3 of Hounds

17/06/2025

For past and current clients only!

Join us for a small group (max 6 dogs) Recall Workshop focused on building reliable recall skills in a wide open controlled space with real life distractions.

We'll cover:
⚡ Key foundations (name recognition, proximity games, and engagement)
⚡How to safely use long lines and Flexi leads
⚡ Strengthening your relationship through play, patterned games, and predictability
⚡Building a reward system that actually motivates your dog
⚡Discussion of e-collars layering (for those already trained with one, no first timers!)

This is a working session. Expect to move, learn, and practice. Whether you're starting fresh or want to clean up a messy recall.

📅 Aug 30th from 9am-11am
6️⃣ 6 working spots available
📍Country Club Pet Resort - Scentral Park

DM to claim your spot or for more info.

Let's make recall fun (and functional)!

12/06/2025

"My rescue dog won't play with me..."

It's more common than you think, especially in the first 6+ months.

For many dogs, play is a vulnerable behavior.
They need safety, trust, and freedom to express themselves before it shows up.

Swipe through for some tips to help your dog discover play at their own pace.

04/06/2025

A reminder that finding the right dog isn’t about moral superiority. It’s about making informed and responsible choices.

Adopting a rescue dog can be beautiful, but let’s be real, it’s not always the fairytale people sell you.

Not every rescue dog will suit every lifestyle, and that's okay. If you have specific needs, like energy level, temperament, size, or trainability. It’s completely valid to seek out a responsible breeder.

That doesn’t make you a bad person. It makes you someone who wants to do it right.

Also, getting a rescue dog is a bit like rolling the dice. Most of these dogs aren’t in the rescue long enough for the organization to really know them. Behaviors often show up after the honeymoon phase, once the dog has decompressed. That’s not your fault. It’s just the reality of trauma, stress, and unknown history.

And to adopters: working with a professional dog trainer before you adopt or shop can actually be invaluable. Trainers can help match you with a dog that fits your life, not just your heart.

Rescues, this part is for you... (I know many who don't do this! And I do support responsible rescues AND breeders). Stop guilt-tripping adopters. Stop blaming people when a dog is returned, surrendered, or doesn’t work out. Start doing better at matchmaking. This isn’t about pushing numbers. It's about setting everyone up for long-term success.

Do your homework. Ask the hard questions. Don’t get swept up in pressure or fear-mongering. The “right” dog is the one that fits your life and that you can show up for, rescue or not. 🖤

27/05/2025

Dog trainer burnout is real. And it’s not just about being tired.

It’s emotional fatigue. Compassion fatigue. The kind that builds slowly until your own dog lays across your chest, grounding you with their presence, and only then do you realize just how heavy you've been holding it all.

This work isn’t just about training dogs.
It’s about holding space for reactivity, fear, frustration, confusion, hope.
It’s about showing up for everyone else, even when we’ve left no space for ourselves.

To my clients: if I pause, if I seem quieter than usual, please know I’m still here, still pushing to give your dog my best. That pause isn’t because I don’t know what to do. It’s because I care enough to slow down and get it right.

To my fellow trainers: one burnout a year is one too many. Let’s stop wearing exhaustion like a badge. Let’s normalize rest, boundaries, and grace.

We give so much. And we deserve to receive it, too.

20/05/2025

Advocating for muzzled dogs means showing the full picture, not just the feel-good parts.

But let’s be real: some dogs wear muzzles because they’ve made unsafe choices in the past. Because without one, there’s a risk someone gets hurt. This makes them dogs who need management, structure, and realistic expectations. Ignoring that side of the story doesn’t help anyone. If we only paint it as sunshine and progress, we set people and their dogs up for failure.

The muzzle isn’t just for public comfort. It’s there for safety, accountability, and grace under pressure. It gives the dogs room to learn without fallout. It protects the handler, the dog, the stranger, the other dog at the end of the leash. It’s not a symbol of failure, it’s a symbol of responsibility.

So when we advocate for muzzle use, let’s do it with clarity, not sugar coating. Let’s show both sides: the joy of a dog excited to put theirs on and the serious role it plays in managing behavior.

That’s how we shift the narrative, with truth, not just positivity.

**Here's why Trunks is muzzle conditioned**

Trunks is muzzle conditioned because it gives us an extra layer of safety when he plays with his pals off leash or if we come across another dog he doesn't know while off leash. His muzzle helps prevent escalation when he gets overstimulated, and it’s been a huge part of teaching him to avoid confrontation altogether.

He hasn't landed a bite on another person or dog because I've been ahead of teaching him better choices. (He has redirected on me and my husband once before but we quickly addressed it).

