Thumbs Up Dog Training

02/02/2024

We still have some spots left for class on Sunday’s puppy class! 🐶🎉🐕

01/18/2024

Join us Sunday (in a nice warm gym) to focus on movement skills and drills! You will not want to miss this action packed class geared to building calm confidence and connection 🐕🐶🐩

01/09/2024

We had 7 awesome pups join us last week when we covered the basics of crate and place training!

This week we have a very special guest Dog Groomer Heather coming to chat about the importance of grooming and how to set your puppy up for SPAW success!

To join us please contact Emma or Zoe 🐶

01/04/2024

Do you have a new puppy and need some guidance?
Look no further! Zoe and Emma have joined forces to offer an unbeatable puppy class to set you up for long term success 🙌

12/28/2023

Hope everyone is having a happy holiday so far!
These photos are from our last group training walk of 2023! All of the dogs and owners did a fantastic job showing up and working towards calm coexistence, communication and connection ❤️
To join the ‘Thumbs Up Support Group’ you just need to book a private session or package first 👍
Back to work January 2nd and can’t wait to connect with some new dogs and owners 🐶

12/04/2023

Puppy Social led by Zoe and Emma focused on the connection between owner and puppy! For puppies up to 8 months old 🐶

11/12/2023

Any new puppy owners out there?!

09/18/2023

Head over to the Instagram page for a chance to win a Thumbs Up leash! 2 days left to enter! 🐶👍

10/15/2022

First time introducing the figure 8 exercise and everyone rocked it! Well done group 👏👏👏

10/15/2022

Beautiful day for our group training walk!!

09/26/2022

We have availability for packwalks in the following areas-
Fairfield, Fernwood, Downtown, Uptown, Esquimalt and close surrounding areas!

Message now to inquire about joining the pack 🐶

08/09/2022

The Capital Regional District is advising visitors that a blue-green algae bloom has occurred at Lower Thetis Lake.

06/01/2022

This is the worst part of the job 😭

I got an email a few days ago that Bessie was not feeling well. I knew that at her age it was probably the dreaded time. On my way to say goodbye yesterday I was an hour too late, the vet had come early and she had a very peaceful passing. I went over anyways, and I’m glad I did. Sweet Jocelyn, Bessie’s elderly owner lives alone and was just devastated. We shared memories, tears, and hugs. I really feel for her ❤️‍🩹

I’ll never forget the first time I saw Bessie. She was 10 weeks old at her puppy class, my heart stopped when she walked into the room. The freckles on her face were the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. That was almost 14 years ago.

Bessie was one of the OG’s of Thumbs Up. She did weekly pack walks her whole life and was always the best girl. A complete sweet heart with a wild spirit and a perfect amount of sass. She stayed strong walking 3x a week up until last week. Jocelyn asked me to say thank you to all of Bessie’s packwalkers over the years. Bessie was always a favourite for everyone 💜

I know you were greeted by your best friends Thumbelina and Lucy 💖 Rest easy sweet Bess 😭

05/21/2022

✨ I know dogs don’t have thumbs so why did I name the business ⁉️

Why? Because of this face right here. Over 14 years ago a princess was born. At the time I was in a toxic relationship, worked a job I hated, and was going nowhere. After my family dog passed away from cancer I was left broken and knew my life needed a change.

What I didn’t know then is that this little dog would change my life forever. Thumbelina is and will always be the best thing that ever happened to me. She gave my life purpose and connected me to my passion.

Over the decade +, Thumb helped build this business and helped transform the lives of countless dogs. In her last years she helped me rehabilitate a wild dragon, and an aggressive little King named Alfred. I know they would not be who they are today without her guidance. Through them and all the dogs, and humans she helped, her legacy will continue!

So there you have it, you now know the real meaning behind Thumbs Up.

💓 “Your sure to do impossible things if you follow your heart. Your dreams will fly on magical wings when you follow your heart” 💓

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05/19/2022

There is no need to feel bad about crate training! A crate fulfills your dogs natural instincts by providing a quiet and safe place to rest!

Here are just a few benefits to crate training your puppy/dog:

✨ A crate will be your best friend when it comes to potty training your puppy/rescue dog. Most dogs will not potty where they rest, using your crate throughout the day and night will help your dog to learn to only potty outside.

✨ Improves Separation anxiety. Gives your dog their own space so they are not constantly everywhere you are. Using it at night and during the day for rest after walks will help them feel more at ease in crate when you leave the house.

✨ You will never worry about what your dog is up to when you are not home. You know where they are and that they are safe. No more destructive behaviour or getting into things they shouldn’t. Also gives peace of mind if a landlord or family/friend comes over and accidentally leaves door unhinged. Your dog will still be safe.

