Tollhaven Learning Centre Services
TLC’s approach to training is unique in Ontario. The majority of our
services are individualized programs designed to achieve goals that you, the
consumer, have defined. We provide the techniques, the methodology and the
tools you need to achieve your goals. Our programs are not “recipes”
that give the same instruction, information and exercises to everyone, regardless
of their own experience, skills and interests. At TLC, we get to know you,
find out what your goals are and design a program to help you achieve them.
Because of our unique approach, we are able to offer flexible scheduling that
allows for shift work or shift cycles. Sessions can be scheduled daytime,
evening or weekends. Weekly, alternating weeks or monthly sessions can be
planned, depending on your goals. Private sessions are backed up by opportunities
to attend the weekly “group practice” to fulfill the need to socialize
your animal and practice your skills with instructor support available to
you. This balance provides maximum development of skills in you, so that you
become the trainer, handler and owner you want to be, while still meeting
the socialization needs of your animal.
Our group programs do provide a more structured curriculum for the experienced
trainer to work with their animal. Learning to work with distractions of all
types is important experience for any human/animal team. Our group programs
are excellent opportunities for clients to use the training skills they’ve
learned in their private sessions to give their animals a valuable training
experience. If public performance is a part of your personal goals, then our
combined program of privates and groups will help you achieve success!
PRIVATE SESSIONS
Clicker Training
A method of training utilizing positive reinforcement, clicker training is
the method of training used in marine mammal shows, animal performances in
movies, commercials and advertising, and many forms of performance competition.
While popular in dog training, clicker training is a growing phenomenon in
training horses, parrots, llamas and virtually any animal that lives with
humans.
Both a science and an art, learning clicker training can be the start of a
journey into a deeper relationship with your pet. While learning to apply
the science of animal behaviour, you can develop skills that will help you
shape your pet’s actions and improve your relationship.
Clicker training can help you reduce undesirable behaviour while giving you
a way to develop more of the behaviour that you like. Our private sessions
give you and your pet a chance to learn together, at your own pace and on
your own schedule.
Pick-A-Pup
Consultation
Are you planning to add a dog to your household? Do you have an idea what
you want, but are having difficulty narrowing down your choices? Do you want
to adopt a shelter dog, but need some help in assessing the suitability of
available dogs?
Our Pick-A-Pup consultation will assess your lifestyle requirements, the time
you have to put into grooming, exercise and training, and whether the breed
is suitable for living with children, in an apartment or house, in the city
or country.
We will help identify a short list of suitable breeds and help you plan for
your new dog’s arrival. We can even help you with estimating the minimum
budget necessary for proper care of your new dog.
Pick-A-Breeder Consultation
If you’ve already selected the type or breed of dog you wish to acquire,
you may have questions about finding and evaluating a prospective breeder.
We can help you define your criteria for finding a breeder, and help with
understanding the rights and responsibilities of both breeders and puppy-buyers.
Utilizing our contacts in the dog industry, we can help you find the answers
to your questions about pedigrees, registration papers and typical contract
requirements. Many breeds have known health issues or particular genetic considerations,
and you should know the type of health clearances and health guarantees you
are entitled to.
As dog lovers first, TLC is committed to promoting responsible dog breeding,
retailing and ownership.
Relationship
Are you begging for your dog’s attention when you’re outside your
home? Does your dog fail to respond when you call his name, unless you’re
holding a box of dog biscuits? Do you want to change your training methods?
Is your new dog easily startled? frightened at new objects, sudden movements
or strangers wearing hats?
At TLC, our training is based on positive reinforcement for behaviours we
want to promote, constructive play to build motivation and leadership without
using physical force. The result of such effective methods is the development
of an amazing, satisfying relationship with your pet.
In just a few sessions, you will see a change in your pet’s interaction
with you. Your pet will offer more of the behaviours you want, give you more
attention and come more reliably when called.
Agility
The fastest growing dog sport ever, agility is a fun and challenging activity
where you and your dog are partners in performance. As your dog learns to
negotiate jumps, tunnels, walking on contacts and weaving thru poles, you
will learn to direct your dog thru the sequences, to motivate and reward your
dog and get some exercise and fun out of doors!
Our agility training sessions are tailored to the goals you set. Whether you
just want to give it a try for the first time, or you’re an experienced
agility handler who wants to work on certain competitive skill sets - you
set the goals, and we provide the program to get you there.
