Private Resocialization Sessions

A safe, controlled way for current clients to help their dog be social around other dogs.

What Are Resocialization Sessions?

Many dogs miss out on positive experiences with other dogs, or have had bad ones. Unfortunately, many dogs have not learned respectful social skills, which leads to many dogs learning that their space will not be respected by stranger dogs.  Over time, this can turn into fear, avoidance, barking, lunging or aggression. Resocialization rebuilds your dog’s confidence and social skills one step at a time, using calm, stable dogs who know how to handle a nervous or reactive dog without escalating.

These private sessions are for dogs who struggle around other dogs, whether they are fearful, nervous, reactive or aggressive. Your dog gets to practise real dog-to-dog interactions with Kristina’s experienced helper dogs; Foxy and Balto, while Kristina’s expertise guides you and your dog each step of the way.

Every session is private and planned around your dog’s needs. Depending on where your dog is at, what you and your dog will learn can include:

What You Will Learn

  • How to properly introduce your dog on a leash to another dog.
  • How to recognize your dogs body language to mitigate potential reactive or inappropriate behaviour.
  • How to communicate with your dog that you have their back during dog to dog interactions.
  • How to read other dogs body language to make good choices about which dogs you should allow your dog to interact with.
  • Understanding what polite and impolite dog interactions look like.

What Your Dog Will Learn

  • How to greet another dog politely.
  • How to give or get space from another dog (mutually respectful ineractions).
  • How to be calm and neutral near another dog.
  • How to build thier confidence around other dogs.
  • Reading and responding to another dog's body language politely.
  • How to play with another dog politely and safely.

We never rush. Your dog’s comfort and safety come first, and we only move forward when your dog shows us they are ready.

***You must be a current client and be approved BEFORE booking this session. At bare minimum, your dog must have completed 1 private session with me first. This lets me assess your dog’s behaviour, body language and triggers so I can decide if this session is the right fit, and when. There might be some work we need to do together first before this is even something we can consider. If you have not worked with me yet, please book an initial consultation first (a follow up session in a package can be used towards these sessions when your dog is ready). Muzzle training is required for bite-risk dogs – this training would be covered in your session prior to booking your private socialization session. 

Perks of Booking a Resocialization Session

With consistent practice, most dogs begin to feel more confident and relaxed around other dogs. They recover faster after seeing or meeting another dog, and bark, lunge and growl less on walks. They get better at reading other dogs’ signals and responding appropriately, and they greet dogs more politely and calmly. Most of all, they start to enjoy walks, parks and outings more, and so will you.

Most dogs just need to feel that their space is being respected to build confidence around other dogs.

Meet the Helper Dogs

A helper dog is a calm, stable, socially skilled dog who works alongside a trainer to help other dogs learn how to feel safe and behave appropriately around dogs. Helper dogs know how to stay neutral when another dog is barking, lunging or nervous, so they don’t add fuel to the fire. They also “speak dog” fluently, using clear, polite body language like turning away, sniffing the ground, moving slowly and giving space. This shows an anxious or reactive dog that there’s nothing to worry about. Many dogs learn more from a good helper dog in one session than they could from weeks of seeing random dogs on walks, because every interaction is controlled, predictable and positive. That’s exactly why Foxy and Balto are such an important part of these sessions.

Foxy

Foxy

Foxy is a 4-year-old, 15lb street dog from Barbados. She can be a little shy herself, but she has a very good sense for dogs who are nervous or unstable around other dogs. Because of this, she has an amazing way of showing calm, non-threatening body language. With young, over-exuberant (and sometimes rude!) puppies, she’s excellent at teaching them some respect for their elders in a motherly but firm way. With smaller, fearful dogs, she’s excellent at bringing them out of their shell and getting them to play.

Foxy is also a allergy alert service dog for Kristina and detects dairy in food.

Foxy’s Specialties for Dog Resocialization Sessions Are:

  • Bringing fearful dogs who won't play or socialize come out of their shell.
  • Teaching young over exuberant (rude) dogs to give space.
  • Helping dogs learn to be neutral and relaxed around another dog.

Balto

Balto

Balto is a 1 1/2-year-old, 70 lb neutered Husky, Lab and Shepherd mix from a native reserve in Northern Ontario. More than anything, he wants to make friends with everybody (human and dog). He has a really amazing way of helping dogs, big or small, feel welcome and safe.

When Balto isn’t helping dogs, he’s also a scent detection sport dog: he passed his SDDA Started trial on his first try with a perfect score and now competes at the Advanced level.

Balto’s Specialties for Dog Resocialization Sessions Are:

  • Teaching dogs who are intimidated or reactive towards bigger dogs that big dogs can be respectful and gentle.
  • Teaching reactive dogs about non confrontational dog body languarge
  • Helping dogs learn to accept their owners can pet and pay attention to other dogs.

In a city as dog-packed as Toronto, one of the most important things these sessions teach isn't just for your dog, it's for you. When you can read dog body language, you can spot stress early, recognize when another dog isn't friendly, and step in before things go wrong. Once you can read your dog, you can help them navigate this busy city safely and confidently.

Kristina Rapson
The Hairy Dogmother

Ready to Book?

If you are a current client and think your dog could benefit, send Kristina a message or bring it up at your next session. Kristina will let you know if your dog is ready and send you the booking link.

