Success Stories
Hear from my happy clients
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Without sounding dramatic, Canine Solutions’ training with Drew has completely changed our relationship with our Berne doodle, Davie. Before training Davie was (and continues to be), the star of the dog park but we had almost zero success in having him recall. It was frustrating, discouraging and dangerous. We now have the skills and confidence to take Davie ‘off leash’ on trails and the dog park knowing he will happily return to us when called. We continue to work with him but are so happy that we can enjoy our special pal !! Thanks so much Drew!
Lynne
19:13 18 Apr 23
Our experience with Drew was a really positive one. We appreciated the time he took to teach us how to properly use and respect the e-collar. Our dog Ernie was so overstimulated in very environment we took him to, and because of this training him was becoming super frustrating for us and for him. After training with Drew we now have a relaxed well trained dog who we feel confident to take into all sorts of situations. Instead of dreading taking him to the dog park or busy trails, we look forward to it.
Brianne Fudge
03:26 13 Feb 23
When our dog was two, after having done a number of group classes, we realized that we needed to have some individual training for ourselves and our dog. She was barking excessively at our year old grandchild as well as at anyone who came to our door and her recall was not what we wanted it to when we were out with her. After doing some research on trainers we settled on Drew at Canine Solutions Dog Training and are so glad we did. Working with an e-collar to help switch our dog's focus away from something and have her return her attention to us was uncomfortable at first but Drew taught us how and when to use this tool and it became a game changer. We are certain it is not harming our dog and we see such a change in her. She still barks to alert us when someone comes to the door but stops and our dog and our grandchild are getting along! Her recall outdoors and around other dogs is much better and we feel more confident with her off leash. Her loose leash walking manners have also improved significantly.
Much of Drew's training focused on us with a lot of teaching on how to handle our dog. It was very personal. He listened well to what we wanted to accomplish and helped us get there. We have learned that we will be doing ongoing work with our dog and now know how to do that.
We would highly recommend Drew.
Randy Parizeau
21:59 02 Jan 23
Training our dog with Drew completely changed our quality of life. We brought our dachshund from Brazil to Vancouver, she was a pandemic dog (so no socialization) plus the flight was very stressful on her. She was super reactive, anxious, and aggressive towards other people and dogs. After the first class, she was already SO different! Drew presented us with the tools to deal with her behavior and made sure we put in the practice necessary to improve. Now we can walk with her without stress, have people over, and even started letting her off leash without issues! We are so grateful and will recommend Drew to anyone.
Nicole Santos
18:23 07 Aug 22
Great experience training my 6 month old hound with Drew. Drew was an awesome teacher and my pup is now heeling and recalling without a leash no problem!
Mark Stevenson
18:20 06 Jul 22
After two hospital visits and handful of biting incidents as a result of resource and territorial guarding, we were desperate for some guidance...
We then came across Drew and through his guidance, we were able to see tremendous change in our dog. Not only did his aggressive behaviour disappear, but he's become extremely obedient and is always giving us his attention.
Quite astonishing how we were just fearing for our safety on a daily basis a few months back and now we feel like we're able to enjoy our lives with him without that fear.
Alfrey C
14:18 26 Jun 22
Only regret is not doing this sooner! We have a Frenchie/Boxer with a lot of sass, and Drew's techniques have allowed us to better communicate. We have made leaps and bounds in training, no more door rushing, no more leash biting, reduced jumping (still in progress), and way better recall amongst other things. The training program didn't waste time, getting results quickly which was great for our busy schedule and key for us too was that it got the whole family on the same page. The at-home work/routines are reasonable to maintain long term, I can see us continuing to make progress, even to some more difficult tricks and skills post-program now that we have been taught the fundamentals. Thank you Drew, you've been wonderful!
Breanne Cooper
18:15 21 Jun 22
We cannot thank Drew at Canine Solutions Dog Training enough! He helped us structure and improve our relationship with our dog, Kipp. We rescued Kipp from the Meat Market in South Korea and understandably, that came with some trauma behaviors. Our main concern was Kipp's intense anxiety which sometimes came out as reactive towards people (particularly men) and food guarding/alpha behaviors with other dogs. It was really hard for us as we are social people with male friends and lots of other dogs in our lives. Our first pet trainer recommended Canine Solutions, but in all honesty, we were quite hesitant about e-collar training. We were afraid that using a balanced approach, rather than a strictly all positive reinforcement approach, would break the bond that we had built with Kipp. Well, we were so wrong. The structure and communication that e-collar training offered made our bond with Kipp stronger than we thought possible. Kipp now looks to us for everything. He trusts us when we tell him someone is safe, meaning that he now wags his tail at our male friends who come over and plays endlessly with dogs without reacting negatively when upset. Kipp's recall is phenomenal for being 1.5 years old. Of course, nothing is perfect, but rarely does he not instantly come back when called which has given him and us such freedom outdoors. He's a happy dog now which means we are happy pet parents!
Jourdan Jackson
17:01 06 May 22
After running into (many) frustrations with my new Frenchie, Roger, I started looking into a professional trainer to try and nip the issues before he was older. I came across Drew’s page and was elated to see all the great reviews/experiences, and free consultation.
Once I met Drew, I knew he’d be a great fit for my fur baby. He’s such a professional with tons of experience, knowledge, helpful tips, good follow ups, and is always more than happy to go the extra mile.
I can’t thank Drew enough- now I feel confident with Roger and have all the tools I neeed…it’s like I have a new “dream dog”.
I would highly recommend Drew to anyone looking to train their dog(s), he’s definitely one of a kind and a game changer!
Tasaday Pollesel
19:27 27 Mar 22
Drew helped us with some behavioural issues we were having with our very energetic rescue dog. Drew made it easy to fit training into our lives and taught us a lot of practical tips to continue working on. Drew is very accessible, and offers lots of helpful materials. Our dog is like a different dog after 4 sessions with Drew, and now a pleasure to be around (rather than an embarrassing and hard to control).
