Walks with Jess - Dog Walking & Training

06/03/2026

When I first met Finn, he was on a harness and a high dose of Prozac. He was an anxious guy, not easily trained with food, and very reactive despite his handler doing all the things she was instructed to do. Finn is a smart guy and definitely wanted to please his handler, but the methods suggested weren’t working.

Together with his owner, we did a complete overhaul of his behaviour. Starting with a clicker, we created very specific associations and revamped his communication. We taught him how to manage the leash, and how to turn the pressure off. In conjunction with the vet, we came up with a plan and began to wean him off of SSRIS gradually (it can take up to a year to slowly taper high doses and reduce withdrawal symptoms). Once the drugs started to wear off, Finn came back to life! His interest in food, training relationship and toys increased. Reactivity decreased.

Finn lives in a very busy city. Dogs, bicycles, people, squirrels are all around him. The triggers are everywhere and unavoidable, and when surprised, Finn still struggled. Together, his handler and I decided to try a training collar. Since he already understood leash pressure, he took to it right away. Again, we saw another leap in his progress. This allowed Finn access to enjoy the world! Now, his handler could safely expose him to previously inaccessible places like the public beach, the boardwalk, parks and hikes. This created so many opportunities for reinforcement, which built Finn’s confidence. His reactions continued to decrease and this built the handlers confidence that she could control him. Additionally, exercise and movement is so important to recovery from reactivity and SSRIS, providing both dopamine and serotonin. Pictured is Finn’s first sunset at the beach. His smile says it all

Our final goal is off-leash reliability. Over the winter, we have been conditioning Finn to respond to low level stimulation and vibrate. This has also turned out to be very helpful to address his leftover fixation on dogs, as he now willingly engages with his handler instead.

The results are undeniable. Finn is happy. His owner is happy. Balanced training saves lives.

05/18/2026

Welcome to a page that doesn’t use AI!

That’s right. All posts are handwritten and edited by a human. All photos are taken and edited by a human. All advertisements are created and designed by a human. All information presented is collected, interpreted and shared by a human.

I have been in the dog world a long time (almost twenty years!). Instagram wasn’t even invented when I started training dogs, and chat GPT definitely didn’t exist. My motivation has always been to help dogs and people, not gain internet fame. No shortcuts, no cheat sheets and no auto generated information.
I started my business ten years ago and everything on this page is authentically me. Plus, I’m a huge nature lover and don’t support the damage AI is doing to the environment 🌳 🐝 🌊
While I do try to have fun with some of the trends, my skill set is focused around communication with dogs and humans. Want to see where I really shine? Give me a call and let’s chat about your goals! 📲

05/10/2026

Speed ⚡️

There’s nothing this girl loves more than full power zooms in the woods

05/06/2026

🐶 ☀️ Try-Before-You-Buy SALE -is back! 🌷 🐶

To celebrate my one year anniversary in Muskoka, I’ve brought back my most popular sale until the end of May!

All new customers receive a two hour private lesson (in-home) for a discounted price, $99 plus HST.

If you want to continue training after the initial class, sign up on the spot and receive 10% off a four or six week course! 😱

This is a huge savings and a great opportunity to get to know your trainer and ensure we’re a good fit before you commit to a program.

With the nice weather (finally) arriving, now is the time to work on skills like recall, on and off leash manners, and so much more. 18 years experience, fully insured with great reviews and free evaluations!

DM to get started on your training journey 🦮🐾 🌷

05/05/2026

Sega would definitely order a skid of bully sticks and a bucket of chuck it balls. What would your dog buy???

Well? Let’s read them!

05/02/2026

Happening today!!

TODAY IS THE DAY! 🥳

Come in to the store today at 11 for our live, free training event! Have the chance to meet Walks with Jess - Dog Walking & Training and get an intro into clicker training and why it can work for you.

The event is FREE, but any donations collected will be going to support the Dog Guides Canada: Lions Foundation 🐕‍🦺. We will have some goodies in store for participants ✨️

We can't wait to see you!

05/01/2026

🌷 Spring is here and I’m accepting new clients! 🥳

Custom designed programs tailored to you and your dog, work on what you want, where you want. Puppy classes, off leash training, basic obedience, sport coaching, behavioural modification and more!

New programs being added including group classes, workshops and beginner sport classes. As well as private in-home lessons and the highly successful Walk and Train program (where a trainer does the homework for you!), there are lots of options to help you reach your goals with your dog.

With almost two decades of experience in both the pet and sport world, glowing reviews and thousands of happy customers. I offer free evaluations and discounted intro sessions to ensure you find the training that works for you. Reach out today to get started on a whole new life for you and your dog! 🐕

04/26/2026

What skill do I recommend you work on the most? 🤔

This skill is something I always maintain in my training program, even after the dog has learned how to do it. It’s important to build dopamine receptors for this behaviour, but also to maintain and strengthen them constantly. 💪

Have you guessed luring yet?! 😝

Sure, your dog can follow food. But can they do it in every environment? In every situation? How enthusiastic are they about it? 🧐

The secret is to work it all the time, at home. The goal is to create a very strong desire to follow the food in your hand. You create this by how you use your hand to move the food. The anticipation of getting the food, and the movement of your hand are the ingredients to a very special recipe, particularly when it comes to heeling. 🐕

Once you master this skill with your dog, you can work through almost any distraction! You can also use it to create fun associations to difficult environments and build a playful relationship between you and your dog. Add a properly timed reward marker, and you can create anything ✨

While the goal is to wean your dog off the lure, this can be a lengthy process in competition level heeling - so why rush it? It’s such a useful skill that I like to work it every day to keep it strong and meaningful. Plus, it’s fun for your dog! 🐶

Want to learn how to use this skill (and more) in your training? Message to schedule your free evaluation! 📱