Mission Paws Dog School

19/04/2025

When you're focused on stopping your dog from doing the thing you don't like...

You lose sight of what they need.

So it makes sense that training around distractions feels like an uphill battle.

When you stop trying to push against their coping mechanisms and make the situation easier on them instead, you can work like a team.

Because when you listen to and support them, they can hear you.

08/04/2025

When I first started working with dogs, I thought I had to follow all the traditional advice.

You know the type—
Firm tone.
Obedience drills.
Heel, sit, stay, repeat.

I tried it all… and honestly?

It felt like a performance.

The dogs weren’t connecting with me—they were just going through the motions (if that).

And worst of all, I didn’t feel like a good deal to them. Just another person giving commands.

That’s when everything changed.

I stopped trying to control dogs and started focusing on connection.

✅️ I made being near me rewarding.
✅️ I used the power of choice to empower them.
✅️ I figured out what each dog actually found motivating—and made sure I was a part of it.

Getting your distracted dog to listen has nothing to do with:
🚫 strict obedience
🚫 firm tones
🚫 waving high-value treats like bait

Because if that worked, your dog wouldn’t still be chasing squirrels while you’re hoarse from yelling.

What actually gets your dog to listen?
✔ Building value in proximity
✔ Using choice-based strategies
✔ Becoming part of their reward

You don’t need to be louder. You need to be speaking their language.

Give me 5 minutes for 5 days and show you how.

Comment FOCUS and I'll send you the deets.

04/04/2025

Calling your dog 2, 3, 5, 7! times and they're still only giving you a half hearted glance?

They just look at you like, "New phone, who dis?"

I'm sure you've already tried training your dog's name.

The "hide and seek" game around the house.

Putting them in a "sit, stay" and then calling them from across the yard.

But when you let them off leash at the park they're playing with other dogs, exploring the horse p**p, or rolling in mud.

Because here's the thing:

Teaching your dog to recall actually has very little to do with saying "yes!" to your recall cue.

And more to do with showing them how to say "no!" to distractions.

Teaching you exactly how in my group class, RAPID RECALL.

Sign Up Now www.missionpawsdogschool.as.me/recall

Spaces limited!

🐾 Get Your Dog to WANT to Come When Called

This is for dogs who suddenly go deaf when you need them most.

You call once, they come running. No squirrels or distractions can compete with you.

Pure off-leash freedom without the panic attacks.

April 27th & May 4th
2:00pm - 2:50pm
Vic West Community Centre

• Positive reinforcement games-based methods
• Small class sizes for personal coaching opportunities

BONUS:
FREE lifetime access to Rapid Recall ONLINE a $147 value!

Biothane long-line from Tiny Horse Mercantile and how to use it safely, a $55 value!

Lifetime access to Perfect Place online training, with videos on how to stop your dog from darting out the front door of your house or leap out of the car the second the door opens. A $97 value!

Save your spot!
www.missionpawsdogschool.as.me/recall

$145 + gst

28/03/2025

If you've been "desensitizing" or worse 😶 "socializing" your dog to get them to be more focused around other dogs...

I got news for ya. It's actually what's making your dogs reactivity worse.

Because your dog has learned and continues to learn that other dogs are an event.

EVEN IF you've been using a counterconditioner.

EVEN IF another trainer or Susie down the street says that worked for their dog.

I mean, if it was going to work, wouldn't it be working by now?

The thing with Desensitization is:

1) it's actually really easy to apply it incorrectly, causing your dog to become more sensitive

2) only one piece of the solution

If you're ready to stop mucking around in training strategies that don't give you the calm focused dog you dreamed of comment FOCUS and get started with my FREE Focus in 5 days mini challenge.

15/03/2025

📢 Actually… you don’t want your dog to like every dog.

Because if they do, that means every dog they see is an event—something exciting, something to react to. And when they expect to greet every dog, it often leads to more reactivity.

⚡ Excitement shifts to frustration.
😤 Frustration shifts to fear.

The best response? No response. 👏
Calmly walking past.
Choosing you over distractions.

Not every dog wants to be greeted. Not every greeting is safe. Teaching focus and disengagement is the key to stress-free walks.

🐶 Ready to heal your dogs reactivity?

Get started with my Focus in 5 Days mini course.

Comment FOCUS and ill send you the link 🖇!

06/03/2025

Only 3 spots left!

✨ Turn zoomies into zen and distraction into focus with fun, rewarding trick training! 🐶🎉

My Tricks 101 class isn’t just about teaching cute party tricks (though you’ll definitely impress your friends! 😉)—it’s also a powerful way to build your dog’s focus, strengthen your bond, and make everyday life easier.

✅ With personalized coaching, you'll get expert guidance to help your dog master tricks faster and with more confidence.