Laura James
18:24 06 Feb 22
Drew was great with my new pup and with my older dog. Very observant, knowledgeable, offering lots of practical advice and insight into the motivation, incentives, and needs that drive canine behaviour. Highly recommend Drew!!
Marina Matei
23:55 18 Dec 21
Drew was absolutely wonderful with our dogs. We do a lot of hiking in the backcountry and after having a few frightening dog/wildlife encounters I knew it was time to get serious about their recall. I can't believe the difference after the training sessions. Their recall is amazing now, even when there are wild critters about. To be honest, I didn't think it would be possible, especially to this degree. I am so happy that my dogs can now continue to frolic freely in the woods, secure in the knowledge that they will come back without fail in precarious situations. It's so comforting to know that I can have them off leash in these areas without encroaching on the local wildlife and endangering themselves. Thank you Drew, it's been life changing!
Shannon Saunders
22:43 17 Dec 21
Drew is an amazing trainer and teacher. I have a 3 year old rescue with reactive issues and we worked through it and reached my goal of having him off leash. Really recommend this training. Now my dog and I are so relaxed and we are both so much happier!
Mica Nergaard-Short
17:34 16 Dec 21
Drew was very knowledgeable about our 4 legged friend and helped us with multiple problem behaviours. Now we can be proud of our dog in many situations!
Alison Martin
19:45 14 Dec 21
Working with Drew was the best decision we could have possibly made in settling our rescue pup, Tiger, into his new life.
We went from being stressed out owners of an unpredictably barking pup that was a handful to walk to excited parents of an obedient, well mannered dog who can play and run around off leash, walk beside us on leash, ignore distractions, give up his toys, etc. We regularly get compliments from other dog owners on Tiger’s recall.
We also have the tools and confidence we need now for any new behaviors we want to work with or skills we want to teach him.
Thanks so much Drew, your guidance and expertise have helped us become the well rested and playful dog owners we always wanted to be!
K Shaughnessy
00:32 05 Dec 21
I was truly frustrated with my dog pulling so aggressively on our walks as well as not listening to me ever...lol After our training sessions with Drew, I now have a dog who sits n waits as I open the doors. I'm able to have her return to me when called...we practiced using a long leash then in a fenced area off leash as she was running and playing with other dogs. I call and she runs to my side. We still have a lot of practicing to do, but in such a short time, it's already been an amazing experience. I highly recommend Canine Solutions for help in getting a better understanding on how to improve life with your dog. Tobee is a bit over 6 months and really was a handful.
Judy Chartrand (CREEGAL)
04:57 02 Dec 21
Looking for an amazing dog trainer? Look no further, you’ve found one.
I looked for a dog trainer for quite some time before I chose Drew. I was super particular on wanting to feel like I was working with a trainer who was non-judgemental, compassionate, patient, and gentle towards my dog. Drew fit the bill. He has been nothing but on the ball and amazing with my reactive pitty.
I was worried introducing an e-collar into Nova’s training routine because of all the stigma and conversation surrounding the device, but I am SOO glad we did. I have come to learn that this device is a form of communication and does not hurt your dog, it is reliable and provides guidance. Nova learned so much more quickly using this device than without and it has proven to work wonders for us.
Nova used to constantly lunge and bark at people on walks, would run away when off leash and never return, run up to the door when someone knocked, and jump on me when I had something she wants. We have done a complete 180. Nova now comes whenever she is called, every. single. time! She even comes when she sees a squirrel or is playing with her ball, a huge achievement I did not think was possible. She follows right beside me on walks, does not pull, or bark at other dogs. She now knows to make eye contact with me when I am giving her a command and looks up to me cues. When strangers come knocking on our door, nova goes straight to her dog bed and stays put. She is learning to be calm in our apartment with guests and no longer jumps on me.
I can truly and honestly say.. Nova is a much happier dog and I am a 10000x happier dog owner. Walks are no longer stressful and nova’s behaviour is predictable with her collar. Drew recommended some great raw food and I have seen such amazing health benefits with Nova.
Overall, our experience with Drew has been perfectly well rounded and we have achieved every result I had hoped for and more. I am so grateful to be in the place we are with our pup, and wish the same for everyone else! Investing in training and good food for your dog can be expensive, but the results are sooooo worth it. Trust me!
Madison Dutkiewicz
04:50 01 Dec 21
Drew is a fantastic dog trainer, adept at communicating with dogs and pragmatic in his methods. He is also highly professional in way he runs his business and extremely dedicated to his clients. I honestly don't know how I would have managed raising my puppy without him. Everywhere I go people remark how calm and well-behaved my dog is for his age and I owe much of that to Drew and his training techniques.
Martin Twigg
16:47 08 Sep 21
Would highly recommend Drew! He was very professional and provided us with great individualized training to suit our needs. He was also very thorough with check ins via follow up emails and zoom calls. We look forward to continuing to work with him to reach all our training goals with our pup. Thank you!
Natalia Castaneda
00:33 23 Jul 21
I found a dog for myself and my daughter that was way more dog than I expected. He became so big and strong that I could barely walk him. My back was killing me! My friend found Drew to help us sorry sods and what a great help Drew was! After three months of teaching me how to manage my aloof giant, my back isn't sore anymore and my daughter doesn't scream at the dog in the backyard! So big thank you to Drew's hard work, patience (with me) and persistence. Excellent teacher; every lesson was very informative and supported by media and zoom meetings. A lot of great advice. Big respect. Zhukov thanks him too!!
Grace Troje
05:10 22 Jul 21
My husband and I bought a very active Australian Shepard Puppy.
