Client Cases

Jonathan was a six-month-old, mixed-breed dog when he arrived in the shelter system. He was fostered and rehabilitated by an experienced dog walker and foster parent, who was one of our clients…

Our clients Bill and Lesley were at a loss as to which fires they were supposed to put out first – Beazley’s separation anxiety, Nellie’s reactivity, or the fights that occurred regularly between the two. This couple had decades of dog experience, yet they were struggling. When they sought help, they rarely came across holistic solutions. Were they supposed to hire a different trainer for every problem they were experiencing? “We were just spinning our wheels,” said Lesley. She’d signed up for anything she could find – reactive dog training, obedience classes, and medication, to name a few. Friction and…

Our clients had their share of unfulfilling experiences with dogs, including behavior issues and health issues. They reached out even before their puppy’s arrival, so we could organize indoor play and train space, a crate, indoor and

Meet Mary, a mixed-breed beauty transferred to Toronto from a shelter in Texas. Mary recently celebrated her fourth birthday, and I am certain that she and her mom are also celebrating their healed relationship. Indeed, the last year was challenging, with Mary

When I was seeking help with my native gardens, I called on Sustainable Roots Ecological Restoration Inc. and had the pleasure of meeting the co-owners, Andy and Reid. Andy came for a visit, and our conversation turned to dogs and my training business. He then shared the struggles that he and his wife, Reid, were facing with their northern-breed dog, Newt. He also mentioned their limited success using conventional training methods. It became clear that we were meant to work together and agreed to barter gardening services for training services. Newt had come to my clients as a puppy from…

Several years ago, I was introduced to Nimbus’s owner, an ambitious young man who was going to school and working full-time while still dedicating himself to raising his young pup, a German shepherd. We worked together for a while but then lost touch. I was glad to hear back from him but was dismayed that Nimbus wasn’t doing well.  Turns out Nimbus’s owner had met someone special. They were in love, had moved in together, and now did not see eye to eye on how Nimbus should be dealt with. Finally my client’s partner contacted me, hoping we could pick…

Introducing Stella the Mastiff. Stella’s folks, a young couple with their heart in the right place but little experience with dogs, came to WOLDT alarmed at the growing challenges they were experiencing managing their big girl. At a little under a year old and 110 lbs. and counting, Stella was terribly hard to handle. She’d bite the leash and drag her people out the apartment, through the corridors of their condo building, into busy elevators, and out into the crowded streets of downtown Toronto.  Some people nearby made things even more challenging for my clients. Drawn to Stella’s size and…

Is it possible for puppies to exhibit behavioral issues? Sadly, it is. Our client Chelsea the German shepherd was less than three months old when her owners contacted us about her behavior. Yes, they were dealing with typical puppy issues such as grabbing, chewing, getting into things, and difficulties with house-training.  However, it was Chelsea’s dismal lack of confidence, extreme timidity, sound reactivity, and extreme stranger danger that they were rightfully worried about. Even in their quiet suburban neighborhood, Chelsea could not be outside without fiercely reacting to sounds. She also scarfed down her food so quickly that she often…

My client didn’t have much experience with dogs but had dreamed of having one since childhood. Finally, she settled on a breed suited to apartment living, saved up enough for a puppy, and read and researched all she could. But when she brought home Bean, her new Havanese–shih tzu mix puppy, she found herself at a loss about what to do. She’d had Bean for three days when we spoke. I remember how upset she sounded as she tearfully described Bean as agitated and averse to her attention. Apparently, he had nipped her several times in the span of a…

I am lucky that former clients who resonate with my work often refer me to their friends. That is how I met this client, a fiery young lawyer now residing in the U.S. Soon after she rescued her new puppy Taco, an orphaned pup rescued from the streets of Mexico, she reached out to me to begin our work. I was thrilled for her, knowing she would be the kind of person who would do right by her dog. However, concern creeped in as I continued reading her message, wherein she described life with her new puppy in ways that…

Introducing client Tobey, a Siberian-Labrador mix a little under two years old, who’s recently come our way with concerns surrounding separation anxiety. Like many of us, his owner shifted to working from home during the lockdowns of 2020. Being a fit and active person, she hiked daily during these times and thought that a dog could share her active lifestyle and her enjoyment of being out in nature. Soon enough, she brought home Tobey who was a young pup at the time. Under lockdown conditions, my client, her partner, and Tobey spent much of the time exclusively together.  Like many…