🐾 Plus, you’ll learn how to turn routine struggles into games—like using a scratch board to make nail trimming stress-free.

🚶‍♂️ Walking nicely on leash? That becomes easier too with tricks like Magic Twist and Middle!

And so much more!

🎾 Whether your dog needs a fun job, a confidence boost, or better listening skills, this class helps you channel their energy into brain-boosting, energy-burning fun!

Because a dog who loves to learn is a dog who loves to listen! ❤️🐕

Monday March 10th & 17th
5:30 - 5:50pm
Vic West Community Centre
$145 + gst

BONUS:
• Lifetime access to Perfect Place: Train your dog to relax anywhere online video program so that you can boost your Tricks duration and take your dog to patios, campsites, or the beach and keep them cool, calm, chill. 😎

• Lifetime access to the full online Tricks program coming April 1, 2025, including progressions on all the Tricks you learn in Tricks 101 plus many more! 🪄

Schedule your appointment online Mission Paws Dog School

04/03/2025

🚨 The truth about reactivity… 🚨

When I say “help your reactive dog,” do you picture:

🐶 Taking them to daycare or the dog park to socialize?
🐕 Asking them to “sit” when they’re already triggered?
🏃‍♂️ Giving them more exercise, hoping they’ll be too tired to react?
👀 Training as close as possible to other dogs, getting them to interact calmly and then “correcting” them if they don’t?

I hate to say it, but… none of these actually solve reactivity.

Because reactivity isn’t about socialization, obedience, or burning energy. It’s about changing how your dog feels in those moments.

That’s exactly what I’ll teach you in Distraction? ACTION!—my in-person class designed to help your dog focus, stay calm, and walk past distractions without the drama.

Positive Reinforcement Fear-free methods.
Games-based learning that is FUN for you and your dog!
Small class sizes to ensure one-on-one coaching opportunities

📍 Where? Vic West Community Centre
🗓 When? Sunday, March 16 & 30 @ 5:00–5:50 PM
🎟 Only 3 spots left—sign up now!

missionpawsdogschool.com.as.me/distraction
$145 + gst when you register before March 10th

BONUS:
Lifetime access to Distraction? ACTION! online to continue your learning from home
Lifetime access to Loose Leash LOVE Online to reshape your walks from stressful to stress-free, released March 15th
Lifetime access to Perfect Place training, with videos on how to grow calmness in the home so that you can cook, clean, relax and hug your partner without your dog getting involved!

01/03/2025

🐶✨ Tricks Aren’t Just for Kicks—They’re Essential Life Skills! ✨🐶

Think tricks are merely for show? Think again! Trick training is one of the most powerful tools to build your dog’s focus, confidence, and essential skills that can transform your daily life together!

🐾 Battling distractions? Teaching tricks sharpens your dog's focus, making recall and leash walking a breeze.
🐾 Too chilly or rainy for a walk? Trick training burns off excess energy indoors while keeping your dog’s mind sharp.
🐾 Want better manners? Tricks like “chin rest” help instill calmness for vet visits, while “middle” ensures your dog stays close and safe in busy places.

Trick training acts as a gym workout for your dog’s brain—keeping them engaged, enhancing their problem-solving skills, and teaching them to think on their paws!

A dog who can spin on cue, balance on objects, or rest their chin calmly is a dog who can confidently tackle real-world challenges.

And the icing on the cake? It strengthens your bond! When training is enjoyable, your dog is eager to listen, making your relationship more rewarding and everyday life simpler.

📅 Sign Up for our Tricks 101 class and unlock the magic! 🪄

Whether you're aiming to boost your dog’s confidence, sharpen their focus, or simply enjoy some quality time together, this class is for you.

🔥 Spots are limited—sign up now!
www.missionpawsdogschool.as.me/tricks

Small class sizes to ensure personal coaching opportunities
All positive reinforcement, games-based methods

Monday March 10th & 17th
5:30pm - 6:20pm
Vic West Community

PRE-SALE $135 + gst
After March 3rd $145 + gst

22/02/2025

"Won't comforting my reactive dog just reinforce the reactivity?"

Short answer: Nope! You cannot reinforce fear.

Think about it—if your best friend was scared or upset, would you ignore them? Brush them off? Scold them for overreacting?

Of course not! That would only leave them feeling insecure, unloved, or frustrated. They might even bottle it up next time—or react even bigger.

Instead, you’d offer comfort. A hug. Reassurance. Maybe even a treat and some Netflix time.

Why? Because you care.

It’s the same with our dogs. A calm “you’re okay,” a gentle stroke, or a tasty snack says:
“I see you. I’m not worried. You’re safe with me.”

