Walks with Jess - Dog Walking & Training

06/30/2025

Living the off-leash life!

One of my favourite things to do is go on adventures with my dog. Watching her be free and living her best life is a very gratifying experience.

The most important skill to do this safely is recall. Sega is trained to recall in four different ways. Three are audible and the other is a silent recall via a vibrating collar.

If you would love to teach your dog these valuable safety skills (and so much more!), message me to get started designing your custom training program

06/14/2025

I’m having so much fun in Muskoka, I’ve decided to extend the Try-Before-you-Buy sale to the end of the month of June!

If you would like a chance to get to know your trainer before you commit to a program, this is your chance!
Get a two hour class on sale for half price, and then have the option of signing up to a program with 10-15% off!

Message for your free phone evaluation today. Servicing Muskoka and surrounding regions with in-home, private, customizable lessons for reactivity, basic manners, puppy classes,sport coaching and so much more. Let’s get started on a training journey with your dog today!

Registered and insured business, with 17 years experience and great references

🐾 🐶 🐕

🏙️ 💥 Try-Before-You-Buy SALE - On now!💥 🏞️

To celebrate being part of a new community of dog owners and introduce myself 🙋‍♀️, I’m offering a sale for first time customers in Toronto and Muskoka 🏙️ 🏞️

For a limited time, receive a two hour private lesson (in-home) for half the price, $95 plus HST.

If you want to continue training after the initial class, sign up on the spot and receive 10% off a four week program, or 15% off a six week program! 😱

This is a huge savings and a great opportunity to get to know your trainer and ensure we’re a good fit before you commit to a program.

I’ve already met quite a few new clients in the area and I’m having a blast so far 🥳

Can’t wait to meet your pups this summer! DM to get started on your training journey 🦮🐾

Offer available until June 10, 2025. Phone Evaluation required (free of charge)

06/08/2025

💩

💩 Let’s talk about p**p! 💩

Gross topic, I know. However this is definitely something that I always address on our first class and with good reason!

Parasites and intestinal disorders are super common in puppies and for dogs that are around wildlife, farm animals or water. As well, high dog traffic areas like dog parks and daycares are a hotbed for many types of illness.

In a young pup, something like Giardia or tapeworms or roundworms can be pretty disruptive. Any parasite that is competing for your dogs nutrition is going to cause stress on your dog while it grows. This can lead to symptoms such as:

- Ravenous hunger OR
- Lack of appetite despite being underweight
- Hyperactivity and lack of focus OR
- Lethargy and lack of stamina
- Food/resource guarding and aggression
- P**p eating and eating inedible objects such as rocks/dirt
- Underweight puppies and dogs who are unable to gain weight despite increase in food portion
- Issues with potty training
- Gastro issues such as vomiting, loose stool, flatulence
- Excessive thirst
- Anxiety and reactivity

The good news is parasites and Giardia are a pretty easy fix. Every puppy should have their stool checked on their first vet visit and adults can benefit from testing if they have any of the above symptoms. I test my dog yearly just in case, and I’ve found something almost every time!

Many flea and tick pills will treat worms, but they will not treat Giardia or other pathogens. Also some of these illnesses are zoonotic which means they can pass to humans and other pets. This is why it’s important to do a stool check annually as it gives you insight into your dogs health. Deworming should happen at least once a year as a precaution for dogs living on farms and in rural areas. Finally, keep an eye on your dogs stool and speak to your vet if you notice a change in bathroom habits or any of the above symptoms.

Have you had to deal with parasites in your dog? Did you notice a change in behaviour?

**p

06/08/2025

Last chance! Sale ends this week

🏙️ 💥 Try-Before-You-Buy SALE - On now!💥 🏞️

To celebrate being part of a new community of dog owners and introduce myself 🙋‍♀️, I’m offering a sale for first time customers in Toronto and Muskoka 🏙️ 🏞️

For a limited time, receive a two hour private lesson (in-home) for half the price, $95 plus HST.

If you want to continue training after the initial class, sign up on the spot and receive 10% off a four week program, or 15% off a six week program! 😱

This is a huge savings and a great opportunity to get to know your trainer and ensure we’re a good fit before you commit to a program.