Training for agility is fun, active and challenging. The dogs love it because
it’s about _doing_ things - sometimes at full speed! Agility is for all
shapes and sizes of both people and dogs - there’s something for everyone
in this awesome sport!
Obedience Trial Preparation
If you’re interested in competitive obedience as a sporting event for
you and your dog, you’ll know that at some point everyone needs some
assistance getting ready for the trial. Whether you’re showing a purebred
in CKC events, or a mixed breed dog in NAMBOR competitions, some pre-trial
practice in trial exercises can be a great help.
Whether you just need someone to call out heeling patterns and follow you
around with a clipboard, or you would like to learn the latest motivational
methods for teaching fronts, finishes and retrieves, you can set the goals
for your sessions. We will help you get ready to ‘get in the ring’.
GROUP PROGRAMS
LifeSkills for Family Dogs
More dogs are euthanized for inappropriate behaviour than all medical conditions
combined. While many pet owners are not interested in formal obedience or
sporting competitions, all dogs need to learn the basics of living in human
society.
Dogs need to learn not to touch human flesh with their teeth, to accept a
collar and leash, to be handled for veterinary care and nail clipping, to
give up an object when asked and to share beds, couches and car seats. Our
family dog classes cover the basics of sit, stay and walking nicely on leash,
as well as the basic lifeskills listed above, in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
All Species Class
Got a pot-bellied pig? A llama that needs to accept a halter easily? A miniature
horse that you’d like to train for animal therapy work? A goat that’s
too cute for words? Our All Species class is the place for you!
In our All Species class you will learn the basics of clicker training and
operant conditioning, and how to use them to teach your pet to perform simple
behaviours like: accepting a halter or collar, following your hand, targeting
with their nose, targeting with their foot (or hoof, or paw!) and even retrieving
an object for you!
A truly fun experience, our All Species class is an opportunity to share your
experience with your pet with others who enjoy similar activities.
And FYI, we’re hoping to develop a stable of interesting animal actors
that can be called on for commercial, photographic and cinema work. It’s
a chicken or egg kind of challenge, we need the actors to promote the agency
and we need to promote the agency to get the work for the actors, so be one
of the first to join us!
Puppy
Socialization
For pups who have received their second set of shots, up to one year old,
our Puppy Socialization class is an opportunity to get your young dog out
around other dogs and practice your basic lifeskills. In addition to basic
commands, this group program focuses on developing your ability to get, and
keep, your pup’s attention as well as learning to use play safely and
constructively to reward your dog.
Puppy socialization class may include some of the simple agility obstacles
like tunnels and boards on the ground. This class will provide opportunities
for puppies to experience new things like umbrellas, moving objects, unusual
noises and meeting the other handlers in the class.
This is a great class for a puppy that you hope to share an activity such
as pet visitation, pet therapy, assistance dogs, dog sports or hobbies such
as hiking, canoeing, or backpacking.
Attention
Do you struggle to get your dog’s nose off the ground during agility
class? Or is your dog’s nose already in the air - gathering scent from
the birds overhead or the cattle 3 counties to the west? Our Attention class
provides you with specific exercises and games designed to develop your dog’s
attention to you.
Using games to teach and reward attention to your every move and command,
this class will show you how to develop that incredible focus necessary to
move on to dog sport training. Classes are kept small, just enough dogs to
provide some distraction for each team, but small enough that each session
contains exercises designed specifically for your goals.
You don’t have to be constantly frustrated with your dog’s lack
of attention! Nor do you have to resort to choke chains, prong collars or
the perpetual use of head-halter style collars! Whether you want to get off
on the right ‘paw’ with your new dog, or work thru some issues with
your current dog, join us for a few weeks of Attention Class, and see how
you can improve your dog’s responsiveness.
Introduction to Agility
A small group class that provides an opportunity to introduce your dog to
agility equipment. The class format shows you how to teach your dog to run
thru tunnels, walk on boards, begin to weave thru poles and enjoy jumping.
Suitable for dogs 12 months old and older. Younger dogs would begin in our
Puppy Socialization class and may progress to this class after completing
the puppy program.
Competitive
Agility
This focus of this class is developing handling skills and communication between
dog and handler. Each group sets their own goals and main focus, ie. speed,
or distance, or obstacle discriminations, and the specific exercises are designed
to met those goals. Our class leaders will provide feedback and instruction
to help each individual team accomplish their goals.
