The Companion Coach

The Companion Coach The Companion Coach was created with one goal in mind: to help humans and their furbest friends communicate better

Social media can be a lot of noise. I know I need to turn it off when I feel overwhelmed.And marketing often tells us to...
09/09/2025

Social media can be a lot of noise. I know I need to turn it off when I feel overwhelmed.

And marketing often tells us to lean into the negativity to grab attention, which I get—I do it too.

But sometimes I like to make posts to remind us all that we’re doing okay!

Train with food. Train with kindness. And reach out if you need support, I’m here ❤️

Dogs walking next to their human, head up, eye contact while they trot — makes for good content, I guess? Or maybe it ge...
09/06/2025

Dogs walking next to their human, head up, eye contact while they trot — makes for good content, I guess? Or maybe it gets you to book with them? Personally, I don’t see the appeal beyond it being a cool trick they know. Zig-zagging, though, is natural in the canine world. 😊

While we may want to get from point A to point B because we’re always in a hurry, dogs zig-zag to collect information, have a conversation, or explore out of curiosity. Whether they work in scent detection, bomb detection, or as service dogs, are hunting breeds, terriers, herders, or just young pups overwhelmed by the world, zig-zagging is simply how they experience life.

So no, they aren’t trying to p**s you off. They aren’t even thinking about you in that moment. They’re just enjoying life so let them.

Private sessions are now available for both in-person or virtually. Comment your dogs name if you want to talk more 🐾

08/29/2025

Your dog’s opinion of the treat matters more than yours.

In my last reel I talked about food as a humane tool for training new behaviours.

This time I wanted to show the value of different foods. I offered blueberries to five dogs—only one ate them. Could I train Ellie with blueberries? Probably (though I know she LOVES beef liver). The other four? Nope. I’d need something higher value if I wanted to train them.

There’s plenty of research showing positive reinforcement is effective. If it feels like it’s not working for you, maybe it’s not the method. Maybe it’s the food. If your dog doesn’t see value in it, why would they work for it?

*And yes, before the trolls come: only one dog actually sat (not half). The sit wasn’t the focus—I was showing the value of food, and the “sit” was just a suggestion. I said okay and moved on.*

Interested in talking more about sessions? Comment your dogs name and I’ll send ya a message 😊🐾

08/27/2025

Dog training isn’t about bribing with treats… unless it’s bath time 😉🐾.

Food is just a tool — what really matters is how we use it. Timing, environment, and body language are huge pieces of the puzzle (and the ones most people overlook). But that’s only scratching the surface. Reinforcement history, schedules, criteria… the list goes on.

That’s the nerdy side of training I love teaching — the why behind the what.

If you’re ready to stop feeling like you’re speaking a different language from your dog, you’re in the right place!

✨ Follow for more of the science-y, practical stuff
✨ DM me if you’re curious about private sessions
✨ Or drop a comment: what’s one little thing you do when you ask your dog to sit? Do your eyes shift, do you step right or back, raise your hand, or even wiggle your fingers?

Let me know⬇️😊

I’m serious about this, btw.There’ve been a few times where I’ve run into clients outside of sessions, and the first thi...
08/03/2025

I’m serious about this, btw.
There’ve been a few times where I’ve run into clients outside of sessions, and the first thing they say is how busy they are. But they’re working on it, or they’ll call me eventually for the next session.

Life is busy. Changing behavior in ourselves and our dogs takes time.
As long as you’re seeing progress, I know I’m doing my job and that you’re happy.

Anyway, keep killing it at life and talk soon ✌🏻

This post was inspired by my own late-night searching: “How do I make my business better?” “Wait, I have to show proof o...
02/17/2025

This post was inspired by my own late-night searching: “How do I make my business better?” “Wait, I have to show proof of before-and-afters with my clients? That’s the only way to prove success and get more clients!?” “Ugh, here’s another thing I’m apparently doing wrong in marketing.”

The anxiety, the worry, and all the “Here’s the one mistake you’re making” posts can make us forget how much effort we’ve already put into our journey.