One of the most important parts of his muzzle work? Making it fun. Trunks learned to do tricks with it on, so now he associates it with excitement and reward, not restriction.

And here’s the PSA: if you see a muzzled dog in public, don’t approach. Don’t assume they’re friendly. Some dogs in muzzles will bite, that’s literally why they’re wearing it. Others are in the middle of training, and your approach could wreck that progress. Respect the dog, respect the handler, and give space. That goes for all dogs, muzzle or not.

Normalize the muzzle. Train with intention. Safety is never a bad look.

16/05/2025

06/05/2025

I'm seeing more and more that dog owners aren't aware of the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw.

Here's an easy break down of each with a bit of my comment on each.

23/04/2025

🤘PUPPY CLUB IS BACK⚡

Got a pup under 6 months old? Or planning to adopt one before the summer? Join us for Puppy Club, an educational and enriching experience to help your puppy grow into a confident, well socialized dog.

⚡Monthly at starting June
🐾Puppy play (done right!)
🎈Confidence building stations
🧠Body language & socialization tips
✨Not an obedience training class
📅June 7th, July 12th, and August 9th
📍Red Tree Animal Clinic (Upstairs)
💲35 per puppy

SPOTS LIMITED!

DM 3 OF HOUNDS TO BOOK.

**Puppy Club is for puppies who are comfortable around other dogs and people.

This is not a free for all play group, but a structured, confidence building experience that includes one on one play rotations and exposure to novel stimuli (like bikes, skateboards, different surfaces, etc).

If your puppy is experiencing any of the following this might not be the right fit just yet:
- consistent barking, lunging, and growling at people or dogs
- high fear or panic in new environments
- resource guarding of food or toys
- health conditions that make play unsafe

If you're unsure if Puppy Club is a good match, feel free to send me a DM. I'm happy to chat and help guide you toward the right option for your puppy's needs.

21/04/2025

10/04/2025

"Why does Trunks wear a 'DO NOT PET' collar?”

Because it’s not just a fashion statement, it’s a boundary. And no, you don’t get to challenge it.

Too often, people assume every dog is dying for affection. Spoiler alert: they’re not. Trunks wears that label because he needs space, and that simple patch helps advocate for his well-being in a world full of uninvited hands and clueless energy.

Whether it's for training, anxiety, reactivity, medical reasons, or simply because the dog is not in the mood, that message means: respect this dog’s boundaries. It’s not an invite for questions, it’s not up for debate, and it’s definitely not an opening for “oh but I’m good with dogs.” (Congrats. Still no.)

From a trainer's POV: gear like this is gold. It sets expectations for public interactions, prevents setbacks, and empowers owners to protect their dogs’ progress. It’s not about being rude, it’s about being responsible.

So next time you see that patch? Don’t pet. Don’t question. Just respect them.

Because advocating for your dog isn’t just allowed, it's essential.

Do you have a patch on your dog? Or a vest? What does it say? Comment below!

04/04/2025

Reliable recall isn’t just a party trick, it’s freedom.

Training your dog to come when called can be the difference between a life of frustration and one filled with adventure. Off-leash time is incredible for satisfying our dogs’ natural needs: sniffing, running, exploring, and just being a dog.

But it only works if we’ve put in the work.

True recall training isn’t about calling your dog once and hoping for the best. It’s about:

⚡Building motivation through high-value rewards and play.

⚡Practicing in low-distraction environments first, then gradually increasing the challenge.

⚡Never poisoning the cue, “come” or "here" should always lead to something good, not something bad.

⚡Using long lines as a bridge between on- and off-leash reliability.

⚡Repetition, consistency, and proofing in real-life settings.

When recall is solid, off-leash outings become safe and stress-free. You’re not constantly yelling, chasing, or panicking. You’re just vibing with your dog, knowing they’ll come when you call.

Train for freedom. Train for trust. Train for their joy.

Because nothing compares to seeing your dog tear across a field, ears flapping, and then race back to you with the biggest grin.

12/02/2025

To go further into the social media slide:

Social media has pushed this idea that positive reinforcement (R+) and force-free training mean zero consequences, which just isn’t true. Skilled R+ trainers absolutely use consequences, just not physical corrections. But thanks to misleading viral posts, many people now believe that any form of boundary-setting is “mean” or unnecessary. This mindset leads to untrained, unruly dogs and frustrated owners who feel like they’ve “tried everything.”

Not saying all dog owners, and not saying all dog daycares, but the shift in responsible ownership is real. More entitlement, less structure, and way too many people expecting results without effort. Love your dog, but also lead your dog.

What do you think, have you noticed the change? 👀⬇️



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