PuptodateDogs

It's been a long time since I've posted on social media! Things have been busy (yay!) but when you're a one woman team, some things fall to the wayside. *Ahem* social media🤪

I've never done an introduction post on here so I thought it might be time!

My name is Cailin, and I'm a multi-certified dog trainer based in Victoria BC, but I do online consulting worldwide.

I focus in reactivity, separation anxiety (certified through ) life skills, and puppies.

My goal as a trainer is to set you and your dog up for success now and into the future, so you don't need me forever. I only use force free methods in training and am proud to do so.

My clients and their dogs truly mean so much to me, and I'm so happy that many of my clients continually update me on their progress once we're done training together. More updates please!!🫶🏼

Outside of dog training, I also work as a Registered Massage Therapist! This career was my first passion before dog training. Weirdly enough, so many of the skills transfer between these two jobs. Compassion, empathy, and understanding are huge components to both of these careers. Being an RMT makes me a better dog trainer, and vice versa.

In my free time, I love spending time with my own two amazing pups, Basil and Rue, as well as my wonderful fiancé (gettin hitched next year!😳) who is dog dad extraordinare. We spend a lot of our time camping, snowboarding (our fave), and being outside together.

Thank you to everyone who has trusted me with your dogs. This work can be hard, and exhausting, but I've had the pleasure of having such amazing clients. I truly love all of your dogs, and they are all like fur nieces and nephews to me 🧡

Struggling with recall? Set you and your dog up for success with this checklist!

✅ 30-50ft leash
• A long leash will ensure safety as you work on your recall cue.

✅ High value reinforcement
• Think wet, stinky food like hot dogs, cheese, or a squeeze pouch with wet food in it. The wetter/stinkier, the higher the value. Reward your dog EVERY time.
• If you have a play/toy motivated dog, try tug or fetch as a reward.

✅ Game of tug or sniffing beforehand
• If you have a dog who loses interest in recall quickly to go sniff or to zoom around, they may do better with some play or "find-it" treat scatters before you practice to get their inital excitement out.

✅ Strategic cue timing
• One of the biggest mistakes I see with recall is overusing the recall cue.
• When you decide to call your dog, look at the big picture. When was the last time you recalled them? What did you recall them from?
• A good way to assess if your dog will be able to recall is calling their name. Did they look at you? Try your recall then.
• If your dog is sniffing or doing something exciting, that's probably not a good time to recall them unless you deem it absolutely necessary.

If you're struggling with recall, reach out to a qualified force free trainer for support. Behaviour is nuanced and an extra pair of eyes can always be helpful! 🙏