Helping them move away from what’s scary or distracting them with something positive turns fear into trust.

And who doesn’t want to feel safe when they’re scared?

Dogs may not be exactly like us—but when it comes to needing support? We’re not so different.

19/02/2025

Jumping straight to training your reactive dog around their triggers is exactly why your training feels so unproductive.

Because it is.
Every time your dog reacts, they’re getting better at reacting.

Unless we:
• Prime their nervous system to have the capacity to learn
• Practice the skills in setting where they can be successful 95% of the time
• And exercise a default response of “oh that’s no big deal”

It's kind of like trying to paddle upstream with a hole in your boat

Slow. Takes a hell of a lot more effort. And you’ll probably sink before you get where you want to go.

12/02/2025

People are always surprised when I say I only do big walks with Vince 3-4 times per week.

(And by big I mean 20 minutes off leash).

Especially since he used to hike 90 minutes every day. Sometimes twice.

On average he spends about 20 hours per day sleeping.

He's fit. He's healthy. And he's behaviorally sound.

Now if I still gave him 90 minute hikes, every day, played fetch or did other typical "high-energy working breed" exercise, this guy would be a maniac and quite difficult to live with.

It's the frequent quiet days with more mental exercise instead of physical exertion that make him more physically, mentally, emotionally, and behaviorally fit.

11/02/2025

3 Little-Known Ways Trick Training Improves Your Dog’s Everyday Behavior! 🐶✨

Think tricks are just for fun? Think again! Trick training is a powerful tool that can transform your dog’s behavior in ways you never expected. Here’s how:

1️⃣ Boosts Focus & Engagement – Teaching tricks strengthens your dog’s ability to pay attention to you, making everyday behaviours like recall and loose leash walking easier! 👀🐾

2️⃣ Builds Confidence & Reduces Anxiety – Mastering new skills helps nervous or reactive dogs feel more secure in their environment, leading to calmer behavior at home and on walks. 🧘‍♂️🐕

3️⃣ Provides Mental & Physical Exercise – On days when walks aren’t ideal (hello, bad weather! ☔❄️), trick training gives your pup a healthy outlet for their energy, preventing boredom and unwanted behaviors. 🎾🧠

Want to see the difference for yourself? Join our Tricks 101 class and turn training into a fun, rewarding experience for you and your dog! 🐾🎉

Saturday Feb 22nd & March 1st
9:30am to 10:20am
Vic West Community Centre Gym

All ages, breeds, ans levels are welcome!
Positive reinforcement training method

BONUS: when you join Tricks 101 you get lifetime access to
😌 Perfect Place online training for training your dog to relax at home, on their bed, in the car, or patio.
🪄lifetime access to online trick training videos so you can continue training at home, never running out of ideas to advance.

$135 +gst

Save your spot:

Schedule your appointment online Mission Paws Dog School

03/02/2025

Until I realized this, training my dog to walk on leash was a nightmare.

He pulled as we left the house, dragging me across the street to sniff, towards other dogs, into traffic to get to the park.

And on the way home he lagged, stalled, sat down, and refused to go back home.

It was literally the worst of both worlds.

I tried all the typical training advice:
- stop walking when your dog pulls
- change directions when your dog pulls
- treat them for being at your side
etc.

NONE of them worked. Even cooked steak wasn't cutting it.

Then I realized, those things aren't working because his brain is 10 blocks ahead already.

How the heck is he going to learn when his brain is outside his body and he cannot compute what I'm asking of him?

So we took a different approach by:
> training Disengagement and Arousal Regulation from low-level distractions in our livingroom so that
> he could accept food outside
> which meant Focus and Engagement with me was on his radar
> allowing us to get down the street without pulling

Just like an arrow, sometimes you gotta take a step back in order or launch forward.

03/02/2025

Do you want peaceful dog walks on a loose lead, but you find yourself frustrated and tripping over your own feet the second you step out the door?

You gaze longingly at the people you see walking down the street enjoying a lovely stroll with their dog trotting happily at their side, while disappointment creeps in when you think of walking your dog.

You got your dog hoping to give them a loving home and their best life and you’re doing exactly that, but getting dragged into traffic is not your idea of a good time.

You’re starting to resent walking them, and who can blame you?! Your shoulder aches as they pull you from bush to bush to mark, sniff and root around.

God forbid you see another dog. You cringe knowing full chaos that will ensue.

If this sounds like you, Loose Leash Love is the class for you.

This is more than parallel walking next to other dogs and their humans.

It's is more than socializing them.

Or giving a treat in “heel” or changing directions every time they pull.

This class will give you the framework to have your dog seeing the space at your side as the BEST place to be without the pain of special collars or leash jerks.

