A little about who we are
From a young age Julia has always had a gift with animals and a knack for behaviour training. As a child she came up with techniques to manage her family dog’s reactive behaviour to other dogs, and even figured out her dog could coexist peacefully off-leash if introductions were done correctly.
As the years went by she would succeed in training her own dogs and give advice to friends who were struggling with their own. It wasn’t until a friend of hers, Lisa Smith, asked if she would want to pursue dog training with her that she really began to see her calling. It was the push she needed to get going because once she started she couldn’t stop. Traveling from Ottawa and Kawartha Lakes, to Ohio, Nebraska, California and Texas, Julia is relentless in her pursuit of finding the best dog behaviourist and trainers to learn from. She’s completed over 141 hours of shadowing with a variety of trainers, attended workshops on Dog Drives, Pack Behaviour, Relationship Based Dog training and a Mentorship Program called Dog Trainer Tribe with the best North America has to offer.
Julia’s success is based in the fact she’s always willing to learn, adapt and grow to be a better dog trainer than she was a month ago. She loves dogs and people and enjoys fixing the connection between the two to create a relationship based on mutual trust and respect.
What you can expect to learn here
We are known for digging deeper into the “why” of a dogs behaviour and connecting the dots on what’s going on in the dogs mind. Figuring out the cause of a behaviour is the first step in resolving the issue. Strengthening the bond between human and dog is the following step in bridging the disconnect that’s occurring in the relationship.
Focus on confidence and relationship building is fundamental in changing behaviour of both the dog and the human. Many disagreements between humans and dogs tend to stem from miscommunication more than anything else. Teaching communication skills and basic dog psychology to clients, is just one of many ways we intercede between humans and dogs to create a more harmonious life.
We may use a variety of tools in training such as; a clicker and food, toys, electronic dog collar (aka ecollars), slip leads, prong collars, harnesses, long lines, spring poles and much more!
Every training program is tailored to the need of each dog, with the most positive experience possible for both the dog and the human. It’s not uncommon to have the most dangerous of dogs, wag their tail in joy at the site of the dog trainer after just one or two classes.
One of the reasons why our success rate with dogs is so high, is because we ensure that any clients who sign up for our classes are dedicated 100% to doing their homework and committing to their dog for the long haul. Training time doesn’t stop when the class ends, and our clients understand any interaction they have with their dog is training their dog too.
When classes are finished, our ultimate goal is to communicate to the dog what is expected of him/her in that moment, and to trust the human to handle anything that comes along dog. This trust and mutual respect creates a life long relationship of companionship and harmony.