We have not had a dog in over 20 years. Our puppy Cooper arrived and we had vastly underestimated what to do with this rambunctious, very bitey puppy.
Completely exasperated after two weeks with Cooper, I was getting ready to rehome him. Cooper bit my face multiple times, I could not stop him from biting. I didn’t understand how Cooper thought and I didn’t believe I could train him. I was devastated.
After reading books, watching videos and reading everything I could find online, nothing was working. That’s when I called Drew, Cooper’s life saver.
Drew came out to my house, and taught me how to train Cooper. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate and had a solution to every problem I was having.
He followed up our training sessions with informative notes and videos. He followed up to see how we were doing in between sessions. This level of service ensured our success.
Cooper is the light of our lives, thanks to Drew. If you want a good dog, I recommend hiring Drew to help you be the best solution for your dog.
Brenda Medeiros
03:18 11 Jun 21
Thank you so much Drew for what you've done for Murphy and I!! Having an energetic, large breed puppy is such a huge responsibility but the skills you've taught us have made all the difference in the world! Even though he still has puppy brain occasionally - I can see the well-behaved dog he will mature into thanks to the foundation and the training tools you've given us. I cannot recommend Canine Solutions enough - Drew is so knowledgeable and passionate about what he does - if only I could give more than 5 stars!!
Michele Mauer
16:05 01 Jun 21
One of the best decisions I made after getting our family pup was to enlist the help of Drew at Canine Solutions! Drew clearly has a knowledge of, and passion for dogs that provides Drew the wisdom and patience to support people and families in raising a well-adjusted and obedient dog.
I am excited and pleased at the changes in our dog. We got our sweet girl during COVID (as so many of us did!) and as a result of social distancing, she was shy with people and uncertain of other dogs. After working with Drew, our girl LOVES playing with other dogs and is amazing with people too. People are amazed at how well behaved our pup is and how well she listens at such a young age.
Also, what could be better than having your dog-trainer come to you? The training style used by Drew is gentle, yet so powerful and easy to learn and use. This is indeed the best decision I've made since getting our dog and I would highly recommend Drew at Canine Solutions. Thank you Drew!!!
Sacha Mullen
18:34 31 May 21
We were first time dog owners and needed help with our GWP. Drew gave us a lot of helpful tools and techniques to use. We would have a very different life with our dog without Drew. We are so grateful and still reach out when we need help.
Secretary Pomme D'Api
18:00 19 May 21
Thank you Drew for helping us with our new pup! We were very overwhelmed being new dog parents and your very professional and calm approach helped us understand the basics. It was amazing to see how quickly your techniques worked and how much fun and rewarding it is to practice with our pup. We will have you back soon to work on more skills.
Nicole Morton
16:33 10 May 21
Called to book and appointment for my GSD puppy, they said they will call you back in 24hrs. More than 48 hrs later I decided to place another call, I was already thinking nobody will answer and prepared to leave another message, to my surprise Drew answer the phone, I started to explain my situation, when he tell me to call back next day to book an appointment I was starting to explain that I called two days ago and leave a message, when he hung up on me. Very rude and unprofessional.
Paulina Margarita Peña Gamba
23:55 02 May 21
We have recently completed Drew’s Dream Dog Program and I really don’t know how we could have achieved so much without him. Like with many people, COVID gave us the opportunity and time to introduce a new member into the family. When we first met Drew, we were 2 weeks into bringing our new puppy home, who was 10 weeks old at the time. Puppy parenthood hit us like a ton of bricks! We were struggling to find any structure and routine with our new family member, and was lucky to get a few hours a sleep at night by sleeping on the floor next to his pen.
Due to COVID, Drew had created a flexible program that meant we could have our sessions via Zoom or meet in person and Drew was safety cautious and totally open to being creative with our training locations.
Drew’s advice and knowledge is absolutely priceless. From local recommendations for food, treats and advice on very specific scenarios, he had recommendations and a direction for us to follow. With every question we asked he had an answer to help us. Communication was fantastic, emails were always replied to swiftly and Drew was always open to phone calls when needed. He was flexible with scheduling and made the most out of every minute we had together.
I can’t thank Drew enough for his patience and guidance throughout our program and for giving us the tools to bond with and create a happy and balanced relationship with our dog that works for us. Drew is incredibly patient and doesn’t use a cookie cutter approach to dog training, he gives options and alternative advice so you can make the best decisions for you and your dog. Expectations are set and expected to be met by both sides of the relationship which is so important to ensure its success
Megan Dean
02:31 03 Apr 21
Drew is an incredible coach! The lessons were customized to our needs and each session left us with clear next steps. Drew is direct and full of useful insights to correct our missteps. I can't say enough great things about Drew and his approach.
Conor Topley
18:21 22 Mar 21
We would like to thank Drew for the work he did on our behalf. Drew's guidance helped me train my dog Apollo, into a well behaved, social dog that is a pleasure to be around. We joked around about "training the trainer", but it is the truth. I feel very confident that I have the skills to address most situations moving forward.
I really appreciated the detail in the lesson reviews.
Drew responded to my questions in a timely manner with a lot of detail.
We had a very positive experience and I highly recommend him.
He's a good trainer, likes what he does and enjoys dogs.
Joseph Sample
00:56 02 Feb 21
Worked with Drew with my mum and her border collie Spock. Drew was kind, responsive and so attentive to the needs of our family and Spock. Patient, thoughtful and flexible with what we needed, I can't imagine working with anyone else.
