The change happens where the problem lives
Kitchen, door, walk. Not a neutral room where none of it actually happens.
Baby Ready · Ottawa–Gatineau
Your dog and the baby can share a house.
BetterDog comes to the house before the baby arrives — for your dog. And after, if it goes sideways.
30 days of phone, email, and text support included. Further in-person training requires a pass or pay-as-you-go booking.
Mimi.
The problem
What people are actually afraid of
- The dog still owns the couch, the bedroom, the routine.
- Visits. Grandparents. The walker at the door.
- The first cry — and what the dog does with it.
- You’ve read lists. You don’t have a plan in this house yet.
We work every transition that’s about to happen. In your home.
Three hours in your home. A manual the same night.
- 01
The household rhythm
What changes before, during, and after arrival — so it feels like routine, not loss.
- 02
Boundaries that hold
The couch, the bedroom door, the change table, the nursery.
- 03
Calm at the door
Family visits, grandparents, the walker — without a pile-on.
Ottawa–Gatineau In-Home Training Program
BetterDog Baby Ready
Prepare your dog for life with a newborn — calmly, safely, and confidently.
BetterDog helps Ottawa families guide their dog through the biggest change a home can experience: bringing a baby into the pack.
What this program helps with
- ✔Safe first introductions to newborns
- ✔Barking or anxiety around baby sounds
- ✔No jumping when parents hold the baby
- ✔Respecting nursery spaces
- ✔Calm visitor greetings
What the Baby Ready program teaches
Your dog learns
- ✔Calm behaviour around baby sounds and movement
- ✔Respectful distance from bassinets and nursery zones
- ✔No jumping when adults are holding the baby
- ✔Quiet behaviour during feeding and nap time
- ✔Safer greetings when visitors arrive
You learn
- ✔How dogs process sudden change
- ✔How to communicate clearly and calmly
- ✔How to guide your dog back into the Green Zone
- ✔How to build boundaries without rough handling
- ✔How to supervise first introductions safely
How it works
1. In-home prep
We come to your home and help you understand how your dog reads change, stress, movement, and household structure.
2. First introduction plan
You get a calm, step-by-step plan for the first meeting, so nobody is winging it on two hours of sleep.
3. Ongoing support
Babies grow. Dogs notice. Your Life Changer Session includes 30 days of phone, email and text support. Further in-person training requires a pass or pay-as-you-go booking.
Frequently asked questions
When should we start preparing our dog?
Ideally before the baby arrives, so your dog has time to understand the new structure, sounds, and boundaries in a calm way.
Do you use punishment or shock collars?
No. BetterDog focuses on calm leadership, structure, clear emotional communication, and trust-based training.
Can you help after the baby is already home?
Yes. Plenty of families reach out once the change begins. We can still help you settle things down and create a safer routine.
What actually holds
One household. Every dog. One fee.
$500 tax-in. No per-head surprise. Everyone who lives with the dog is in the session.
A custom manual for your dog
We record in audio so you can stay focused on the learning. The guide lands the same day in the app.
What Ottawa–Gatineau households say
Public Google reviews. A dog name on this page is not proof the review is about that dog.
My dog was out of control, wouldn’t stop jumping and barking. Jon came over today to help us and I’m already seeing an enormous change in our 6 month old GSD.
We have two reactive rescue dogs and a new baby coming. BetterDog helped us safely introduce our newborn to both dogs.
Jon has gone above and beyond to help us with our past dog and our current cane corso. Both were rescues and very fear reactive to people and dogs on walks and when friends and family visit. Now we have made incredible progress and were able to successfully introduce the dogs to our new baby when we brought him home. Walks are much smoother and we can have family and friends over without worry.
Not a class
A class teaches class. BetterDog works your house.
| BetterDog | The class. The gadget. The other trainer. | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Your kitchen. Your door. The walk that actually falls apart. | A hall where none of the real problems exist. |
| Who | Jon or Nancy, with you throughout the session. | Whoever’s on the schedule. A different instructor next week. |
| How | Calm. Never a shock collar. Treats aren’t the method. | A collar, a clicker, or a bag of chicken. |
| The dogs | The whole household. One fee. $500 tax-in. | Per dog. Per class. A package to decode. |
| What you leave with | A custom manual that feels like the session you just had. Same day, in the app. | A handout. Or nothing. |
| After | 30 days. Phone, email, text. Jon or Nancy. | See you next Tuesday. If the class still has a spot. |
Frequently asked questions
How much does training cost?
The Life Changer Session is $500 tax-in — one household fee, every dog in the house. About three hours in your home. The Unlimited Training Pass is $1,200/year or $125/month on a 12-month commitment, if you want follow-ups and Pack Walks after that first session. No packages to decode.
Do you come to my home?
Yes. Your dog’s world is your kitchen, your door, your street. That’s where we work. Not a studio where none of the real problems exist.
Do you use treats?
Treats are not a crutch and not the lead. We use Emotional Marking: verbal praise, touch, play, and food used strategically — a crate that needs to feel safe, the end of a hard nail trim. Your dog listens because the communication is clear, not because you’re a walking snack.
Who has to attend?
Everyone who regularly lives with the dog. Adults, kids, the sitter, the walker, Grandma if she’s in the rotation. The first session is mandatory for the household. Mixed signals are how training dies.
How long is the first session?
Block three hours. One hour on how dogs think and communicate. Two hours hands-on — we do it, then you do it, until everyone in the house is confident. We record the session in audio, so you can stay focused on the learning. Every question and answer is recorded. The little hints. The tidbits you share — recorded. Then we prepare a comprehensive guide that feels like the session you just had. A custom manual for your dog. Same day. In the BetterDog App.
Can I join Pack Walks?
Not as a drop-in. Pack Walks are for BetterDog members — especially households who’ve been turning around at the sight of another leash. Start with the in-home session. Members on the Unlimited Pass walk free. $60 per walk otherwise.
The next step is a session in your home, before the due date.
(613) 316-6473 · ottawa@betterdog.ca
30 days of phone, email, and text support included. Further in-person training requires a pass or pay-as-you-go booking.
BetterDog
In-home dog training
41 CH DU BOISE
LOCHABER-PARTIE-OUEST, QC J0X 3B0
- Monday10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Tuesday10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday10:00 AM – 5:00 PM