Sherbert Service Dogs

11/22/2024

Poodle party! 🐩

Started service dog Hudson & Addie regularly train together, as Hudson is quite social and confident, whereas Addie is more fearful, they tend to help each other out.

Today they worked on:
✨: Calmly passing dogs (for Hudson not saying hi, for Addie not reacting)

✨: loose leash walking on both sides of me and on the same side as each other

✨: leave it with dropped kibbles (thanks Hudson 🙄😂)

And they're both testing out new to us gear 🥳 using the EasyWalk harnesses (Addie's is padded), and then Addie has an adapter for her. When she gets nervous if she pulls back, she could slip her harness. So we use this adapter attached to the harness and collar for her safety!

| Pet Dog Training | Service Dogs | Dog Trainer | R+ dog Trainer |

11/16/2024

We are still accepting applications for Hudson until Dec. 1st!
Read on to learn more about him 🐩

Hudson is currently 4 months old, and while living with us he is learning skills for his future as a service dog! He will spend 6 months here to prepare for placement.
He is anticipated to grow to 60-70lbs

Over the next few months, he will be learning:

-All his basic obedience, including heel, sit, down, stand, stay, and recall

- Public access skills, such as tucking out of the way, settling for long periods, polite greetings, and not sniffing shelves or approaching dogs/strangers

-Crate training

-Nose touch, and paw target (can be used for mobility tasks)

-Task foundations, including deep pressure therapy

- Socialization, so he is comfortable and confident for car rides, around other animals and kids, grooming, being handled, and continuing training in public with his future handler!

Once his training is finished and we have found the right placement, he will be delivered to his new handler and I will spend 2 full days conducting one-on-one placement training with them to make sure all those skills transfer smoothly.

Hudson is being trained with reward based methods, as is standard for our program. We ask his handler follow the program they will be provided all the knowledge for this!

This is a collaboration with (Hudson's breeder) on this project and his future home will also receive their support and information! Everyone involved is super excited for this project and to watch this little boy succeed.

| Started Service Dog | Service Dogs | Dog Trainer | R+ dog Trainer |

10/21/2024

It's a bird! It's a plane! No; it's Vesta! 🐕‍🦺 Welcome to SSD 🤩

Vesta has a love for life, is super outgoing, and loves being outdoors with her humans! She's going to be working on excitement around bikes and joining our service program. This girl is so smart and fun to work with, so stay tuned to see her progress! 🥳

DM me or email [email protected] to schedule walks and training! The best of both worlds 🍄🐾

| Malinois Mix | Dog Training | Dog Trainer | R+ dog trainer |

10/19/2024

These are a few of my favourite things 😝
Choosing the correct equipment for our dogs is vital to successful outings and safety for them! This list covers some equipment I use on my client dogs and why.

🍪 balance harness: I use this with my own dogs, and as a tester for client dogs. It's by far my favorite front and back clip harness. Provides full range of movement, and is stylish. Solid 9/10

🍪 Martingale collars: ( is my fave). I primarily use these on fearful dogs who are flight risks, and then dogs who may be choking themselves on a flat collar, or disproportionate breeds who need special collars (sighthounds). Please note I do not use corrections with these collars.

🍪 Buckle collars: these are my most used collar with my own dogs. We especially love biothaine ones because of the weather here in the PNW! My lanky poodle Albert uses a 1.5 inch one and it's great 😃

🍪 Easy Walk® harness: while it provides less range of motion, is a good harness for older dogs, and those who don't pull strongly.

Equipment I will evaluate use of from time to time:
🍪 Head Collars + Gentle Leaders: similar to horse halters but for dogs. These I use sparingly if at all, because of the potential for whiplash, and sensitive nerves in a dogs snout. I don't utilize these for dogs who pull, specific situations such as ingestion of dangerous items while a leave it training protocol is being implemented.

DM me or email [email protected] to schedule walks and training! The best of both worlds 🍄🐾

| Dog gear | dog training | Dog Trainer | R+ dog trainer |

10/16/2024

Due to various reasons, at no fault of his own or the handlers, I am now accepting applications for Hudson's placement.

Email or DM to receive the application form

About Hudson:

- age: 12 weeks

- DOB: July 17, 2024

- breed: standard poodle

- estimated size: 60-70lbs

- colour: cream

- vaccinations: UTD

- guarantee: if genetic health issues arise, I will take Hudson back. Environmental does not apply

- type of service: psychiatric and/or mobility time of placement: February 2025 (7 months of age then)

- price: 7️⃣k

Hudson is a wonderful standard poodle puppy from in California, and at just 12 weeks has already experienced a lot to set him up for success as a service dog! While my hope is to place him as a psychiatric or mobility dog (cross training available) I am open to other service roles for the right home. While I am hoping for a successful placement by February, I am not in a rush for a placement, as I want him to find the best home.

