Frequently Asked Questions
Ottawa Dog Training FAQs — Clear Answers, Honest Guidance
Got questions about training, pricing, or pack walks? Find straightforward, no-fluff answers from BetterDog’s Ottawa team.
- 01
- 02
Can I Join Pack Walks?
Nope â itâs not a free-for-all. Our pack walks are exclusive for BetterDog members, especially those of you whoâve been dodging other dogs like itâs a full-time gig or creeping out at midnight to avoid the madness. If thatâs your life, this is your way out. These walks are structured, controlled, and designed to level up your dogâs confidence and social skills. Itâs not just a walkâitâs a freakinâ transformation.
Why Itâs a Game-Changer:
Your dog learns to vibe with other dogs like a champ.
They build confidence in a safe, badass environment.
You stop sweating bullets every time another leash comes into view.
Real Talk: If youâre tired of turning around at the sight of another dog or walking at odd hours to skip the drama, this is your solution. No more hidingâyour dogâs about to run the park.
How to Get In For Non-Members: Wanna join the pack walks? Hell yes, you canâbut youâve gotta join the squad first. That means signing up, crushing our training program, and putting in the work to get your dogâs behaviour on point. This isnât for the lazyâitâs for the grinders.
For Members: Youâre already in the crew. Keep hustling, keep improving, and youâve got an open invite to every single pack walk. No limits, just gains.
Pro Tip: Want in on every walk? Smash that training program, dial in your dogâs behavior, and youâre set. Itâs that simple.
Why You Need This Your dogâs begging to be a social rockstarâthey just need the right crew and the right push. Our pack walks arenât just about burning energyâtheyâre about building a dog that can handle the world without you losing your mind. You want that? Then stop thinking and start doing.
What Youâre Missing Out On:
A dog that can chill with others without flipping out.
A crew of owners who get it and are grinding just like you.
The freedom to walk whenever you damn well pleaseânot just at 5 a.m.
Your Move: Step Up or Stay Stuck Hereâs the raw truth: your dogâs ready to be a legendâtheyâre just waiting on YOU. You can keep dodging other dogs, keep walking at weird hours, keep stressingâor you can level up, join the pack, and make it happen. The choice is yours, but timeâs running out.
For Non-Members: Jump into that training program, get your dog locked in, and unlock the pack walks. Itâs your shot at a better life with your pup.
For Members: Youâre already inâkeep pushing, and weâll see you at the next walk.
Bottom Line: This isnât just a walkâitâs a power move for your dogâs future.
You in or you out? Letâs freakinâ do this! đĽ
- 03Inhome
Your dogâs world is your home, and thatâs exactly where BetterDog is bringing the training action. Why? Because all the good stuffâand the not-so-good stuffâhappens right there in your space.
Weâre not messing around with fake setups or pretend vibes. Weâre coming to you to see your pupâs natural reactions, tackle those issues head-on, and make real change where it actually goes down.
Unless your trainingâs all about the outside issues, weâre in your living room, turning your dog into a total superstar. Letâs woofinâ do this!
- 04Treats?Jon
Hereâs how BetterDog motivates dogs in training: itâs all about building trust, respect, and a solid connection, not just tossing treats around. They use something called the Emotional Marking EM, which leans on a mix of reinforcement methods to get your dog on board.
Treats? Sure, theyâre in the mix, but theyâre not the star of the showâthink of them as a supporting actor, not the lead.
How They Motivate:
Verbal Praise: A calm âgoodâ or an excited âyes!â to let your dog know they nailed it.
Touch Praise: A pat or scratch to say, âYouâre doing awesome.â
Play Praise: Quick playtime to celebrate a winâbecause who doesnât love a good game?
Food Praise (Treats): Used smartly, not constantlyâmore on that in a sec.
So, Do They Use Treats? Yep, but itâs strategic, not a free-for-all snack fest. Treats come out to change associations, like:
Tossing one in the crate to make it a happy place for a nervous pup.
Giving one after something tough (like nail trimming) to end on a high note.
