Dog Training

We understand that dogs are intelligent, emotional beings – capable of incredible levels of learning, understanding, and co-operation. Also, we believe a dog should never be trained with any technique meant to frighten or intimidate. We employ and teach only educational and fair training techniques.

The Alternative Way taps into our dogs’ ability to learn, understand, and co-operate. Every dog has this capacity, and every person can learn to unlock their dogs’ abilities. The Alternative Way Dog Training Co. helps people bring out the best in their dogs.

We think of dogs as part of the family. To truly integrate into a family household, a dog needs to learn how to behave appropriately according to our expectations. Our training programs are built specifically to help dogs integrate successfully into a human family household:

• The Alternative Way starts with “Building Blocks”
• Puppy Pre-School (Group Classes)
• House Skills: Beginners I (Group Classes)
• City Skills: Beginners II (Group Classes)
• Park Skills: Advanced, Off-Leash (Group Classes)
• “Mini” and Custom-Built Training Programs
• Private Sessions Program (Private Sessions)
• Payment Terms/Cancellation Policy

The Alternative Way starts with “Building Blocks”

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Instructor: Tamryn Fudge

Unique to The Alternative Way Dog Training Co., “Building Blocks” is the first step in every training program we offer. “Building Blocks” combines an information session about general dog behaviour with a private session (usually at the client’s home) that addresses the individuality of dogs and their families.

This combination empowers our clients with a clearer understanding of their dogs’ behaviour, and enables them with effective, simple techniques to make the desired changes in their dogs’ behaviour.

Building Block, Pt. 1: Information Session

During this 90-minute session, our clients receive the training manual for their program, get acquainted with our training facility, and are educated about body language, nutrition, and toys.
These 3 factors; body language, nutrition, and toys, are primary factors in dog behaviour. Understanding these factors helps our clients handle their dogs much more easily.

“Went shopping for toys the next day. Made a couple of toy boxes. Now we have toys scattered all over the house – it is like having kids again.” Human: Nona Klontz, Dog:“Digger”, 8 month old Chocolate Labrador Retriever 

“We really found body language to be useful. It is far easier to read our dog and catch him before he reacts in a negative way.” Human: Scott Phinnemore, Dog: “Ryker”, 18 month old Newfoundland Mix

Building Block, Pt. 2: Private Session (90-min)

The Private Session allows us to address the individuality of each dog and his family. We focus on the dynamics of the household environment, family members, and other family pets.

In the Private Session, our clients learn:

• How to establish authority (leadership), without using bullying or harsh techniques. Leadership is the key to teaching a dog patience and co-operation – essentials to success in training a dog.   
• How to effectively calm and contain their dog, to teach their dog about acceptable behaviour. These techniques are simple, educational, and fair. Dogs respond to them immediately!
• How to recognize their dogs’ personality type; identifies instincts that are driving behaviour, what body language the dog uses, etc. This provides a better understanding of how the dog works, learns, and responds to the world around him.
• Problem-solving strategies to address current issues with the dog. We teach our clients how to apply the knowledge they have gained to their daily life with their dogs.

“I also found the home visit particularly useful for the opportunity to discuss Charlie’s quirks and quarks. The strategies for helping him were a godsend” Human: Carlin Favell, Dog:“Charlie”, 10week old Miniature Schnauzer

“The calming technique was the most useful for me... Great experience all around. Learned various techniques that I really hadn’t come across in books read.” Human: Sarma Liepins, Dog:“Bear”, 2 year old Labrador Mix

Building Blocks Schedule

Puppy Pre-School(Group Classes)

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Instructor: Tamryn Fudge

Once the “Building Blocks” have been completed, puppies aged 8-16 weeks old attend Puppy Pre-School:

In Puppy Pre-School, we address the most important aspects of Puppy hood:

• Coming when called
• Socialization
• Manners
• Handling/calming
• Learning to focus and concentrate through basic teaching exercises.

We help our clients understand what to expect as their puppies develop. Puppy Pre-School gently introduces our puppies to structure, concentration and co-operation - while building confidence.

The Result:
Puppy Pre-School cultivates the qualities puppies will need to later learn how to successfully live in a human world, keeping our puppies from becoming out of control, over excitable, impatient, and unruly.

Puppy Pre-School Program includes:

• The Alternative Way “Building Blocks”
• Six 1.5-hr weekly group classes
• Training manual
• Telephone and email help, for as long as you have your dog.

