PIVOTALCHANGE.CA
  • In-Person Behaviour Modification
    • Online Behaviour Therapy
    • Separation Anxiety
    • Behaviour Program Overview
    • puppy biting
    • excessive barking
    • new rescue dogs tips
    • on-leash-aggression-towards-dog
    • Covid19
    • Privacy Policy
  • Prices
  • The Team
  • Dog Training
  • Testimonials
  • Videos
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PivotalChange.ca New Services

We’ve elevated our responsiveness
transformed our capabilities
reached further to expand our service areas
​based on feedback like yours!
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To book your meeting with Sparky, click on the button below. You will be redirected to our scheduling page, where you will choose your preferred meeting time, complete an assessment and pay for your appointment ($125 CDN). The cost of the meeting is deducted from the program costs on registration
Yes, Book My Meeting with Sparky

Brain-Based Nutrition Therapy for Dogs™

New Services & Tiered Pricing

Our services have expanded in Toronto to pilot Brain-Based Nutrition Therapy for Dogs™. Integrated into our Behaviour Programs, it increases our ability to provide profound and lasting behaviour changes. We are excited to deepen the investigations into serious problematic behaviour experienced by our clients, honing in on the underlying mechanisms at play behind a dog’s behaviour. Our newest team member and Nutrition Advisor, Kathie Gregory is an expert when it comes to discovering the root cause of certain behavioural issues through diet. 

Masterclass Refreshers

NEW - Twice-yearly exclusive Masterclass Refreshers are FREE to clients registered November 2021 or after. The first refresher will be in April 2022. We will be sending out a special invitation to those who qualify to attend free of charge. Masterclasses are informative webinars led by Sparky Smith, supporting you to keep your life-long behaviour changes in place. For graduates of our program, before November 2021, who wish to attend Masterclass Refreshers, please register early - it is $74.90 per dog family. 
Register for Masterclass Refresher

Introducing the International Institute for Dog Parenting & Psychology

Instilling a cooperative partnership with your dog needs to be sustained for life. Changes will happen and life will evolve beyond the space and time when clients have worked with us, but the behaviour changes and new found cooperation requires ongoing care and maintenance. Our in-depth understanding of the evolving nature of all relationships is why we continuously build new course content. It ensures our clients have access to updated knowledge for the life of their dog. We are also at work enhancing existing lectures to continue to meet the educational needs of our clients. Contact us for an updated list of new course content.

    Yes, I want to know about New Course Content!

    Access to some of our course content is determined by your case requirement. 
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Servicing New Locations

Our team and service areas have grown. We now provide in-person services:
  • Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area
  • Muskoka: Huntsville, Bracebridge, Burkes Falls, McKellar, Gravenhurst
  • Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph

​And we provide online behaviour modification programs and training across Canada.
New - We've been asked to provide different levels of service beyond dogs with severe and dangerous behaviors. Our new tiered pricing model provides for cases with challenges that don’t require the intensity or time investment of our standard 12-week Program. Evaluating each case allows us to determine how much time and effort a client's specific challenges will require so that we can deliver programs & pricing aligned to the need. We are staying true to our mission, which is in terms of sustainable behavior changes by building off what has already been achieved with our 98% success rate. Evaluations are free of charge and you can complete the questionnaire now. We will assess your dog’s situation and offer a more tailored treatment plan based on what works best for them.

Private Lessons

Our multi-tiered Behaviour Modification consists of weekly, private lessons that provide you with the mindset, current understanding of dog psychology and the tools and techniques to address unwanted behaviours for life. We examine those behaviours that are behaviours that are offputting or embarrassing - we give your neighbours something else to talk about - how wonderful your dog behaves. 