The real deal? BetterDog focuses on creating a balanced communication system. Your dog listens because they respect youânot because youâre a walking treat dispenser. Itâs about a bond that lasts, not a quick bribe.
- 05Mandatory?
Itâs an all-hands-on-deck mission! Anyone whoâs regularly chilling with your pup needs to step up and join the training squad. No one sits this out. Hereâs the lineup:
All family membersâyep, adults, kids, everyone in the house.
Babysitters, dog walkers, pet sittersâif theyâre in your dogâs orbit, theyâre in.
Extended family (shoutout to Grandma and Uncle Joe)âif theyâre pitching in with care, theyâre on the team.
Mandatory Game Plan That first training session? Itâs a must. Everyoneâs showing upâno skips, no excuses. Weâre syncing up the whole crew, making sure weâre all barking the same commands and vibes. Consistencyâs the name of the game, and this sets the tone. After that kickoff, weâll tweak who needs more practice based on how theyâre vibing with the process.
Why It Works BetterDogâs got this dialed inâwhen everyoneâs speaking the same âtraining language,â your dog doesnât get tangled in mixed signals. No confusion, no slowdownsâjust pure, tail-wagging progress.
Letâs rally the pack and make this happen!
Woof woof, letâs roll!
- 06
Whatâs the Deal?
Mandatory?Itâs a required 2-hour, in-home sessionâbut real talk, block out 3 hours. Yeah, 3! Why? Because we donât half-ass it. Weâre here to grind and get results. This ainât optionalâitâs the foundation for everything. Miss it, and youâre just screwing yourself. No shortcuts, no BS.
Whatâs Included? This isnât some basic âsit-and-stayâ crap. Itâs a full-on, custom-built game-changer for your dog and your life. Hereâs the lineup:
Personalized Training Tailored to your dogâs weirdness and your goals. Not generic
Hands-on Hustle Youâre not watchingâyouâre doing. Weâll reset how you and your dog connect and teach you to lead like a boss.
Instant Wins Walk out with skills you can use right now. No fluff, just results.
Your Battle Plan A roadmap to keep you crushing it. No guessworkâjust progress.
Why 3 Hours? (And Why You Should Give a Damn) It says 2 hours, but weâre usually still at it by hour 3. Why? Because we chase results, not clocks. Hereâs the breakdown:
Your Dogâs One-of-a-Kind - Every pupâs got its own vibe. If we need extra time to fix a problem, weâre doing it. No cutting corners.
Youâre in the Driverâs Seat - This ainât a seminarâyouâre practicing, weâre coaching. Takes time, but youâll leave like a pro.
No Question Left Behind - Got a âwhat ifâ or âhow do Iâ? Weâre not bouncing âtil youâre locked in.
Pro Tip: Block the Time Set aside 3 hours. Might end early, but donât count on it. Youâll thank me when your dogâs a woofinâ rockstar.
Whyâs It Mandatory? Because it freaking works! Hereâs the no-BS truth:
Consistency Rules You, your dog, and the trainer get on the same damn page from day one. Same system, same vibeâno confusion. Thatâs how you win.
Master the EM Youâll own the Emotional Marking Systemâour secret weapon for dog communication. Your pup will get it fast.
Ditch the Rookie -DIY Without this, youâre stumbling in the dark. This session fast-tracks you to results. Done.
Whatâs Next? Smash this session, and youâre calling the shots.
Go pay-as-you-go or dive in with unlimited training. But this 3-hour hustle? Itâs the non-negotiable first step to stop screwing around and start seeing change.
Bottom line: You want a better dog? We show up, you do the work, and quit overthinking it. This sessionâs your launchpadâletâs make it happen.
No excuses, just action. Letâs woofinâ go! đž
- 07
BetterDog doesn't rely on gimmicky tools or unnecessary gadgets but instead focuses on clear communication and proper handling. However, they do recommend specific equipment to support training.
GearRecommended Equipment:
A Properly Fitted Collar
A flat buckle collar or martingale collar (for dogs prone to slipping out).
No retractable leashesâcontrol is key.