Danielle Lovell
00:07 21 Dec 20
We were very desperate to find help with our then 3 yr old border collie. She is very timid and had several issues. One major issue was chasing cars! Drew was amazing from day 1. We worked with him for 10 months and we couldn’t be happier.she is now 4 &1/2 and a much more enjoyable pet. He taught us so much and was available anytime we had a question in between sessions. He helped us rehabilitate her so that we can really enjoy our time with her now. His dedication and understanding of dogs is very evident. We would recommend him to anyone.
barbara gelfant
04:56 09 Oct 20
As previous owners of a reactive senior dog, when Queenie (a 3 ½ year old staffy who hadn’t been socialized) came along, we realized we didn’t know how to handle her. We remembered Drew from his stall at Mount Pleasant Car Free Day and decided to call him to talk about our needs. Drew was professional and attentive and super knowledgeable, right from the get go.
Drew really listened to us by tailoring our sessions to our needs. Also, Queenie responded so well to him and his training methods. It has been more than a month since our last training session and we found it has been easy to commit to the training. Like other clients of Drew’s, we often get compliments about how well behaved and ‘good’ Queenie is.
We are so fortunate to have found Drew for our dog training needs. We would not hesitate to recommend Drew and Canine solutions to any dog owner.
Anna V
21:48 08 Oct 20
We chose to do Drew’s Dream Dog Program. Having never owned a dog and wanting a well behaved dog, we invested the money. It was worth every penny. Starting the day after our puppy arrived, we now have a dog who is well trained with positive reinforcement and happy. We would highly recommend Drew and his programs. You will have homework but it will pay off in the end.
Michelle Huisman
20:14 01 Oct 20
The training program that we went through with Drew at Canine Solutions was amazing. Our little puppy has learned so much and has become a truly amazing puppy. I can't imagine where we be without Canine Solutions. A great investment that will pay dividends throughout our dog's life.
Craig Elliott
00:10 01 Oct 20
As first time puppy parents all we knew was that we would need professional guidance on how to raise our mini goldendoodle Madison. Drew provide us with the tools and the confidence to address issues as they arose and training techniques that provided an excellent foundation at the critical early stage of our puppy’s life. The results were immediate as we progressed through each session. Drew also provided invaluable links to readings and videos to further impress upon us the importance of consistent and continual training. Our puppy is now entering adolescences and we are so happy to have the training from Drew instilled in us - and Madison! Thank you Drew!?
Dave Massullo
16:19 25 Sep 20
Drew is an amazing trainer and a pleasure to work with. Over our ten sessions, our new rescue from Mexico (Sydney!) has learned many commands and we are thrilled with the results. Drew's style and dedication to teaching us how to work with Syndey has been a priceless investment! Highly recommended - 5 stars! Thanks Drew!!!!
Iain Ross
17:35 24 Sep 20
We are first time dog owners, and we contacted Drew as soon as we knew that Winston would be joining our family. Winston arrived (an 8 week old chocolate lab) and because of Drew's guidance we felt ready to welcome Winston into our home. Drew helped us prepare for a new puppy (incredible recommendations for "go to" puppy essentials, and how to set up our home, etc.), and provided invaluable coaching for Winston and all members of our family. We frequently get compliments about how obedient and well behaved Winston is - and Drew has been there every step of the way! We cannot say enough amazing things about Drew's coaching and training program. Drew's passion for helping us and Winston is unmatched, and we would recommend Drew and Canine Solutions Dog Training wholeheartedly to any dog owner.
Brigeeta Richdale
00:37 13 Jun 20
We called Drew when our miniature poodle puppies were about six months old and ruling the house. The were absolutely adorable monsters! We had previously and successfully lived with a dog for 14 years, and attended puppy classes, but these litter-mates were too smart for us. They were sleeping in our bed, having accidents in the house, destroying the garden and barking all the time.
After only a few sessions Drew whipped the pups (and us) into shape. It is hard work, but well worth the effort. Freddie and Posy sleep all night in their own bed in the kitchen, walk properly, sit, look and come when called. They have learned other obedience commands too, and that they are not the top dogs in the house. Drew's methods are brilliant, and do work if you practice. Now our monsters are just the lovable, playful, happy sweet puppies we had hoped for. We can’t thank you enough Drew!
dana sair
23:01 30 Mar 20
Poppy was 11 months old when we adopted her. She was from a respectable breeder and were told she was a "little nervous". Soon after, we realized she suffered from separation anxiety and was nipping at our house guests. Not an acceptable behaviour. Through research, we engaged the services of Drew Warren who trained US over the course of the summer. Now Poppy has mellowed out, is happy to have people around and no longer nips, and enjoys all the training she has received. Regular practice is the key to a happy furkid. Drew has been helpful right up until now even after our sessions are over. He is always just a phone call away.
Jo-Anne Duval-Reynolds
21:59 26 Mar 20
We are so thrilled we worked with Drew!
When we hired Drew our six month old Bernedoodle was highly reactive, willful and displaying aggressive behaviour towards me on a daily basis. I was covered in bruises from all her biting. We were exhausted and frustrated with her antics. We were genuinely not sure if we were the right home for her.
We had consulted more than one trainer and nobody understood the behaviour I was experiencing and dismissed it as just puppy stuff -Drew truly listened to me and got it right away.Drew showed great compassion and patience towards us throughout our Dream Dog Program. We worked very hard and followed all of Drew's recommendations. It was definitely worth it. With Drew's unwavering support and encouragement together we turned this unmanageable adolescent puppy around. She responds to commands, shows us respect and understands her place in our pack. She is now a dog our kids are able to walk and play with. We are now enjoying her as the family dog we had hoped for!
Stacy Kerr
22:20 03 Mar 20
Drew is the best of the best. We went through at least 3 other dog trainers before finding Canine Solutions. Our rescue Griffin was reactive and a danger to strangers -we were really struggling with him outside the home. Drew was the ONLY person who was able to teach us the tools that Griffin actually responds too. He is a life-saver. Drew is also incredibly trust-worthy, understanding and accommodating. He will truly tailor a program best fit to your family and lifestyle. Without hesitation, we tell every dog parent we meet to use Drew!
