The Dog Guy

04/06/2025

We are happy to announce that we have been invited back to Pet Valu in STITTSVILLE this Saturday, April 12 for another day of FREE consultation on dog behaviour.

If your dog barks too much, bolts out the door, digs holes in the yard, reacts at the window or when they’re on leash, is fearful, anxious or exhibits any other types of unwanted behaviours, please drop by for some simple solutions.

Ellie May and I will be at the store from 10 to 6.

We will also be at Pet Valu in:

Manotick on Saturday, April 26,
Orleans on Sunday, April 27.

If your dog is reactive you can leave them in the car and we will go see them.

www.thedogguy.co

The Dog Guy
Vulnerable PAWS Project
Pet Valu

04/05/2025

FREE CONSULTATION ON DOG BEHAVIOUR THIS SATURDAY APRIL 12th AT PET VALU IN STITTSVILLE

04/05/2025

04/04/2025

HOW TO GET YOUR DOG TO LISTEN

CHECK YOUR ENERGY

Only humans follow irrational leaders, Want your dog to listen ? Always be calm and confident

BE CONSISTENT

If your dog is receiving different messages from you, and other family members it can be very confusing and hard for them to follow. Sit down as a family and create a plan on how to proceed.

REMOVE EXCESS ENERGY

A tired dog is a good dog. A daily walk or a walk on a treadmill will go a long way to drain your dog's energy.

GO BACK TO BASICS

Does your dog truly know the command ? It can take hundreds of repeititions for a dog to learn a new command, practice makes perfect !

STOP RELYING ON VERBAL COMMANDS

Dog's dont speak to each other, they communicate through energy and body language.
Even if they know a command, they may rely more on a non- verbal cue you give at the same time, something you may not even realize you are doing.

04/03/2025

The owners of this eight month old Golden Doodle reached out to The Dog Guy to take advantage of our puppy package.

We visited the owners in Perth because they had some concerns that their dog was barking too much including at them when they were talking on the phone, biting them so much that they bled. He would jump on guests, and had absolutely no concept of personal space. He would also destroy toilet paper whenever he had an opportunity.

They had enrolled in a basic obedience course at a local trainers, which is very important. But, it’s more important to understand how your dog interprets the world and what they need to remain in a balanced state.

The only ‘tool’ we use is a leash from the dollar store!

Covering the area from Ottawa to Kingston with full support for the rest of your dog’s life.

We are looking forward to doing more FREE consultations on dog behaviour in the month of April. We will be at:

Pet Valu in STITTSVILLE April 12
Pet Valu in MANOTICK on April 26 and
Pet Valu in ORLEANS on April 27.

www.thedogguy.co

04/02/2025

We don’t get to work with Shelties too often, and this eight month old puppy is a real sweetie.

The owners reached out to THE DOG GUY for an in-home visit to work on some concerns that they had. Their dog would bark at guests, the neighbours, other dogs and even geese and planes that flew by. His recall was nonexistent and he dug holes in the backyard and ate the wood trim in the house. He also had an unhealthy obsession with Kleenex.

After educating the owners on how to build a relationship with their dog and giving them specific techniques to work on any unwanted behaviours, I am happy to say that they are making progress.

If you’re interested in finding more about our services, we have made arrangements to do three consultations this month. We will be at:

Pet Valu in STITTSVILLE on April 12th
Pet Valu in MANOTICK on April 26th
Pet Valu in ORLÉANS on April 27th

www.thedogguy.co

04/01/2025

YOU SHOULDN’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET, ESPECIALLY FROM THE WELL ORGANIZED, WELL FUNDED DOG TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS

03/31/2025

These two Irish Doodles have some behaviours that the their owners want to get under control.

Atlas and Spartan are reactive on the leash and do a lot of barking when visitors arrive.

The owners reached out to a local trainer who met them at the park and gave their dog treats!

The Dog Guy takes a different approach. We show you how to build a relationship with your dog through the feeding, greeting and walking rituals so they can trust and respect you. After this bond is created, we give you specific techniques to work on any unwanted behaviours.

We visited these guys in Kemptville, we cover the area from Ottawa to Kingston. We also offer full support after our visit.

Looking forward to our next free consultation on dog behaviour at Pet Valu, in Stittsville on April 12, we will be there from 10 to 5. If you have any concerns about your dog’s behaviour, or you’re thinking about getting a puppy or a rescue, please drop by.

www.thedogguyy.co

03/31/2025

While there’s plenty of folks who will happily tell you no such thing is needed, and your heart will happily agree with them, reality doesn’t much care about those pedaling falsehoods, or your emotional preferences.

We can continue to go down this road of denial and delusion, but I promise you you’ll only end up deeper in the struggle—and so will your dog.

There’s a reason any honest and knowledgeable trainer can typically stop most of the unwanted behaviors that are making your life miserable; and do so close to immediately—because they’re not enveloped in denial or delusion. Sure they have more skills and knowledge, but their primary advantage is a firm grasp on reality and an unwillingness to dance around it.