A Sturdy 6-ft Leash
Leather or nylonâsomething durable and easy to grip.
Avoid flexi-leads (retractable leashes) as they encourage pulling.
A Long Line (15-30 ft)
Useful for recall training and practicing commands at a distance.
A Training Crate (if applicable)
Helps with house training and giving the dog a safe space.
Not used as punishment.
The BetterDog Emotional Marking System EM
This isnât a physical tool, but itâs the backbone of their trainingâusing verbal markers, body language, and structured reinforcement.
Muzzle (for Severe Cases)
If your dog has a history of aggression, they may recommend muzzle training as a safety measure.
Minimal Treat Use
Treats are used for association-building, not bribery. The focus is on verbal praise, touch, and play as primary motivatorsâ.
Their training philosophy emphasizes technique over tools, ensuring that whatever equipment is used, it's done with clarity, fairness, and consistency.
- 08How oftenJon
Unlimited Training Package at BetterDog, and weâre stoked to break it down for you. Hereâs the deal: we offer unlimited sessions, but donât get it twistedâweâre not here to drag this out forever.
Our whole vibe is about being good and efficient, fixing your dogâs quirks as fast as possible so we can both kick back and relax. Why? Because the quicker youâre sorted, the sooner weâre sipping coffee instead of chasing tails. So, hereâs how we like to do it: Our Approach: Fast Fixes, No Fluff
Unlimited Sessions, Maximum Hustle. With the unlimited package, youâve got all the sessions you needâbut weâre not messing around. Our goal is to get your dog dialed in quickly. Weâre motivated to crush it so youâre good to go, and we can chill knowing the jobâs done. Efficiency is the name of the game, fam.
No Time-Wasting, Just Results. Every session packs a punch. We hand you the tools, give you homework to grind on for a week or two, and let you run with it. If you hit a snag, weâre back in the mixâno stress. Most folks donât even come close to 10 sessions because weâre that good at getting you sorted fast.
Stacking Sessions When Itâs Go Time. Got a pup with some extra attitude? Weâll stack those lessons back-to-back if needed. Progress doesnât wait, and neither do we. We keep the momentum rolling so youâre not stuck spinning your wheels.
Why This Works The unlimited package isnât about dragging things outâitâs about smashing through the training so you and your dog can live your best lives ASAP. You get results, your pup gets the skills, and we get to sit back with a job well done. Itâs a straight-up win for everyone.
So, whatâs the play? Quit overthinking it, snag the unlimited package, and letâs get your dog crushing itâfast. Weâve got your back! đž
- 09How FastNancy
Straight up: itâs all about YOU. Your effort, your hustle, your consistency. But hereâs the kickerâmost clients see changes right out the gate. No fluff, just facts. Letâs break it down so you can stop wondering and start winning.
Instant Wins (First Session)
80% of clients notice a shift after ONE session. Thatâs not hypeâitâs the real deal.
Whatâs popping off?
Your dog stops charging the door like a wild beast and chills back instead.
They sit calm in a room without you playing drill sergeant.
Pulling on walks? Weâve seen that mess fade in a single go.
Bottom line: You walk out of that first session with your pup acting like theyâve already leveled up. Boom.
Short-Term Progress (Weeks)
Consistency is your superpower. Train daily, and youâre on the express lane to results.
Daily grind = big wins in weeks. Weâre talking next-level improvements thatâll have you bragging.
Only training when chaos hits? Youâre crawling in the slow laneâcould take months.
Pro move: Your dogâs ready to shine. Donât hold them back.
Long-Term Results (Months to a Year)
Your dogâs a learning machineâtheyâre locked in. The timeline? Thatâs YOUR call.
High effort: Breakthroughs in weeks. Youâll be showing off your rockstar pup everywhere.
Bare minimum: Might drag out to a year. Why let it linger?
Real talk: Your dogâs begging to be a champ. Your hustle decides if itâs weeks or a whole year.
Your dogâs ready to be a woofinâ legendâtoday. The question is, are you? Step up, put in the work, and watch the transformation hit.