Justine Smith
23:16 11 Dec 19
We looked for Drew to help us with our reactivity dog Willy. And I have to say he changed our lives. Willy is a completely different dog, he listens to us and he is doing great in the walking now, even with other dogs around, all of that because of Drew’s help. I couldn’t be more satisfied with his services and I highly recommend him as a dog trainer!
Adriana Mazega Fontes
22:46 08 Dec 19
We started working with Drew when our Whoodle (wheaten terrier x poodle) was 5 months old. Bear had just completed a 6 week puppy kindergarten program but because of the tendency for doodles to be hyper-social, the over-crowded class was not at all conducive to learning. I came away feeling like we had lost such a critical training period in our puppies life, which was only reinforced by the bad behaviours he was developing - biting to the point of drawing blood (almost daily), jumping, not listening, inability to self-soothe - you name it. I was at my wits end.
Shaun had a higher tolerance level for Bear's antics, but agreed that something had to be done to help restore my sanity! During our first consultation where we discussed with Drew our challenges, I was almost in tears. Bear was my first dog, and while I knew it would be hard work raising a puppy, I felt like he was particularly difficult.
In our first lesson Drew taught me how important the energy I projected around Bear was. If I was calm but assertive, he was much more likely to listen and obey. If I became stressed and frustrated he would feed on that and continue to behave badly. We learnt techniques for disagreeing with Bear, and how to effectively use the place board and crate, to start to reverse his belief that he was the pack leader of our household. By the end of that first lesson I was in tears again, but this time it was the enormous relief that things really were going to get better.
Since then, Bear has improved in so many ways. Sure, there's things we're always going to have to work on, just like every dog parent, but when I think how far we've come, the difference makes me so proud of him and ourselves. We're so appreciative of Drew's help and would recommend him to anyone who is suffering their own doggy dilemma.
Sarah O'Dea
16:17 26 Nov 19
Just a heads up: If you employ Drew to work at training your dog, don't get coned in buying a place mat or anything else for that matter, as suggested by Drew. The mat is expensive, cumbersome, and proved that it really isn't needed for the job. You are better off spending your money on a practical mat/rug/bed for your pet that you can leave out at all times.
Suzanne girard-fortier
20:57 25 Nov 19
Almost done our training and it has been a fantastic experience. There is not a chance we would have gotten our puppy Leo to near where we are today without Drew. Leo is definitely much happier now that we can manage his needs more efficiently and properly, which has been a huge relief for us. We knew right from the first training session that Drew was the one. Thank you Drew!
Derek Schmidt
18:14 23 Nov 19
People would tell me that it was great my Bernedoodle was food motivated, however for the first 1.5yrs of her life I didn’t know how to use food effectively and consistently within a training context. I was concerned she was going to hurt someone by jumping up to greet them (out of sheer joy and exuberance) or simply run the show at home by conveniently avoiding commands I’d give. As an owner I felt like I didn’t speak “dog”, nor understand dog psychology enough to coach and address her avoidance behaviors on my own. After hearing about Drew from a neighbour I reached out. Working with Drew has been so helpful and effective. Drew showed me practical strategies and techniques that have enabled me to work with my dog and in the process strengthen our bond. I was amazed at how quickly she responded to the training. Now I’m confident on how to effectively reward and manage my dog’s behavior, with and without food. I’ve learned it’s all about repeating, reinforcing and rewarding the right way, thank you Drew for showing me what to repeat, reward and reinforce with my fur girl!
Nicole Bergman
00:45 04 Nov 19
Today, I inquired about hiring Drew for his services for my dog, Olive. Over the phone, he went over what goals I want to accomplish for my dog through his services and we talked about plans for booking the initial consultation for October 26th, 2019.
I then asked Drew about the cost of consultations and the training sessions. He told me that he was uncomfortable giving away his rates, which I found a little weird. I asked for a ball-park range for his rates. I was in no way implying that I only wanted him for one or two sessions. Being a financially responsible person, I think it's fair for a customer to inquire about his rates (even approximate ballpark range), especially given that I was looking for a long-term help for my dog.
Anyways, he basically hung up on me. He could be the greatest dog trainer, maybe he thinks he is the new Cesar Millan, but I won't hire someone that overreacts to a simple question. It's rude if you ask me.
Jay Park
21:38 16 Oct 19
When Drew first answered our call for help, our Husky, Malamute, Shepard, Wolf cross, Benjen, was just under a year and 100lbs. We had allowed him to take control of our home and lives, and he was well on his way to becoming a monster that we were steadily losing control of. Our cats lived in fear and we had separated the upstairs and downstairs of our house so that they could have some security. Within 5 minutes of being in our home, Drew assessed the situation called us out on the problem...us. We were not providing Benjen with enough leadership, structure and rules by which he had to live by. We signed up for the Dream Dog Package and it was well worth it. Drew is incredibly patient, kind and caring of both our dog and us. Almost immediately the changes were noticeable. Benjen responded so quickly to the training and how we changed in our approach with him it was amazing. Benjen is now 1 year and 7 months. He and our cats coexist in harmony as they know they are the boss of him and he understands is place in the family hierarchy. He does not rule our lives anymore and all we continue to work with him on is his isolation anxiety which is a slow process but Drew has set us up with a plan that is slowly working, as is the case with this issue and comes with no quick fixes. Thank you Drew for being so amazing!!!
Malcolm Jenkins
22:27 29 Sep 19
My husband and I began working with Drew (Canine Solutions) immediately after finding out we were pregnant. We were embarrassed owners of a 10-year old Boston Terrier who was incredibly anxious and had previously tried to bite people and dogs.
Met with a great deal of skepticism from close friends about the ability to ‘teach an old dog new tricks’, we had no choice but to improve the situation before our little one arrived.
