Four Paws Forward Dog Training

04/24/2025

Yes, they sleep on the couch, and sometimes they use the pillows correctly! Lol 😴

04/22/2025

Drop in tonight at 7! Who's in? Just two more weeks of scent work then on to something else!

04/22/2025

Check out what my clients say about me
👇

Four Paws Forward Dog Training

https://g.co/kgs/nMgMfq7

More reviews can be found on my website and here on Facebook as well!

04/21/2025

WARNING - Long read with a lot of information regarding Tick Prevention, studies included.

TREATING YOUR PETS OF FLEAS & TICKS? 🚫✋️

Recent Study highlights that one of the most popular Flea & Tick treatments in the world may negatively affect your pet’s behaviour.

Fipronil is an insecticide and one of the most popular veterinary drugs used to control fleas and ticks and is available worldwide. Recently, researchers wanted to know why dogs & cats appeared to be restless and excited following fipronil administration, so they conducted a study which was published by Science Direct. The results are pretty alarming.

A new study was released very recently that looked into the effects of fipronil, the active insecticide in these products, on pets and the results were alarming. High levels of fipronil were found in every tissue in these pet's bodies, including the brain. The studied showed that fipronil affects neurotransmitters in the brain which affect dopemine and seratonin release and could lead to heightened anxiety, as well as cognitive and behavioural issue for these animals, such as, sleep disorders, learning disorders, stress, lethargy, and even short term and long term memory loss.

According to the scientists:

“The behavioral activation observed in the present study may be due to an increase in dopamine levels in the striatum. Therefore, we theorize that fipronil also affects emotional and cognitive behaviors in dogs and cats, particularly as many appear to be restless and excited following fipronil administration.

However, the pharmacodynamics and neurotox- icity from the usage of fipronil as a veterinary drug has not been greatly explored. Neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and disruption of endocrine function have been reported in mice and rats after oral administration of fipronil. Additionally, fipronil is reported to affect their emotional and cognitive behaviors (Godinho et al., 2016; Terçariol and Godinho, 2011). In the above mentioned toxicity tests, the effects of fipronil on the nervous, circulatory, blood, and endocrine systems were verified. However, sufficient toxicity studies have not been conducted on the effects of fipronil on the emotional and cognitive behaviors of mammals."

The present study is a new approach to toxicity testing. Moreover, based on the results of our study, extrapolation to dogs and cats and further verification are necessary, particularly in understanding the effects triggered via fipronil treatment on emotional and cognitive behaviors.”

Study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004835752100078X?via%3Dihub

The Isozazoline based products (Bravecto, etc.). These also cause neurological. Issues and have been known to cause seizures. Anti-Vaccinosis is effective on expediting recovery from Isozazoline toxicity as well.

Scientists are also currently looking into the shocking level of fipronil and other toxic pesticides contaminating our waterways.. they think their may be a link to the alarming reduction in bees we are seeing across the globe.

Study :
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201117085940.htm

💚⭐️💚 T H E S O L U T I O N ? 💚⭐️💚

🇨🇦Outdoor Shield - 600g $139.99
🇨🇦Outdoor Shield - 300g $84.99
🇨🇦Outdoor Shield - 100g $39.99
🇨🇦Outdoor Shield - 50g $22.99

For a natural alternative to chemical repellents, we use EarthMD's Outdoor Sheild. We've carried it and used it for years and know it to be effective in nearly all cases. It also does not cause adverse effects for pets and doesn't interfere with any medications a pet might be on. Be sure to read and follow the label to ensure the product works effectively.

🇨🇦Citrobug Spray 1L - $41.99
🇨🇦Citrobug 122ml - $12.99

Citrobug is the only 100% natural insect repellent for dogs and horses registered by Health Canada. It's made with essential oils such as lemon, camphor, geranium, eucalyptus and pine, It is biodegradable and safe for the whole family! Very efficient against mosquitoes, ticks and black flies. It is DEET, alcohol and water free. If that wasn't enough, Citrobug is recommended by health professionals. Don't let mosquitoes or tics ruin the fun you could have with your furbabies.

🇨🇦Tick Twisters - $3.99 (Made at Furball's Choice)

Adding fresh garlic clove (never powdered) to their food.
We highly reccomend reading this article prior to feeding garlic as a tick prevention. It's important to be informed and educated on the topic. 💛
https://www.volharddognutrition.com/blog/busting-the-myth-of-garlic-toxicity-for-dogs/?srsltid=AfmBOoo6oRHtrqj0dX7UwR-hDYp2K-m_obNsdd7hp5IibUJWVr1b7sE-

💪 You can be equipped to combat ticks naturally, but it does require a bit more work. Adding natural supplements to food, reapplying safe and non-toxic pest sprays, and throughly checking head to tail after adventures outside.
Let us help make it easier!

04/21/2025

Registration is now open for the May/June session of puppy basics!

