Frequently Asked Questions

VIRTUAL and WORLDWIDE 

• Self-Paced Courses
• Webinars, Workshops and Classes
• 1-on-1 Coaching

We Work For Treats is a fully virtual service. 

However, those that are in the East End of Toronto can check out our in-person services at www.sparkyscomrade.ca. 

Please note: not all services are available as in-person. Why? Check out the next FAQ. 

• Separation Anxiety.
• General Fear and Aggression and/or Stranger Danger cases with severe bite history.
• General Fear and Aggression and/or Separation Anxiety Cases where the dog is displaying any fear, anxiety or aggression toward the trainer.
• General Training that would benefit from minimal distractions and environmental influences where 'The Hot Dog Lady' could hinder the training progress for the dog, and cause the owner not to be able to work directly with the dog and receive adequate coaching. 
• Along with the above statement, that most of the training for things like Leash Reactivity, Loose Leash Walking, Recall (etc..) is conducted inside before moving outside where there are more distractions and environmental influences you and your dog are not prepared for (ie. the training plan has you completing all the exercises inside before moving them outside). 

We often find owners pressing for in-person dog training. Popularized television has really led us astray regarding how dogs learn and it actually doesn't involve 'energies', leadership or authority/dominance. Ethical dog trainers shouldn't try to provoke dogs to see the naughty behaviour to come up with a solution. 

When working with us, our goal is actually to NEVER see the problem behaviour. If we see the problem behaviour, then there is something wrong in our training plan.

In addition to this, we are more so human coaches than dog coaches. In many cases, coaching humans is best done virtually. 

To learn more on why we believe virtual training is you and your dogs best option to learn, we have gone into detail regarding the benefits of virtual training and in some cases why it is best practice in this blog: https://weworkfortreats.com/blog/f/how-can-a-dog-trainer-help-me-virtually 

• Leash Reactivity
• Stranger Danger
• Separation Anxiety
• Dog-Baby Dynamic (we will steer you toward our General Obedience or our General Fear and Aggression pages depending on your Dog-Baby Dynamic Needs)
• General Fear and Aggression
• General Obedience (primarily skill building for dogs that struggle with the above problems)

We do offer 'preventative' training for puppies around the behavioural problems listed above. If you are looking for general puppy training, we have some great referrals for general puppy training. We try to stick to what we excel at most, and refer out when we don't feel our expertise would best serve the client. 

Nicole started as a dog walker in 2011, and graduated from The Academy for Dog Trainers in 2019. She made the switch to exclusively dog training in 2020. You can find more about Nicole's training credentials on our about page:  https://weworkfortreats.com/nicole-barnett-ctc%2C-csat

• We don't use prong, choke or shock collars. 
• We dont use any forms of intimidation to stop behaviour or coercion to get behaviour.
• We don't create unsafe set-ups where your dog is going to perform problem behaviour in an attempt to flood your dog (as in exposure to a point of your dog shutting down), and using any type of corrective measures in attempt to create 'calm' behaviours when dog is exposed to triggers. 
• We don't use outdated methods that aren't grounded in science-evidence based practices. 

All Training Packages and Memberships

• Non-Refundable
• Reschedule 48 Hours Prior (please see the next question on reschedules)
• Reschedules must be rebooked prior to the expiry date
• Payment due prior to booking. 

You can see our Terms of Services HERE. 

You can certainly reschedule, within reason. Single bookings, packages and bundles have expiry dates. The reason for those expiry dates:

The program is designed with you, your dog and the training goals in mind. Behaviour momentum is important to ensure we reduce the idling between sessions: 

(1) loosing your way in a training plan (training regressions), 

(2) keeping accountable, 

(3) continuing to move that goal post and reducing ruts, and 

(4) building that learned history with your dog. 

We ask that we stick to the set schedule as best you can for best results. 

We understand life can happen, but each program will have a reasonable 'expiry date' detailed and any reschedules must be booked in prior to the expiry date. 

*Separation Anxiety training is very much on a set schedule for best results... we highly encourage those working on Separation Anxiety training don't reschedule their appointments!

Terms of Services HERE.