https://www.facebook.com/100578352590120/

Fir + Bark Training, Squamish Valley Road, Squamish, BC (2024)

Swipe for client reviews 🥰 📧: firandbark@gmail.com

09/18/2024

Swipe for client reviews 🥰

📧: [email protected]

06/21/2024

We are stoked to announce our summer kick off Squamish Community Pack Walk! July 9th @ 6pm 🐺

Location: Fir + Bark Training facility in Squamish, BC. 38902 Bowen Ave

We will gather in the parking area and do a 45 minute pack walk. Please remain outside in a dedicated space with your dog ensuring you do not allow face to face interactions best you can with others waiting to begin the walk. This area has plenty of room for us to spread out, open concept with high visibility and a low amount of traffic

This is a structured environment. The key to a successful pack walk is the rhythm of the walk, we like to keep the flow moving. We will be walking at a casual pace that works for most fitness levels

Dogs walk spread out to start. Possibly by the end of the walk, some dogs pack in a bit closer together while other dogs just enjoy the vibe from a safe distance which is great too! Keeping your dog under their threshold is extremely important. If you need to break off and do a reset, go for it! The Fir and Bark team will be there as support to give guidance or help where needed

Dogs can safely and happily socialize without physically interacting. Even though the dogs are not touching each other, they can smell and see the other dogs/people which is considered great socialization

Dogs do not meet they are learning to co exist calming and confidently. No face-to-face introductions, no direct sniffing. Dogs noses are incredible, just being within the same general area is enough to grab a lot of scent for the purpose of this walk

No flexi leashes or long lines. Must be walked in standard length leash, no longer than 6 feet. Dogs must remain on leash at all times

Max 1 dog per handler

Rain or shine! We are excited to have some fun with no judgements 🤟🏼

If you have any questions on whether or not this pack walk is going to be the appropriate environment for you and your dog please send me a DM and we can chat about it!

This is a FREE event!

PS - will be there taking photos! Everyone who attends will receive $25 credit towards a photo shoot with her to be used within 1 yr ✨

04/08/2024

BUDDY 🤍

03/25/2024

QUEST! 😜

03/04/2024

BEETHOVEN 🤍

01/15/2024

LENI 🤍

11/22/2023

PERSEPHONE 🤍

11/19/2023

Who is excited for another Squamish Community Pack Walk?! November 26 @ noon 🐺

Location: Fir + Bark Training facility in Squamish, BC. 38902 Bowen Ave. This event is free!

We will gather in the parking area and do a 45 minute pack walk. Please remain outside in a dedicated space with your dog ensuring you do not allow face to face interactions best you can with others waiting to begin the walk. This area has plenty of room for us to spread out, open concept with high visibility and a low amount of traffic

This is a structured environment. The key to a successful pack walk is the rhythm of the walk, we like to keep the flow moving. We will be walking at a casual pace that works for most fitness levels

Dogs walk spread out to start. Possibly by the end of the walk, some dogs pack in a bit closer together while other dogs just enjoy the vibe from a safe distance which is great too! Keeping your dog under their threshold is extremely important. If you need to break off and do a reset, go for it! The Fir and Bark team will be there as support to give guidance or help where needed

Dogs can safely and happily socialize without physically interacting. Even though the dogs are not touching each other, they can smell and see the other dogs/people which is considered great socialization

Dogs do not meet they are learning to co exist calming and confidently. No face-to-face introductions, no direct sniffing. Dogs noses are incredible, just being within the same general area is enough to grab a lot of scent for the purpose of this walk

No flexi leashes or long lines. Must be walked in standard length leash, no longer than 6 feet. Dogs must remain on leash at all times

Max 2 dogs per handler

Rain or shine! We are stoked to have some fun with no judgments 🤟🏼

If you have any questions on whether or not this pack walk is going to be the appropriate environment for you and your dog please send me a DM and we can chat about it

This event is free!

