Southern Alberta's Advanced Certified Dog Trainer is Perfect for your Private Training needs! Utilizing the natural environment - where learning happens!
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Providing professional dog training and behaviour consultation in the comfort of your home and your community! By using the science of positive training and behaviour modifications, Tara has the tools to help each individual succeed with their fur-pal! Taras programs start from her unique and individualized assessments, consultations and training from Puppy-hood, through Junior's self-control, and
Adult basic obedience for urban confidence and safety! Educating every canine companion pet owners through, positive, ethical and science-based skills and motivation.
11/18/2024
Connect with an industry-leading Certified Professional Dog Trainer who takes a behaviourist approach.
Currently supporting communities like Brooks, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw SK and GROWING!
Connect for 2 hours virtually through " Google Meet"!
You can address everything from before you rescue/foster/adopt/purchase to addressing complex behaviours like fear, anxiety, reactivity and aggressive responding behaviours.
The $95 fee is also used as your deposit for any future in-person or remote/virtual training and consultation services.
To honor those that have fallen and to those that are still fighting for my freedom, I will be closed for November 11th 2024.
For the people and animals that sacrificed everything from body to mind to soul - I will remember and I am eternally greatful!
10/19/2024
It's time for a short vacay!
I'll be closed today through until the 21st. I will respond to connections, new intakes and communications starting on the 22nd.
Thank you!
Tara Martice, dcbc, cpdt-ksa,
Fear Free Certified Animal Trainer www.taramartice.com
10/19/2024
Every year it's great!
FB says it’s canceled, what do they know?!
Come join us TODAY at the Medicine Hat Stampede Pavilion!
10/16/2024
Can you guess the four different breeds this dog has?
10/16/2024
Dogs with different needs - oh my!
Here's the list we are working on:
Self-control - Barking - Basic Skills
Neighborly neighbours (kids + dogs)
What should be and not be reinforced
Leash frustration and reactivity
Guess which dog just hit their second fear imprint period?
10/10/2024
Oops, I did it again.
Got judged and rated independently.
No voting or spamming needed.
My clients are the ones making the real difference everyday!
I thank everyone including my local long standing business partners:
Lexie's Pet Care Funny Farm Canine True North K9 Compound Animal World
And to the Veterinarians that have referred my services....(I see your names on my intake form).
Again, I humbly thank you! 🙏🐾🤘
09/27/2024
Different breeds have different needs - even when they live in the same household.
No two dogs are the same - even when they come from the same litter or are of the same breed, age, and s*x.
However, the need to be a dog is the same, and their individual choice of activity needs to be enriching for them, while surviving in our society and living in our homes.
House training can be so much easier when the Breeder has already started the behaviour and training process of getting the puppies to go potty away from where it eats and sleep - OUTSIDE!
Louie here showed of his skills so brilliantly! He is already starting to initiate the comunication to go potty outside, rather than the people initiating him to go outside.
Are you a Breeder and want to set your litters up for success?
I cant do any better then what Matt Beisner shows us, but I talk about it all the time with my clients.
My intake form even has that burning question:
"What is your dogs sleeping pattern"?
....and sometimes...there is that responce...."Doesn't sleep".....
- and that's typically what we address first.
Rest - Regulation - Recovery.
So Brilliant!
07/27/2024
Im 20 minutes out of Medicine Hat this morning and I'm here to set a busy family up for success!
What is amazing is that I recieved their call while they were driving to pick up their puppy!
AMAZING AND I LOVE IT!
As they were on their way, I gave them some free advise on how to conduct some tests to observe the puppies handling ability and startle effect responce.
I also advised that yjere where 3 things that they should be focusing one first before anything else:
1. House training
2. Self-Control
3. Socialization
That was 2 days ago.
Today, I got to meet Miss Lucy and the whole fam-jam!
Acreage dogs are different than urban dogs. The life and enviornment is different. Therefore the dog will be different, however expectations are simular.
With the top 3 goals in mind we worked on:
🐾 House training
🐾 Handling and acceptance training
🐾 Collar grabs & Nuggie Head training
🐾 Anit-resource guarding training
🐾 Leash Handling training
🐾 Marker training
🐾 Canine Communication
🐾 Self control with Bowl feeding
🐾 Socilalizatuion
We will be checking in on the first Goal here in 1 week before moving on to funner stuff like recall and leave it !