Your dog will learn that focusing with you at the door, outside the door and all the way down the sidewalk is a stinking good deal!

You two will be navigating your walks as a team, giving them the chance to be a dog while you have the confidence to guide them through this wild world!

Look forward to walking your dog without the aching shoulders in Loose Leash LOVE, a dog Training Class for Leash Skills.

Sunday Feb 23 & Mar 2
4:30pm - 5:20pm
Vic West Community Centre Gym

Games-based positive reinforcement training methods
All ages, breeds and levels are welcome!

BONUS:
- Lifetime access to Perfect Place online video training to train your dog to relax inside the house and and even get to stop for a cuppa at your neighborhood patio.
- Lifetime access to the Loose Leash Love online video training to keep your progress alive!

Spaces limited to ensure personalized coaching opportunities
$135+gst

Register Online
www.missionpawsdogschool.com/groupclasses

31/01/2025

When most people get their dog or puppy, they often start by:

😬 Putting a leash on and taking them dog for a walk.

🤪 Going to new areas each time they walk them to keep it new and exciting for the dog.

😵‍💫 Meeting lots of new people and dogs along the way, the new dog is exciting to the owner, so they want to show them off to the world.

😐 Adding more duration and distance with every walk to “tire the dog out” because every time they come home, the dog is still wired.

🤦‍♀️Tolerating the dog pulling because they think it's cute or that the dog is excited and happy.

I could on…

None of these things are how we train your dog to walk on a loose leash or focus with their human outside or be calm in the face of other humans or dogs.

Because:
🫠 the dog may never have been on a leash before

🫠 EVERYTHING is new to a new dog

🫠 the dog is learning other people and dogs are more important than their owner

🫠 the dogs nervous system is actually dysregulated

🫠 the dog is pulling because they're overstimulated and trying to cope

Training your dog to walk on a loose leash begins with connection, communication with the human, and fostering their skills in an easy-win environment before advancing to the more challenging ones.

If you’re ready to finally stop your dog’s pulling and train them to walk on a loose leash, I have just the class for you.

Comment WALK, and I’ll send you the deets.

23/01/2025

Showing you how in my stop jumping up workshop, 4 on the Floor.

Attend in person in Victoria or grab the online video edition.

Comment JUMP for details 🐾

23/01/2025

Training your dog to stop jumping up doesn’t have to be complicated.

And it doesn’t have to take a long time.

You simply need the right training strategies.

And no, this isn’t about training your dog to “sit”, “down!”, or “off!”

This is about your dog seeing value in keeping their paws on the floor as they gently wag their tail in greeting, instead of planting muddy paw prints on grandma, excitedly jumping on a child, or knocking you over before you’ve even got your groceries down.

It’s about training them to see their bed as the place to go when the doorbell rings.

It’s about helping them regulate their excitement and arousal when their favorite people come in.

It’s about your dog having patience.

Whether they’re excited about people, leftovers on the counter, or strangers passing by the garden fence, this class will train your dog to keep all 4 paws on the floor.

4 on the Floor - Polite Greetings for Excitable Dogs
Saturday February 1st & 8th
9:30am - 10:20am
Vic West Community Centre Gym
$135 + gst

- All breeds, levels, and ages are welcome!
- Small class sizes to ensure personalized coaching opportunities
- Positive reinforcement, games-based training methods

Register Online: https://missionpawsdogschool.as.me/jumping

Dog training group classes in Victoria BC. Positive reinforcement dog training for recall, jumping, obedience, leash manners, reactivity, pulling on leash, puppy training, dog life skills, local to Victoria, Saanich BC,

20/01/2025

If you ever:

• Find yourself apologizing every time visitors come over as your dog launches at the front door...

• You have anxiety about what to do with the dog before grandparents arrive for fear they'll knock them over...

• You're frustrated coming home at the end of a work day or running errands, struggling to put your things down as your dog jumps all over you...

• You can't leave your kitchen unsupervised because your dog thinks anything on the counter is fair game...

• You feel rattled by the chaos of your dog crashing the fence as neighbors are out, the delivery person comes, cyclists pass, or a dog down the street barks...

Then this class is for you.

You will learn:
• The 3 reasons why dogs jump up, why it's deeper than just excitement, and the 3 skills they must have in order to calmly greet others

• Why cues like "off" often don't work or only work after they've done the jumping

• How to get your dog to see value in keeping their 4 paws on the floor and not jump up in the first place

• How to keep the dresses, countertops, coffee tables, and fences in your life paw print free

BONUS you will also get lifetime access to my 4 on the Floor online program as well as my online program, Perfect Place: Train your dog to relax anywhere

Saturday Feb 1 & 8
9:30am - 10:20am
Vic West Community Centre Gym
Victoria, BC