Our competitive agility class restarts every 4 weeks. You may repeat this
class as often as you wish, as the goals will change and evolve based on what
the group’s focus is for the next session.
Competitive
Agility Games
Very similar to our Competitive Agility class, our games class focuses on
the sanctioned agility games: Snooker, Gamblers, Jumpers and Team Relay. Each
session is 5 weeks, one week on each game, and the fifth week the group chooses
to revisit one game or play one the many interesting non-sanctioned games
such as: Double Dog Dare Ya or Tunnel Jacks.
At the beginning of the 5 week session, participants are asked their own goals
for themselves and their dogs. Each 5 week session is specially tailored to
meet those goals. Our class leaders will provide feedback and instruction
to help each individual team accomplish their goals.
Please Note: Any of the material from our group programs can be integrated into private sessions, except for specific activities for socialization and distraction training.
CLINICS AND WORKSHOPS
Periodically, TLC offers clinics and workshops on specific topics of interest
to our current clients. Clinics are typically 2-3 hour sessions that include
some educational material, handler skill development and specific exercises
for our dogs. Past Clinic topics have included:
Strategies for Snooker
Strategies for Gamblers
Crossing Over to Clicker Training
Games to play for Attention, Motivation and Relationship Building
Puppy Intro to Agility Equipment
RallyO: An Intro to a Terrific New Dog Sport
TLC’s workshops are usually
a little longer (3-4 hours) and a little more intense in terms of our goals
for the session. A workshop will have a specific focus and will cover the
objectives in detail. The majority of the individual work to achieve the objectives
will be investigated and planned for each participant in the workshop, with
the actual training taking place as homework. A workshop is a great way to
clarify your goals, develop a detailed training plan with the help of people
with similar goals and identify the resources and strategies you will need
to succeed with your plan.
Past workshops have included:
Preparing for the Canine Good Citizen Evaluation
Teaching your dog to Retrieve anything
Analyzing Agility Course Designs for Training Elements
Training On Your Own: How to Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan
Dates, times and costs for TLC Clinics and Workshop can be found on our Events page. If you don’t see a topic that you are interested in, be sure to let your instructor know that you’re interested - we’re always happy to look at scheduling for your needs!
BEHAVIOURAL CONSULTATIONS
Aggression
Does your dog growl when you reach for his food bowl? for the rawhide bone
he’s chewing on? for the shoe he’s stolen? This is known as Resource
Guarding and is a form of aggression.
Does your dog growl, bark, lunge, snap or bite children? other dogs? the mailman?
any man? you? This is aggression and without intervention, it will get worse.
Training, socialization and behavioural conditioning can be used to reshape
inappropriate behaviour. Time, age, sex, amount of training, exercise, diet
and lifestyle factors are all important dynamics in assessing risk and formulating
a plan for behavioural change.
Consultations may be private, at the training centre or at your home, depending
on your individual situation. An initial intake questionnaire will be completed
over the phone or via email, and an individualized plan developed based on
that information.
Major Changes
Major changes in the home can cause an eruption of unacceptable behaviour
in dogs. A new baby, a new marital partner, a new dog, cat, bird or turtle,
a new home, an owner returning to work after a lengthy period at home, or
the death of a dog’s primary owner are all major life changes that cannot
be explained to our canine family members. Examples of inappropriate behaviour
might include lack of appetite, broken housetraining, destroying objects belonging
to a specific member of the household, garbage vandalism, territorial aggression
etc.
A behavioural consultation can provide a step by step plan for extinguishing
the undesirable behaviours and developing more acceptable activities for your
canine family member. The consultation will start with an intake questionnaire
taken over the phone or via email, and progress to developing a simple, planned
approach for you to work with your dog. Sessions may be at the training centre
or at your home, depending on the unique circumstances of your situation.
“That Darn Dog!” Problems
Sometimes our canine friends seem to come into our lives with an irresistible
urge to dig in our flowerbeds, bark at the neighbours or eat the remote control.
Some individual dogs have great difficulty with their housetraining. Some
dogs adopted from shelters, rescue groups or humane societies arrive into
our lives with an unexpected quirk that needs to be resolved.
Individual consultations can assist you in identifying the problem, developing
a strategy for change and help you develop the skills you need to successfully
resolve the issue. You will learn the techniques you need to retrain your
dog yourself and keep those tools for the rest of your life with your dog.