✨ If you have a busy house with lots of stimulation the crate provides a safe place for much needed rest and down time.

✨ Keeps them off furniture, establishes boundaries and structure in the home and teaches them to self soothe themselves.

✨ If your dog becomes injured crate training gives them a safe place to recover.

✨ Groomers/ vets / boarding facility’s use crates so your dog will feel much less stressed if it ever requires one of these situations. Once your dog is crate trained, the feeling of safety and security in the crate will translate to different environments.

✨ Makes travelling, camping, and dog friendly vacations more enjoyable.

✨Helps with management when you have multiple dogs or dogs with aggressive/protective behaviour. Plus, you can have guests over and not worry about your dogs behaviour.

If you have anything to add I’d love to hear, comment below ⬇️
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05/18/2022

I loved learning from Nelson Hodges AKA “The Husky Man”.

This was a Relationship Based Behavior Modification Workshop and was an unforgettable experience. My dog Toothless accompanied me and we both learned so much. I aspire to continue learning from him in the future.
This was a three-day program. This was a three-day program meant to educate handlers to new methods of communicating with their dogs in ways that dogs naturally comprehend. There was sections on canine history, language, senses, and how canines think and communicate. It was so eye opening and packed with knowledge.💥💥

Nelson Hodges is one of a kind, he has almost 40 years of experience in animal behaviour and rehabilitation. He specialized in Canine Behaviour, assisting others in comprehending the nature, intellect, language, and motives of all dogs. Nelson founded the Canine – Human Relationship Institute in 2016 to serve as a "University" level education institution for professional dog trainers (located in Blue Ridge, Texas). He is the Senior CHRI Instructor and, together with other trained teachers, leads many of the courses.

It was an honour to work with Nelson!

Follow for more of my dog training experience from other workshops as well.
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05/15/2022

When you think about dog training, what comes to mind?🤔🤔🤔

Here you can see a photo of my me and my beloved Toothless and Peregrine ☺️😍 🥰. They are both smart, lovable dogs but needed different approaches when it comes to dog training.

I believe that each dog is different and needs varied techniques, strategies, and tools to thrive. While balanced training makes extensive use of positive reinforcement, it also employs the use of tools such as electronic collars, which when used correctly can provide a dog with a far more fulfilling life. Because I prefer to put no restrictions on what it takes to enable a dog and owner to live their best lives, I prefer balanced training.

My biggest passion is working with newly adopted rescue dogs that have severe behavior challenges. It’s the most humbling and rewarding experience to help new owners to understand their dogs and guide them through all of the ups and downs to attain balance and achieve their goals. People that buy dogs from ethical breeders have my full support, but I will always have rescue pets. I have three right now, all from various countries and backgrounds and each with their own behavior challenges. I love that I am always learning from them!

The focus at is on creating calm dogs and empowered owners.

✔️ Balanced training that fosters understanding between dog and owner

✔️Improve behavior and state of mind

✔️ Improve relationships.

some might picture someone shouting commands at a disobedient pup 🗣📣 🐕, when they think of dog training. but this is not the case over at Silence is the most powerful language

To learn more follow 👉👉👉 👈👈👈

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05/12/2022

Oliver is still looking for his people!

Where’s my people?

05/05/2022

My fluffy friends, listen up!

We have been B-U-S-Y. So, we are extending our very special giveaway contest until MAY 12!!!!!

This gives us more time to spread the word, and gives you more time to tag, post, and share, helping to increase your chances of winning.

We truly appreciate all of the support right now 🥳🦴🐾 it means the world to us!!!

Here is a quick refresher of the contest details:

TO ENTER:
1. Follow and like this post OR the post on April 27 for 1 entry into the contest draw.
2. TAG friends, family, dog-lovers and pet people to score extra entries. Each tag = 1 entry.
3. SHARE this post on your story and tag us in it for an extra 3 entries into the draw.

THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE:
1. 2 customized hour-long dog training sessions in-person OR virtually (value of $350)
2. ThumbsUp Dog leash (value of $40)
3. ThumbsUp hat (value of $30)

Total prize value = $310. Prize cannot be redeemed for monetary value and must be used by 2023.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
1. Only 1 winner will be selected.
2. Giveaway will run until 11:59 PST Thursday May 12, 2022.
3. Winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday May 13, 2022.

Good luck!!!!! 💕🐾

04/29/2022

Peregerine is modelling our Thumbs Up leash 🤩😍🐶🐾📸💋

Our leash has two different functions. A basic slip lead provides good control and is safe on the neck. Looped around the nose you get a ‘power loop,’ which gives more control and works best for strong pullers. It also has a calming effect in the mind 😌🐶🧘 The leash also comes with a back up safety clip to ensure the leash stays attached to your pooch.