More details will be available in the application for those who email, but please note the only mobility tasks that will be taught before the age of 2 are non-weight bearing ones such as retrievals.

10/12/2024

It's been a while, so let me share a bit about the services we offer here at Sherbert Service Dogs 🐾🐕

🌞 Service Dog Training & Coaching - given our name and mission, we help owner trainers train their service dog! This is my passion and reason I opened SSD. There's not enough support for owner trained handlers.

🌞 Walk & Train - perfect for pet dogs and service dogs alike, a great way for your pup to get a strong understanding of new skills taught by myself and then transition with you the owner!

🌞 Virtual Training - perfect for the pet parents and handlers outside of the Greater Vancouver area who want to work with us, and from the comfort of your own home!

🌞 Dog Walking - a perfect service for busy pet parents, or as a continued service once your pup has finished their training program with us. (Does not cover training, just a walk + natural enrichment from outside)

🌞 + The new.... Reactivity Relief! This program is 24 sessions in 12 weeks, and focuses on helping owners struggling with reactivity through a behavioral modification program & how to help their dog through these big feelings.
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If you are looking for a compassionate, qualified trainer focused on reward based training, email me today at [email protected] or DM me to start your journey. I'd love to meet you and your dog! 💖

| Reactive Dog | Dog Training | YVR Dog's | Dog Trainer |

10/10/2024

Welcome little Gracie to the SSD crew! 💖🥳

Gracie is a part of our pet dog program to get weekly walks and continue working on her obedience that her owner has done. She's such a smart girlie, and LOVES praise! And don't let her size fool you, she's a brave pup and has a strong sniffer (we had a nice long Sniffari today).

DM me or email [email protected] to schedule walks and training! The best of both worlds 🍄🐾

| Dog walking | dog training | YVR Dog's | Dog Trainer |

10/08/2024

It can be hard to decide what dog trainer to work with when there are so many ways to train your dog 🐕

I've used all kinds of methods over the years, and have ultimately landed on R+ (using positive reinforcement, and not utilizing aversive tools or corrections) and that is the method my program runs off of. If you've read my previous post on my training stance and Sherlock's journey, you'll know I use only positive reinforcement with him because of his trauma and sensitive nature. Then enter Albert. Albert used an ecollar and more balanced methods. They worked well enough for a time, but I had mixed feelings about it, and felt I wasn't doing it right and started seeing negative outcomes. So we switched to a more R+ training plan and he's made drastic improvements.

But as a trainer, it's not my place to judge what methods one uses. Anything I share is scientifically researched and proven, and from my own experiences with my dogs and my client dogs. The dog training world is not regulated. So your neighbor Joe can go out and say he is a dog trainer and charge exorbitant amounts of money because he owns a dog and feels competent enough.

So here are my tips for looking for a trainer, regardless of training styles:

🌟 Watch how they handle dogs and the human clients in videos on their page and group classes. See if they offer meet and greet or consultation sessions.

🌟 Check if they have credentials from overseeing organizations or a formal education. If they don't, see if they have an education and background in animal welfare, veterinary medicine, or other animal education.

🌟 If they promise results in x amount of days; run. Or proceed with caution.

🌟 If the training doesn't work for you, or you don't vibe with their methods. Communicate that, and see if they can refer you out to another trainer !

DM me or email [email protected] to start your training journey, your pup will thank you 🍄🐾

| Dog walking | dog training | YVR Dog's | Dog Trainer |

10/04/2024

Let's talk about adolescence in dogs 🐶🧠
A great post from shares how "adolescence is a time for patience, not pushing. The frontal cortex is still developing during adolescence. And so a young dog's ability to control their own behavior is not fully developed." And often this behaviour can be mistaken for "naughtiness" or "your dog trying to dominate you" (look up the alpha theory, it has been debunked many times, and isn't how wolf hierarchy is structured--David Mech and AVSAB have some amazing resources on wolf culture and dominance theory)

It is normal to see regressions in training during this time (ie, great focus, turns into some distractibility, sits may go from polished to a bit slower).

It's normal for your dog to go through fear periods where they may be a bit more cautious of things they weren't before; don't push them to overcome this. Instead take it slow at your dogs pace! Pushing them through this can have negative outcomes further down the line.
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Service work can be a difficult job for any dog, that's why the success rate is about 20% - 40% (source: Washington Post article about Canine Companions and Guiding Eyes for the Blind) and presents a lot of weird scenarios and stress to our dogs. Part of service work is teaching them to ignore innate dog behaviour (such as chasing prey, greeting other dogs, or people, and sniffing!)

