Outrun Dog Training and Kennel

04/19/2025

~ Service Dog Saturday ~

Alfalfa (Alfie) joined our SDIT program dog team this past January. She has been building a repertoire of basic obedience skills as well as crate training and an "off switch". So far Alfie has learned some valuable skills and we are looking forward to seeing how far this girl will go. She has a sense of humor and takes on new challenges with an impressive intensity.

Program dogs like Alfie live with our family and learn all of the basics that a Service Dog will need in their life. They participate in our group training classes, learn foundation skills for tasks, and go out for public access training. Once they are ready to meet their potential handler, we begin the process of finalizing the task training to accommodate for the specific needs of their paired client. Although we are accepting applications, we have a one year waiting list for program dogs.

Outrun Dog Training and Kennel accept both owner trained SDITs and offer program dogs that we train from day one. We carry a waiting list for program dog applications but most owner trained SDITs can complete their assessment and join at a level which most fits their needs.

If you would like more information about Outrun Training, visit our website at www.outrunkennel.com

04/15/2025

~ Registration Open ~

Does your dog struggle with ...
Impulse Control?
Confidence?
Obedience?
Manners?

Now accepting registrations for dog training classes. We have a few spaces left in our group sessions. Cost is $180 for 4 classes

In each of our classes, our goal is to help you meet your individualized goals. We group our sessions around a common topic/goal and our trainers move around the class to work with each client one-on-one.

Training teams have the freedom to choose tasks, projects, and goals. Training coaches provide instructions and exercises that will help their students meet their goals.

If you would like more information about Outrun Training options, visit our website at https://outrunkennel.com/services

At Outrun, we do not use aversive, painful, or coercive methods. Rather, our trainers keep themselves up to date with the most advanced scientific research in training available so that we can provide you with the best service possible.

You can read more about our trainers here https://outrunkennel.com/about-us

03/05/2025

Maxwell is training to be an Autism Support Service Dog. He is doing great and is learning how to handle all sorts of situations.

This is how Maxwell walks to school everyday. We are SO PROUD of Service Dog In Training (SDIT) Maxwell and his handlers. Notice that Mom has a long leash and our younger handler has a shorter leash to walk his dog. Until Max's training is completed, Mom is taking an active role in helping both young charges to remember the 'rules of the road'.

It can not be stressed enough that even the most well trained SD is still a dog and the handlers must be responsible enough to take good care of them. They need to be fed, groomed, and walked - just like any other dog.

When a service dog is trained to work with children, there must be an adult who is able to take that responsible role of pet ownership.

If you would like more information about Outrun Training, visit our website at www.outrunkennel.com

02/02/2025

It is a great honour to be selected as a featured SDC Coach for Cooperative Paws

Thank you!

01/29/2025

Our Service Dogs In Training (SDITs) practice a variety of different exercises in order to prepare them for the difficult job of problem solving. Service Dogs have a huge amount of pressure on them as they are expected to be part family pet, part working dog, and part companion.

When we teach our SDITs we provide a lot of play and we incorporate their working style into their play. This way we can associate positive emotional states with their work and mitigate some of their stress along the way.

DeeDee, Fidget, and Max will all have different service tasks when they have completed their training but many of the foundation skills are similar. Having SDITs practice in a group environment helps them to prepare for the eventual inevitability meeting of other dogs in public scenarios. They must still be able to complete their Service Tasks despite the presence of other animals.

If you would like more information about Outrun Training, visit our website at www.outrunkennel.com

11/11/2024

✿ LEST WE FORGET 🌺

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘭𝘥, 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘭𝘥;
𝘈𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘯.
𝘈𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨
𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.

Today we remember all our brave fallen soldiers - men, women, and animals.
Animals have always played a crucial part in war efforts. Horses, donkeys, mules and camels carried food, water, ammunition and medical supplies to men at the front, and dogs and pigeons carried messages. Canaries were used to detect poisonous gas, and cats and dogs were trained to hunt rats in the trenches.

🎨Painting of soldier and dog 'Devotion To Duty' by Jacqueline Hurley Poppy remembrance art

11/09/2024

~~ Shelter to Service Program ~~

In our shelter to service program, we assess dogs who are at shelters looking for homes to determine if they would be appropriate service dog candidates. We adopt dogs from shelters and begin their foundations of service dog training which will prepare them for service work.

Dogs who pass their tests move on to service work and are paired with clients in a mutually beneficial working relationship. Dogs who do not meet program requirements for service work are placed into pet homes.

A potential service dog should be confident, have a positive attitude and a friendly demeanor. They should be able to approach new situations ready to learn.

A dog who should not be a service dog include those who get stressed when around new situations or people. Service dogs should not be fearful nor bark, lunge or growl at strangers.