You may be seeking something beyond general manners training and foundation work, - here we ensure behaviour changes are for life. The lessons are informative and hands-on. They teach you how to identify unwanted behaviours before they happen, reach into your well-established toolkit of communication techniques and enable you to guide your dog to new ways of thinking, feeling and believing. The root cause of the bad behaviours requires you to understand the behavioural issue you are witnessing, understand why they are happening and implement effective techniques to stop them.
We build your capabilities to not just read and understand your dog's actions, but to effectively land your requests to achieve different actions. This is based on current canine psychology and related science.

We focus on establishing your ability to communicate effectively with your dog to enable mastering day-to-day routines, such as feeding, playing, walking and relaxation time for everyone.

Why We Don't Train in Obedience

Many people seek dog obedience training but based on current science dog obedience is very limiting and outdated. Seeking submission from a dog when we want voluntary engagement. Asking for a robot, when we really want a best friend. We are looking for a being who loves us unconditionally to move in the same direction as us but without friction. Dogs are sentient beings with complex emotional lives and preferences like you and I. For true enjoyment and peace to be gained your dog can easily be taught to make good decisions. They can learn to integrate with families' collective goals, without needing to submit (any more than you do when a friend asks for help and you give it). 

Also, in the same thinking of obedience, we don't work in developing 'pack leadership', now debunked by the global scientific community.  without realizing that this is a backwards way of thinking and no longer supported by canine psychology breakthroughs.

We have an amazing success rate and client testimonials, using a gentle, compassionate and non-dominant approach. We guide you through a training plan designed to include you and your preferences as well as your dogs. Our training approach uses the strength of science, the precision of strategy, the facts of modern science, and the sustainability across the full life of the dog.
Our training plans work to concurrently teach you how your dog's mind works, meaning how they think and feel, examine and address behavioral problems, developing strong, life-sustaining communication to deepen your bond with your dog.

We deal with many behaviour problems, such as:
  • Jumping up (on people, furniture, etc.)
  • Barking excessively
  • Digging (in the backyard, park, etc.)
  • Chewing unwanted objects
  • Leash pulling
  • Doorbell barking & excitement
  • Chasing moving objects (cars, bikes, skateboarders, joggers, etc.)
  • Housesoiling (urination or defecation in the home)
  • Demand behaviours (constant requests for food, attention, affection, etc.)
  • Dislike of crates
  • Guarding toys, locations, people or food (resource guarding)
  • Aggression of any kind (we specialize in up to Level 5 bites)
  • Destruction of furniture, baseboard, doors (separation anxiety)
  • Nervousness, timidness
  • Excessive energy levels
  • Feeding and nutritional challenges

Why We Don't Focus on Manners

​
Manners are polite behaviours that are socially appropriate. Manners are a human construct, not a dog. By elevating the thinking around a dog behaving in a way that supports the family unit we use current science. We focus on caregivers' vision of a dog as a cooperative partnership and valued family member. When we change our vision, from a robot-like being to a dog who is a voluntary and contributing member of the family, we align ourselves to the dog's core DNA, the way the dog is hard-wired to function.  Like all family members, we work to integrate the dog to align to the overall goals of the family, to not be disruptive and to voluntarily find joy and happiness in their role. Most important, this establishes long-term sustainable behaviours that are predictable and enjoyed for life.  While sustaining 'manners' requires a lot of patience, repetition, consistency and constant supervision, where a 'cooperative partner' is developed and sustained and behaviours support the good of the family.

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Behaviour Modification ONLINE 
Behaviour Modification IN-PERSON
Training - Puppies and Dogs

Areas Served: Kitchener, Guelph, Toronto & Muskoka, Online Across Canada
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​647-231-5326



​If you would like a tour of our property & amenities, an appointment is required.

  • In-Person Behaviour Modification
    • Online Behaviour Therapy
    • Separation Anxiety
    • Behaviour Program Overview
    • puppy biting
    • excessive barking
    • new rescue dogs tips
    • on-leash-aggression-towards-dog
    • Covid19
    • Privacy Policy
  • Prices
  • The Team
  • Dog Training
  • Testimonials
  • Videos
  • Gallery
  • Why Us
  • Insurance
  • Press Release