s time to teach them everything they need to know to keep them safe. Click the TAKE ACTION button and schedule your free call today. 

Have a wonderful weekend, Dog Leaders.

Alyssa

Photos by: benjamin lehman @benjaminlehman (a brown and white puppy being held by a person wearing an Easter Bunny costume,)
Artur Tumasjan @arturtumasjan (female doctor performing surgery,) charlesdeluvio @charlesdeluvio (black pug staring at a merengue on a table within his reach,) Upsplash Images (a dog relaxing in her crate,) Alyssa Foulkes (Kano the cattle dog mix relaxing on his place cot.)

A Quiet Home

Your dog barks at every sound outside your front door. 

Sometimes it feels as though he is actually barking at nothing. 

And his bark. It feels like someone is stabbing you in your eardrums. 

Hands up if looking at this photo makes you think about your own dogs barking at your window (Photo: two dogs looking out the front window of their house)

You’ve tried teaching him what “quiet” means. You’ve tried begging him to stop. You feel really badly about it, but you also tried a bark collar (which not only didn’t work, but scared your dog and made you feel horrible for even buying it.) 

You feel terrible because the bark collar scared your dog and now he doesn’t trust you. (Photo: white and fawn hound wearing a blue collar. His forehead wrinkles make him look worried.)

You hired a trainer who misled you with squirt bottles and cans full of pennies. Your dog could care less about being spritzed with water, pees on the floor when he sees the can of pennies, and worst of all — he no longer trusts you. 

It feels like there’s no hope. 

This quiet living room feels out of reach. (Photo: French bulldog lying quietly on a dog bed in a bright living room. There is a comfy couch with throw pillows and a plant on the windowsill.)

We’ve helped so many owners create the quiet household they crave through in-home training sessions. Let us help you gain confidence, so that you can clearly communicate to your dog what you’d like him to do while inside your home (relax calmly.) 

You’ll learn lots of new skills that will help you reach your goal of a peaceful home: 

-how to prevent barking from happening (one or two alert barks are fine, we’re talking about the non-stop barking party, which is even harder to stop when you have more than one dog) 

-how to guide your dog away from the window (if you miss the moment to prevent him from starting Barkapalooza) 

-how to teach your dog the place command properly so he learns to practice a calm state of mind while on place (by giving your dog this new job of calmness, he will retire from his current job of screaming at the neighbourhood) 

These newfound quiet dog skills will also help you enjoy backyard bliss, quiet time on your front porch, and silence on your balcony. 

A quiet yard, porch, or balcony are only a phone call away. You can do this. (Photo: Woman wearing a casual, long red dress sipping tea from a mug on a balcony while sitting down)

You can also transfer these quiet dog skills to your car. 

(Photo: large black dog barking with his head sticking out the car window)

It’s time to ditch the stress you’re feeling when you try to work from home, put the kids down for a nap, or eat dinner. 

It’s also time to throw out the can of pennies and the bark collar. Keep the spray bottle for your plants or pass it along to your favourite crazy plant lady. 

Imagine yourself enjoying some peace and quiet in your home. Picture watching an entire movie without feeling frustrated having to hit the pause button every five minutes. 

Schedule your free call now and get closer to your dream of a quiet home. 

Scheduling your free call is easy. 

1. Click the take action button below

2. Click the blue “BOOK” button beside “Free Phone Consultation” 

3. Pick the date and time that work best for you

We can’t wait to chat with you and learn all about your dog. 

Alyssa

Photos: Reagan Freeman @rfree19 (two dogs looking out the front window of their house,) Jarrod Reed

@jarrodreed (white and fawn hound wearing a collar. His forehead wrinkles make him look worried.) Brina Blum @brina_blum (French bulldog lying quietly on a dog bed in a bright living room with a couch and plants,)
Chris Knight @chrisknight (Woman wearing a casual, long red dress sipping tea from a mug on a balcony while sitting down,) Upsplash Image (large black dog barking with his head sticking out the car window.)