1000+ dogs (and their people) helped
Two months ago I adopted an 8 week old puppy, Ormandy, from Yellowknife with no idea what I was doing. I had never had a pet before and was overwhelmed and nervous. I started going to BabyDog Socialization classes immediately and have felt so supported and well educated by Ruth and Aviva. We have attended socialization classes regularly and I have seen a huge change in Ormandy's behaviour and an even bigger change in my understanding and behaviour. Me and Ormandy are starting a basic obedience class with BabyDog this weekend and I can't wait to see how much more we learn!! I recommend BabyDog to everyone I meet that has a pup, they've helped us both so much.
We have thoroughly enjoyed both the puppy socialization classes and the obedience classes. The trainers are excellent with dogs AND people - always on time, professional, and knowledgeable.
Took our pup to socialization classes for several months. What she and we learned there was invaluable to create a friendly we’ll socialized young dog. The information learned at the classes continue to help us train our dog even though she’s aged out of the class. The weekly news letters we continue to receive are also extremely useful with great information on caring for and training our dog. Recommend Baby Dog very highly.
I came to BabyDog in desperation with my rescue dog Pheonix, who had multiple behavioral issues. I was really at my wits end, and thought I would have to rehome her because I didn't have the environment or tools to help her. We only had 4 sessions, thus far, and the impact has been incredible. Aviva (owner) has been absolutely amazing to put it mildly. She's not only incredibly perceptive and adjusts the training to your dogs needs, but she is compassionate, has a plethora of knowledge, and goes above and beyond. She offered so much support and resourcefulness, it literally saved both Pheonix and myself. She helped me understand her postures and behaviours, enabled me to communicate effectively, and most importantly empowered me to give Pheonix what she needs. She connected us to Bosley's on Burnside for their first ever Reactive Dog night which not only helped Pheonix overcome her fear of stores, but we were actually able to return and attempt bathing. I could really go on and on about how grateful I am to Aviva and her team, and so happy that there are people out there dedicated to truly making a difference in not only dogs lives, but their guardians as well. I will definitely be returning for further training and to tap into their many resources. I highly recommend them to anyone anytime. Thank you Aviva and BabyDog team!!! Sincerely, Erin and Pheonix :)
Babydog was fantastic! I had no idea what to expect when I walked in with my 8 week old pup. Aviva, Dave and Ruth were great at explaining canine behaviour and helping me understand why something was going on! I became so interested in dog training and behaviour, I became a volunteer. I recommend Babydog to any new dog owner. Also don’t forget their weekly pack walk for dogs of any age!
I'm biased, but BabyDog is really rad and they've done a great job with my dogs :)
Ruth and Aviva of BabyDog are a fantastic resource for new puppy owners. We took our timid puppy Jazz to their shy dog socialization sessions at Bosleys and after a few weeks she graduated (with flying colours) to the regular sessions. We partipated in the Sunday pack walks and enjoyed both the human social aspect and the improvement in Jazz’s social behaviour. We also had 2 private lessons with Aviva to deal with a couple of problem behaviours (leash pulling and barking), with great success! I highly recommend them.
Aviva came to our place to help us train our Yorkie, she and her team are very knowledgeable and helpful, she gave us very useful tips to handle our 3 years old dog. When we went for a long trip she help us find a great place to take care of him
We have had incredible success with Aviva and our dog Blue in the first four sessions we have done! We are looking forward to our next set of sessions and to see all of the skills our little pup can learn!
Great dog behaviour knowledge, we learned so much about calming signals. Aviva is amazing. Can't wait to go back for more classes.
My pup is about to age out of the puppy socialization class. She has learned so much. I am proud of how much she has accomplished through this program. It has made her much easier to live with. Thank you Baby Dog. We have also attended the Sunday dog walk. Hopefully, we will get to kore of these to keep the connection.
Hands down. The BabyDog Team are the best Victoria resource to help socialize and train your puppy. If you have a puppy, you need to take it to BabyDog! It will shape your dogs life and yours forever. They have lot's of options for group classes, pack walks, and private lessons. The team of puppy whisperers are fantastic. Very professional and knowledgeable of all breeds and canine psychology. We took our puppy Oscar for a pack walk, group sessions, and a private lesson and we're constantly being complimented on his socialization skills and general behavior. Any time we meet someone with a new puppy we always recommend looking into BabyDog. It's not easy learning to be a dog parent and understanding what your puppy needs. BabyDog can help. Check them out today!
I highly recommend Dave and Tomey K9 Services! I knew my 6 y.o. Yorkiepoo Benny wanted to please, but I didn't know where to begin to help him rein in all of his energy around people and reactivity around other dogs. Dave taught me how to use redirection and positive reinforcement to help Benny become more obedient and calm. Benny now looks to me to see how he should react when another dog or distraction is coming our way, and I know how to help him through what used to be anxiety provoking situations. I couldn't be happier with the outcome. Thanks Dave!
Would highly recommend both the puppy socialization and basic obedience class. Our trainer Meg was with us all throughout. She is so knowledgeable, thorough, and just brought a wonderful energy to every class. Bailor and I are going to miss our Sunday afternoons with her!
While I have owned dogs most of my life so far, I have never had a young puppy. Wanting to do right by her, I researched training and socialization classes. Baby Dog was the one that was recommended over and over again without hesitation. We've now been going to weekly sessions for three months and my dog while having mastered what they teach loves the class so much that we just keep coming. When I pull up in front of the class she knows what we're there for and her excitement is off the charts. Aviva and her team run amazing classes and they should be the go to for every new puppy owner in Victoria. I studied to be a dog trainer 17 years ago when considering a career change. That said, I have learned a ton from Aviva while having our pup trained and her approach and explanations are much more effective and in line with what dogs need, than what I was originally taught. We are very luck to have Baby Dog as a resource.
Training with Aviva has been a game changer for helping my dog Ollie gain confidence and start to conquer his reactivity. She helped us build a solid foundation in manageable steps and most importantly made it fun for both of us! I highly recommend sessions with Aviva to learn how to deal with behaviour issues and build a solid relationship with your dog.