Kristina has a magical rapport with dogs. From the moment our puppy Nico met Kristina, it was as though she was a beloved long lost friend – an overflow... read more of joy! My husband and I had signed up for the five-session package for puppies. Was it expensive? Yes. Was it worth the price? For us, absolutely! This was our first pet as a family and we viewed the training as an investment in raising a loving, well-mannered dog as part of our family. Our first session at Hairy Tales was before Nico’s arrival at nine weeks. We learned useful skills on how to prepare for the first couple of weeks. A critical learning was how long to play with Nico before ensuring he was back in his crate for a long rest. Another important learning was what to do when Nico fussed after being left alone. We also found out what products to get before Nico came home; this saved us a lot of time trying to figure out what would work. We even got a listing of recommended vets. And thankfully, we got essential tips on how to potty train. This session truly set us up for success. Each of the remaining sessions was customized to the challenges we were facing and the goals we wanted to achieve. For example, at the third session, we asked for help with Nico’s fear of larger cars and trucks (he used to shake with fear and try to dash back home). Kristina didn’t simply tell us what to do, she took us all out on the street and showed us what to do. And now, when a large truck goes by, Nico may pause to look out of interest or will ignore it completely. By the fourth session, Nico was so confident that we actually needed to learn how to teach him boundaries (such as not jumping on people who would like to pet him). Another key example was training Nico to “leave it”. Nico, true to his Boston Terrier heritage, resisted but Kristina persisted; watching Kristina in action was like attending a Master Class. We couldn’t be happier with the results. Nico came to us from amazing breeders who gave him an excellent start (thank you, Donna and Jack at Dalhousie Kennels). Kristina shared her expertise and guidance with us to help Nico become the confident, joyful puppy he is today. Hairy Tales has truly been an invaluable part of Nico’s early life…and likely will be at various stages to come…teenage phase next – yikes!

Kristina answered all my questions before I even had a chance to ask. She is thorough and approachable. Highly recommend!

Kristina was fantastic to work with. She’s knowledgeable, patient, and really cares for the dogs and families she works with.

Kristina is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in training dogs with all kinds of issues. We have already made great headway with our rambunctious three month old golden retriever puppy, after... read more only two classes. She follows up with notes and assignments in between sessions which is very helpful. She has also provided many helpful tips and invaluable advice. We highly recommend her.

My husband and I, and our 15 month old Miniature Schnazuer Pyper are working with Kristina towards Pyper's certification (and us as owners!) as a visiting therapy dog. We... read more could not be happier with Kristina's guidance and expertise as together we take this path and work towards this important goal.

Kristina has been a huge help with both our dogs, including our rescue who has a lot of anxiety and trust issues. We’ve only had a few sessions with her... read more and by implementing her advice have already seen some remarkable changes. She really understands the psychology of dogs. Always responsive and professional, as well. Can’t recommend her enough.