Canine Life Skills
Basic Obedience and Manners for Family Dogs

Open to all ages of dogs. This class is appropriate for:

• puppies just getting started with classes,
• dogs and handlers that would like to go back to basics and strengthen skills
• building a good foundation for sports classes

 

CONTENT

This class includes 6 (1 hour) sessions focusing on:

• Basic training techniques – learn how to train your dog more effectively
• Building rock solid focus
• Good manners: greeting dogs and humans, leave it, drop it
• Obedience: sit, down, stay, come, walk politely on leash
• This or an equivalent class is required as a foundation for sports classes.

 

PREREQUISITES

• Vaccinations up to date
• May be done concurrently or after Puppy Life Skills but PLS is not required
• Dogs must be able to work around other dogs

 

Download the Canine Life Skills class information sheet here: CLS Foundations class instructions

Separation Anxiety Behaviour Consultations

Separation Anxiety is a very common challenged faced by dog owners. It is distressing for both owners and their dogs!
There are many manifestations of separation anxiety from subtle to dramatic. Pacing, whining, panting, inability to settle, soiling in the house,
destructive behaviours, incessant barking, and more are signs that your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety. There is help!

Separation anxiety training is done remotely  - with you and your dog at home on line with your trainer working through a structured program
to help you build a history of many successful brief absences, slowly building up your dog's tolerance for being home alone.  SA work is done remotely so we can recreate 'real world' experiences for your dog in a way that we cannot do if a trainer comes to your home.

Separation anxiety packages (4 weeks / 8 weeks) are available.  Packages include an initial assessment, weekly or twice weekly on line sessions, structured exercises to be done between sessions with your trainer and on line support between sessions.

If you are unsure if your dog has separation anxiety or if this program will be appropriate for you, contact me to set up a brief evaluation session (no charge).

 

Private Classes

Private classes are available for:

• Behavioural issues / Reactive dogs
• Special training needs or interests
• Introduction to performance sports
• Problem solving
• Families with three or more people wanting to learn together
• Anyone who prefers a private class for convenience of scheduling or other reasons,

Flexible scheduling is available.

First session is one hour.

Subsequent sessions may be half hour sessions if appropriate to the training goals.

 

 

Zoom Sessions

Private training sessions by Zoom are available. These sessions are ideal for
those who unable to attend live training classes because of distance, health issues, reactivity etc.

Zoom sessions are available for:

• General obedience and good manners
• Behavioural issues / Reactive dogs
• Special training needs or interests
• Problem solving
• Separation anxiety
• New Puppy Consultations

Flexible scheduling is available.

It it very helpful if you are able to set up zoom on more than one device (phone, laptop, desktop or
computer linked video cameras) and /or upload videos for review.

 

 

New Puppy Consultations: Before you get your puppy / After you get your puppy

 

The early months of a puppy’s life form the Critical Socialization Period, during which your puppy acquires knowledge and experience of his world.  What he learns, or does not learn, during that period will influence the rest of his life in either constructive and positive or damaging ways. Getting ready to bring your puppy home means preparing your home and yard to mitigate risks and help your puppy learn how to behave appropriately in the home. It means having plans and procedures in place to integrate your puppy into your home in a way that supports his development into a well-adjusted family dog.  It means having specific socialization plans to help your puppy acquire resilience and confidence. It also means having basic training skills in hand so that you can jump in to provide positive, supportive and effective training. Taking full advantage of the critical socialization period means having plans in place BEFORE your puppy arrives.

New Puppy Consultations are private sessions to help you from the beginning of your search for a new puppy through to successful integration of your puppy into your home and socialization of your puppy into the real world.  A wide variety of topics can be addressed based on your specific needs and interests.  New Puppy Consultations can be booked as individual or multiple sessions.  In home sessions are available when necessary for local clients, but most sessions will take place on line, via Zoom or in person at Wags To Wishes K9 Training.

• What breed or mix is right for my lifestyle and family?
• Where do I go to find a puppy?
• How can I assess whether a puppy is well bred?
• How can I evaluate a breeder or rescue group to ensure I get the appropriate puppy for me?
• What questions should I ask?
• How do I prepare to bring my puppy home?
• How can I puppy proof my kids?
• Creating a 'safe space' for my puppy at home
• Puppy proofing my home and garden
• How do I socialize my puppy safely?
• Creating a socialization plan
• Dealing with undesirable puppy behaviours
• Crate training, house training, nipping and chewing
• ...and more

Barn Hunt Classes

Barn Hunt Foundations (Level 1): a set of 6 sessions for dogs that have minimal to no experience with barn hunt and for experienced dogs that are struggling with trial performance in novice or higher classes and need to go back and improve foundation skills.

CONTENT

This class systematically addresses barn hunt foundation skills for dog and handler such as:

• Introduction to quarry
• Building value for the rat
• Building search drive
• Developing a strong and sustained indicator behaviour
• Supporting a systematic search pattern
• Building drive for tunnels
• Recognizing your dog's motivators in Barn Hunt and using them effectively to provide reinforcement
• Developing a tube removal strategy that does not demotivate your dog

Each class is limited to 5-6 dogs so you will have lots of time on course for practical experience.

PREREQUISITES

• none

 

Barn Hunt Novice (Level 2) - 6 sessions working on strengthening foundation skills and developing advanced skills.