And a large part of that embrace of reality is the embrace of skillfully applied, emotionally neutral punishment. Of course they teach the other stuff—the behaviors you DO want—but that’s easy…both to do and to talk about. Punishment is the elephant in the room; the elephant very few want to look squarely in the eyes.

That all said, it’s your life and your call. You get to do this dog training and dog-living-with thing however you want. But from where I stand, and from the dogs and owners I see who are both struggling and miserable and in need of help, the avoidance of that which can transform all this struggle and misery is both selfish and emotionally immature.

Choosing to bring a dog into your life SHOULD mean choosing to do all that is beneficial for them, including—perhaps especially including—that which is difficult, uncomfortable, and emotionally challenging.

03/30/2025

Thanks so much to Allison and the rest of the staff at Pet Valu in Arnprior. On Saturday we held a free consultation on dog behaviour and it went exceptionally well. We gave advice to people who had dogs that barked too much, bolted out the door, chased squirrels, pulled on the leash, jumped, were fearful and dogs who were leash reactive.

It’s always great to give back to the community that has supported over the past 19 years.

We are happy to announce that we will be doing more consultations in the area.

We will be at

Pet Valu in STITTSVILLE on April 12
Pet Valu in MANOTICK April 26
Pet Valu in ORLEANS on April 27th.
We will also be at Wags, Whiskers and Wings in MERRICKVILLE on May 17.

If you have any concerns about your dog’s unwanted behaviours and want some simple solutions, please drop by.

As always, we will be collecting for the Vulnerable Paws Association.

If your dog is reactive, you can leave them in the car and we will go see them.

www.thedogguy.co

The Dog Guy
Vulnerable PAWS Project
Pet Valu
Pet Valu Convent Glen Shopping Centre
Wags Whiskers & Wings

03/27/2025

THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 29th WE WILL BE AT PET VALU IN ARNPRIOR FROM 9 to 6 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION ON DOG BEHAVIOUR

03/27/2025

It’s been two years since we expanded our pack and got a new Japanese Chin.

I am happy to say that Kelso has been a great addition, he gets along with all dogs, loves people, and doesn’t bark unless he’s letting us know that there’s something we should be aware of.

He hasn’t made it to any of our free consultations at local pet stores yet, but it won’t be long before he tags along.

www.thedogguy.co

03/26/2025

SECRETS TO HOUSEBREAKING AN OLDER DOG

Always make sure that there are no physical problems with your dog that is causing them to go in your house and not go outside.

USE SCHEDULED FEEDINGS

In the dog world is natural for them to make a kill and then eat, they don't have access to a constant food source,
So it is best for them to have consistent feeding times. Once they are done take the food away, that way they don't have extra food in their bellys.
Try and bring your dog outside to go withing twenty minutes of eating.

REWARD THE GOOD BEHAVIOUR

When your dog does go outside reward them with praise or treats, do this right away that way you are reinforcing the wanted behaviour.

STARTLE, DON'T SCARE

When you do catch your dog going in the house (not five minutes later) give a gentle clap to stop them and then immediatly bring them outside to complete their business. Once they are done going outside gently praise them.

WATCH THEM CLOSELY

Most dogs tell you they need to go outside. Some stare at you , some go to the outside door and some actually bark at you. Crating may be necessary if your dog does not tell you what their intentions are.

SCRUB, THEN SCRUB AGAIN

Dogs do have mistakes. The issue is that dogs will go in the same place over and over again, because it is safe to do so, and they are remarking their territory.
Make sure you clean the area with a bleach cleaner with an enzyme killing soap to get rid of the smell.

03/25/2025

MOST TRAINERS DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH OUR BEHAVIOUR AFFECTS OUR DOGS-WE DO

03/22/2025

Absolutely this! 😔 They can call it whichever emotive description that they like! It’s utterly disgraceful 😡

03/21/2025

DOG BEHAVING BADLY?

Ellie May and I are looking forward to doing our next FREE consultation on dog behaviour at Pet Valu in ARNPRIOR this Saturday, March 29th, we will be there from 9 AM to 6 PM.

If you would like to find out why your dog is acting a certain way and find out some simple solutions to solve the problem, please drop by.

If your dog:

Jumps on you or your guests
Bark excessively
Bolts out the door.
Begs from the table
Pulls or shuts downs on the walk
Is leash reactive
Barks at the window
If you plan on getting a new puppy or
If you have a baby on the way, or any other concerns, please drop by

If you have been to a trainer and haven’t got the results that you expected don’t give up. We take a more practical approach to dog rehabilitation than others.

If your dog is reactive, you can leave them in the car and we will go see them.

As always we are accepting donations to the Vulnerable Paws Project.

We have also made arrangements to do more consultations in the area we will be at:

Pet Valu in Manotick on April 26
Pet Valu in Orleans on April 27 and
Wags Whiskers and Wings in Merrickville on May 17

More locations coming soon!

www.thedogguy.co

Vulnerable PAWS Project
Pet Valu
The Dog Guy
Wags Whiskers & Wings

03/20/2025

EVER WATCH A DOMINANT CAT AND A DOG WALK DOWN A HALLWAY?
NOTICE WHO GOES FIRST?