Shelters and dog rescues can contact us and to request an assessment at [email protected]

Personalized training options can help you meet your dogs' needs. https://outrunkennel.com/

11/02/2024

~~ Service Dog Saturdays ~~ https://youtu.be/xc9i5Fc9yfw

Maxwell is working on body awareness with his handler Edmond. Maxwell will be Edmond's service dog when he is finished training but until then, this duo are learning how to work together and be a team.

At Outrun, we help our Service Clients to fundraise for their Service Dogs. Most benefits companies, health supports, and ODSP will help cover the costs of keeping a service dog, however, they do not always include the costs of training a service dog.
The costs to raise, train, and support service dogs is between $20000-25000. This can easily be broken down into basic categories including: Food, Medical Care, Equipment, Training Costs.

Sponsor a Service Dog for as little as $200 per month and help us make a difference in someone's life by giving them the freedom a service dog can provide. Contact us for more details at https://outrunkennel.com/

Maxwell is working on body awareness with his handler Edmond. Maxwell will be Edmond's service dog when he is finished training but until then, this duo are ...

10/29/2024

Dear Marketing Personnel,

Just wanted to share a brief suggestion for the next advertising campaign.

Sincerely,
Dog Owners On Behalf of Dogs Everywhere

If you would like more information about Outrun Training, please go to https://outrunkennel.com

Photo Credit: anonymous - if anyone can find the original creator of this photo please share! This came up on a newsfeed but the person who posted said it wasn't theirs.

10/23/2024

Fear Free Happy Homes is an educational website designed to help pet owners understand their pets better. It can be a useful instrument for pet owners to add to their knowledge base.

Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS) can be experienced and exhibited by your pet in many different situations or scenarios. Learn how to recognize the signs of Fear, Anxiety, and Stress. https://www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/

If you would like to learn more about our pets' FAS levels and how we can help them work through or eliminate causes of stress contact us at [email protected]

Personalized training options can help you meet your dogs' needs. https://outrunkennel.com/

10/19/2024

Our service dogs work through many things including a CKC - Canine Good Neighbour prep class. We work through all 12 of the steps required of a CGN.

Would you like to see if your dog could be the next Canine Good Neighbour? Contact us today.

If you would like more information about Outrun Training, please email us at [email protected] or check out our website at https://outrunkennel.com/

Photo courtesy of CKC - CGN

https://www.ckc.ca/en/Raising-My-Dog/Responsible-Ownership/Canine-Good-Neighbour-Program/I-Want-To-Have-My-Dog-Tested

10/16/2024

Teaching a dog who is unable to focus can be difficult and incredibly frustrating. In this photo set, we can see the handler working to teach the dog to "LOOK". By changing her approach, Gino's handler was able to attain success despite using the same reinforcement, the same equipment, and have the same teams present in the room.

In our Montessori style classrooms our clients work at their own pace through a common curriculum set, however each go about learning using different methods. For example, each client will probably want to teach their dog how to "SIT" at some point. Teaching a dog to "SIT" can be taught by luring, shaping, or capturing and we can use several different styles of reinforcement.

Reinforcement can vary in a lot of ways. We could use food, treats, praise, physical contact, and access to resources as reinforcement. Once we are ready to begin proofing the behaviours, there are alternative methods of reinforcement that we can use, such as the Premack Principle.

At Outrun, we choose not to use aversive, painful, or coercive methods. Rather, our trainers keep themselves up to date with the most advanced scientific research in training available so that we can provide you with the best service possible.

You can read more about our trainers here https://outrunkennel.com/about-us

09/16/2024

We are pleased to have been selected by Pet Grocer to interview on Get Fresh with Jen. Listen to our podcast interview with Emily Day from here https://loom.ly/M_PbFRA

We are proud to shine a spotlight on the incredible work local rescues do for our community. This month we have interviewed three local rescues and we are excited to help them get their message out.

Next Up 🐶 Outrun Rescue

Outrun, co-founded by Emily Day in 2020, specializes in rehabilitating rescue dogs that face behavioural challenges, particularly those with aggression and anxiety issues. Emily's journey into dog training began after rescuing an aggressive dog named Zip, which inspired her to pursue formal education in applied animal behaviour at the University of Washington. With her extensive experience in the veterinary field and certifications like Karen Pryor and Fear Free, Emily is committed to helping overlooked dogs in shelters get the behavioural support they need to increase their chances of adoption.
Listen in here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1935394/episodes/15725183-rescue-roundup-outrun-rescue

08/31/2024

~ Service Dog Saturdays ~

DeeDee is our newest Shelter to Service Candidate. This girl is smart, sassy, and spirited. We are excited to see her progress through our SD Puppy Training program. DeeDee's mom was picked up as a stray in a neighboring township and during her vet appointment, it was found that she was pregnant with 8 sweet little ones!

