Scott Benes - The People Trainer for Dogs - Canine Behaviour Specialist

11/09/2025

Q: What reason did you hire me versus other trainers?

11/09/2025

It was an absolute pleasure to head back up to Peterborough. It is where it all started so it's always a joy to work there.

Working with Bodie was a lot of fun. At just 8 months old, he was the size of a normal dog. He was so happy and excited. Unfortunately, Bodie had ZERO boundaries. He would eat the gardens, endlessly push for attention, and would do whatever he pleased to his pack mate, Flynn.

In 5 weeks, Bodie learned how to properly sit and lay down, and how to respect boundaries. He also learned Leave It and Drop It, which was monumental to protecting the gardens. Beyond that, Bodie learned how to Stay and Recall effectively, and also learned how to walk politely on leash. Now Bodie can go on more adventures and enjoy his freedom more often. Cottage life will definitely be more than fun now!

📸Pictured: Bodie, 8 months old, Lab/Mastiff mix, sitting in front of his favourite bush to snack on.

10/09/2025

It's moments like these that warm my heart so much!

I met Pablo (right) because he LOVES Murdoch (left). Murdoch is a graduate. He is now one of the most well mannered dogs in his neighborhood. Pablo couldn't handle himself whenever he saw Murdoch. It got to be too much for Pablo's guardians and too much for Murdoch too. Murdoch started to ignore Pablo. This was so disheartening. So, Murdoch's guardians suggested Pablo's guardians contact me.

FAST FORWARD.

Pablo's guardians contacted me! Turns out I had met them in the past with another client when Pablo was just a few months old. We immediately got to work and started conditioning Pablo's explosive and overly loving reactions to people and dogs. After 4 weeks, it was time for our Leash Etiquette session. Once we were ready to head out, we leashed up and headed for our tour. After no more than 10 - 15 minutes of real world practice, didn’t we notice Murdoch and his guardians. Since Murdoch is Pablo's hardest being to resist, I yelled out and they waited for us. It took a little bit, but thanks to the understanding and knowledge of Murdoch's guardians, we were able to finally join them. I was even able to guide Pablo straight past them without him reacting to Murdoch. Immediately, I turned around and returned to Murdoch. The two of them were more than ecstatic to greet one another and started to play tag. It was so lovely to see. Finally, Pablo got to play with Murdoch without Murdoch ignoring him for being too explosive. Their smiles say it all!

I even got to take the picture with Pablo's leash laying next to him while he happily posed in "Stay" for the camera. Also, I may have had a bit of fun spooking my clients by walking away and using the "With Me" cue to cause Pablo to release and follow me down the street, leash dragging. 🙃 Pablo shined! I'm so proud of him and his guardians!

This is exactly why I do what I do! 🥰

ALL of my training is done using harm-free techniques with the equipment seen in the photo. The only thing not pictured is our treat bags, to which I only used 2 treats for the entire outdoor walk. The indoor portion definitely contained a few extra treat disbursements though. Effective learning requires motivation, understanding, patience, and respect.

If you want to learn how to manage your dog's overly loving personality without changing their personality, please don't hesitate to reach out.

[email protected]

📸Pictured: Murdoch, prior graduate (left) and Pablo, recent graduate (right).

08/09/2025

This is the result of a respectful approach that engages the body and the MIND. Many dogs take breaks or fall asleep entirely during my sessions.

My approach builds problem solving abilities through guidance without force. There are many choices but only one will produce the thing they so desire. Dogs learn which approach gains them the best outcome very quickly. No harm needed. Reinforcement is absolutely the cornerstone of counter-conditioning behaviours, but not all reinforcements are treats, pets, or praise. There is so much more to it than that.

It is up to us to diligently work with them to teach them the skills we want them to learn.
It is also up to us to learn the skills needed to become knowledgeable and understanding teachers.

If you're ready to learn, reach out to me at [email protected] and we'll get started.