PS - will be there taking photos! Everyone who attends will receive $25 credit towards a photo shoot with her to be used within 1 yr ✨

11/18/2023

WHISKEY + BELLA 🤍

10/11/2023

Psst! Did you hear we are hosting another Squamish Community Pack Walk?! October 22nd @ noon 🐺

Location: Fir + Bark Training facility in Squamish, BC. 38902 Bowen Ave

We will gather in the parking area and do a 45 minute pack walk. Please remain outside in a dedicated space with your dog ensuring you do not allow face to face interactions best you can with others waiting to begin the walk. This area has plenty of room for us to spread out, open concept with high visibility and a low amount of traffic

This is a structured environment. The key to a successful pack walk is the rhythm of the walk, we like to keep the flow moving. We will be walking at a casual pace that works for most fitness levels

Dogs walk spread out to start. Possibly by the end of the walk, some dogs pack in a bit closer together while other dogs just enjoy the vibe from a safe distance which is great too! Keeping your dog under their threshold is extremely important. If you need to break off and do a reset, go for it! The Fir and Bark team will be there as support to give guidance or help where needed

Dogs can safely and happily socialize without physically interacting. Even though the dogs are not touching each other, they can smell and see the other dogs/people which is considered great socialization

Dogs do not meet they are learning to co exist calming and confidently. No face-to-face introductions, no direct sniffing. Dogs noses are incredible, just being within the same general area is enough to grab a lot of scent for the purpose of this walk

No flexi leashes or long lines. Must be walked in standard length leash, no longer than 6 feet. Dogs must remain on leash at all times

One dog per handler

Rain or shine! We are stoked to have some fun with no judgments 🤟🏼

If you have any questions on whether or not this pack walk is going to be the appropriate environment for you and your dog please send me a DM and we can chat about it!

PS - will be there again taking photos! ✨

10/06/2023

Snickers! 🤍

09/08/2023

NORMA 🤍

06/19/2023

BECKY 🤍

04/07/2023

It’s happening! Another Squamish Community Pack Walk Sunday, April 23rd @ noon 🐺

Location: Fir + Bark Training facility in Squamish, BC. 38902 Bowen Ave

We will gather in the parking area and do a 45 minute pack walk. Please remain outside in a dedicated space with your dog ensuring you do not allow face to face interactions best you can with others waiting to begin the walk. This area has plenty of room for us to spread out, open concept with high visibility and a low amount of traffic

This is a structured environment. The key to a successful pack walk is the rhythm of the walk, we like to keep the flow moving. We will be walking at a casual pace that works for most fitness levels

Dogs walk spread out to start. Possibly by the end of the walk, some dogs pack in a bit closer together while other dogs just enjoy the vibe from a safe distance which is great too! Keeping your dog under their threshold is extremely important. If you need to break off and do a reset, go for it! The Fir and Bark team will be there as support to give guidance or help where needed

Dogs can safely and happily socialize without physically interacting. Even though the dogs are not touching each other, they can smell and see the other dogs/people which is considered great socialization

Dogs do not meet they are learning to co exist calming and confidently. No face-to-face introductions, no direct sniffing. Dogs noses are incredible, just being within the same general area is enough to grab a lot of scent for the purpose of this walk

No flexi leashes or long lines. Must be walked in standard length leash, no longer than 6 feet. Dogs must remain on leash at all times

One dog per handler

Rain or shine! We are stoked to have some fun with no judgments 🤟🏼

If you have any questions on whether or not this pack walk is going to be the appropriate environment for you and your dog please send me a DM and we can chat about it!

PS - will be there again taking photos! ✨

03/07/2023

This weekend!!! Sunday March 12th!

Community Pack Walk!

