Family Tails Dog Training

05/06/2024

SAVE THE DATE!! Family Tails Dog Training and Pawsitive Families will be at the Calgary Baby and Tot show in Cochrane May 25th and 26th. Come by and say hi and enter to win a Enrichment basket for your dog!

If you are interested in free tickets please reach out!

Looking forward to seeing you at the end of the month! Get your tickets online and save 😊

01/14/2024

Another great enrichment activity for cold days! Teach them to use thier nose!

I encourage all of my clients to stop feeding out of a food bowl and find enriching ways to feed their dog. This is a great one that I do with my dog every day.

And if you have kids, it's a great activity to have them set up. Then they can sit back and watch their dogs have fun looking for the food.

01/12/2024

Re-sharing a game to play on a insanely cold day! Also increase your food enrichment to keep your dogs brain busy!

12/26/2023

Last chance to get 30% off Growing Families: Get Ready for Baby Virtual class starting this January!

Sale ends at Midnight tonight! Book your spot before they are gone!

This 4 week online course is designed to help you and your dog feel comfortable and confident though the transition of bringing home your baby and settling into the new normal.

Click the link below to book your spot!
https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/family-tails-dog-training?location_id=950&service_id=9652

12/25/2023

12/24/2023

Save 30% now until Boxing Day on our Growing Families: Get Ready for Baby Virtual class starting this January!

This 4 week online course is designed to help you and your dog feel comfortable and confident though the transition of bringing home your baby and settling into the new normal.

Click the link below to book your spot!

https://portal.busypaws.app/customers/family-tails-dog-training?location_id=950&service_id=9652

12/19/2023

My son is an amazing artist and he's only 9! As he is on a dog theme I thought I would share! He begs me daily for a French bulldog...Not happening kid! 🤣

12/11/2023

Family Tails has a new and shiny website!! This was a long time in the making and I am so excited to share it with you.

Please go check it out and see my new services!

Welcome to a place where love for dogs meets the science of training. Here, we embrace force-free, science-based methods to create a joyful learning experience for your furry family members. Our passion is to strengthen the bond between you and your dog, ensuring a happy and harmonious home.

11/21/2023

Join us at Family Paws Parent Education in 15 minutes for a LIVE discussion about holiday safety for young children and dogs!

11/14/2023

Join us at 6pm MST (8pm EST) for this important discussion!

10/28/2023

Family Tails Dog Training and Pawsitive Families are hanging out at the Calgary Baby and Tot Show!
We are here promoting dog and baby safety using Family Paws Parent Education materials! Join us for both an introduction to Dogs and Storks and Dogs and Toddlers at 10:45 and 4:15 on Saturday and 11:30 on Sunday! Come check out our booth and and enter to win two big prizes each over $300 in value!

05/30/2023

It's patio season! Mavro is learning how to settle around people dogs and food. It took a while, but he was finally able to settle.

05/27/2023

Pawsitive Families and Family Tails Dog Training have teamed up to bring education to pet families!Come check out out ourboith at the Cochrane Pet Expo located at the Cochrane & District AG Society we are here from 10am to 4pm.
Family Paws Parent Education

03/24/2023

This is Obi, he's not a fan of his crate. So, we are playing crate games and learning to relax with the door open and progressing to shut. This didn't last long, but every bit of positive association with the crate is so important. This is a long process, but we'll worth the time investment!

Independence training can help prevent separation anxiety in the future!

03/02/2023

Mavro is working on staying out of the kitchen while I cook. Pst, it works with kids too 🤣

Parker: I'll stay out of the kitchen for a treat!

Me: OK, you can have a carrot. That's what he's getting.

Parker: Mmm, that was a good carrot, totally worth it!

I think Mavro agrees, staying out of the kitchen is totally worth it!

01/16/2023

We have been quiet on social media lately mainly because we have a lot going on!

I am taking a new certification course through KPA! We are having a lot of fun with it. Mavro is pretty exhausted at the end of the day and the kitty is loving it(he gets to train too!). I plan to keep everyone updated as I go!

In case you were wondering, I am still taking on clients at this time. Currently only private lessons and day training. I hope to get classes running again this summer.

Click here to send me a message and inquire about training options: https://familytails.ca/contacts/

I look forward to chatting with you!

11/19/2022

Yes! 100%

I love your naughty dog.

Your dog that jumps on me.

Your dog that shoves his whole face in my treat pouch.

Your dog that barks and paws at me for attention, and your dog that steals my hat out of my pocket.

Even your dog that thinks tables are for standing on.

You know why?

