Trick, Treat, Repeat Inc. Professional Dog Training

18/08/2021

Hello friends! I’m so sorry I’ve been MIA for the last couple of months. For those of you who are new around here, I recently relocated from Toronto to Vancouver. The move itself was enough of a challenge - 2 humans, 1 chatty cat, and 1 large dog, a truck full to the brim with our house and home, and a weeklong drive across Canada in the middle of a pandemic! What a journey! Along the way, we had noticed our dog Nancy (featured here regularly) was having some trouble adjusting to the move - we thought perhaps stress or motion sickness. Once we arrived in Vancouver we sought out a vet immediately and a month of blood testing every other day proved inconclusive until finally we were able to have her ultrasound appointment. They found that she had lymphoma and cancer in her stomach. We lost her only 3 days later. It was a very hard loss for myself and my partner, and I decided to take a break from social media for a little while I recovered. Now I am back and ready to meet you and your dogs and all the exciting training needs you may have!

14/07/2021

A friendly hello 👋🏻 to all the new faces around here! For those of you who don’t know the face behind the page, I’m Alex- owner and head trainer of Trick, Treat, Repeat! I’ve made helping dogs my life’s work, with a commitment to force free, fear free training practises and ethics. I’ve recently relocated to North Vancouver so if you’re in the area I’d I’d love to meet you and your dog sometime! If you’re a bit further away, that’s okay too, I’d love to hear about you and your dog in the comments below!

09/06/2021

👋🏻 Hey ! We’ve relocated to from Toronto and we can’t wait to meet you and your dogs! We offer private, in home training with customized plans to target your specific training needs and goals. Check out our website (link in bio) to see our service area.

15/05/2021

12/01/2021

🙏🏻SIT TO SAY PLEASE 🙏🏻 Have you ever been around a dog that just doesn’t respect personal space?? Sit to say please is here to save the day! When training or interacting with your dog, have them sit before petting, feeding, treating, or any other interaction! They’ll be sitting politely in no time to get your attention!

04/01/2021

Happy New Year! We hope you all enjoyed your holidays! After a much needed break to round out 2020, we are back and ready for some training fun in 2021! We all have New Years resolutions, so why shouldn’t your dogs have one too? Let us help! Link in bio! #2021

24/12/2020

Happy Holidays everyone! Who else is waiting under the tree for Santa Paws?

15/12/2020

Have you ever given your dog a special chewy treat? If getting your pet some special chews this Christmas season, be sure to get size appropriate treats and supervise them so they don’t accidentally choke on small pieces! (As a side note, we don’t recommend rawhide treats either, they don’t digest properly in your dogs stomach. The one Louie has here is made from flour!)

09/12/2020

This week for we’re looking at a popular non sporting breed, the French bulldog. These little guys are very versatile and are just as happy keeping up with you on jog around the block as they are cuddling on the couch and watching Netflix. However, due to their physical build, this should not be a breed you consider if you’re looking for a true athlete. Spunky and frisky, Frenchies are well loved for their goofy personalities and friendly demeanour. They respond well to routine and are quite good motivated, making training a little easier. If a French Bulldog is on your wish list, invest in some earplug as well because there will be lots of snorting and snoring sounds coming from such a little dog!

04/12/2020

〰〰L O N G L I N E S〰🐕
Have you heard of long lines? Also called training leashes, they vary in length (anywhere from 10-100 feet long) and are most often used for distance work or recall work. These are not the extendable/retractable leashes you might have seen. They are great for “off leash” type activities where your dog might not be fully trusted such as on a hike, playing fetch in an open field, or recall practise. They are also a great tool for training reactive dogs as they may not feel as restricted/tense on the long line. They come in many materials and lengths so finding the perfect size you need is a cinch. Have you used a long line before? For what? Tell us below! ⬇️

02/12/2020

This week for we’re looking at the majestic German shepherd. Though originally bred for herding, now most working lines are seen in police, military, search and rescue, and service dog roles due to their strength, adaptability, and easiness to train. It’s important to keep in mind the necessity of socializing your puppy expansively so they do not become fearful of strangers. Also a solid exercise routine is important to keep your shepherd happy and healthy. Training is fun and easy due to this breed’s willingness to learn. If a German Shepherd is on your wish list this season, add a positive reinforcement based trainer to your list as well to ensure you’re starting your puppy off with the best foundations. Who should we feature next Wednesday? Tell us below! ⬇️

30/11/2020

It’s Monday again.... and it’s a rainy one in our neck of the woods. Who else’s pups want to just go back to bed and cuddle all day?

