My dog has skin allergies, do you have shampoos for that?
Do you express Anal Glands?
Do you groom cats?
How often should my pet be groomed?
How long do the grooms take?
Do you do group walks?
How long are the walks?
Do you do off-leash walks?
Do you frequent dog parks?
Do you cat sit as well as dogs?
Do you do overnight visits?
Do you do group sessions?
Do you do individual/private sessions?
How long are the sessions?
What is your ratio on food reinforcement?
Do you train for flyball or agility courses?
Grooming
Q. My dog has skin allergies, do you have shampoos for that?
A. Yes I do. I have many varieties of shampoos and conditioners to suit your pet's needs. The ever popular Oatmeal and Plum Silky shampoo’s for that "fresh as a flower" smell, Bluing for adding colour back into a dog’s black/white coat, Dirty Dog Prewash for extra cleanliness, Neem for fleas, and of course Hypoallergenic for the sensitive skin dog.
Q. Do you express Anal Glands?
A. No. I believe that anal glands should only be expressed by a veterinarian. If a dog cannot express their anal glands by themselves, then it becomes a medical emergency that should only be performed under the supervision and care of a veterinarian.
Q. Do you groom cats?
A. Although cat grooming was not a prerequisite of my course and therefore is not in my field of expertise, I have since learned from other experienced groomers how to groom a cat properly. However, in saying that, most pet owners should be aware that cat grooms are rather difficult and very traumatizing on cats. Cats also have very "paper thin" skin that can be nicked quite easily by the most experienced groomers. Many groomers (including myself) will only usually perform a bath, a brush out, and a nail trim. Pet owners wanting that cute "lion" shave down haircut should really think twice about their pets needs and not just how cute they may look!
Q. How often should my pet be groomed?
A. It really depends on the breed of animal. Certain dogs such as a Husky or Lab, need grooming very seldom but still need a good bath and brushing to keep their coat shiny and clean. Other dogs, such as the "groomable" dogs consisting of Shih Tzu’s, Bichon’s, Terrier’s, Schnauzers, and Poodles, need grooming on average every 4-6 weeks and at least brushing out by the owner at home every week at a minimum. Mats can easily grow out of control and can be quite painful to your pet. Contact me for more information on which breeds require more grooming.
Q. How long do the grooms take?
A. The average groom takes between 2-3 hours from the beginning of stage 1 and ending with stage 4. The groom includes all four stages which are pre-clip, bathing, fluff drying and final finish. Time can vary depending on the style of groom, the size of the dog, and the length of time between grooms.
Dog Walks
Q. Do you do group walks?
A. I prefer not to, as I like to give every dog all of my attention. I also incorporate a few training commands into my walks if the owner so desires. Group walks I tend to only do if the dogs are from the same household.
Q. How long are the walks?
A. I usually stick to only 1/2 hour walks especially with training being incorporated. A good walk with stimulating training will, for the most part, be sufficient enough to give the dog a good workout. I also factor in that climate changes affect dogs in both the summer and winter so 1/2 hour walks tend not to expose them to heat exhaustion in the summer and frozen pads or possible hypothermia in the winter. I do have prices for people wanting an hour walk but training is definitely not incorporated so that the dogs do not become overworked.
Q. Do you do off-leash walks?
A. Unless the dog has a high level of command training, I prefer to stick with walking the dog on a leash. Although it may seem controlling, it is more for the safety of your dog. There are too many distractions and too many risks involved for the dog and the dog walker. Better safe than sorry.
Q. Do you frequent dog parks?
A. I tend to stay away from dog parks or off-leash zones, again mainly because of the risks involved. Although it is nice for dogs to interact when leashed, you never know how other dogs in a park may act around your dog, especially if they are off-leash. Also you may run into the risk of picking up certain animal diseases in a dog park since not everyone adheres to the poop-and-scoop code of conduct. There are plenty of nice walking paths and neighbourhoods in the area to walk your dog.
Pet Sitting
Q. Do you cat sit as well as dogs?
A. Yes. Please refer to my pricing page for how many visits per day I do.
Q. Do you do overnight visits?
A. Yes I do, but at the present time the overnight visit consists of me coming to you. Only under certain circumstances can arrangements be made for the pet to stay at my place.
Dog Training
Q. Do you do group sessions?
A. Yes. Group sessions are approximately 6 weeks long, once a week for an hour with roughly 4-6 per group. Encouragement for dogs to interact is key, however we do keep them on-leash until they have at least completed level 2 - Intermediate Dog Training. There are three levels of dog training: Level 1 Basic, Level 2 Intermediate, and Level 3 Advanced, all at 6 week sessions run throughout the year. Please contact me for further information.
Q. Do you do individual/private sessions?
A. Yes. Private lessons are the same length as Group however we teach the dog one-on-one. We also may address things going on in different situations such as territorial barking, other types of animal distractions and food aggression. Private lessons are done in the comfort of your home and surrounding area.
Q. How long are the sessions?
A. Sessions usually last for an hour but it depends on the breed and the climate surround the day of training. The sessions are approximately 6 weeks in length, however private lessons may take longer time wise to allow the dog owners to work on teaching the commands themselves to the dog during the week while on walks or in the backyard, etc. The dog owners must be involved in the training for the dog to keep progressing with continual learning of the commands.
Q. What is your ratio on food reinforcement?
A. I only encourage food as a reinforcement command for 10% of the learning. Therefore the other 90% is based on positive praise reinforcement. You don’t want your dog to become dependant of treats alone, the training won’t work - your dog may become overweight or disobedient to your commands.
Q. Do you train for flyball or agility courses?
A. At the present time, I do not offer those courses. Please keep checking the site for postings and upcoming events, along with additions to our training courses.
