Meet your dog trainer
Is Amy the trainer for you?
When searching for a dog trainer or any professional that will be handling your dog, it’s crucial you understand and resonate with their core beliefs on dog rearing and communicating. It can be super confusing, trying to understand the different dog training jargon and marketing terms out there. There are many different types of dog trainers, and not all of them follow the same rule of thought.
It can be overwhelming trying to find the best way to train your dog. It’s confusing when many trainers contradict themselves or bash other training styles, especially when dealing with dangerous behavior issues. We want you to learn from our mistakes. We want you to learn from our story.
Pitties2Poodles Owner Amy Donovan’s passion for dog training stems from over 27 years of personal & professional experience she has had with family dogs, foster dogs and rescue dogs that have had some intense behavioural issues.
A word from Amy
“I want you to learn from the real life unique situations I've worked on with owners and families like yours, who often face challenges as complex as their dogs, regardless of age, breed, or behavior issues.
I want you to learn from the my adhd ocd hyper fixated brain that has taken the courses, invested in mentorship, read the books, took the tests, reviewed the studies, and continues to learn to this very day with every dog I train, and every other dog professional that crosses my path.
I am what some consider a “balanced trainer”. Depending on what definition you read, I might be. But to me, I’m just a dog trainer. Balance to me is a positive thing. It’s what we all strive for in life, is it not? When things are not balanced, it all goes to shit right? Maybe not right away, but eventually… 😜”
Why Pitties2Poodles?
Here at Pitties2Poodles we believe that every dog is unique along with their family which is why EVERY program is customizable. WE always follow a set of important principals to help guide us through the process to achieve a healthy loving relationship with our dog with long lasting results!
We need to start with a happy healthy dog. Are their basic needs being met based on their requirements? Quality nutrition that their body can handle without issue? Does your dog have a safe place to unwind without interruption? Are there any pain or health issues? Is your dog getting adequate fulfillment? Often times owners are unsure what their dog needs to be fulfilled. For most dogs it is more than cuddles and a romp at the dog park. It’s crucial we also look at mental fulfillment, along with the physical.
We need to be able to communicate effectively, consistently and without conflict with our dogs to help them navigate this human world. It is our job to guide them with positive reinforcement, positive motivation, redirection and even correction. Don’t let the word correction scare you away too quickly, it is incredibly important for us all to have consequences for certain actions, especially when the safety of others or oneself is at risk. The type of correction used is dog dependent and is not to cause harm. We believe that when you take a look at the dog in front of you, assess its needs to be happy, healthy and safe and put in a “normal” amount of time committing to the plan we helped create, correction is a very small part of the process.
Whether you want to be prepared for a puppy or rescue, or you are feeling overwhelmed with your dog, we urge you to take the next step. We meet you where you are now, without judgement. At Pitties2Poodles we don’t believe in fancy sales tactics, or sugar coating anything. We will listen to your goals and concerns, regardless how simple or complex and tell you how we would personally move ahead in your shoes.
It’s free and there is never any pressure to sign up!
Your commitment
Dogs need to be happy, healthy and safe to live their best lives, which in return allows us to enjoy them… which is the whole reason we get them in the first place…
After a full assessment of your dog and household we put together a plan designed for success. Our training services are results driven. Which means when you sign up for a program, when you do the work and keep in communication with Amy, she will support you every step of the way.
You will have daily homework that can range from short and sweet to longer and boring! The homework can be done within the time you normally spend with your dog and you should start to see a results within a few days! Your homework is catered to what we think you need to achieve your goals in healthy & happy time frame. It will consist of play and bonding, understanding your dogs body language and how to communicate properly, understanding what motivates your dog and how to use it, setting up structure & boundaries, conditioning yourself and your dog to tools we might use, and HAVING FUN.
The important elements of our training
Vocal and body
When, where and how we use voice or body in training matters. From the words you use, the tone of your voice or your body positioning, its important for you and your dog to be on the same page.
Tools
Physical tools are often needed by law like a leash, or a muzzle.
Other tools like the ones below help aid us in training to help with clear communication when on leash and/or offleash, they also have the ability to correct if needed. Regardless of tool being used, the handler and dog must understand how the tool works. Quality tools and quality coaching on the tools is incredibly important at Pitties2Poodles.
Food/Treats
Some dogs are naturally food motivated and others need help building that drive. Food is a great motivator and reward! We use everything from the dogs regular meals to steak! Amy once bought a very specific brand of cheesies for a particularly fearful case!
Play
Training through play our FAVOURITE way to train. Its fun. Its interactive. If done the right way it can help foster a well balanced relationship between dog and owner/family. Some dogs need to be shown its okay to play, and the proper way to do it.
Tools continued
A transitional leash like "the sidekick” are tools that can help with control, anxiety and reactivity. Unlike traditional head collars that apply constant pressure around your dog’s head, the Sidekick uses a gentle pressure-on, pressure-off system.
A quality electronic collar when used correctly is hands down the most versatile dog training tool! We use top of the line brands that utilize modern tens unit technology. Just like the tens machine the physiotherapist put on you! It shouldn't be harmful or painful when using it to communicate. If you want to excel in off leash freedom, this tool is for you!