25/11/2020

This week’s is the stunning Siberian Husky. Free spirited and enthusiastic about life, the husky plays well with others of all ages. If you’re looking to get in shape, this breed is the perfect workout buddy as they are always ready for a hike, run, bike, snowball fight, or anything else that they can exert all their energy into. The husky definitely needs such a daily outlet otherwise they may find themselves in trouble when looking for something to do on their own. A great companion for children and other dogs, but not the best choice for small animals such as cats or bunnies as the husky can have a high prey drive. The Siberian husky is a highly intelligent dog, making training a fun game for both learner and teacher. And if you’re planning for a husky this Christmas, perhaps ask Santa for a strong vacuum as well to keep up with that thick winter coat! What breed would you like to see featured next Wednesday? Drop us a comment below!!
# dogtraining

20/11/2020

Badger is smiling because it’s Friday! What are your weekend plans with your dog? ⬇️We’d love some inspo!!⬇️

18/11/2020

One of the most intelligent dog breeds out there, the border collie is this weeks . If you owned a company and were looking to hire a fleet of workers, you would only hire border collies. Having a job to do - agility, fly ball, herding, the list goes on - is key for keeping boredom at bay for this athletic, medium sized, workaholic. You may find yourself frustrated with this breed’s eagerness to please, think, analyze, and work if you are unwilling or unable to dedicate time to both mental and physical exertion. Luckily they’re extremely smart and versatile, giving you plenty of options. Perhaps Springsteen was thinking of the border collie when he wrote !
What breed would you like to see next week? Drop us a comment below!! .

16/11/2020

For those of you who are new, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alex, the owner and head trainer of Trick, Treat, Repeat. I am a certified professional dog trainer through Karen Pryor Academy and am continually working and learning to expand my knowledge and skills. Nancy is my VIP (Very Important Pet) and CEO (Chief Experience Officer) who helps me sharpen my training skills every day! I service Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, and other nearby areas to help dogs and the people who love them be the best team they can be! If you’re interested in learning more about my services or how I can help you or your dog, please feel free to send me an email or a DM! 🧡.

07/10/2020

Does your dog steal shoes, un**es, food, or other off limits items? Sasquatch’s favourite thing to steal was socks when he was a puppy. With the power of positive reinforcement and patience, we worked with him on the concept of “trading up.” In exchange for a sock, he gets something worth way more, like an antler or stuffed Kong. Now he knows he’ll get something great for choosing to be a good boy and leave the socks alone!

01/10/2020

Does your dog get carsick? Our friend and graduate Godric seen here has an extremely sensitive tummy. So sensitive he has a special prescription diet and we could only use that as a food reward during training. Riding in the car can upset his stomach too. So what to do? Just like all other training, start slow and work up to a longer duration. Maybe that looks like only riding to the local Starbucks to pick up your coffee at first. If your dog needs to come on long trips sooner than later (like to the cottage) discuss anti nausea medications with your veterinarian. Does your dog enjoy car rides?? Let us know their favourite destinations below!

28/09/2020

A lot of clients ask for treat recommendations when working on a new skill. I personally love using single ingredient treats during training. I love them because you can easily mix up the proteins, and they have less preservatives than other treats on the market. If your dog has stomach sensitivities or allergies, it’s also much easier to avoid those allergens/triggers. They also tend to be freeze dried which makes them easy to break up and they don’t leave much residue on your hands after a session. What are your favourite treats to use when training? Let us know below!

22/09/2020

In this video Nancy licks her lips on cue (the cue is sticking my tongue out, that’s why there’s no sound). Something I could only train through a process known as capturing. Proof that force free, fear free training practises are the most effective! .