I’ve already met quite a few new clients in the area and I’m having a blast so far 🥳

Can’t wait to meet your pups this summer! DM to get started on your training journey 🦮🐾

Offer available until June 10, 2025. Phone Evaluation required (free of charge)

05/30/2025

Last call for anyone who wants to sign up! Space available, happening this weekend

🌊 SWIM WORKSHOP 🌊
When : May 31 @ 230pm - 6pm
Where : Beaver Lake, Erinsville
Cost : $45 plus HST

Last year, I taught a bunch of dogs how to swim and get comfortable with jumping in the water. Now the time has come again and I’m so excited!

Come join us and have both a human as well as a dog instructor teach your dog how to swim. Open to all ages and all dogs (Special arrangements can be made for reactive dogs) Life Jackets available and free treats on the house.

No human lifeguards available so this is for dogs only

Please message for details. Payment required to secure a spot, limited spots available. Last year was a huge hit and hoping for a bigger turnout this year

05/27/2025

🏙️ 💥 Try-Before-You-Buy SALE - On now!💥 🏞️

To celebrate being part of a new community of dog owners and introduce myself 🙋‍♀️, I’m offering a sale for first time customers in Toronto and Muskoka 🏙️ 🏞️

For a limited time, receive a two hour private lesson (in-home) for half the price, $95 plus HST.

If you want to continue training after the initial class, sign up on the spot and receive 10% off a four week program, or 15% off a six week program! 😱

This is a huge savings and a great opportunity to get to know your trainer and ensure we’re a good fit before you commit to a program.

I’ve already met quite a few new clients in the area and I’m having a blast so far 🥳

Can’t wait to meet your pups this summer! DM to get started on your training journey 🦮🐾

Offer available until June 10, 2025. Phone Evaluation required (free of charge)

05/22/2025

Just a reminder!

I’m a mobile service and currently servicing a 400km service area 😅 As a result, I spend an enormous amount of time driving. For this reason, you will often get (a very annoying) auto message when you message me on social media requesting that you call me for any questions or discussions on new programs. This is the very best (and safest) way for me to evaluate your training needs and essential for pricing quotes as all my services are custom, I do not offer a “one size fits all” approach. Please remember I am a small business and the sole employee, running the whole thing on my own so I appreciate your patience and compassion.
I LOVE to chat and it gives you the best chance to get to know me as well as ask any questions you may have. Phone consults are completely free and I can’t wait to hear from you! 613-449-7044

Sincerely,
Jessica (owner of )

05/19/2025

Summer is here! ☀️ Is your dog ready??

Now offering private, mobile training lessons across Ontario - in your home, neighbourhood, cottage or local park. Perfect for structuring lessons around distractions and situations your dog faces every day!

My customizable programs build on relationship and communication with your dog, using a balanced, LIMA system and explaining the science behind dog training! Versatile in many methods and techniques, flexible and open minded with over 16 years experience. Tailoring the training for both handler and dogs individual needs 💕 🐶

What is currently offered:

☀️ Private In-Home lessons (A trainer will come to your home to guide and teach you how to train your dog)
☀️ Group Class (A group of handlers and dogs practicing obedience together with an instructor leading them) *COMING SOON*
☀️ Seminar (Group instruction on a specific topic for humans only)
☀️ Workshop (A group class on a specific topic with dogs included)
☀️ Single lessons (90 mins)

Courses available:

🐾 Puppy preschool
🐾 Basic obedience
🐾 Advanced obedience
🐾 Reliable recall and off leash
🐾 Behavioural management ( Reactivity, aggression, fears and phobias)
🐾 Trick classes
🐾 Competitive obedience (Rally, Obedience)
🐾 Seminars (Dog behaviour, drive building, basic ownership, understanding the defensive dog)

How it works:

You are provided a free phone consultation to get to know you and your dog in which we can decide together which program will benefit you most!
Courses can be a custom length, four, six or eight weeks depending on your needs and goals.
All dog training is available privately, one on one, in your home or neighbourhood.

Looking forward to summer in the six! 🌆 Phone evaluations are free so give me a call and let’s get started!

05/14/2025

📣Puppy Class Registration Now Open!! 📣

POSTPONED START DATE

Calling all Muskoka puppies!

I’m looking for 4-6 pups under the age of five months to join my new Hybrid Puppy Foundations group class

What will be covered?

🐶 Recall (How to get your pup to always come when called)
🐶 Sit, Down, Stay and go to your bed
🐶 Loose leash walking and introducing how to walk beside the handler
🐶 How to politely greet people and dogs
🐶 Using Positive reinforcement in an effective and fun way!