So please enjoy this post—you’re doing amazing, and I’m so proud of you! 😊🐾

According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, there’s an optimal level of arousal for learning to take place. However, just like u...
01/28/2025

According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, there’s an optimal level of arousal for learning to take place. However, just like us, dogs can slip into a more relaxed or frustrated state, making it harder for them to focus and learn.

If your dog slips into a relaxed state, check if they need a nap. If they’re not tired, try getting them engaged with exciting toys, introducing new challenges, or offering some physical or mental exercise to get their energy up.

If your dog is frustrated or anxious, give them breaks, try calming techniques like massage or soothing music, or create a quiet space for them to reset. Letting them sniff or lick something can also help them decompress.

Remember, self-regulation is a process, just like it is for us. We all learn to regulate our emotions at different stages in life, and the same goes for our dogs. Take it one day at a time and celebrate those small wins for both yourself and your dog!

Make sure to scroll all the way to the last goal—it’s where I’ve saved the most important one 😉❤️I’ve come up with a few...
12/31/2024

Make sure to scroll all the way to the last goal—it’s where I’ve saved the most important one 😉❤️

I’ve come up with a few fun New Year’s Resolutions you can easily do with your dog anytime this year! Forget ‘New Year, New Me’—you and your dog are stepping into 2025 with an open mind and a playful attitude.

I’m still here to guide you with obedience training, education through play, and body language. And if you’re planning a field trip but feeling a little nervous, reach out to me for support while you plan. I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you and your dog will achieve this year!

Have any other resolutions to add? Leave a comment—I’d love to hear them, and I’m sure other pet parents would love the inspiration! 🐾

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our family to yours! ❤️Ellie (our CEO) has an important announcement for all her...
12/25/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our family to yours! ❤️

Ellie (our CEO) has an important announcement for all her fellow pups: She hopes Santa spoiled each and every one of you and that your day is filled with love, laughter, food, more food, and even more food!

I also want to thank all the humans for being part of our journey this year. I’ve loved playing, petting, teaching, talking, and celebrating all the small wins your dogs have achieved!

Stay tuned for Ellie’s New Year’s picture—she’s going to look adorable! 😂

Before becoming a dog trainer, I spent years in counseling positions helping men and women heal and thrive. During that ...
12/13/2024

Before becoming a dog trainer, I spent years in counseling positions helping men and women heal and thrive. During that time, I encountered many different anger styles, ranging from those who didn’t allow themselves to feel anger at all, to others who became very volatile and had little self-control in the face of this emotion—and everything in between.

What I learned is that every single person feels anger. The key is learning how anger shows up for you and then using that insight to take specific actions that help you become more comfortable with it.

You’re not a bad person if you feel anger towards your dog, partner, child, or friend. In fact, I’d argue that you’re actually awesome for recognizing and naming how you’re feeling in your relationships.

My DMs and comments are open for your thoughts. Feel free to share this post with a fellow pet parent as well. ❤️

Let’s put a face to The Companion Coach!Hey, my name is Amanda, and I’m a certified dog trainer based in the Milton/Halt...
12/10/2024

Let’s put a face to The Companion Coach!

Hey, my name is Amanda, and I’m a certified dog trainer based in the Milton/Halton area of Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦.

I started my business because everywhere I turned—on TV, YouTube, Instagram, and even in my own neighborhood—all I saw were dominance-based training methods. The relationship-building aspect between humans and their dogs was often missing entirely.

I’ll never forget when another trainer turned to me and said, “Oh, positive reinforcement is great for puppies…” as if older dogs needed punishment-based tools to learn. That moment made me realize how important my voice and perspective are in this industry.

Too often, I hear stories about how dogs are treated, and it drives me to do better—for the dogs and their humans. My goal is to help dogs learn in a humane environment that’s built on patience, love, joy, and fun. I also aim to equip pet parents with the skills and knowledge they need to avoid relying on tools that could cause more harm than good.

Every animal (us included) deserves a safe place to learn, grow, and make mistakes.

So, welcome to my page! Take a look around, get to know me, and feel free to reach out—I’d love to connect and be a part of your journey with your dog.

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Milton, ON

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Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 8pm

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