A quality prong collar, when used correctly can be a great communication device for dogs while on leash. There is no denying that it looks like a midevil torture device, but in our opinion it can be a safe and humane option for some dogs. It can be a great accessibility tool for owners who struggle with strength and/or injury.
How Amy became a dog trainer
I remember Ted reassuring me that I was doing things mostly right but I was missing a few key aspects. He brought out the ecollar and I panicked. I was NOT letting him hurt my dog! An hour later I was conditioning my dog to the ecollar. ( for clear concise communication).
Within 4 weeks Soleil was OFF LEASH, with a reliable recall again! “She wasn't perfect, but we were committed to the process of understanding her better, advocating for her, correcting the things needed to keep her and others safe, and showing her the world wasn’t as scary as she thought. Soleil passed of cancer at just 8, but because I opened up my mind to a more balanced approach she was able to enjoy her life until the end with a freedom I didn’t know was possible.”
The 8 years with Soliel only fueled Amy's passion for dogs and advocating for them. The amount of dogs being put down for being “aggressive” or “reactive” behaviour is sickening. The following years were spent recusing and fostering “bully” breeds and proving people and other trainers wrong when they said the dog should be euthanized. “I learned a lot during these years but I needed more knowledge, confidence and community especially after fostering then adopting a rescue “pitbull”named Maya who was on death row in Quebec. I was told she was friendly with people, dogs and other animals. She was people friendly when introduced correctly, but she wanted to kill every dog/ animal she met. Living in a multi dog, multi human household under these circumstances proved challenging. “
Amy had stayed in touch with Ted E and was in awe of him starting his own company specializing in aggression and reactivity. MangoDogs Inc. He would often host other trainers from around the world for a hands-on learning experience but Amy didn't qualify without any formal dog training education. In 2019 Amy completed a “Dog Training & Behaviour Consultant” apprenticeship through JollyTails in Halifax. This was focused on the “positive” side of training and was a great foundational program but again, Amy needed more, and wanted something more aligned with her approach to dog training. Amy immediately reached out to Ted to discuss a shadow experience, but what she got was even better!
Amy completed a shadow and hands-on apprenticeship with Ted E of Mango Dogs in the beginning of 2020, where she stayed on as the head trainer & behavior specialist. Her time there was spent working mostly with reactive or aggressive dogs, off leash control and other problem behaviors. “ It was an amazing experience to learn from Ted professionally so many years after he helped us with our first dog. I am blessed to have been able to work with him while I figured out the type of trainer I wanted to be and I will forever be thankful for his teachings and advice.”
In 2022, Amy launched Pitties 2 Poodles! She continues to grow and challenge herself as a trainer by attending seminars, workshops, developing new mentorships and committing to biweekly coaching calls with other trainers who are recognized world wide for their knowledge and commitment to dogs and training. Her list of credentials will always be growing as she hustles behind the scene to accomplish the paper work, but hands on work will always take priority.
Molly was the first dog who left a lasting imprint on Amy. She was a shepherd/collie mix who was too smart for the family. Incredibly independent, protective, and uncontrollable! She was an escape artist who would run through the neighbourhood starting fights, killing bunnies, cats and chickens. She bit a man who extended his hand for a handshake and she was obsessed with chasing cars, especially 18 wheelers. Molly would pull grown ass men down and across the road. After witnessing Molly escaping the leash and getting ran over by the 18 wheeler, Amy vowed she would have control over any dog that was ever in her care to keep them safe.
In 2007 Amy was finally able to have her very own dog. She now lived in the big city of Halifax and THOUGHT she was prepared. She found resources online and bought the books! One day she happened upon a litter of “pitbull puppies”. They were $300 and the living conditions were AWFUL! One female pup was so terrified of everything that it couldn't stand on its shaky legs. “I threw a stack of $20’s at them, took the puppy and ran out of there! We named her Soleil. I was convinced that with love I could fix her, regardless of her backyard bred sketchy genetics, and the first 9 weeks of her life being chaos!”
Amy and Soleil did okay for the first year. They attended puppy socials, puppy classes and basic group training. Amy did the majority of things right. Ample time was spent on training, proper socialization and mental/physical exercise. Soleil still had an intense fear of things like brooms, loud noises, people with hats or beards, or any person or dog that surprised her regardless of the distance. Around Soleil’s first birthday, things escalated. All the training that Amy had been doing, and all the success they had made, started failing. Soleil's recall was only 50% reliable and her reactivity started to get scary. She would go from 0-100 with other dogs, people and she even started to turn on Amy. She busted out of the house and chased a jogger, while circling and snapping at their leashed dog!
In 2008 there were not that many dog trainers in Halifax, but we worked with the three most known. All positive only, all offering similar techniques and promises of what they would accomplish by signing up. “The group classes were the worst! For 6 weeks I was told to hang in there, while I left embarrassed and defeated week after week. Soleil only got worse, and my confidence followed. I gave up trying to change things and avoided any triggers.”
Then Amy found Ted E from Unleashed Potential. Unleashed potential was a name that Amy recognized immediately, as it was owned by world renowned trainer Duke Ferguson. He offered a dog training school in PEI, that Amy drooled about attending. Ted came by for a consultation, and he brought tools! “I remember sitting in my living room, feeling sick with fear that I would need to put this dog down.