Many years ago when I still volunteered at my local humane society, I was asked by the K9 staff to coach a new volunteer, David, who apparently had pestered them with requests for additional training. For several months, I coached David on handling the more challenging shelter residents, and with the keenness and capacity he was showing, I encouraged him to grow his learning by fostering. A year or so later, he was ready to foster now that he’d secured a rental home with a small yard. He brought home Snickers, an American foxhound who was found as a stray…

Boxer-Shepherd mixes Dixie and Pixie were found behind a restaurant in the city and taken to a shelter. These sisters were estimated to be about ten months old but weren’t considered bonded enough to be adopted out together. Thus, Dixie went to my client, an active woman who loved fitness and being out with her dogs.  A few months later, my client got wind of the fact that Pixie was still at the shelter. She turned up with Dixie in tow only to lose her a few moments later, as Dixie had taken off to the kennel where she and…

Molly’s owners came to Way of Life Dog Training concerned with a range of issues displayed by their four-year-old Cockapoo. These issues had become increasingly hard to deal with, as they attempted to balance managing Molly’s behavior with the needs of their two very young children. Molly did like the kids and was excellent with them, thankfully. But much else was problematic:  1. Molly was reactive to the noises that are typical of a home, especially one with children – TV sights and noises, and rings and whistles from various kitchen appliances. 2. She barked ceaselessly at the door and…

Desiree, a puppy mill mom rescued from Newfoundland, was a pug that reacted to people, dogs, and children. My client realized she must have done things a little too fast with Desi, as she liked calling her, and proceeded to go back to basics. She wanted to be able to take Desi with her to visit her daughter and grandchildren, who were four and six years old. So, Desi came to board with me for a few days at a time. Of course, boarding dogs allows them to be looked after when their people need to travel or deal with…

What does it take to cheer up a puppy mill mom? How can we help a depressed dog get past years of abuse and neglect? Katie is a doodle puppy mill mom who was finally able to catch a break from breeding and looking after one litter of puppies after another. She came with many health issues, some minor and others persistent. She also came with psychological issues but we could not really call these “behavior issues” in the traditional sense, meaning Katie is not reactive. She does not guard anything. She does not bark in her crate. She does…

My clients did everything right. Or they thought they did. They chose a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a breed that they identified with culturally but that they’d also researched thoroughly, finding these dogs described as “happy,” “intelligent,” and “fun.” I mean… what’s not to love about a breed described as such? Due to little experience with dogs, they were turned down by a few breeders, but one did agree to sell them a male pup they named Toby. They brought Toby home and a few months later, I was on a call with them. Turns out Toby had become fiercely aggressive…

My client, an avid hiker and camper, recently took her dog Max, a one-year-old cockapoo, on his very first camping trip. We’d prepared for it for months and were thrilled that Max had mostly behaved, enjoyed himself, and come back feeling like a million bucks.Things weren’t always so positive for Max and his people, however. As new dog owners, Max’s guardians, an active brother-sister duo living with their senior parents, had come to me seeking solutions to Max’s reactivity. There was hardly a thing that didn’t trigger Max, including but not limited to noises from the neighboring yard, people and…

Client Eddy the Australian Shepherd was a very well-trained dog, in the sense that he was obedient, knew a copious list of obedience commands, and was active in several sports including agility, frisbee, and Rally-O. Being a bright and driven Aussie, he excelled at all these activities.Outside the sporting ring, he led a very active lifestyle with his energetic and dedicated mom who took him on frequent walks, hikes, and swims at their local indoor pool. During the week when she worked, she had a dogwalker take Eddy out. She also fed him a wholesome diet, holistically managing a mild…

As much as we enjoy helping dogs with behavior issues of all kinds, we’re thrilled when the opportunity to get a puppy started right presents itself.Neptune’s owner wanted an intelligent and athletic partner to join him in his outdoorsy life as an avid hiker and camper. Like many working from home and juggling school and work responsibilities, he also wanted a companion and family pet.Many novice owners, as well as experienced ones, want a meaningful bond with their dog but aren’t too sure how to cultivate that bond. My client and his family initially thought raising a dog meant focusing…