Not a client yet? Start by booking an initial consultation (follow up package sessions can be used towards socialization sessions when your dog is ready).

  • You must be a current client and be approved BEFORE booking this session.

Still Not Sure if Your Dog Is Ready for a Resocialization Session?​

I offer free 15 minute discovery call to answer any additional questions you might have.

Book A Free Discovery Call
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  • A perfect trainer to fit our needs as we raise our beautiful Bouvier

    Myriam and Roland Levasseur Avatar Myriam and Roland Levasseur

  • Had our first consult with Kristina and she is amazing! Very knowledgeable in what she does and is providing us with the right steps to help our dog. Looking forward to the remainder of our sessions with her. Already feel like we have a better understanding of our dog and his behaviors from Kristina’s help

    jacie Kennedy Avatar jacie Kennedy

  • We are so grateful for Kristina and all her help training our 100 pound puppy! She is very honest, knowledgable and really makes training feel simpler. Kristina has been so helpful teaching our dog (and us) all the necessities to have a loving, obedient, trustworthy dog! Everything she has showed us has been so helpful and we cant thank her enough- highly recommended!

    laura york Avatar laura york

  • Highly recommend Kristina as a dog trainer. We have only done two private sessions and seeing immediate improvement with our 6 month puppy. Already we are seeing big improvements with his obedience, loose leash walking, mouthiness, jumping, reactivity, and overall manners. Kristina works hard to understand who you are, and who your dog is, and works to strengthen your bond and relationship with your dog first and foremost. She is attentive, calm, and very knowledgeable, and has pointed out things that I didn't know were contributing to certain behavioural issues, and more importantly, what I can do to address them. She sends detailed homework which was extremely helpful, and it includes tips and step by step guidance on how to address certain problem areas. Kristina's training philosophy is balanced and works to strengthen the relationship between you and your pup, establish your role and teach you how to better communicate with your dog. This was incredibly important for us, since we tried other training schools and approaches, and dedicated a LOT of time, and it still wasn't working. I'm so glad we found Hairy Tales and Kristina, I am enjoying seeing the positive changes, and most importantly I know I will have a well mannered dog who I can keep safe and happy.

    Christina Chaaya Avatar Christina Chaaya

  • Kristina was super knowledgeable and helpful in working with me and my dog to concur her resource guarding and reactivity. Her clear homework instructions were easy to follow and she was always available to help whenever I needed it. Forever grateful for her expertise!

    Kayla Carson Avatar Kayla Carson

  • Kristina was a wonderful help with our rescue dog. The best thing we did was book a session with Kristina BEFORE we got our dog. That way we were able to start out on the right foot immediately, and Kristina also had great recommendations for products/equipment to buy. We booked more sessions afterward as well, but booking an introductory/prep session before getting a dog was a game changer. It really helped us create good habits from the get-go. Kristina helped us with many things, including (i) our dog's reactivity around other dogs and people, (ii) loose-leash walking, (iii) setting up healthy boundaries and establishing leadership at home, and (iv) crate training. Kristina was easy to work with, accessible and very knowledgeable. She also sent us fulsome notes after every session, which were really helpful. Could not recommend her more, and we're clearly in good company looking at all of these five star reviews!

    Rebecca Cochrane Avatar Rebecca Cochrane

  • There's a good reason Kristina has 82-now 83- five star reviews here. My partner and I have been with her for just one session with our two rescue doggos and already she has helped us more than all the googling and unsolicited advice possibly could. She offers clear, concise instructions without shaming you for not knowing this as some trainers can. She is always paying close attention to the pups without making you feel ignored and uses those small moments that occur in sessions as only a professional like her could pinpoint as a learning experience for us, and teachable moments for the furry ones. We are absolutely thrilled and are looking forward to continuing this with her!

    Gideon Ruttimann-Hoskins Avatar Gideon Ruttimann-Hoskins

  • I am so happy with Kristina. My previous dog trainer retired and found Kristina by Google reviews. The Google reviews are correct - Kristina is excellent and perfect energy for us. Supportive, kind and fantastic at explaining things. We are making huge progress with Gwenny already. Highly recommend Kristina

    Rossi Ayres Avatar Rossi Ayres

  • My husband and I had an excellent first meeting with Kristina., with our two dogs. She gave us valuable additional insight and recommendations with how to respond to certain situations. Already, within the first week after the visit we are experiencing significant improvement with both dogs, in their respective areas of need i.e. better walking with one, and less reactivity in the other. Thanks Kristina for a great start, and we will be coming back for follow up sessions!

    SA W Avatar SA W

  • Kristina is like a medium for dogs. As a first time dog owner, I've spent hours reading, scouring the internet, and working with other trainers to try to teach my lil dude, Schnitzel. Alas, his guarding, reactivity, barking, and at times — aggression, has persisted, causing major stress and concerns for his happiness and safety. Cue Kristina — my goodness! Kristina has given me so much insight into lil guy's psyche, and the tools I need to communicate with him. Even after our first session I saw progress. A lot of trainers will apply one philosophy to all dogs — whereas Kristina takes everything you've told her about your dog, and combines it with her extensive knowledge of different breed's psyches/needs to come up with a plan that will work for them — lemme tell ya, it HAS! She just gets them, and makes the training process so much more comprehensive for owners. Thank you so much Kristina!

    Miya Strauss Avatar Miya Strauss
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