What makes it hybrid?
Included in the package is a one hour phone consult to deal with some of the more specific challenges of raising a puppy such as:

🐾 How to teach puppy to love their crate
🐾 Solutions to common puppy behaviours like barking, biting and potty training
🐾 Get started on an appropriate routine for your puppy’s age
🐾 How to read your puppies emotions and behaviour and adjust your training to suit

This package includes four classes and a one hour phone call for a total price of $165 plus tax. These classes will take place outdoors at Gull Lake Rotary Park Gravenhurst

Does your pup need more specialized help? I also offer private inhome lessons for pups who are struggling in a group setting (and I help adult dogs too! 😜)

Fully Insured with over 16 years experience and hundreds of happy clients. Very excited to be working in Muskoka and can’t wait to get started

05/07/2025

📣 SEMINAR & WORKSHOP COMBO 📣

Last months Seminar was a huge success and I received a ton of positive feedback, you won’t want to miss this!

Join me on the weekend of May 31 and June 1 in Marlbank for a cost effective way to train your dog!

Seminar only cost: $60 + HST
Seminar and workshop combo: $150 + HST
Workshop only: $95 + HST (previous clients ONLY)

My seminar is an educational class for humans only, and the workshop the following day is a chance to bring your dog and apply the skills with one on one private coaching.

You are welcome to attend the humans only seminar on its own, but attendance to seminar is mandatory for a workshop spot for NEW clients. Previous clients are welcome to sign up for a workshop spot only (you guys know all the insider info already, but you’re welcome to join for the seminar too)

In my 16 years experience, I’ve found some common misconceptions and handling errors shared amongst pet dog owners. Despite the multitude of issues dogs have (reactivity, destructive behaviour, excitability etc) they all stem from the same core issues.

This seminar aims to explain and breakdown these issues and provide proven solutions to address them.

Once the handler learns how to properly communicate with their dog, training is easy!

This seminar will help to address:

🔸Barking and reactivity
🔸Crate training
🔸Drive states and how they effect training
🔸How dogs learn and how to teach them

The workshop is great for:

🔹Leash pulling
🔹Reactivity
🔹Recall
🔹Clicker training

Not sure if this is right for you? Drop me a message with any questions and I’m happy to chat about them

Get a jump on summer and start your dogs training journey today 🐶 Previous attendees of the seminar last month are welcome to snag a workshop spot

#613

05/07/2025

🌊 SWIM WORKSHOP 🌊
When : May 31 @ 230pm - 6pm
Where : Beaver Lake, Erinsville
Cost : $45 plus HST

Last year, I taught a bunch of dogs how to swim and get comfortable with jumping in the water. Now the time has come again and I’m so excited!

Come join us and have both a human as well as a dog instructor teach your dog how to swim. Open to all ages and all dogs (Special arrangements can be made for reactive dogs) Life Jackets available and free treats on the house.

No human lifeguards available so this is for dogs only

Please message for details. Payment required to secure a spot, limited spots available. Last year was a huge hit and hoping for a bigger turnout this year

02/23/2025

Not all dog training is the same.

Since the dog industry is mainly unregulated, it is saturated with information. Some good, some bad, some completely unknown… (I’m looking at you, TikTok)

Often, the first question someone asks me is, “How much?” Very rarely do I have questions about my skills, my methodology or where I got my education. And you SHOULD absolutely be asking these questions, as a consumer and as a dog owner.

While I understand how difficult things are for everyone financially right now, I can promise you that what you save initially on cheap training, you will eventually spend later when you have to hire another trainer because the problem wasn’t fixed. There is so many options out there and finding the right person to help you can be tricky

My programs offer a unique approach to training, mainly because they are custom and focus on educating the owner. No cookie cutter methods here. Often, I’m able to fix problems others can’t simply because I’m willing to think outside the box and try something new (or old!) and I can quickly see where the handler and dog lost communication.

I strongly believe that you have to adjust the training to both the dog AND the handler to be successful, and I’m always happy to experiment with a variety of methods to find the right combination for success. The more experience you have, the easier this is to do. If you have been struggling to find a solution for your dogs issue, then it might be worth a call for a free evaluation to see what options are available that you may not have tried yet. DM for more details, questions welcome!