21/09/2020

So often, we start training our dogs a new skill, and we become convinced that they know what we asked of them after they get it right a few times. Then we get frustrated when they don’t repeat the behaviour the next training session. But how could this be? They did it before! Learning any new behaviour takes time, especially if you and your teacher don’t speak the same language! It’s up to us as the handlers to be patient and trust the learning process, no matter how tempting it is to rush ahead! .

16/09/2020

Does your dog have a sweater or harness? Do you find you often have to wrestle them into it? With some dedicated training time, a clicker, and a few treats, you can definitely shape your dog into wanting to wear it! Little Oaklie is one of our newest graduates and part of her lessons was learning to “get dressed” for walks. (Now she just has to grow into that sweater 😍). Does your dog wear a sweater or harness on walks? Let us know your favourites below! .

09/09/2020

Ever wondered how your dog could become a therapy dog? For starters your dog has to be well socialized with all types of people and dogs. As well, your dog needs to be calm, cool and collected, and pass an 8 part, in person exam. Remember, they are also evaluating you as a handler! This emphasizes the importance of teamwork within the dog training world and beyond. Just another reason why force free, fear free training is the way to go. Is your dog a therapy dog? Let us know in the comments below!

02/09/2020

DITCH THE BOWL!!

Keeping your dog stimulated and engaged is often hard with the stresses of everyday life that we often put ahead of our dogs. An easy and low key way to keep your dog stimulated and engaged daily is to change up the way you feed them. That’s right, ditch the bowl!

There are the classics, such as a stuffed KONGs or puzzle feeders, but the good news is there are plenty of ways to keep costs low. Some of our fave DIY feeders are listed below:
- A muffin tray filled randomly with kibbles. All slots are covered by a tennis ball.
- An empty egg carton filled with kibble.
- An empty box (taped shut) filled with packaging paper and empty toilet/paper towel rolls. Kibble scattered randomly inside.
- Snuffle mat
- Water bottle, lid removed, filled with kibble
What are your favourite DIY feeders? Drop us a comment below! .

28/08/2020

What better way to round out the end of the week than to get this in the mail! They even sent a “certified canine graduate” tag for Nancy (who I worked with throughout the duration of the program). I’m now an officially official KPA-CTP! For my followers and clients I have also included a picture of the CTP pledge that I signed, showing my commitment to you and your dogs that I always want to offer the most safe and humane practises in the dog training field .
@ Oakville, Ontario

25/08/2020

Loose leash walking is a skill that every dog owner wants to see their dog excel at. So what if there’s two dogs in the home? Is it possible? Yes! Through the power of positive reinforcement and a little independent work with each dog, both dogs will be walking side by side (without pulling every which way) in no time! Do your dogs walk in harmony? Drop us a comment below ⬇️

21/08/2020

Back to school means back to work. Back to work means less time to spend with your dog. We can help you brush up your dogs skills in time for the back to school grind. Contact us today to get started if you’re in the GTA!

10/08/2020

Does your dog have a place cue? This could be blanket, mat, kennel... the possibilities are endless. A place cue helps your dog stay out of trouble when you can’t directly supervise them. An added bonus is that you won’t accidentally step on or trip over your dog when you’re busy doing something!

27/07/2020

With many people going back to work, many dogs will begin to struggle with separation anxiety from their owners. This can lead to many destructive behaviours or dangerous escape attempts when home alone, causing much distress for the owner upon return.

As with most behavioural issues we are presented with, separation anxiety stems from an underlying anxiety issue, in this case, being left alone. With so many dogs being used to their owners working from home full time, the return to work will see many dogs upset. But, with a solid daily routine and effective training, most separation anxiety cases can be treated successfully. Getting the dog used to being alone for gradually longer periods over time is the most effective way to counter the anxiety they experience when left home alone.

Working with a professional dog trainer or behaviourist (in severe cases) is the way to go. They can provide information and techniques to help you combat this issue in a healthy, positive way.

If you and your dog are struggling with separation anxiety issues, contact us today to set up a consultation. We are here to help! .

23/07/2020

📦🚨 Special delivery! Today we received our orange Trick, Treat, Repeat clickers and we are so excited at how great they look! Every new client who books a package with us will receive one to help accelerate their training between sessions! If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, contact us today to set up a consultation!