No excuses, just action.
Letâs woofinâ go! đž
- 10
â Got a pack at home?
BetterDogâs here to level up your training gameâno excuses, just real results. Whether youâve got two, three, or more, weâve got your back.
đž Option 1: Train Together
â Same vibe, same time: If your dogs are working on similar skillsâobedience, leash manners, impulse controlâweâll train them side by side. â Why it rocks: One session, multiple dogs learning together = efficient and fun.
đž Option 2: Train Separately
â Different vibes, tailored focus: Got one wild child and one calm pup? Weâll split the session so each gets the spotlight they deserve. â Why it rocks: No distractionsâjust focused time on each dogâs unique challenges (aggression, anxiety, or hyper-energy).
đĄ Do I Need to Pay Twice?
Nope. đ
Initial Session ($500): Covers your entire pack in one 3-hour reset.
Unlimited Training ($1200/year or $125/month): Still one price, even if youâve got multiple dogs.
Your whole crew benefitsâno extra charges, no surprises.
đ Bonus: Pack Walks & Community Events
All your dogs are welcome at our ~36 annual Pack Walksâincluded in the Unlimited Plan.
Plus, our community events are perfect for showing off skills in real-world settings with other dogs.
đ Bottom Line
Your dogs are ready to be legends. Whether you train them together, separately, or bothâweâll design the plan that makes sense for your pack. One price, unlimited results.
đ Stop waiting. Start winning. Letâs woofinâ go! đśđĽ
- 11Method
1ď¸âŁ LIMA Protocol: Smart, Not Soft We stick to the LIMA Protocol (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive)âdonât get it twisted, this isnât about going easy. Itâs about being smart and effective. The breakdown:
Start gentle, keep it positive.
Escalate only when your dog needs a clear nudge.
Tailor it to your dogâs unique style. đĄ Humane, fair, and gets resultsâno fluff, just real talk.
2ď¸âŁ Balanced Training: Communication, Not Chaos No bribery, no bullyingâjust straight-up communication. Our balanced method brings:
Positive reinforcement to celebrate the wins.
Clear corrections to guide the misses.
No treat overload, no fearâjust honest clarity. đĄ Ditch the snack stash. With Emotional Marking (EM), we reinforce or redirect naturallyâyour dog catches on quick.
3ď¸âŁ Emotional Marking (EM): Your Training Superpower EM is the magicâyour dog-training cheat code. Itâs simple, powerful, and builds respect fast:
Binary Communication: Verbal markers say âyesâ or ânopeââno confusion.
Emotional Subtlety: Your tone, stance, and energy tell the story.
Escalation When Needed: If words arenât enough, body language or cues step in. đĄ Itâs like you and your dog finally speak the same languageâboom, potential unleashed!
4ď¸âŁ Respect Before Training: YOU Step Up First Real talk: Your dogâs vibe mirrors you. We train YOU before we train themâhereâs why it works:
Learn how dogs think (spoiler: not like humans).
Master clear, consistent signalsâno mixed messages.
Become the calm, confident leader your dog needs. đĄ Your pupâs ready to followâare YOU ready to lead? This is your shot.
5ď¸âŁ In-Home Training: Real Life, Real Results Dogs live in your world, not a lab. Thatâs why we train where it counts:
Start at home, where the actionâs real.
Move to public when your dogâs ready to flex.
Goal: A rockstar dog that shines everywhere. đĄ No fake setups, no wasted timeâjust training that sticks.
The Bottom Line BetterDogâs method is no-nonsense, practical, and built for your dog. No gimmicks, no treat trapsâjust results-driven training powered by Emotional Marking (EM). Your dogâs ready to be a champ, and weâre all in to make it happen. So, whatâs the move? Ready to unleash your pupâs best? Letâs woofinâ roll! đśđĽ
Dog Training That Comes to You — Across Ottawa & Gatineau
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Real results start where life happens — right at home. From front-door greetings to park distractions and city walks, our in-home dog training across Ottawa and Gatineau helps dogs (and their people) build calm, respectful behavior that sticks.