Frequently Asked Questions​​​

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​What are your pronouns?

I use neutral (they/them) pronouns. As long as you are trying your best, it's okay if you don't get it right.​

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What is your service area?

This is not actually a frequently asked question, but I don’t want it to become one. My service area is as far as I can drive that day. Reach out if you don’t live near Toronto, and we can talk about logistics. All in-home services are subject to a mileage fee of $1.00 per km. I always try to book clients with geographic efficiency in mind, to save money for all parties.​

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Are you ok out in the rain/heat/cold?

Yes. I am tough and do not melt in bad weather.

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Will you cancel services if it is raining or too hot/cold?

Likely not. I do not like to cancel services unless there is an emergency. When possible, I try to adapt my services to be safe during adverse weather conditions. During heatwaves, I may move clients earlier in the day or change locations to beat the heat. If there is a risk of thunderstorms, I will avoid open spaces and water. In very cold winter conditions, I may ask clients to put boots and/or layers on their dog. If it is unsafe to drive or be outside, I will cancel, which happens VERY occasionally after gnarly snowstorms, during icy conditions, intense thunderstorms, or heatwaves. 

What is your cancellation policy?

Please refer to the Terms and Conditions page for information about my business policies.
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Did you see the email/message I sent you?

Probably. And I probably meant to but forgot to respond to it. I have debilitating ADHD. Please feel free to remind me if I haven’t gotten back to you. Thanks in advance!​

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How fast can I expect training results?

Not immediately. Good training takes patience, consistency, and dedication. Training timelines will depend entirely on the dog, the frequency of training practice, and the human’s commitment to the process. 

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What is your training philosophy?

I do not identify strongly with any particular training label. My training largely consists of management, exercise/fulfillment, and positive reinforcement. When I choose to implement punishment and/or negative reinforcement contingencies, I choose consequences that do not scare or cause pain to the dog. I rarely rely on extinction as a training method.

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I adhere to the LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) philosophy of training and use Dr Susan Friedman’s Humane Hierarchy as a framework to guide my behavioural and training interventions. The purpose of the hierarchy is to keep behavioural intervention as positive and unintrusive as possible for the learner, without completely writing off punishment or training tools altogether.

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What training tools do you use with dogs?

I often use the following training equipment: harnesses, long lines, head collars, and slip leashes. I tend to take a harm reduction approach to the use of more aversive training tools. I do not personally choose to train with tools such as e-collars, prong collars, or choke chains, but I will not turn away every client who uses these tools.

 

If a client is interested in training with me and follows the advice I give them, I do not mind if they choose to use a tool on their dog outside of the context of our training, or even in addition to the training we do together, as long as I believe that tool is being used effectively, safely, and reasonably. I am also happy to refer clients to well-educated, competent, balanced trainers, should they be dedicated to training with tools and want to work with someone who can guide them through that process safely and effectively. 

 

The one exception to my non-partisan approach to tool use is in my service dog training program. As per my credentials, I do not allow service dog handlers to use e-collars, prongs, choke chains, or slip leashes in training. If handlers are used to using tools and wish to reduce their dependence on tools, I am happy to work with them. However, if handlers are dedicated to tool use for service dog training, they will unfortunately not qualify for my services.

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What is Owner Training?

“Owner training” refers to the process of a disabled individual (aka “handler”) training a dog to be their personal, task-trained service dog. As long as the disabled individual has a letter from a healthcare practitioner confirming their need for a service dog, this is a perfectly legal and accepted way to obtain a service dog in Ontario. Most handlers choose to work with a professional to help ensure their service dog is properly task-trained and suitable for public access. Any service dog, regardless of whether they were program- or owner-trained, may be denied access in public spaces if it is displaying disruptive or dangerous behaviour. While larger ADI and IGDF programs have standardized testing and evaluation criteria to help ensure the quality of their graduates, there are no official requirements for owner-trained service dogs. Working with a reputable professional can help ensure the dog is ready for public access, and having proof of professional service dog training can mitigate public access issues in areas such as travel, housing, and education. 

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How long does it take to train a service dog, and what is the success rate for graduation?

The timeline and success of training a service dog depend on many factors, including, but not limited to: the age and prior training of the service dog prospect, the temperament and health of the service dog prospect, the breed of the service dog prospect, and the handler's resources, training ability, dedication, and the nature of their disability. It usually takes teams between six months and two years to complete service dog training. 

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Will my dog act differently when they come home from boarding?

Most dogs need a transition period to adjust to any new environment, so the answer is most likely yes. Depending on the dog, they should be settled back home within a few days to a couple of weeks. Keep in mind that most dogs fall into familiar routines and habits when they go home from boarding, so it may take some extra diligence on your part to maintain any training they worked on during boarding or a Board and Train.

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Will my dog behave differently with the trainer than with me?

​Dogs do not generalise well, which means that to maintain the skills your dog performs with me, you must be willing to put in the work. I give all my clients the information needed to keep up their dog’s training at home, and as long as you work hard to stay consistent, your dog will be able to transfer their skills to you without much difficulty.

 

Is this thing my dog is doing normal?

Probably yeah. 

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Those are most of the questions I get regularly. Hope that clears some stuff up. If you have any questions that remain unanswered after reading this incredibly detailed FAQ page, feel free to read the Terms and Conditions. If you still have questions after that, then you can email me, and I will be happy to help!