Happy trails!!

🐾🐾🐾

📸Pictured: Benny, after a fun-filled hour of learning Stay & Recall, including some games to improve his ability to seek out his guardians by scent.

13/08/2025

Together, let's help families and their pets stay together forever.

We are all struggling, but that doesn't mean our animals should be too. I started my business to help families keep their beloved pets at home. Knowing families are having to give up their pets because of financial hardahips is hard, but knowing some are saying goodbye because of behavioural complications pains me beyond words. Things get hard but we need to stay together.

I will NEVER forget the purpose of my business: To keep pets united with their families. If there is someone out there that is considering giving up their animal because they have tried every avenue to help but have run out of resources, PLEASE have them contact me. It isn't the end of the line for them.

Please SHARE to get the word out. Thank you.

Animal shelters and rescues across Ontario are near capacity, as more and more owners voluntarily surrender their pets. CBC's Greg Ross finds out what's behi...

21/07/2025

From CHAOTIC pulling to walking along side with the leash dragging behind!

Zeus and his handlers have worked very hard. He has learned to be much better mannered than he was when I first met him. Zeus would jump on, paw at, and hug anyone he crossed paths with. He'd steal food, chase small animals, and drag you down the road like it was an Olympic sport.

During today's session, Zeus met a mother and her two kids. Initially, he got overly excited but with some gentle redirection he quickly calmed back down and met them all mindfully.

Afterwards, he was doing so well walking along with us that I dropped his leash and gave him freedom to walk on his own. He rocked it!

21/07/2025

Meet thier needs, and they will meet yours.

From free and feisty, to calm and attentive in seconds. Even with my son and Stella playing, Serenity stayed focused on the task.

21/07/2025

Ever feel like your actions are being questioned? 🤔

Like, "Why are you not giving me those treats?" and "What are you doing in your phone?" 🤣

I love my little family! 💕

21/07/2025

I often hear the claim from "balanced" dog trainers that prong collars, e-collars, and other aversive tools don’t really cause pain or discomfort — they’re just "pressure" or a "communication tool."

And yet, here's a direct quote from a company that promotes this style of training:

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"The thing about the place command however, is that it must be enforced. Meaning, the dog needs to either be tethered like the dog in the photo, or you need to use correction to make being off place unpleasant, uncomfortable, or dare I say 'painful.'"

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That’s a direct admission from a so-called “balanced” trainer — pain and discomfort are the enforcement tools they rely on.

This is the truth behind “balanced” training: obedience through the suppression of natural behavior via discomfort or pain. The marketing might sound friendly, but the practice tells a different story.

Dogs don’t need to be hurt to learn. We can teach with clarity, consistency, and compassion — without fear, pain, or intimidation.

If you're training your dog, ask yourself: is the method you're using building trust... or simply compliance?

19/07/2025

This post is layered with misrepresentation, and unfortunately, I need to clarify a few things.

First, the trainer she refers to — "yes, that one" — is me. For the record, she never hired me, nor did we work together beyond a casual consult that didn’t move forward. Yet this narrative frames it as if I somehow failed her or her dog. That’s misleading, especially in a public post being used to support a shift in training ideology.

Second, this post was published shortly after I sent her a formal Cease and Desist regarding the use of my long-standing business name. Her response? A self-congratulatory story positioning herself as the misunderstood underdog.

Trainers who rely on tools like e-collars and prong collars often go to great lengths to make them sound benign — even empowering. But euphemisms don’t change what these tools are designed to do: apply discomfort to suppress behavior. In my opinion, that’s not "clarity."

I believe in transparency. And I believe that trainers should take responsibility not just for their methods, but for how they portray others and build their brands.

12/07/2025

Nothing like a good back scratch after a hard day's work.

Though most dogs would readily accept one, Freddy has overcome an exorbitant amount of anxiety to get to this point. It's hard to believe he only wanted to bite for any sort of contact.