Providing positive instruction for canine clients

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This article was published 01/10/2018 (2557 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Melissa Zyzniewski’s passion for her pooches helped her decide to start her business, B&R K9 Coaching.

“B&R stands for the dog’s names — Benson and Rambo,” Zyzniewski said.

Benson is a blue heeler cross and Rambo is a purebred blue heeler.
The Headingley resident is hoping that her new business offering in-home pet-sitting, dog walking and one-on-one and group training will soon allow her to quit her regular day job and focus on the animals she loves.

Although only 24, Zyzniewski has about six years of experience working in pet shops, doggie daycares and leading training classes. She’s now working to gain her Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainer accreditation.

“I want to specialize in private training,” she said.

This would start with an initial consultation at which she would meet the dog and its owners to plan a course outline listing training and behavioural goals for the pet.

Zyzniewski said she realizes that many people are busy with work and family responsibilities so would arrange her training sessions to accommodate their schedules.
Asked what the most common canine behavioural problem is that she encounters, Zyzniewski said it is improper leash training.

“People allow their dogs to get away with a lot on the leash,” she said, mentioning pulling and over-excitement as behaviours that can be corrected.

Zyzniewski said she follows a positive reinforcement technique, rewarding a dog for good behaviour, and avoiding the use of choke collars and any physical punishment.

“We try to let the dogs make the decision for themselves.”

Benson and Rambo are naturally energetic dogs and blue heelers are bred to herd. Zyzniewski said she works with them to expend their energy in dog sports. However, she said some dog owners don’t realize what their dogs’ innate characteristics are when they adopt or buy the animals and that can result in problems.

“The dog should be a good fit for your family,” she said, noting that older dogs that are adopted might not have had any training.

Zyzniewski said she’s available for consultation on which breeds would best match an owner’s lifestyle.

Rather than offer a boarding service, Zyzniewski said she’s willing to pet-sit in an owner’s home. Allowing an animal to remain in its home environment is usually much less stressful

than placing it in a boarding facility, and this is especially true for older animals or ones with medical problems.

She said she has also experience in caring for cats, birds, and reptiles.

For more information, email to brk9coaching@gmail.com or see @brk9coaching on Instagram.