The kids have their star charts and the dogs developmental phases calender is being created! Why?
Kids need reinforcement for doing what is good and everyone needs to know when the dog is experiencing a development change like flight, fear and my most favorite - testing/defiant/independent - "I'm not going to listen to you two leggers -just cuz phase.
As the heat advisory keeps on, my modified training times remains the same until further notice.
My early morning outdoor training bookings have started as early as 5am, however has ended as early as 10am. 🥵
My phone and virtual consultations are open and have increased to get or keep you going!
I'd like to share a reminder to all:
✅️It is right OK to take training breaks!
✅️Due to competing schedules.
✅️Due to your health.
✅️Due to long weather extremes.
✅️Due to your dogs health.
✅️Due to just needing a break!
So, Yes - Breaks are necessary to life.
How do I (a trainer) utilize the available safe time with my dog?
Here is a typical day with Benji these days:
🐯🦌We will go out very late at night when it's cooler to target self-control behaviour with deer and cats.🌌
(Maybe 15 to 20 minutes in key locations).
As he relaxes from that - i cook/clean before bed time! (KONG STUFFING TIME)
While he's eating breakfast, I'm out working with you!
When im back, we have short sessions of his favorite play activity "Ball" incorporated with a few micro grooming activities (nails and coat maintenance).
And my favorite - clicker training on new behaviours. 🎯
Benji tells me when he's done when he disengages and/or that tongue starts to drop. 🐶
As he disengages from activity, I'm doing a set of therapeutic excersises. 🏋♀️
But after a time of play, relax, train, relax, grooming, relax, play, relax, train.....he's all ready for the fat nap with a super stuffed frozen KONG.
This is when I go out for more work or office time, I maybe studing👩💻 or relaxing myself 🧘♀️.
All of the micro training sessions are building up to the activities come cooler weather like paddle boarding and building body awareness and strength.
Need help, direction or insight to get you to your goals?👇
The whole health and safety of you and your dogs are important to me!
Did you know:
⚠️Your dog runs naturally at 101 degrees (give or take a degree).
⚠️That training/ exercise can increase arousal.
⚠️An increase of arousal can increase your dogs' core temperature.
⛔️That when you combine external heat, exercise/training, plus their natural core temp, that can make for a very uncomfortable and sick dog.
😅 If you see that dog tongue start to drop, it's time to end training or your exercises. Yes, this means your training/ exercise session could only last 5 minutes!
Your dog has only one method to keep the blood in its head cool - panting.😮💨
So I would like to thank all my clients and for actively keeping their pets safe and cool during this heat wave.
Rebooking can be tough when we are working through complex behavior modification programs, but I stand by my S.I.T.E. values.
Safety - Integrity - Transparency - Education
I'm booking as early as 5am for outdoor work like recall, walking, and behavioir modification, and that last appointments start at 10 am (for indoor consultation and foundations training sessions).
Happy Summer, and Please Stay Cool!
Sincerely - Your Dog Trainer,
Tara Martice, dcbc, cpdt-ksa
Fear Free Certified Animal Trainer
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Videos
Dogs that want to be under our skin. AKA "Velcro Dogs".
A dogs connection is a basic need, however it can get out of control with our personal space needs.
Alternative: teach to sit on lap or beside you when your sitting. Reinforcemrnt: Calm and not too repetitive.
To my local dog trainer colleague and friend Funny Farm Canine , Benji accepts the challenge of the Half Labs!
However, as his guardian and knowing what he likes and doesn't like, he is not so used to tight enclosed indoor places with lots of people and feels Miss Princess has the advantage.
He's used to outdoor fun like swimming and learning to paddle boad.
See you this Friday for some game fun!
Yo, Funny Farm Canine ,
My bad for sending my Ben - Bens reply late, as I was not feeling well these past few days and he was too busy working on his snuggling techniques to comfort me.
Now, I don't speak for him when it comes to his circle of doggos, so please don't shoot the messenger!