In short, what we got was a new lease on life. Our relationship towards our dog, but also his relationship towards the world. He was happier without the ‘burden of protecting us’ and being given new purpose in his everyday life. We were happier to have a dog that didn’t pose the constant threat of attack. This was an old dog that learned a lot of great new tricks. Teaching us (the owners) was the real strategy; our dog was more than happy to have opportunities to earn positive feedback and tasty treats.
Drew’s teaching style dove into the psychology behind what our dog needed to succeed. His methods were also introduced gradually over time so we could apply them effectively and see progress at every step along the way.
He is:
- incredibly skilled at understanding people and dogs;
- an unbelievable communicator and teacher;
- very professional at every step, from consultation to training sessions and follow-up materials; and
- driven by love and compassion for people and dogs and genuinely wants to see success for his clients.
TLDR; Drew is a miracle worker, even for old dogs. He will get you onto a path of success that will leave you asking yourself ‘why didn’t I call him sooner?’.
Brenda T.
06:07 22 Sep 19
In 2016, we adopted Bella, then six years old, a boxer bull mastiff from the Ottawa Humane Society. Though she’s big – 70 lbs of pure muscle is how we describe her – she was described as a sweet loving dog. When we met her, we were immediately hooked. However, we quickly learned that she has dominant tendencies, so while she is friendly and gentle around all humans, she sometimes asserted herself against other dogs, and given her size and strength, it comes across as aggressive. She also has a strong prey drive, so she alerts to small dogs, squirrels, rabbits and especially CATS. So, with her strength, she was sometimes a lot to handle on walks. She was also too exuberant when people came to the door, sometimes intimidating our guests. Bella also used her dominance to demand food from us, during and after meals. We knew we needed help. When we moved to Vancouver in 2018, we resolved to get a good trainer to help her so she can be the gentle dog that she wanted to be. We signed up for the Dream Dog program, where Drew showed us great techniques, starting with basic commands and leash work, progressing to how to get Bella in line on walks, at meal times and when people knock on the door. We saw progress from the very first introductory meeting! The long leash recall, the place board, the use of spatial pressure and strong calm energy were all important tools that Drew taught us. The place board itself was the revelation – she is now patient and calm when we feed her, and it gives her a place to wait when our guests arrive at our door. We also highly recommend the group walk – we have taken Bella to the group dog walk twice. Though we were nervous the first time, we met other dog owners who faced many of the same obstacles as us but who were also going through training with Drew. We were all able to put our training to use in a high stress environment. Bella showed us that we can trust her and our knowledge, even when on the seawall that was flooded with so many distractions. She loved finally being able to be part of a pack. We always thought that we had the perfect dog. Drew’s Dream Dog program gave Bella the opportunity to prove it!
Maria Edora
20:55 04 Sep 19
Before we reached out to Drew the only training we were doing were basic obedience inside the home, and just attempting to take her on walks. We were so embarrassed to take her outside, and our dog is a German Shepherd that is hyperactive and Drew explained all this to me and said that she's a working dog and needs to be active. We first started doing mental / physical exercise that started tiring her out and I could already see a big difference. It was great because slowly I noticed my dog paying more attention to me. I just had my last session with Drew and he gave me everything I needed to structure my daily training sessions with Mocha. Every single day I see Mocha improving and the focus that she gives me, also Drew is very supportive towards the dogs and the owners, whenever I got frustrated he was always there just to support me and get me calm again. Best dog trainer in Vancouver!
Jason Ta
22:45 14 Aug 19
Drew changed my and my dogs' life right from the start. He is incredibly knowledgeable, kind and understanding. From our consultation he gave me advice that immediately improved both my relationship with my dog and her health problems. All of his work is clear, guided and specific, he strives for long term change and relationship building. I just finished my last class with him and I already miss him! I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Allison von Wallis
02:31 16 May 19
I had never had to manage a problem dog before, and I really felt lost, when I adopted my dog Poncho. Drew helped me to establish the foundations to really improve my dog's behaviour. Before long I could see that my dog was paying more attention to me, respecting my authority and generally connecting to me more. It was amazing to see. I feel now, that I am certainly not lost, and have the tools to properly address any unwanted behaviours. We are improving every day thanks to Drew!
Brianna Vogelaar
15:54 03 May 19
Before working with Drew, our 2 year old pitbull-mix Walley was showing increasingly aggressive behaviour. He would pull at the leash during walks, bark aggressively towards other dogs and people, and get overly excitable and jump up / grab onto peoples clothes. I am so thankful that we decided to hire Drew to help us train Walley. Walley is a happier, calmer, and way better behaved dog. When we take him on walks now, he walks beside us and does not pull. He does not react to other dogs when they bark at him, and he does not jump up or grab onto clothes when he gets excited anymore. I would recommend Canine Solutions Dog Training to anybody that is looking for help training their dog! We are able to live a normal life with Walley now, and he continues to improve beyond what we could have ever imagined. We thank you so much Drew, both our family and Walley are so much happier now!
Jocelyn Gould
01:04 15 Mar 19
I was recommended to Drew by a colleague who had nothing but great things to say about the program he went through. I am now wrapping up to my final session and I can say that I have seen great improvement in our rambunctious and energetic lab. Our sessions have been challenging but fun, and Drew is amazing at making sure you have the right tools in order to be successful. The videos and follow ups are also a bonus so that you can reference your session and what was taught.
Most importantly though, Drew has taught the humans about how to be a better leader to our dog, who before, was getting away with things and not being challenged enough mentally. The skills that he taught will stay with us for a lifetime! Thank you Drew for being committed to making sure we can lead a happy life with our dog; we feel that you have set us up for success!!!