Your naughty dog is still brave enough, confident enough, to try something new.
To say “hey, I wonder how this will work” and just go for it.

I see dogs all the time who are apprehensive about trying new things, who lack the desire to try something new. Some dogs come by this behavior due to their anxious genetics or lack of socialization, but some of them become this way because they’ve been punished over and over again for trying new stuff. They jump on a guest, they get “no” shouted at them along with a collar correction. They grab something off the counter, they get the item forcibly removed while they’re yelled at.

Eventually, they stop trying new behavior because it comes with such a history of punishment, and from the outside it looks like “oh good, they’ve learned”. Until you try to teach these dogs to do something brand new. You try to lure them into a position, and they’re hesitant to follow the treat (what if that gets me yelled at? Is this a set up?) You ask your dog to interact with a new person and they hesitate, knowing that the last new person they “interacted with” resulted in them getting physically corrected.

A naughty dog who is willing to do new things is a dog that hasn’t been punished to the point of suppressing their behavior. Punishment can be tempting to use because it stops the dog in the moment, but in some dogs it will suppress ALL behavior somewhat, making your dog hesitant to try new things in your presence, even things completely unrelated to what they’ve been punished for in the past.

I get that as a dog trainer it’s my job to help teach people’s dogs to stop jumping, counter surfing, barking, etc. But there are ways to do that while preserving a dog’s confidence and willingness to try new things. I’m not interested in a mindlessly compliant and obedient dog that got that way by squashing their confidence through heavy use of punishment. I want your naughty dog to learn new behaviors that replace those old “bad” ones using fun stuff like food, toys, and praise, so that when the time comes to learn something new your “naughty” dog is still brave enough to try those new things!

So please don’t apologize to me for your naughty dog. I love to see it!

10/31/2022

Remember, dogs aren't as into Halloween as kids are. Here are some great tips to keep your fur babies safe tonight!

Happy Halloween! 👻🎃

Here are some tips to help keep your pets safe this Halloween. If they are fearful of fireworks, be sure to keep them somewhere comfortable, give enrichment toys and leave on background music or the TV. If that doesn't help, plan a mini staycation and find an area that is quiet and less populated. The rain should tone this down this year but don't risk it! If you are concerned by the level of fear displayed, talk to your vet about the possibility of adding a situational medication or supplements to help your pet during these times or reach out and we can develop a custom training plan.

Stay safe and have fun!

08/10/2022

Time for an update! We have stayed busy adventuring, swimming and paddle boarding. We are almost fully moved into the house and plans for day training are in the works!

I am still taking on private training clients as well as clients that are expecting or have small children virtually. Don't hesitate to reach out!

07/01/2022

It's been a minute!! We have arrived, settled(temporarily, currently at an RV park), and are getting to know our new community in Cochrane, Alberta.

Stay tuned for Mavro training updates and how we have been navigating new situations.

Until then, Happy Canada Day, enjoy the long weekend!!!

06/09/2022

Locking up for the last time 😢

06/08/2022

And my very last group of basic manners graduates in the Yukon!

Congratulations to Willow, Grace, Dewey, Raider, Mavro, Umzi, Paul, Mandy, Dakota, Winnie, Gus, Niska, Zora, and Sunny.

Also a big congratulations to those not pictured, Lulu, Mabel, and Ursa.

These teams have such bright training futures and I look forward to seeing all of the updates on their continued training through Wise Canine.

06/07/2022

💕My very last graduating class in the Yukon💕

My heart is full as I graduated these wonderful teams last night! Congratulations to Ripley, Olive Oyl, Boo, Tsuki and, Penny(not pictured). By level 2 I've usually grown quite attached to a lot of these dogs, so it is so sad to say goodbye. But I know they all have a very bright future!

06/02/2022

Im so happy to share with you my last puppy graduates in the Yukon! Congratulations to Juniper, Pelly, Stella, Remy, Harley Quinn, and Agi(not puctured)!

It was so much fun to see them grow and learn. I am so sad to say goodbye, but so happy for their future. Such great teams!!

06/01/2022

As my big move draws closer and closer I am leaving you all in the experienced hands of Wise Canine Training & Behavior and thier amazing trainers!

Anyone who wants to continue their training should check out their upcoming summer classes and get on their mailing list. There are some fun classes coming up!!

The Wise Canine June Newsletter is out (and hopefully so is the sun).
Check it out here: https://mailchi.mp/d2227ff2e147/june2022
☀️️Register for summer classes, while they last.
☀️Learn about the early learning period during your puppies first 16 weeks!

05/21/2022

This is Gus, he is such a character! Any guesses to what's going on in his head while learning to "leave it?"