Cost:

• $265 + GST, if “Building Blocks” have not been previously completed
• $150 + GST, if “Building Blocks” have been previously completed
• view Payment Terms/Cancellation Policy

“I have found the training helpful and realistic. The skills taught have valid application in everyday life. It has helped guide me to be a pack leader without dominating. If Maverick’s responses and behaviours continue I expect that he will grow to be a well behaved member of our family that will be a joy to be around and will be welcome in a variety of places.” Human: Charlene Steacy, Dog: “Maverick”, 10 week old Black Labrador Retriever

House Skills: Beginners I (Group Classes)

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Instructor: Tamryn Fudge

Once the “Building Blocks” have been completed, dogs aged 5 months of age and older begin attending House Skills:

In House Skills, we teach dogs the most important skills for living in a human world:

• Come when you are called (Fun-Based recall) 
• Stay where you are told
• Walk nicely on the leash
• Be polite with people / Don't touch my stuff
• Do not leave the house/yard/vehicle without permission
• Follow commands

Our House Skills program teaches essential skills for you and your dog to successfully live in a household together: 

• You learn: how to teach a skill and build it to increased reliability. Also, how to accommodate for your dog’s limitations during the learning process with effective containing and calming techniques.
• Your dog learns: how to be more mindful in exciting situations, how to respond to commands, and what standards of behaviour are expected of him/her.

House Skils Program includes: 

• Six 1.5-hr weekly group classes
• Training manual
• Telephone and email help, for as long as you have your dog.

Cost:

• $265 + GST, if “Building Blocks” have not been previously completed
• $150 + GST, if “Building Blocks” have been previously completed
• view Payment Terms/Cancellation Policy

“We have seen incredible changes in Diesel since we have started going to The Alternative Way Dog Training Co. He is much calmer, and we are able to get him to listen to us much better. We really enjoy being able to teach him new things and watch him learn, he gets so proud of himself when he makes us happy.” Humans: Claude Auger and Lindsay Schumaucher, Dog:“Diesel”, 6 month old Pitbull (attended Puppy Kindergarten, as well)

“I was amazed at how some of our precise concerns (i.e. swiping food from the coffee table!) were integrated into the curriculum. Yes, our expectations were met.” Human: Catherine Waddell, Dog: “Baron”, 3 year old Cocker Spaniel

City Skills: Beginners II (Group Classes)

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Instructor: Tamryn Fudge

In City Skills, we teach:

• Heel
• Come
• Stay
• Stop
• Down
• Leave It

Our City Skills program teaches you and your dogs the precision skills necessary for a successful city outing: skills such as walk at a heel, stop in place, down on command, and leave it make it easier to navigate crowds, cross streets and encounter the unexpected.

This course improves the dogs' ability to concentrate and focus. The skills taught allow our dogs to have more freedom, as they become more reliable and co-operative.

Cost:

• $150 + GST
• view Payment Terms/Cancellation Policy

Park Skills: Advanced, Off-Leash (Group Classes)

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Instructor: Tamryn Fudge

In Park Skills we integrate the skills taught in House Skills and City Skills into more complex real life situations, including off-leash. We will improve the working relationship between dog and human, and increase the dog’s level of co-operation and understanding.

Cost:

• $150 + GST
• view Payment Terms/Cancellation Policy

“Mini” and Custom-Built Training Programs

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Instructor: Tamryn Fudge

“Mini” Program

Sometimes a client needs just a little guidance and direction. Or perhaps budget constraints make it impossible to sign up for a full training programs. In these cases, we offer a Mini Program.

The Mini Program consists of:

• The Information Session
• A 90-minute private session (usually at the client’s home). In this session, we spend time problem solving and addressing the clients’ concerns.

Cost:

• $120 + GST
• view Payment Terms/Cancellation Policy

Custom-Built Training Programs

In cases where our programs do not meet the needs of our clients, we can modify existing programs or create custom-built training programs.

If you do not see a dog training program listed that will meet yours and your dogs’ needs, please contact us so that we can identify your specific requirements, and work to find an appropriate solution.

Some issues we have worked with are:

• Budget constraints
• Scheduling constraints, i.e. clients on shift work, clients out of town, busy families.
• Difficult family dynamics, where family members have differing ideas about how to train the dog.

Private Sessions Program (Private Sessions)

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Instructor: Tamryn Fudge

In every case of aggression and behaviour problems there are underlying issues that have contributed to the problem at hand. These dogs have resorted to these inappropriate behaviours due to problems such as confusion, fear and/or frustration.

At no time do we recommend using bullying or harsh techniques to train dogs, especially in the case of dogs with aggression and behaviour problems. We believe that the only way to improve aggression and behaviour problems is to calmly and respectfully address these underlying issues.

