It's not hard to see why the lives of dogs have become so intertwined with those of mankind. For centuries, they have served as our guardians, colleagues and companions. But it has only been in the recent past that their status has been elevated to new heights.

Today, it is not uncommon for people to speak of their dogs as an extension of their family. And while those of us who have dedicated our lives to the betterment of the canine community are equally guilty of loving our dogs to that extent, we have grown to understand that for our dogs to lead happy healthy balanced lives, we must see them first for who they really are - dogs.

Although intelligent, emotional and entirely deserving of our love and respect, dogs are not miniature people or “furkids.” And while their needs and development may be very similar to ours, it is often our misunderstandings of their differences that lead to behaviours that we deem “problematic” or “unacceptable.” This is why we believe their must be a balance between “training dogs and educating people.”

If we wish show our dogs how much we love them, by providing them with the skills to better integrate into our lives, we must do it in a way they can understand and appreciate.

We must do it in their language. So, while we actively encourage you to bring your dogs into your homes, into your lives and into your families, you must always remember and respect that they are first and foremost our beloved dogs!

Ever feel like this is how your dog views your leadership status?? We can help!!

Our Training Philosophy

At Forever Families Canine Services we believe that ALL dogs deserve the chance to find their Forever Families. This means that all dogs - regardless of size, breed or bloodline, whether treat motivated, potentially aggressive, excessively dominant or just plain slow learners - deserve the opportunity to learn in a loving professional environment that recognizes their individual needs.

To meet these individual needs we incorporate a variety of training methods, including those espoused in the currently trendy “purely positive” philosophy. However, we at Forever Families Canine Services do not believe it is the only humane method available to trainers.

It has been our experience that not all dogs respond well to the simplicity of rewarding the good and ignoring the bad. Therefore, we believe that it is our duty as loving companions and educators to find and utilize a method of teaching that is best suited to your individual dog. 

As such, we are what has become known as balanced trainers. A school of thought open to the possibility that consequences (better known as corrections) can be as effective a learning tool as rewards, in certain dogs. Corrections can be verbal, physical, or psychological. What they never are is abusive, unfair or spiteful. Like all training tools, corrections are meant solely for the betterment of our dogs and our relationships with them. So we must deliver them with as much care and compassion as we do all our dog’s teachings.

We know dog training is a highly personal and individualize process and this is why we invite you to meet with us to make an educated and informed decision about what methodology is best suited to you and your dog.