There is still time to enter our giveaway contest and win a leash as a part of our prize package!!!

04/28/2022

HELP US GET THE PACK BACK TOGETHER!!! 🐕🐩🐕🐩🐕🐩

We need your help to re-build our balanced dog community. Like, follow, and spread the word that we have a new IG account. You and your pooch could win big!!!



TO ENTER:
1. FOLLOW and LIKE this post for 1 entry.
2. TAG a fluffy friend, dog owner, pup pic enthusiast, or animal ally below. Each tag = 1 entry.
3. SHARE this post on your story and tag us in it for 3 entries.

THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE:
1. 2 customized hour-long dog training sessions (value of $240).
2. ThumbsUp dog leash (value of $40).
3. ThumbsUp hat (value of $30).

Total prize value = $310

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
- Only 1 winner will be selected.
- Giveaway will run until 11:59 PST Wednesday May 4, 2022.
- Winner will be randomly selected and announced on our stories Thursday May 5, 2022.

Thank you for your support!!! 💙🐾🥳

03/07/2022

Toothless is so proud of his ribbons!

We did our second ever agility trial this weekend. A bit of a rocky start yesterday from getting the zoomies in warm up to having a really messy first round where he even went off course to bark at a crew volunteer 🤦🏼‍♀️🤪

After he got all the silly out he performed beautifully the whole weekend. We got 3 Q’s out of our six runs. I’m so excited he is now moving on to advanced in the Snookers game!

The thing I’m most proud of was his complete transformation from the first trial. He was so confident and calm around all the people and dogs and not phased at all by the environment 👏🙏👏

Love my dog so much and can’t wait for the next trial ❤️❤️❤️

03/01/2022

Amen!!!

02/01/2022

I know many people will be very saddened to read this post. Last night heaven gained the sweetest angel. Sequoia has been with us for over 7 years and not once did she cause any trouble. She was the perfect dog and made the job so much easier as she vibrated the happiest vibes. She was a staff favourite of all our packleaders over the years. Everyone always wished Sequioa would be on their daily list! The last few months as she slowed down she got to enjoy the Monday morning senior stroll with some of her oldest pals 🥰

Sequioa you will be greatly missed by everyone who met you both human and dog! I’m sure Max was there to greet you and welcome you to Heaven with ice cream and kisses ❤️❤️❤️

12/17/2021

We are still searching for the perfect candidate for our part time packleader position! The job is Thursdays and Fridays starting in the new year. Please share and tag your friends if you think they would be a good fit ❤️🐶
(Cute pic for attention)

12/14/2021

A big warm welcome to our newest packleader ! 😍😍😍

Today she started solo taking over for Monday-Wednesdays.

Fun fact about Nicole is that she is an avid rock climber! This definitely makes her leash handling skills come very naturally. She is already such an excellent dog handler and I’m really excited to have her join the team 🤩👍

Ps- is still around Thursdays and Fridays until mid January. Then she’s officially done 😭😭😭 We wish her the best and will miss her so so much. She has brought so much love and value to the team ❤️❤️❤️

11/24/2021

I’m classified as a balanced trainer because I believe in low level e collar training and the use of slip leads and pinch collars. I also believe in positive reinforcement. I have trained my dog to compete in agility using all positive reinforcement. I have also trained my dog to be safe in the world and have reliable recall using an e collar. There are ‘pure positive’ trainers that I admire and look up to. My agility coach being one of them. She is a wonderful teacher, highly skilled and passionate about what she does. I’ve never heard her putting other trainers down even if they believe in different methods of training.

This brings me to my reason for posting. I’ve been brewing over my feelings about another trainer on the island for a few months now. Just today after reading a post I got fired up to speak my truth about it.

This trainer, (who will remain unnamed), is very outspoken about their feelings towards balanced trainers. So much that they have stated publicly that ‘BALANCED TRAINERS ARE A**HOLES’. I find this judgement to be extremely unprofessional, and unfair. How can they label a whole group of people without meeting them? If they met myself and the trainers I know both locally and abroad it would prove the statement false. They have also stated that leadership is heavy handed and not important. In my opinion, leadership is the single most important thing we can offer our dogs. Leadership is love and leadership is fair (or you can’t call it leadership). It is offering daily structure, training, and discipline that keep your dog safe and feeling fulfilled. It should never be heavy handed or cruel, that is not leadership.

I’m all for being passionate and sharing what you believe in…. BUT, calling names (especially publicly) is not passion, it’s immature and unprofessional. It also takes away from all the good work you are doing. You can still educate and speak your truth without putting others down. You will reach and teach many more by leaving negativity at the door ❤️🙏