If your dog is struggling with training regression with obedience; try turning it into a game like puppy-push-ups, or try recall games by tossing a kibble away from you and calling them back! And remember; adolescence can start between 6-12 months of age and last until 18-24 months. Take a breath, focus on the wins you and your dog have, learn from the oops moments and you'll both do great 🫶

DM me or email [email protected] to start your training journey, your pup will thank you 🍄🐾

| Dog walking | dog training | YVR Dog's | Dog Trainer |

09/20/2024

Boo 👻 we got a surprise for you!

With October just around the corner, I'm launching an October exclusive, 31 day sale where I will have plain old walks available for JUST $20! These aren't like our walk and trains, where I work on foundational skills, these are just a walk in your general area, but I promise you your pooch will thank you for it regardless!

Find our schedule and book today via the "book online" tab on sherbertservicedogs.com or copy this link (screenshot it if using insta)

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=33311683&appointmentType=68813681

| Dog walking | dog training | YVR Dog's | Dog Trainer |

09/19/2024

We get dogs to help our mental health, but sometimes they can make them worse? You're not alone in feeling this way. 🫶

I struggle with AuDHD (autism+ ADHD), so I am prone to feeling overwhelmed. But I never felt as overwhelmed as I did when I brought Albert home 3 years ago. New puppies are a lot of work! I thought I prepared, but it felt like I wasn't able to give him enough time, and maybe he'd do better with someone else. Obviously I kept Albert, he's my pride and joy, and taught me so much about training! But the first few months with him were rough, and I'm glad I had my family to help.

Welp. It's happening again with Hudson. He's great, and a lot of fun to train, but on top of everything it's overwhelming. Yep, even training professionals experience this stuff!

✨ If you're struggling, reach out to friends and family, I guarantee they've experienced some kind of difficulty with raising their dog.

✨ Focus on self care and activities that help you relax *without* your pup. Everyone needs a break!

✨ Set realistic training goals for yourself and your pup! It'll help with the feeling of being behind.

| Dog walking | Dog Training | YVR Dogs | Dog Trainer | Service Dogs|

09/16/2024

The best Walk & Train pups a girl could ask for 🥰💖

Brody (darker yellow) and Daisy (lighter yellow) have done SO WELL learning their leash manners on solo walks, so now I'm upping the ante to work on their skills together!

Looking for walking AND training services in one? Sign up for our Walk & Train program, and see our newest savings bundles to get more bang for your buck! 💸

🐾 Single walks : $45 for an hour
🐕 Multiple walks for a month: $345 (saves $15)
💖 Mon - Fri daily walks: $400 (saves $500!)

Email [email protected] to start your training journey and expand your dogs world 🌎🐕

| Dog walking | dog training | YVR Dog's | Dog Trainer |

09/12/2024

Well the cats (or puppy) is out of the bag 😉🤭
Please give a warm welcome to the newest recruit at Sherbert Service Dogs; Hudson!

Hudson is an 8 week old cream standard poodle puppy from in California and will be arriving to BC in the next few days! Hudson has been picked to train as a psychiatric service dog here with me.

*Please note Hudson has a placement already decided, and is a part of a pilot project at SSD that is in the testing stages*

We are now accepting new service clients; whether you have a puppy you want to train, or are getting a puppy from a breeder we'd love to help kickstart your life-saving sidekick's training journey. Email [email protected] to inquire today! 🐕‍🦺

09/09/2024

09/06/2024

It's here, and it's ALMOST time for Bark After Dark!! 🤗🥳

I've thought long and hard on what parks these classes will take place, and have decided on these 6. While two are not in Langley (one in Poco and one in Surrey) I hope you'll all love these parks as much as I do. You can sign up for the full set of 6 classes for $90 (use code BARKAFTERDARK6) or single classes for $20.

These classes will be reactive dog friendly, and I will advocate to the best of my ability for space and have tools on hand for unruly / off leash dogs in the park outside our group. Shoot an email to [email protected] if you have any questions and I can't wait to meet you and your pup!

09/04/2024

09/03/2024

New month means new availability! 🥳🙌

Moving into the fall, my day job shifts to late afternoon/early shifts so I will have weekday mornings and afternoons free for dog training woot woot!

Services available to book:
- Walk + Train
- Private Dog Training
- Service Dog Training
- Bark After Dark 6 week obedience classes
- Service Dog PA Tests
- Online pet dog & service dog training
Aaaaaaaaand a new online exclusive service I teased on my story--post with more details coming Friday! 🤭

Please bear with us about booking issues, Wix has been problematic with booking the last few weeks, and I am working to switch booking providers.