Samantha Cao
03:57 13 Mar 19
We got a hold of Drew 2 months before our baby was due. We had come to the realization that after our baby comes our dog may not react so well and we didn’t want to be left with one of two choices; give our dog away or have him spend most of his time locked up in a crate. Brick is 7 years old and super smart and lively, but we broke him with affection, leaving him with some bad behaviours. Upon consulting with Drew we knew we wanted to invest the time and energy into making sure Brick would adjust to our soon to be new normal.
Once hearing what our needs were with Brick, Drew designed a custom package for us, having some sessions before the baby came and some afterwards. This way we could see where our problem areas were and how to address them. Drew was a wealth of knowledge when it came to Brick’s needs and we started to see results in Brick almost instantly. Brick was capable of being a well trained and balanced dog but my husband and I just needed the tools to help get him there.
In our time with Drew he helped us teach Brick the difference between “yes” and “no”, how to reward him and when was the right time to do that, enjoy structured time in his crate, and how to properly handle the leash on his walks and using a front harness clip (this was a game changer!!!). Drew educated us about dog food and how it can effect Brick’s energy throughout the day. We also knew with a baby coming that toys could be a challenge. Drew taught us how to claim space and toys with Brick. For a dog that is obsessed with play and his toys he has been incredibly respectful with our daughter’s toys, it’s truly amazing.
After our time with Drew spending time with a Brick is much more enjoyable. Our friends and family have noticed such a big improvement in his behaviour. We are so grateful for everything Drew did for us so we could keep Brick as a part of our family and trust him to be around our baby. We are happier than ever!
Meghan Mellor
20:31 06 Feb 19
Thanks Drew! we learned a lot and we will be much happier dog owners!!!!
Carli MacDonald
22:36 08 Dec 18
Drew helped us with our German shepherd puppy Sargent ! He was such a menace until drew stepped in and showed us the proper way our dog should be going through thresholds and walking on a leash . We got the dream dog package and it was definitely worth every dollar . He set us up with new leashes , correction leash , prong collar , a long leash and a place board and we were able to text and email Drew when we needed more time to practice our training. It was nice to have someone with such flexible hours to accommodate our busy schedule too. In the end we weren’t able to finish our last 2 sessions but Drew says we can text or email anytime if we needed a refresher!
Mandy Yu
07:58 05 Nov 18
We've always had large dogs. After three fairly calm Rotties we adopted Ribbon, a very rambunctious five month old American Staffordshire Terrier six years ago. A delightful, friendly dog, she overwhelmed visitors to our home with her over-the-top greeting ritual. She also was not easy to take on a leash walk and could be highly reactive toward other dogs while on leash.
The primary tool Drew taught us to use was the place board to help control Ribbon’s impulsivity. During the course of the training, we learned the principles of how the place board became Ribbon’s marker to help redirect her excited energy toward a calmer, obedient energy. The concept seemed simple, and at first we were skeptical Ribbon would ever stay in one place when overly excited, but were so pleased when we made it work with and for her.
Drew also trained us on the correct way to use a prong collar to have more control over Ribbon on walks. In addition, he generously gave us a multitude of other small tips and skills that greatly benefitted both dog and human kind. At the end of every session he emailed a summary of our time together, information sheets for us to read, and a multitude of pictures and videos from our training session that we could watch to learn and improve.
After sharing our lives with many dogs over the years and hiring several trainers to help us with a variety of behaviourial issues, we truly appreciated and enjoyed Drew's approach. We now possess valuable, practical skills and methods to calm Ribbon’s impulsiveness and high energy. Drew is an extremely knowledgeable and talented dog trainer. His professional, patient and caring approach has made an incredible difference in Ribbon's life, and gratefully, in ours too. Thanks Drew. We love being part of your pack!
Holly Hock
23:30 14 Aug 18
I highly recommend working with Drew if you have any problems with your dogs. We called Drew in to help us with our eighteen month old Springer Spaniel, who was bossing us and our older springer about. Drew taught us useful techniques for helping us regain our status in the pack - yay! The use of the command 'place!' has been extremely helpful for Smudge at the door, the dinner table and while waiting for her food. She likes to go to her place to get our positive attention so this has been a game-changer for us. Drew was very patient with us and I liked having the video clips that he took during our classes and then sent to us to remind us of what we needed to work on. The best part was discovering that my dog is so keen to work and to please us, where previously her behaviour was exasperating. Thanks Drew!
Anne Andrew
00:07 26 Jun 18
First time dog owner over here! I did not know what to expect when I got a puppy but i HIGHLY recommend doing some research on the breed and HIGHLY recommend getting a trainer...DREW!
I have a french bulldog/boston terrier, named marley; he will be turning 2 in Nov 2018. When i first saw Drew, i admit i was intimidated and realized i was doing a lot of things wrong but Drew gave me the confidence and tools to become a pack leader 🙂
The great thing about Drew is that he holds you accountable and so make sure you do the homework! its important to be held accountable especially if you want to see progress! Once i started putting in the work, It was amazing how quickly i started to see change and progress.
We still have a long ways to go but i am much more confident with the tools/training i have to be the leader marley needs!
Lastly, there were times i was SUPER frustrated. I felt like i was making GREAT progress than steps back but Drew was always SUPER encouraging and his love for animals shows in how he treats his human clients and fur clients.
Thank you so much Drew!!
Sarah S
21:24 22 Jun 18
As first time dog owners, we were struggling with training our lab-pit mix. She is a very high energy dog and we tried lots of different methods before finding Canine Solutions. Drew was able to teach us how to build a stronger connection with our dog, allowing us to have control of her in situations when she previously would get too excited, distracted, or bored. We have come out of the training much more confident with both our dog and ourselves. Thank you, Drew!