CONTENT

This class is intended to build confidence in navigating courses and prepare you and your dog for trialing.

• 

• Actual courses - building confidence in running actual novice and higher level courses
• Understanding scent movement and how your dog solves scent puzzles
• Course analysis and confident course navigation
• Introduction to crazy 8s
• Understanding barn hunt rules

Each class is limited to 5-6 dogs so you will have lots of time on course for practical experience.

PREREQUISITES

• foundations class completed, or
• already competing in Barn Hunt trials

Download the Barn Hunt Classes Information Sheet here: BH Foundations class instructions(1)

 

Barn Hunt classes are held spring to fall. No classes in winter as the building is unheated and gerbils do not cope well in the cold weather.

Barn Hunt Workshops

Barn hunt workshops are 2-3 hour sessions held on an intermittent basis. Workshops are limited to 5-6 dogs.

Introduction to Barnhunt - for dogs and handlers new to Barn Hunt. Come learn about the sport. This workshop will introduce your dog to the gerbils and give you a chance to run an instinct course as well as a more advanced course. This is a great way to assess your dog’s natural interest in the sport.

Special Skills workshops - for dogs competing at Open and above.  Each session will focus on a specific skill necessary to help you and your dog to greater success in the sport.  Even if your dog is doing well, this is an opportunity to improve and fine tune your skills as a team. Focused topics include

• Building better tunnel performance
• Strengthening alerts and rebuilding fading alerts
• Improving searching skills
• Understanding scent movement
• Course analysis
• – and more.

Watch the  Wags to Wishes K9 Training facebook pages for information about upcoming workshops.

I am available to present workshops on request - Please contact me for further information.

Tricks Class

Teaching tricks brings many benefits to you and your dog.

• Trick training helps you become a better trainer
• Trick training is a great way to keep your dog's mind busy (and minimize annoying behaviours arising from boredom)
• Tricks can help keep your dog physically active and build physical fitness and core strength
• Trick training is a great way to have fun with your dog while he learns a whole set of new skills.
• Framing behaviours as tricks, takes the pressure off and lets you enjoy the learning process more.  As a result, you benefit from a strengthened relationship with your dog.

Tricks classes are appropriate for both adult and older child handlers.

What do we mean by tricks?  We use a broad definition of 'tricks': in fact, any behaviour can be approached as a trick whether manners and obedience behaviours or games or more conventional 'tricks’.  Some are tricks that help your dog develop better core muscle strength, or better balance and others are simply fun things you can do to show off how great your dog is!

The class is intended to help you achieve the Novice Trick Dog Title (NTD) through "Do More with Your Dog".  Students with more advanced dogs may actually be able to achieve several titles throughout the class.  If you want to work towards the title, you will learn how to teach your dog the tricks needed for the title and I will sign off as witness as you and your dog develop proficiency.  There is a wide range of possible tricks you can choose from to earn the title and you can choose what tricks you want to work on.

Download the Tricks Class information sheet here: Tricks class instructions

 

Scent Work Classes

Canine scentwork is a rapidly growing sport arising from working scent detection dogs - dogs that detect bombs, drugs, cancers, bedbugs etc.  In sporting scentwork we use safe and pleasant scents like wintergreen, pine, anise etc - no need to deal with nasty things like bedbugs!

The sport of scentwork uses your dog’s incredible sense of smell to locate scent hidden in various containers and the environment.  Scentwork is a great sport for dogs that lack confidence as one dog works at a time and they are doing what comes naturally, making use of their most potent physical sense.

This is a great sport for people who do not have a lot of space to work in at home as you can practice in a small yard, or in your living room, or in dog friendly public spaces.

Offered based on demand. Minimum of 4 participants required.

Download the Scent Work Class Information sheet here: Scent Detection Class Information

Transforming your reactive dog

Does your dog lunge and bark whenever another dog approaches his 'bubble'?  Does your dog have a meltdown when a stranger approaches? This class is for dogs that have difficulty coping in a relaxed and friendly way with other dogs or people.  Please note that it is not for seriously aggressive dogs.  If your dog has serious aggression issues, I would be pleased to chat with you about options.

This class is offered as PRIVATE training sessions.

The class will help you:

• identify the sources for your dogs reactivity
• reduce your dog's stress level so you can start constructively addressing his fears
• understand the role of diet and other factors that may contribute to reactive behaviour
• learn how to change your dog's attitude to things he fears
• learn how to use your reactions to support your dog's success
• replace reactivity with relaxed and calm behaviours

 

As part of this class, where appropriate, I may recommend that you consult with a local veterinarian with expertise in veterinary behavioural medicine. We can then collaborate in implementing recommendations from the behavioural specialist.

Show Handling

Drop-in Practice Sessions:

Drop in sessions are held on some Friday evenings at 7 pm. An e mail is sent out a few days before each class to let you know of availability. Although these are drop-in, attendance is limited to no more than 8 dogs, so you must RSVP if you plan to attend to ensure there is room for you.  If Show Handling sessions are of interest to you, please contact me and request to be added to the e mail list.

 

Show Handling Group Class

This is a formal class with a structured curriculum for beginners or those who want to go back and tighten up show handling skills. Topics covered include: breed standard, how dog shows work, show leads, stacking, gaiting, entering shows, conditioning, making it a good experience for your dog etc.