One Leg Up Canine Co. - Dog Training & Daycare

When a dog is struggling, it can be easy to interpret their behaviour as stubborn, dramatic, or even deliberately disobedient... especially if their behaviour is attracting unwanted attention.

But behaviour is communication.

A dog who can't respond to a familiar cue, is barking or lunging, can't settle, or is suddenly making choices that seem completely out of character is trying to tell us they're having a hard time. Instead of asking, "Why won't my dog listen?" try asking, "What is making this moment so hard for them?"

When we look at behaviour as information instead of defiance, we can stop struggling against our dogs and start figuring out what support they need. When your dog is having a big behaviour, they aren't trying to give you hard time. They're having a hard time.

If you need support navigating the hard times, we can help! Reach out to learn how. 🧡

Camping with your dog is a lot more fun when you're prepared. 🏕️🐾

For us, that means gear that gives dogs room to explore safely, a comfortable (and very washable!) place to sleep, plenty of options for chewing and enrichment, and a first aid kit that we sincerely hope never leaves the bag.

It's also important to plan for downtime! Camping comes with ALL the smells, sounds, wildlife, people, and general excitement, and most dogs need help switching off. Familiar busy projects that promote licking, sniffing, or chewing can help them decompress, and give you some time to make dinner or start your fire without micromanaging your dog.

What piece of dog gear always makes it onto your camping checklist? 🐾

🎉 Congratulations to all of our foundational program graduates: Reba, Lottie, Billie, Brody, and Theo! 🎉

Whether you joined us in Puppy Program or Life Skills, you've spent the last several weeks building a strong training foundation and bond. These teams have worked on practical skills like polite walking, engagement, confidence, and thoughtful social interactions. But perhaps most importantly, they've been building stronger communication with one another.

Training isn't about having a perfect dog. It's about creating habits, understanding your dog a little better each day, and enjoying the learning journey together.

If you're looking to build training foundations through food and fun, check out the foundations programs on our website - link in bio 💛🐾

We love clickers! A clicker is what's called an "event marker". It tells your dog the exact moment they got it right, and let's them know that a reward is on its way.

That little *click* helps because it:

✨ Improves timing. Even if the treat takes a couple of seconds to reach your dog, the click captures the behaviour you wanted.

✨ Creates clarity. Your dog doesn't have to guess which part of their behaviour earned the reward.

✨ Builds predictability. The click always means the same thing: "Yes! That was it. A reward is coming." We might not always be consistent with the tone (or even the word!) of a verbal marker.

✨ Can speed up learning. Clear, consistent communication helps dogs understand new skills more quickly and with less frustration.

A clicker isn't magic, but it can make your communication much more precise, which only benefits you and your dog.

Interested in learning how to use the clicker? Check out private or group program options at onelegupcanineco.com. 🐕

Treats often steal the spotlight in dog training, but for plenty of dogs, toys are powerful reinforcers.

A quick game of tug, a toss of a favourite ball, or a chance to chase a toy can be used as a reward, too. The trick is finding what your dog loves, and making it easy to use in the moment.

Every dog has preferences when it comes to things like toys. When we're choosing toys for training, we might suggest toys that:

🐾 Fit in a pocket or waistband.
🐾 Are long, to keep the excited teeth of mouthy players at bay.
🐾 Are easy for your dog to spot when thrown.
🐾 Match your dog's preferred mouthfeel.

Interested in learning how to use play or toys as a training reward? Let's get in touch! 🐕

Keeping your dog busy is only one benefit of a stuffed rubber food toy!

Licking, chewing, and working to get food out of a toy taps into natural behaviours many dogs find calming and satisfying. It gives their brain something to focus on, encourages independent problem-solving, and can even make the transition from activity to rest a little smoother.

We often reach for them after a walk, during quiet time, while guests are over, on breaks during group class, or anytime our dogs could use a little help settling.

As an added bonus, pairing one with things your dog isn't quite sure about, like visitors arriving, car rides, or relaxing in their crate, can help build positive associations passively.

Do you have a favourite stuffing recipe? We'd love to hear what your dog can't resist! 🐾

Technology can be a great tool, even in the dog training world. Tech can help you adjust and monitor the environment, which is a huge part of setting your dog up for success! ⭐

Here are a few of our favourite ways to use tech to support dogs.

What piece of technology has made life with your dog easier?

So many puppy graduates in the last couple of weeks 🎓⭐

Congrats to Knox, Bailey, Acer, Lucy, Billie, Luke, Pearl, and Mabel! Nurturing a puppy's growth, in size and in confidence, is one of the most important things we do at One Leg Up. These people are ready to help their pups handle the stressors of the real world with skills and support.

Keep up the amazing work! 🧡