Max Bayko
04:25 17 Jun 18
I cannot believe the transformation in my dog, and in my own understanding of how to handle her, as a result of Drew's influence in our lives. I have a fear aggressive pitbull cross. At about a year old, she was traumatized and started barking, lunging, and gnashing at all people and dogs she encountered. The result was that our life became very small - restricted to tense walks and just trying to manage her anxious behaviour at home. It was hard to take her out, and it was hard to have people over. It was also terrifying, and I felt totally powerless and demoralized. I didn't know what to do, and I was scared for her, for others, and for myself. I saw two other trainers in Vancouver with good ideas but minimal lasting results, and finally, after a year of struggling with my dog's behaviour and making very little headway, I desperately googled "dog whisperer Vancouver" and found Drew! I could not be happier with our training. I am five sessions into our nine session package, and my dog is transforming before my eyes. We've made considerable changes to her diet, habits, and training routines, and the results are staggering in their effectiveness. She still has her anxious moments now and again, but she is behaving like a completely different dog. She is more confident and happy, she loves training, and we're building trust every day. When I think back now to how I lived with my dog before Drew, I can't believe I endured the stress for so long. It is incredibly empowering to feel more confident and in control, and it's honestly making my life better in general. Drew's services are totally worth what he asks, the dream dog package is a great deal. He is always on the ball during training, has great follow-up protocol and homework for us, always responds to my texts as issues come up, and works hard to ensure that I am learning about how dogs think and learn to make my time training alone as effective as possible. All around an excellent experience and an excellent trainer. I recommend him to EVERYONE.
Lauren Warbeck
19:19 26 Apr 18
Drew has been amazing with our pug Daisy!! She had separation anxiety and Drew showed us so many different ways to help her get better. Our mind was blown with the difference we saw in our dog after a short amount of time. And seeing your dog become so confident after becoming successful at their training is wonderful. Drew is firm but very loving with dogs and really goes above and beyond!
Eleanor Lumbis
03:10 06 Feb 18
Drew is absolutely amazing. His teaching style is positive, effective, and works for the specific considerations of your dog and their issues.
Our dog has had leash aggression for years, wouldn't listen to us, and some separation anxiety to boot. Just a few sessions in, we saw tremendous improvement and it continues every week. We're truly lucky to have Drew helping us out.
Matt Peake
00:13 02 Dec 17
My husband and I hired Drew to help with us with our rescue boxer/staffy mix Bruce. We had a not so great experience with another dog trainer but decided to have a consultation with Drew after my cousin highly recommend him. We set up our assessment appointment not really sure what to expect but right from the get-go Drew was nothing but amazing! Our main things we wanted to work on was Bruce’s pulling on leash and his aggression towards the door. Drew went through all the different packages we could purchase and was also very open to customizing anything we wanted. There was no pressure and it was all really left everything up to us. Once we chose our package Drew came up with a plan and every lesson was better then the next! Drew would show us different ways of connecting with our dogs and skills to keep building on top of the skills we learned the week before. Drew made it simple, understandable and very stress free. Since the lessons are done in your own home, you can learn and practice in a real setting and see how things will work on a day to day basis. At the beginning of each lesson Drew would go through how the week had been since we last met, what were some challenges we were having and what we wanted to focus on for this lesson. Then at the end of each lesson he would go through our take-a-ways and come up with a plan for the next week’s “Homework”. We would work on everything Drew taught us and we immediately starting seeing changes in Bruce. Bruce is now calmer, more responsive and listens to us even in distracted settings. Bruce went from being the dog that would pull so hard on the leash it would hurt your back to now being right beside you the whole time, walking your pace with no pulling! If you’re looking for a dog trainer for something small or a bigger issue we cannot recommend Drew enough! The whole experience was so wonderful from start to finish and we were so sad when our time came to an end. Thank you Drew for all your work with us we really appreciate everything you’ve done for us!
Carly Somner
22:19 04 Oct 17
We were at our wits end with our rambunctious pup and ready to send him back. Drew was able to help us channel our time and energy into training Charlie into the family dog we needed him to be and he is so much happier. Drew is creative, humourous, and endlessly patient with our glitches and has restored calm and helped us enjoy our dog! And the bonus is that he is so much calmer and happier!
Maureen and Bill Wicken
03:35 25 Sep 17
I cannot say enough good things about Drew, and the good results we have gotten for our 5 year old dog Emma. Our dog was extremely excitable at the door (friendly but full of energy), would jump all over people, and would sometimes escape out of the house. Drew taught us how to keep our dog on her special place board so I can answer the door without problems, all within a few short sessions. I couldn't believe it! Emma will now stay on the board when people come over, it is a miracle!
Drew will travel to your home which we found ideal. We have a toddler and new baby and Drew was able to work with us even with the kids present. Drew showed so much patience (for us and the dog) and so much skill. You can really tell this is their passion. I'm so happy with the results and would recommend Drew to anyone who needs help.
Lindsay Martin
00:30 10 Aug 17
Drew is an incredible dog and human trainer. They improved the relationships of everyone in the household! In our first session with Drew, we learned what we were miscommunicating to our reactive young rescue dog and our surprisingly defiant old rescue. As soon as we understood this, we were ready to effectively implement Drew's training program. The way Drew tailored the program to our dogs and family and the particular problems were were having (barking at the door, reactivity with humans and dogs when on leash, begging for food from baby), was enormously helpful. We feel fortunate to have met Drew and will be taking their canine solutions forward! The lessons were worth every penny.
Amanda Watson
19:27 16 May 17
Drew is Amazing! They went above and beyond teaching us how to best communicate with our dog and begin a great life-long relationship. We were amazed how detailed Drew was with looking at all the details of our life so that we could receive the best possible outcome from our sessions - all aspects of our family and our newest doggy member were taken into consideration so that our lessons were as personalized as possible - meeting all of our needs. Highly Recommended!
Wes Godley
19:07 22 Mar 17