Head trainer Tamryn Fudge has professionally trained in the area of aggression and behaviour problems. Tamryn’s training and experience enables her to identify the issues contributing to aggression and behaviour problems. She guides clients through the process of addressing these issues, ultimately improving the dog’s behaviour.

The Program

We have developed a program that systematically addresses each area that is a contributing factor. First, we educate our clients about their dogs’ behaviour and give them tools to predict, prevent, and control their dogs’ undesirable behaviour. This is accomplished with The Alternative Way “Building Blocks”.

Next, we have 3 one-on-one sessions. During these private sessions, we work on the skills necessary to improve the dog’s behaviour. Whether it is learning to handle excitement more calmly, to co-operate more, to be more patient, or to concentrate more effectively – we identify the areas of concern and work to improve those.

Skills such as coming when called, walking nicely on the leash, and being polite with people help a dog learn to control himself. It is this control that will ultimately help improve the issues of aggression and behaviour problems.

The Program includes:

• The Alternative Way “Building Blocks”
• Two 1-hr one-on-one sessions
• Training manual
• Telephone and email help, for as long as you have your dog.

Cost:

• $265 + GST
• view Payment Terms/Cancellation Policy

“…as you know I accessed your services this summer when we were having some aggression problems with our bull terrier. You came out to assess the situation and then provided us with one on one help to overcome the problem. Your help was crucial in assisting us to solve a problem that we had no knowledge of. In the end I am sure it has kept our dog from being labelled aggressive and eventually having to be euthanized. All we needed was some knowledge and training ourselves, and the dog assessed by a professional. It has set the tone or our relationship with our dog and will continue to do so. Also, it has been fantastic being able to access you for any ongoing questions and concerns. I would have to say it was money extremely well spent. I would, and have, recommended your services to others
Lori Jacobson – “DJ”, Bull Terrier (Merritt)

“Sport is a Red/Blue Heeler who came into our family at the age of three.  He had belonged to a horse logger who uses heelers as working dogs with his Percheron horses.  His previous owner found him to be not courageous enough, a "wuss", he said, and gave him to us.  Sport was un-neutered and quite fearful.  He had been the youngest of three heelers on the team, and had always been around very large horses, trucks, large men and falling trees.  At one point, when I took Sport to the vet for a regular check-up, he decided he'd had enough physical handling and snapped at the vet and at me as he launched himself off of the examining table.  After that, being a smart guy, he realized that biting just might work for him.  He began to snap at guests who tried to handle him, and actually bit one person whose dog he didn't like (a Rottweiler).  We realized that we couldn't keep a biting dog, out of concerns for the safety of family and friends. I rang the SPCA to see whether they could find Sport a good home on a ranch, where he could be a working dog. They advised me that they wouldn't place a dog who had a biting problem, and that my choice was to have him euthanized or see if I could find a training solution.  They referred me to "The Alternative Way".  We had a couple of long telephone conversations with Alternative Way trainers, after which we decided to give the program a try. Tamryn Fudge agreed to come to our home for an assessment.  Tamryn tested Sport's limits, and explored his capacity for play.  She felt that we could work with him (that is, we were ALL trainable).  She advised us to have him neutered and to change his diet.  We did both of these things and then commenced with his training.  The training was a major commitment for all of us, but quickly became part of our routine.  Tamryn showed us how to build Sport's confidence and relieve his tensions.  She also taught us how to teach him to play, in ways that were non-threatening from his perspective.

Through the Alternative Way, we found the "Sport" in Sport.  Now 8 years old, he's excellent around people now, even little children.  He loves to play, and expects his play time every evening.  He looks to us for direction, instead of making decisions on his own.  We've learned to recognize his stressors and to provide either assurance or a safe place away if we think a situation will be difficult for him.  He's learned to come to us for support if he's feeling uncertain.  Through a more suitable diet (no wheat, for example), he has a lovely coat and his dental hygiene and doggy breath are much improved.  We've referred several people to the Alternative Way, even friends as far away as New Zealand, where the program doesn't yet exist.  I think Sport owes his life to the Alternative Way..... And we're grateful.”
Sarah Chandler – “Sport”, Australian Cattle Dog (Lillooett)

Payment Terms

All programs are subject to 25% non-refundable deposit at the time of enrollment. The remainder is due upon commencement of program. Program cost can be spread into payments, upon agreement of both parties.

We accept Cash, Cheque, Interac, Visa, Master Card and American Express

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel your program 14 or more days before the program commences, you will be refunded the full program cost, less deposit. If you cancel your program 13 or less days before the program commences, and your space can be filled, you will be refunded the full program cost, less deposit. If your space cannot be filled there will be no refund. If you cancel after the program has commenced, no refund will be provided. No discounts are given for missed classes.