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From Barking to BFFs
Outdoor Dog Reactivity Group Class
Does your dog bark, lunge, pull, freeze, fixate or become overwhelmed when another dog appears on a walk?
From Barking to BFFs gives you and your dog a controlled outdoor environment to practise around other dogs without being expected to greet or interact with them. Dogs remain on leash and work at a distance where they are comfortable enough to learn, while you practise skills that can make real-life walks easier to navigate.
The goal isn’t to force your dog to “get used to” other dogs. It’s to help them feel safer, recover more easily and make calmer choices when other dogs are around.
Not yet ready for our group classes? Contact us to explore your options.
Scroll below if you'd like to view our calendar displaying all upcoming group sessions.
READ MOREHelping reactive dogs feel safer, recover more easily and make calmer choices outdoors.
39.89 Canadian dollars
From Barking to BFFs
This class is designed for dogs who have a hard time around other dogs outdoors. Your dog might bark or lunge when another dog appears, become completely fixated and difficult to redirect, pull toward dogs because they desperately want to say hello, or simply need much more space than the average dog on a walk.
Your dog does not need to already be calm around other dogs to participate. In fact, the class exists specifically to give dogs who struggle around other dogs a more controlled opportunity to practise.
It may also be useful if you have already started working on your dog’s reactivity privately and want additional opportunities to practise around real dogs without relying on unpredictable encounters during your everyday walks.
If your dog becomes so overwhelmed by the sight of another dog that they cannot comfortably participate even from a significant distance, or if there is a serious bite history, contact me before booking. We can figure out whether this class or private training would be the better starting point.
What happens during a reactivity class?
This isn’t a class where all of the dogs stand together in a circle. We spread out and use the space available so each dog can work at a distance that makes sense for them. One dog might comfortably work much closer to the group while another needs to start much farther away and both can still have a productive session.
Throughout the class, we use the presence and movement of the other dogs as controlled training opportunities. Depending on the dogs attending, we may practise calmly noticing another dog, disengaging and checking back in with you, moving away when more distance is needed, passing another dog at an appropriate distance, recovering after becoming excited, and using movement or sniffing to make difficult situations easier to navigate.
You’ll also learn more about what your own dog looks like before they reach the point of barking or lunging. Catching those earlier signs gives you more opportunities to help your dog before they become overwhelmed and over threshold.
Success will not look identical for every dog. For one dog, a great session might mean calmly observing another dog from across the park. For another, it might mean walking past another dog with significantly less barking or pulling than they normally would.
"..I came across the group on Instagram and I am so glad that I did. Not only has it helped our Sesame with her reactivity, but has provided a great community of other small dog owners. Both Sesame and I look forward to our play sessions and walks with the group. Carlos and team are beyond helpful and provide a safe space to correct behavioural issues without punishment. I’ve been struggling for some time to find a trainer that focuses on redirecting vs punishing. As well they offer a ton of items for rent or purchase such as treat puzzles and other enrichment ideas for your pup! If you have a small dog, pls check them out!"
- Rebekka C.
Schedule 📆
Get a bird's eye view on what's coming up next! The location for each session is visible when you book.
Class Schedule
FAQs
Does my dog need to be good around other dogs to attend?
No. The class is specifically designed for dogs who find the presence of other dogs difficult. Your dog does need to be able to participate safely with appropriate distance and management, but they certainly do not need to arrive already knowing how to calmly ignore every other dog.
Will the dogs greet each other?
No. Dogs are not expected to greet or interact directly during class. For many reactive dogs, learning that they can notice another dog without needing to approach, avoid or react to them is much more useful than practising greetings.
How close will my dog have to get to the other dogs?
There is no required distance. We work from wherever your dog can notice another dog while still being capable of learning and thinking. Some dogs may need significantly more space than others, and that is completely fine.
What if my dog barks or lunges during class?
This is a reactivity class, so reactions can happen. If your dog begins struggling, we can increase distance, change the exercise, move to a different position or give them time to recover. A reaction also gives us useful information about what was too difficult in that moment.
What if my dog won’t take treats around the other dogs?
A dog who normally enjoys food but suddenly cannot eat around another dog may be telling us that the situation is too difficult. Instead of simply trying to find an increasingly exciting treat, we can create more distance, reduce the intensity of the exercise or give your dog time to decompress.
Should I stop my dog from looking at other dogs?
No. Seeing another dog is not inherently the problem. We want your dog to become better at noticing dogs without immediately escalating, so calmly looking at another dog can actually become part of the training before we help them disengage or return their attention to you.
Can fearful dogs attend?
Potentially, yes. Because dogs are given space and are not forced into direct interactions, the class can work well for some fearful dogs. If your dog becomes extremely overwhelmed whenever another dog is visible, even from a large distance, I may recommend beginning with private training instead.
Can my dog attend if he/she has bite history?
Please contact me before booking. A bite history does not automatically tell us whether the class is appropriate, but I need to understand what happened, how serious the incident was and what your dog currently does around other dogs before recommending a group environment.
Will this class cure my dog’s reactivity?
There is no ethical way to guarantee that a dog will never react again. Progress might instead mean reactions happen less frequently or intensely, your dog can remain closer to other dogs, they recover faster, they disengage more easily, or your everyday walks become much easier to manage.
How many classes will my dog need?
There is no set number. Some people attend once because they want help practising specific skills, while others attend multiple sessions so their dog can continue gaining experience around different dogs in a controlled environment. Reactivity work depends heavily on repetition, so returning to future classes can provide useful additional practice.
Can I attend more than once?
Yes. In fact, repeated sessions can be particularly useful because your dog gets more opportunities to practise around different dogs while the overall training structure remains familiar.
Can this replace private reactivity training?
Sometimes the class may provide exactly the practice you need, while other dogs benefit from combining group sessions with private training. Private training gives us more time to focus on your dog’s individual history, triggers, walking environment and overall plan. The group class gives us something that is difficult to recreate privately: controlled opportunities to practise while other dogs are present.
What training methods do you use?
I use positive reinforcement/reward-based, evidence-based and force-free training. I do not use prong collars, shock or e-collars, leash corrections, intimidation, or dominance-based training. We’ll focus on positive reinforcement, management, clear communication, and work at a level where your dog can successfully learn.
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