This is a 6 week program suitable for puppies 8 weeks to 5 months old. The first two sessions are private and the remaining 4 are as a group. Private sessions begin the week of May 12 and group sessions begin Monday may 26th at 6pm

What should you expect:

Play based balanced learning style focusing heavily on positive reinforcement and relationship building.

What we cover:

Potty training
Crate training
Leash walking
Pulling
Jumping
Biting
Sit/stay
Down/stat
Place command
Enrichment
Breed appropriate fulfilment
Socialization vs exposure
Building confidence
And more!!

With small classes size, we ensure each team get the individual attention they need to be successful!

04/20/2025

04/19/2025

Wishing you all a very happy Easter. May your time with loved ones be filled with memories to last a lifetime.

A gentle reminder that I will be closed Sunday and Monday to enjoy some much needed time with my children.

See you Tuesday!

04/19/2025

Service dogs.

We see them out there, silently working to keep their humans safe.

They respond to and prevent PTSD episodes.
They alert to the inset of seizures, migraines, panic attacks, blood sugar spikes and drops. They alert to oncoming heart rate spike and drops. Gluten detection and nut allergies. They provide mobility support for those who struggle with mobility aids. They provide guide work from light duty right up to leading the blind.

These dogs have had hundreds of hours of training, 2 years is the average time it takes to train a service dog. These dogs provide something that no one else can.

Do you know what legally makes a service dog a dog dog in Ontario? A letter from your doctor, and the training put into them. Just because you have a letter, does NOT mean you get to take your untrained dog into public to break havoc. Get the training. A service dog should be calm, neutral and focused while working. It should not be reactive or over excited. It should not be wandering around sniffing things or eating off the table at a restaurant. It should not be sitting in your lap at the table in public. People should not even know it is there.

Slapping on a vest and purchasing false documents online, yes they are false and yes they told you they were not. That's called a scam. Anyway, purchasing these documents online and a vest does NOT make your dog a service dog.

Emotional support dogs, also NOT service dogs and have zero public access rights.

Every time someone put a vest on an untrained dog and takes them where they should not be, you are creating access issues for those teams that are legitimate. You are making things difficult for the disabled community who relies on these highly trained dogs to get them through their day.

Reactive dogs are immediately not service dog regardless of if you have a letter or not. The number of service dogs I have worked to rehab them through fear because they were attacked by 'another service dog' while in a public place where pets are not allowed is ridiculous.

There is an extreme lack of education regarding service dogs in our area especially. Our hospitals don't even know that the only LEGAL documents needed to prove a service dog is a doctors letter. Without that, and they training required for your dog to behave they way it should, your dog is a PET, and therefore needs to stay home.

Stop creating access issues for the people who need these dogs.

What you need to know:

Managers, door man etc ARE ALLOWED to ask to see your doctors note. You can NOT refuse to show it. They can refuse you entry if you do not have it or refuse to show it.

You can be asked to leave if your dog is not behaving they way a service dog should even if you have a letter.

You can be asked to leave if your dog is dirty.

If you produce false documents, you can be asked to leave. You can also be reported for doing so.

Now for the less fun part of this.

When you see a service dog, IGNORE IT.

Do not approach the dog. Leave the handler alone.

For the love of God DO NOT TOUCH IT!!

Do not talk to it.

Your comments of 'I know I'm not supposed to but I just can't help it! Dude! You are an adult!! Have some self control. Walk away.

Every time you interact with a service dog you are putting their handlers life at risk.

Do not be so entitled that your desire to pet a dog is worth more to you than a humans actual life.

Ignore them. Let them work. They get plenty of off duty time to be a dog.

04/18/2025

Daycare services can now be requested via your client portal for existing clients!
You may also email, call or inbox me if you prefer

04/18/2025

04/18/2025

Congratulations to our advanced level 2 graduates!!!

04/17/2025

When you have a great game happening but it's time to be all done. Except he doesn't want to be all done and isn't wearing a collar. So....what do I? Use my finger as a break stick to initiate the gage reflex....what does he do? Fix his damn grip and gets a deeper bite 🤣🤣🤣 photo taken before he 'fixed it'

04/17/2025

Play is such a big and important part of our training programs here. It sets the tone for the rest of your relationship and expectations in ways that other things don't. It is just one part, but such an important part, of the bigger picture.

We set the rules to provide clarity.
We stick to them.
We have fun and so does the dog!

04/17/2025

The boys of advanced group class 💙💙

04/17/2025

**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT**

I am looking for a puppy between the ages of 8-12 weeks of age. Maybe even two!

This puppy will get a series of 'free' sessions and in return I will be filming these sessions to be used in reels and instructional videos. You will need to sign a wavier agreeing to this. While there will be no homework given per say, you will get to work hands on with whatever I am teaching that day so that you yourself will be able to implement it at home as well.

Breed does not matter. You must have flexibility in when you can be available as I have to work around clients.

Here's a photo of baby Levi using his bowl as a pillow during nap time 🤣