Ottawa Canine School

05/01/2026

Do you want to learn new games and practice some skills around new dogs?
This session would be perfect for you !
We are looking for 2-4 dogs to come to to meet the Ottawa Canine School trainers for an hour and learn new skills in a fun environment.
We will :
- learn new games and management techniques
- practice outdoor manners on a walk/hike
- work on all these skills with other dogs, people and smells around
- end the session with learning how to settle outdoors after a fun time!

DM us if you are interested in joining us on May 9th or May 10th (depending on interests and matching dogs' personalities) at LK Farms !

Existing reactivity clients can join

We will be posted different drop-in classes in the next few months, stay tuned!

04/16/2026

We are not currently taking any new clients for separation anxiety training until the end of 2026!
If anything changes we will update you all and in the meantime, don't hesitate to visit our website and get on our waitlist (link in our bio).

See you soon!


: sign reading "sorry our books are closed for separation anxiety training until the end of 2026" on a green background with green, blue and read circles.

04/13/2026

We offer at the Ottawa Canine School private training and gait analysis.
We can do our training online or in person !

For more details you can visit our website, link in the bio! 🔗

We are working on some new services for the summer 2026, stay tuned 👩‍🍳

11/05/2024

Anxiety in dogs doesn’t always manifest in the same way, and it can differ based on the individual dog’s temperament, the source of anxiety, and the specific situation.

For example:
🐾 Some dogs may show subtle signs like yawning, lip licking, or slight restlessness. These behaviours are easy to miss, but they indicate the dog is uncomfortable.

🐾 You may see more visible behaviours such as pacing, whining, or panting. These dogs are trying to communicate their stress and need intervention to avoid escalation.

🐾 In extreme cases, dogs may show destructive behaviours, aggression, or even self-harm (such as excessive licking or chewing).

Also, anxiety can be situational (triggered by events like thunderstorms, fireworks, or being left alone) or generalized (present most of the time).

It’s important to observe your dog’s behaviour consistently in various contexts to understand their anxiety triggers!

09/17/2024

When we ditch the labels and focus on observable behaviours, we are in a better position to address and improve our dog’s behaviour.

Our dogs are not being stubborn or vengeful; they are simply communicating in the best way they know how.

Let’s work on enhancing the relationship with our dogs while promoting their well-being and happiness! Agree?

09/10/2024

Dogs bark at other dogs for a few common reasons:

🐾 Fear: A traumatic experience with another dog, lack of proper socialization, and a predisposition to fear could be some reasons for this behaviour.

🐾 Excitement: They could be overly excited and want to play, but don’t know how to approach the other dog calmly.

🐾 Anxiety: Barking caused by anxiety may occur in certain contexts, in specific environments, or be generalized.

🐾 Frustration: They might be frustrated because they’re on a leash and can’t reach the other dog to interact the way they want to.

Understanding the specific reason behind a dog’s behaviour can help in finding the right way to manage and improve it!

07/16/2024

Living with a dog that has separation anxiety can be incredibly challenging, and it’s something that not everyone can fully appreciate unless they’ve experienced it..

Living with a dog that has separation anxiety can take a toll on both you and your dog! Seek guidance from qualified professionals. It’s okay to acknowledge these challenges and seek help to improve your dog’s well-being and your peace of mind.

If you need help or recommendations, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

07/03/2024

Team Finn is making progress on their separation anxiety journey! During the last assessment, Finn was separated from “mom” for over 12 minutes without signs of distress. He’s come a long way from his initial 56 seconds! There is no quick fix to helping dogs recover from separation anxiety issues, but it can be done!

07/03/2024

Isn't this just a clever idea to teach your dog to eat off a syringe ? It can come in handy when needed!

From Breakfast Time to Brilliance!

Today, thanks to an awesome Team we learned that Cheerios fit on the end of an oral medication syringe. Bonus that Cheerios are on Penny’s and Georgie’s approved food lists and they both love them.

Nothing is better than creativity in action!

Penny was eating off the syringe in no time. 🤩

Need help with your dog taking medication we can help!

07/02/2024

Pro-tip: pay attention to how your dog responds to different cues and ensure those cues are associated with positive experiences!

By consistently rewarding your dog for responding to cues, you can maintain their enthusiasm and trust. This approach helps build a strong, cooperative relationship and makes training more effective.

06/28/2024

A poisoned cue can slow down your training progress, or worse, it can lead to anxiety, stress, or even fear in your dog.

If you think a cue has been poisoned, consider changing the cue altogether!

Introduce a new recall word that consistently predicts a positive outcome. For example, you could use a word like “mess” during meal prep.

As you cook and chop up tidbits, call out “mess” before letting a few delicious pieces drop to the floor. Your dog will quickly learn that responding to this new word brings rewards!