Green Dogs Training

10/28/2026

Incremental training plans are the foundation that all good trainers use to develop new skills. There is little guesswork about using a solid training plan; the dog's response drives the process. a good training plan is systematic, fair, and makes training fun for both trainer and the dog.

In Jean Donaldson’s Academy for Dog Trainers we learned to use her brilliant "Push-Drop-Stick Rules" for setting criteria and shaping successive approximations of a target behavior. Use data to change criteria, no guesswork involved.

Not everyone can afford to hire a private trainer for training support. Group classes are generally not the best spaces to learn completely new skills with your dog (too distracting, not enough time to process, difficulty with mechanics, etc).

Now there is a fantastic (free) app* created by the incredible trainer Allison Wells that guardians can use to guide their training like a pro. It tracks your dog's progress and ensures that both of you are successful.

* there is also a paid version for AI support for customized plans and coaching

Do you need a collection of plans to train common behaviours? This app has them. Need help to create a plan for a unique behaviour? The app can get you started. The information provided to the app to use to develop plans is based on positive reinforcement and evidence based training practices. It uses applied behaviour analysis. Check it out. It's brilliant!

Force-free dog training plans that adapt to your dog in real time, plus Coach, an AI that reads your sessions and remembers your dog. Every plan is free.

10/28/2026

4 month old puppy Louie is learning to "leave it" for food on the ground. We'll be using this super cue to ask him to "Leave" the kitty he shares his home with, and this can also be used to redirect our dogs from chasing any moving object.

This is the end of Louie's second session with me, and he is absolutely rocking it, clever boy! We started indoors and have moved out to his back yard where there is a little more distraction.

10/28/2026

Pesto's mom wants to make vet visits easy and stress free for everyone. We have been working on stationing behaviours and handling, getting familiar with veterinary tools like stethoscopes, scales and syringes, and we've been doing Happy Visits to her wonderful veterinary clinic to ensure that she has positive feelings about the experience. The staff at Panorama Hills Veterinary Hospital has been amazing and Pesto is rocking her exams!

10/28/2026

Some current clients. Shispa is a recent adoption from Mexico, Reggie is a lovely puppy learning all about the big wide world, and Pinot just finished a teen-tuneup package with me.

09/26/2026

Lost dog. Last seen around Confederation Park. Owner is not on social media. Please call number on post. Let’s get this baby home!

07/21/2026

Last week was our first Pints ’n Paws Brewery Manners class at Annex Ale Project.
Our fabulous students worked on skills to ensure that happy hour is happy at both ends of the leash!

07/21/2026

I have the most delightful recently adopted little dog staying with me for a 3 week Stay-and-Train. Her name is Betty and she is 11 lbs of cuteness.
She is also explosively reactive to dogs, whether on or off leash, at any distance. We have no early history on her other than she was found abandoned in the street in California.
Her reaction is all fear-based and her strategy is "a good defense is a strong offense", and she comes in hot!. She figured out that bullet-proof Panda, Cashew, and Archie were okay after a bumpy and emotional (for her) introduction and is perfectly happy co-existing and walking with them. I’ve been working on counter-conditioning her fear of other dogs at distance and introducing her multiple to calm, steady dogs to help her realize that other dogs can actually be nice-even fun.
She’s met multiple dogs successfully (I love my clients and colleagues and their willingness to help with their lovely dogs)
Betty has co-existed with these dogs, but shown no interest in play.
Until she met Sasha, the sweetest little Dachshund around. Sasha has the secret sauce, and finally, finally, Betty PLAYED! And boy, can she play! Check out these moves!
There is nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing that makes my heart happier than seeing a scared, reactive dog relax and have fun with another dog. Watching good dog play is the best antidepressant there is. I am over the moon that Betty has a new BFF, and we have more playdates lined up for the girls!

07/10/2026

Your dog will very likely need veterinary and physiotherapy care during their lives. Taking the time to teach them to station for care, and helping them feel comfortable with the necessary handling makes treatment easier and less stressful for all. Need support with your dog? I am here to help!

07/07/2026

Exciting news! We’re teaching our first brewery manners class starting July 14th at Annex Ales in Calgary at 3 pm.

Sign up for Pints & Paws and make your dog the toast of the taproom!

B**r, summer and dogs. It doesn’t get better than. this!

Class is small so call or email today to hold your space!

09/22/2025

I am so proud to be an honours graduate of The Academy for The Academy for Dog Trainers.

Pet dog training and behavior counseling is complex, with two species - minimum - involved, modern life and its challenges for families, and our responsibility to be stewards of the public safety as well as the welfare of dogs. We feel it is imperative to thoroughly train our practitioners for this profession and to then properly support them once they go into practice. It's how we earned our reputation.