02/20/2023

Squamish Community Pack Walk Sunday, March 12th @ noon 🐺

Location: Fir + Bark Training facility in Squamish, BC. 38902 Bowen Ave

We will gather in the parking area and do a 45 minute pack walk. Please remain outside in a dedicated space with your dog ensuring you do not allow face to face interactions best you can with others waiting to begin the walk. This area has plenty of room for us to spread out, open concept with high visibility and a low amount of traffic

This is a structured environment. The key to a successful pack walk is the rhythm of the walk, we like to keep the flow moving. We will be walking at a casual pace that works for most fitness levels

Dogs walk spread out to start. Possibly by the end of the walk, some dogs pack in a bit closer together while other dogs just enjoy the vibe from a safe distance which is great too! Keeping your dog under their threshold is extremely important. If you need to break off and do a reset, go for it! The Fir and Bark team will be there as support to give guidance or help where needed

Dogs can safely and happily socialize without physically interacting. Even though the dogs are not touching each other, they can smell and see the other dogs/people which is considered great socialization

Dogs do not meet they are learning to co exist calming and confidently. No face-to-face introductions, no direct sniffing. Dogs noses are incredible, just being within the same general area is enough to grab a lot of scent for the purpose of this walk

No flexi leashes or long lines. Must be walked in standard length leash, no longer than 6 feet. Dogs must remain on leash at all times

One dog per handler

Rain or shine! We are stoked to have some fun with no judgments 🤟🏼

If you have any questions on whether or not this pack walk is going to be the appropriate environment for you and your dog please send me a DM and we can chat about it!

02/05/2023

Biological fulfillment vs exercise ⤵️

Fulfilling your dogs genetic needs is not what a majority of people think it is. It’s not about providing a backyard, a sibling to play with or walking your dog multiple times a day. These things are great however, it is about tapping into their primal nature

In the dog industry it’s common to see anxious and “drivey” dogs needing more focus work and emotional regulation along with biological fulfillment

For an example, if you have a herding breed try getting a jolly ball and bring that to the field next time instead of your chuck it. If you’re choosing to play fetch start to build it into a structured game instead of full send every throw. Work their brain around the ball and you’ll see their impulse control improve

Is your dog high drive? Get a flirt pole which satisfies prey drive and provides physical exercise. You could explore into agility which is great for focus and concentration while connecting the mind to body

Shredding, digging, forging, are all natural behaviours so let your dog do these things where and when it’s appropriate. Many dogs love to play games such as tug or learning new tricks

Along with the examples given above there are plenty of other ways you can biologically fulfill your dog like weight pulling, skijoring, lure coursing, field trials, biking, barn hunt, dock diving, mushing, retrieving, hunting, problem solving, disc, herding trials, snuffle mats, searching, nose work, sniff walks, tracking, hiking, trail running etc

Get creative, talk to a trainer or reach out to someone who’s experienced in the dog world for advice and ideas. Whatever it is you need to do to in order to find ways you can help your dog feel more complete

Once you’re committed to giving your dog an outlet that truly satisfies them, you will typically see problem behaviours decrease and confidence increase. Understanding what fulfills your dog will help you get in tune with their needs leading to an overall happier dog and stronger relationship between you both 🫶🏼

02/04/2023

Dogs who have a bite history/are a bite risk should be muzzle trained. Taking the time to properly muzzle condition your dog so they are comfortable wearing it is going to keep you, your dog, other people and animals around you safe

Working with dogs who have been given a chance to seek training before being deemed dangerous after biting a human or other animal is something that can’t be dealt with lightly

If a dog goes against rules of society and unfortunately bites a member of the community for whatever reason(fear, genetics, instinct, uncertainty, past trauma etc) there is always a chance it will be reported and dogs do not have unlimited “strikes”. In some cases one more incident could result in lifetime of very strict living restrictions for your dog or even behavioural euthanasia

Muzzle dogs are good dogs and deserve explore the world too 🤍

PS - There are a variety of reasons for why a dog could be in a muzzle. I have made a previous post about this topic if you’re interested in learning more!