Using FEAR FREE training programs, our Service Dogs In Training (SDITs) are introduced to a lot of life skills in the first few weeks they are with us. This week, 10 week old DeeDee had her first grooming session. We have included a before and after picture of her.

DeeDee has started her puppy foundations and socialization. We are excited to welcome her into the Outrun Family and can't wait to meet her potential new family.

At Outrun, we help our Service Clients to fundraise for their Service Dogs. Most benefits companies, health supports, and ODSP will help cover the costs of keeping a service dog, however, they do not always include the costs of training a service dog.

The costs to raise, train, and support service dogs is between $20000-25000. This can easily be broken down into basic categories including: Food, Medical Care, Equipment, Training Costs.

Sponsor a Service Dog for as little as $200 per month and help us make a difference in someone's life by giving back their freedom.

If you would like more information about Outrun Training, please go to https://outrunkennel.com

08/30/2024

~~ Fundraising Friday ~~

Service dog training consists of a lot of components over and above the initial cost of the dog. This week we are fundraising for a client needing a PTSD dog whose tasks include crowd control and anxiety mitigation.

Help us fundraise for service dog training and bring home a special treat for your poochie! Current in stock items are:

6" Collagen Sticks - $3 each or 4 for $10
6" Bully Sticks - $4 each or 6 for $20
Bully Stick Holder - $45 each

We are so pleased to offer natural dog chews for our supporters. To prevent choking, we recommend using a bully stick holder when you give collagen or bully sticks to your dogs. We carry 2 in stock if you do not have them already.

We are open to the public walk-ins every Sunday from 11am to 1pm.

Our training clients are welcome to purchase anytime during their sessions.
Pre-orders are available.

If you would like to volunteer at Outrun Rescue and Rehabilitation Center or for further information, please email us at [email protected]

08/27/2024

How much space do you need to train your puppy?

The answer is ... not very much! When we are working with puppies, it can sometimes be similar to having a toddler running around your house ... they both need you to keep one eye on them. When you can't watch your puppy it can be very helpful to have an exercise pen available.

One of the very first things that we teach puppies at Outrun is that the bed (or mat) is a place where reinforcement and rewards happen. During our classes, we often will have a station mat where our dogs or puppies can go if they need a "reset" button. This is especially important when we are teaching complicated behaviours.

Setting up an ex-pen with some toys, snacks and a bed can help your pup build the foundation knowledge that the bed/mat is reinforcing. In the ex-pen below, you can see some enrichment items including a bed, a bowl of toys and an orange Tricky Teat ball which has kibbles inside. Scattered around are a few pieces of cookie to encourage some exploration.

If you would like more information about Outrun Training, please go to https://outrunkennel.com

08/26/2024

Thank you to everyone who nominated us for Readers' Choice Awards this year but it's not over yet! Please take a few minutes and vote for your favourite business in the Readers' Choice Awards.

We have been shortlisted to the top 3 again this year in 5 categories:

Animal Rescue
Dog Training
Dog Walking Services
Non-Profit / Foundations
Pet Boarding / Daycare

This is our 4th year being nominated and selected as a top choice in animal care in our community. Help us help the animals!

For the below link, please change the DOT with . (this is due to the publication ban on all news articles in Canada)

https://readerschoice.simcoeDOTcom/readerschoice-alliston/business/outrun-rescue-animal-rehabilitation-center

08/24/2024

~~ Service Dog Saturdays ~~

Shelter Stray Turned Diabetic Alert Dog

Jackson arrived as a stray from the pound but it was clear pretty quickly how keen this guy was to work. He has a long road ahead of him for training but we are so happy and excited for him.

Jackson started learning his basic obedience during his stay at Outrun Rescue and we had planned to look for an active or working home for him. At 18 months old, this guy had worked through much of his social and emotional growth but he still has a lot to learn.

A few weeks ago, we received a call from a prospective adopter who was looking for a dog that could be trained to become a Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD)! Specifically interested in Jackson, we went over all of the different considerations for a shelter dog becoming a service dog, and also what Jackson would need to be everything the new owners hoped for.

When dogs arrive we do a complete behavioural assessment in several different situations as well as multiple assessments over multiple weeks. This allows us to see the changes that happen as the dog settles in. We track the dogs' progress in training classes and combined with the behaviour assessment, build a picture of what the dogs' needs are in a future home.

Jackson's results showed us that he would excel in a working environment. On his list of potential 'jobs' were service dog work, border services, or tracking. Since Jackson's training was still in the early stages, he had also been listed as a potential pet dog with an active family interested in casually pursuing sport or outdoor activities.

Congratulations to Jackson, now officially a Service Dog In Training (SDIT) and his new Handler. We hope that you love your new job.

If you would like more information about Outrun Training, please go to https://outrunkennel.com