Helping people communicate with their canine companions

View my services below

Group Classes: Focus Workshops

Organize a Let’s Talk Dog seminar or workshop of your own! I will design an event tailored to the interests, needs and challenges of your group or school. Online workshops & consultations upon request. Feel free to contact me to discuss your ideas! Here are some of the Focus Workshops I offer:

Understanding Dog Language

What do you want for your dog? Wouldn’t it be great if they felt safe, happy and willing to try whatever we asked of them? We can find a way. First, we must understand their language. We must learn to speak dog. When we meet someone who doesn’t speak our language, it makes conversation difficult and there is little hope for a meaningful two-way conversation. Dogs do not automatically understand our language and so, when we bring a dog into our family, it is our responsibility to learn his or her language. After all, they do their best to understand ours! The most valuable training tool you have is your daily interaction with your dog. Nothing can replace a good connection between the two of you, starting at home. I’m talking about the very nature of your relationship. When there is trust and a two-way communication, any issues will be much easier to resolve and training can be fun. Fortunately, dog language is much simpler than ours. It is a series of signals that include postures, movements, tensions patterns and vocalizations as well as the more obvious signals of tails, ears, and mouth. Also consider how your own posture and energy affects your dog. Once you understand what your dog is really saying and how to respectfully communicate with them, you will find all aspects of training, travel, medical care, walks, and playtime much more enjoyable for everyone.

Individual
Behaviour
Support

Individual Behaviour Support

Private Sessions: We begin with an in-home visit with you and your dog for an information-gathering session. I listen to your concerns and observe your dog in his or her environment. I will take a history and learn more about your dog’s behaviour and experience. I’ll make some initial recommendations and we will start right away to work on the issue during this initial consult. I will follow up with a written report, usually within 48 hours. This will include my observations and suggestions for a training plan.

Please allow up to 2 hours for the first session. We then schedule hourly sessions to work with you and your dog. This may be in your home, outdoors, or at my studio depending on the nature of the issue. Your participation is key to building new avenues of communication between you and your dog.

Initial Consultation

Follow-up Sessions

Cancellation Policy

Initial Consultation

Follow-up Sessions

Cancellation Policy

Daily Skills

I teach a series of Daily Skills that help dogs to live safely, happily and confidently in our human world. These include coming when called (reliable recall), walking on a loose leash, and other common responses to the objects and incidents they may encounter on a daily basis. I want to make it easy for your dog to do the right thing and harder to do the wrong thing! I set your dog up for success right from the start so that unwanted behaviours are not being reinforced. We will break things down to make it easy for your dog to learn new skills. Let’s support your dog's needs through enrichment and exercise recommendations that provide good avenues for your dog's natural energy and curiosity.

“Loose Leash Walking” Walking nicely on leash is the most basic of skills but is often overlooked in traditional training. Dogs who lack this skill are often deprived of sufficient exercise and social exposure. The result is boredom which can lead to other unwanted behaviors. I will focus on teaching you and your dog new ways to walk together without pulling or being pulled, and how to handle sudden and unexpected situations that may occur while out and about.

“Reliable Recall” Does your dog come when called – every time? This fundamental skill is essential to both their safety and yours. This program of training ensures that, no matter what the situation, your dog will always return to you immediately when called from any distance, in any environment, no matter what the distraction!

“Confident Care” Do you and your pet dread having to go to the vet? Do you have a dog that is fearful of getting in cars? Does caring for your pet sometimes feel like a battle of wills? This short course will teach you how achieve willing compliance for veterinary care procedures, dental work, nail trimming, grooming and many home applications. You will learn 7 key skills and 4 key concepts that set the process of communication and cooperation in motion very quickly. Learn how you can empower your pets by offering them a choice and a voice. Watch the transformation. A happier pet is a cooperative one.

Childrens
Classes

Childrens Classes

I teach a full range of fun workshops for children of all ages in clubs and schools. Teaching our children simple body language will help them to stay safe around dogs – theirs and other people’s – while keeping their love of animals alive and well! We learn to understand dog language, how to interact with dogs and, most importantly, how to stay safe.

Kids will love the whimsical format of my Doggone Safe class. They become Doggie Detectives! They learn to Be a Tree! They begin to see which dog is approachable, which is not, why that is, and what to do about it. Watch this short video showing a simple way that kids can stay safe when around an over-excited or unfamiliar dog!

Tellington
TTouch
Method

Tellington TTouch Method

I support my work using the Tellington TTouch method, an effective and gentle way to address trauma in rescues, and enhance health and wellbeing. I may use a variety of techniques including bodywork, wraps, and ground exercises in conjunction with my training when appropriate.