02/02/2023

Long term consistency is better than short term intensity ⤵️

If you look at ways to involve training in your everyday lifestyle with your dog versus always blocking out specific times to train you’ll find keeping consistent much easier. Don’t get me wrong, planning specific train sessions is great too but incorporating those skills and learning processes daily will be very beneficial too the bigger goal

Training should be an ongoing adventure for you and your doggo 💪🏼

12/20/2022

As a dog guardian it’s our responsibility to keep our pups safe in environments that we can not control

An example of this would be solid recall around distractions - your dog might turn on a dime in your back yard when you call it but that doesn’t mean that will be the case when they see a dog across an open field in a new, exciting area and want to say hi. Don’t loose the leash or long line too soon and make sure to set your dog up for success where you can. Dedicating the time to build a solid base with structure will last you a life time with your dog if you stay consistent

When teaching our dogs something new or mastering an already known behaviour it’s best to start in a low distraction environment. A majority of the time people see great results at the beginning and jump into the real world much too soon - we need to take our time. Training and relationship building can not be rushed

Each dog learns at their own pace. It’s important to know your dog’s threshold level in different situations so you can work with them under it. When you do this your dog is able to properly process information and make good decisions with your guidance if needed

Get your dog’s favourite reward (toy, high value food etc) and always have a back up plan when introducing new environments and stimuli - like a secured long line when bomb proofing recall. Break down the desired behaviour into a train plan with small goals that need to be achieved in order to reach the bigger one. As always, make it fun and engaging for your dog 🎉

12/12/2022

Respect and communication amongst a community is so important but sadly, here in the dog world there are lines dividing us which are doing more harm than good at this point

I’ve spent a lot of time over my life being apart of different communities which all have a similar interest bringing us together. As a competitive skier and equestrian I’ve seen negativity, poor communication and judgement ruin the sport/passion too many times. After spending 7 years or so really digging into the dog community sadly, it’s no different here and that is disappointing

I want to be the change that allows conversations not arguments so we can try to understand each others experiences, perspective and knowledge. I want to be the change that lets people ask questions and feel they can explore options to learn something new. I want to be the change that allows us to be a dog community as whole, not always as separate groups

Yes, we can all have different opinions and methods. Of course some I don’t agree with but many I do

Let’s work on being more opened minded and listening to each other. You may need to agree to disagree but atleast you can say you’ve tried

Who’s with me? ❤️‍🔥

12/05/2022

What do people mean when they talk about “tools” in dog training? 👇🏼

Well, they are referring to items like leashes, collars, harnesses, treats, toys, clickers, muzzles etc that help us to provide boundaries, safety, communication, aid us with training and everyday activities with our doggos

A leash could be a standard 6 foot leash, 30 foot long line, slip lead, flexi - you name it. A collar could be a flat collar, ecollar, martingale, triple crown, ID collar, prong etc. A harness could be specifically for pulling, hiking, scrambling, neighbourhood walk, dog sports, decompression walk - the list goes on! My point is, each item has a purpose which is dependant on the dog you’re working with, the environment, your intention of using it and your knowledge behind how to use it. Not every dog needs every tool in the box but at least there are options if something fails to work after giving it your best

Purely treat training without understanding how, why and when we are treating could cause obesity and unwanted behaviours. On the flip side properly treat training can create extremely desirable outcomes. It’s all about how you go about using that tool, food

All of the items listed above are available at your finger tips - online, pet stores, social media buy and sell pages etc. So, it’s up to trainers to be able to educate people on how to choose which tools are suitable for you and your dog. As a balanced trainer I know a big part of my job using any equipment is to teach people how to use the items properly, why we use them and where to get equipment from so it’s high quality

Pain does not train - well rounded trainers know that relationship, dedication, consistency, k9 knowledge, experience, clear communication and patience train creating amazing outcomes. We spend a lot of time working with owners educating them. Trainers need a strong skill set in coaching humans along with dogs

“Yank and crank” trainers may use pain/fear theories in their training but ethical balanced trainers do not. Train the dog infront of you - this is why we have many options. Dog training is not linear and definitely not one size fits all! 💥

11/28/2022

50% heeler, 50% jalapeño 🌶️

11/12/2022

Loved working with Nellie and her fam!

10/27/2022

BELLA 🤍

Fir + Bark Training