As proactive pet parents, it my be high time that they hash out their differences in a more constructive way.
#battleofthehalflabs
Dear Funny Farm Canine ,
Benji recognizes that he really needs to stop mounting her and her sister and his mom is very appreciative for all the appropriate tell offs and learning opportunities.
However, in regards to Aurora's superiority complex, and the fact he lives a different lifestyle then her, he has this to say in responce to your post yesterday.....
Benji reminded me to let you know that there are some upcoming days that I will be fully closed.
March 30th, 31st, April 1st, 2nd and 3rd with bookings to restart on the 4th.
Please keep in mind that I am currently booking 2 weeks in advance without triaging.
Thank You and Happy Training!
Tara Martice, dcbc, cpdt-ksa
Fear Free Certified Trainer
www.taramartice.com
I started just like you, a pet dog owner and guardian to share my life and adventures with. I never knew it would take me where I am today, a multi-certified dog trainer and advocate.
When I made the decision in 2010 to get a dog and made sure that I have the home, lifestyle and budget to sustain this new life. I went on the hunt to find my match, and it wasn't easy, as I wanted to make sure that this life was going to be able to keep up with my outdoor activities, but also have the ability to be calm and cuddly. Large breed dogs always had my heart, and there are so many different breed types, I had a hard time determining what was right for me.
So after doing 6 months of online assessment matching and researching every breed type for their individual requirements, I came across the Chesapeake Bay Retriever - I fell in Love! Their reserved but focused temperament matched mine, and the fact that they are bred to be outdoorsy even in winter was a great quality! However, there came a warning of having a Chessie...”They are not for the average dog owner”. This particular breed needs to have their training maintained as they are very independent, again I recognized that as an additional positive for my match as I always loved to learn and grow. So, I decided to start looking for my Chessie and found a family just outside of Calgary, Alberta.
Mac came from clean breading lines as his father was a 95-pound very reserved stud and his mother a sleek, calm and engaging 65 lbs beauty. Mac got the best of both worlds with one little hiccup - a genetic blip that made his coat go shaggy and soft, not the short, tight curly coat in typical Chessies. We bonded instantly and with Mac’s mom's content, I started the transition into my urban world and home.
Mac stayed with his littermates for an additional 2 weeks, and what I know now - defiantly made the difference in bringing him home with some training already started and obtained. Mac was super quick to be house trained, and thank the Dog Gods for that! I lived in a 3 story rental walk up and made a quick study on Mac’s “I Got To Go!” signals and stair running exercises! In less than 1 week we got kennel training, alone training and house training done! What sweetness for my first dog as a single adult!
This - this right here is where I started really training Mac and got the idea to become a dog trainer. Our first Camping trip! I had no idea what I was doing in regards to training an animal. What I did know, is that I wanted my dog to remain calm and collect when other dogs and people walked by our site. That he did not lose his marbles when I needed to go get wood. I also want Mac to be happy learning and to trust me. So, I started training on some sit stays with distance using his food and some treats. I had the help of my neighbours to watch him for me as it was too hot to leave him in the car for any length of time. I got great feedback from my neighbourly observers and happily reported that he was doing just fine. Apparently, Mac would be watching the spot where he last sees me, waiting patiently for me to come back. On the 3rd day of our campout, my neighbours were packing up, and stopped by to talk. “We have been watching you train your dog, and we love what we have been seeing. We are retired dog trainers who wanted to know if you ever considered becoming a dog trainer?
Wow, I had no idea....”Dog Trainer” That's all that was needed to plant the seed. As the rest of my vacation carried on, I started to think about what I would need to know and do, to become a dog trainer. What’s a dog trainer? Well, that's a loaded question! So, I made some tasks to address when we got back home, like talking to the local shelter, researching dog trainers...and well - all I got was more questions. So, I reached out to the first opportunity to start volunteering with people and dogs at the Calgary Humane Society. Within a few years, I had accumulated experienced hours walking shelter dogs, learning about instructing people with the foundation aspects of canine communication, learning theory, basic obedience and handling as a Behaviour Class assistant in their Polite Pooches class. These were great starting resources and experiences for me, but I wanted and needed more!
