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About
About Me
Emily Priestley, CTC, has been working with and handling dogs professionally for over a decade. With a proven track record having personally handled over 2,000 dogs during her career and a passion for advocacy and rescue, she has worked with some of the most challenging problem behaviours, almost every breed imaginable, and has counselled countless families on selecting and welcoming new additions into their homes.
As a graduate of the world renowned Academy for Dog Trainers, Emily is committed to using current, scientific and kind techniques, and continuing education to ensure that you’re in the hands of the most advanced methods out there.
Emily is committed to providing a nonjudgmental, kind, and supportive atmosphere for both dogs and their guardians and will always be transparent about methods and techniques, allowing you to feel comfortable handing over the leash.
Services
Board and Train
Sick of feeling guilty leaving your dog in kennels when you need to travel? Need a few behaviours trained? Let me take care of both your dog and their training right here in my own home. Your dog will live like mine- inside, warm, with constant care and supervision. When we’re not exploring, playing and hanging out on the couch, we’ll be working on the items you want trained. I’ll help you transition what your dog has learned back into your home, and I’ll be there for follow up support!
Rest easy knowing your dog is receiving professional care outside of a kennel and is being trained in a kind manner at the same time!
$175/day 7 day minimum
Boarding
I used to have no choice but to board my dogs when I went away. The constant worry of picking the right business, wondering what is happening behind closed doors and feeling guilty that your dog is in a kennel takes the fun out of a vacation and adds stress to work trips. With my regular board package, you’ll feel better knowing that I’m right there with your dog in my home! I’ll take care of medications if needed and enrichment right here in my home- just like one of the family. I’ll send you texts with photos and answer calls anytime to make you feel better. Don’t let your dog get lost in the pack at a group boarding kennel! If you’re wanting to add training during your pup’s stay, ask me about my Board and Train package!
$125 per day
Wild At Heart
Life on the west coast is full of opportunities to hike, mountain bike, camp and enjoy watersports such as paddleboarding. If you’re not sure where to start and your dog is less enthusiastic about being involved, we can get you there. From the trails in Cumberland to camping in the woods, we’ve got a plan to get your dog out there with you!
Free 20 minute phone consult + $240 for 2 sessions of 1 hour. Price includes 2 check in emails as a follow up after sessions.
Adoption and purchase support
Are you finally ready to add to your family? Emily can help. Understanding adoption challenges, breed descriptions, choosing and integrating the newest addition can be daunting during what should be a positive time. Let Emily help you decide what’s right for your family, choose an ethical breeder or rescue and decide on a good match. From puppy purchase to adoption of a senior dog, Emily can take the guesswork out of this decision. From there, she will help you integrate your newest family member and provide support to make it a seamless transition.
Free 20 minute phone consult + $240 for 2 sessions of 1 hour. Price includes 2 check in emails as a follow up after sessions.
Problem Behaviours
When dog behaviours clash with the peace in our home, it can feel like you’ll never restore harmony. Using force free, up to date techniques, Emily will help bring peace back to your home. From a wide variety of problem behaviours to manners and impulse control, Emily will provide clear techniques to solve the biggest or the smallest problems!
Free 20 minute phone consult + $120/hour. Price includes 2 check in emails between or after sessions to be sure you’re on the right track.
Puppy foundations
Puppies, although adorable, come with their own set of challenges. From socialization, manners, impulse control, housetraining and play biting, we’ve got a lot of work to do! Let’s set them up for success and keep it fun for you at the same time. Emily can help you navigate your new bundle of joy and even help prevent aggression and problem behaviours in the future. A great investment!
Free 20 minute phone consult + $320 for 3 sessions of 1 hour. Price includes 2 check in emails as a follow up to ensure you stay on the right path.
Tired Dog Program
Can’t seem to burn off the energy? Dealing with a busy brain that just won’t stop? Let Emily help with this plan to manage your dog, keep him busy when you are and quiet him down so that you can stop planning 4 hour hikes just to get some peace. This is a great program to help your canine family members adjust to your return to work after self isolation!
Free 20 minute phone consult + $120 for a one hour session. Price includes 2 check in emails after sessions to be sure you’re on the right track.
Cat Behaviour
Cats offer up a whole different set of behaviours and sharing a home with these little guys can be a never ending stream of enjoyment and surprises. Let Emily explain what your cat is up to, help remedy behaviour issues and set up your home to be a cat paradise!
$100 for 2 zoom sessions ½ hour each
Impulse Control
Jumping up, mouthing, pulling on the leash, bolting from the door and grabbing food can go from cute puppy behaviours to frustrations quickly. Let Emily help your dog learn what to do and when to do it with this potentially life saving package! You’ll be more relaxed and your dog will have a much better skill set! Loose leash walking, leash manners, door manners and gentle behaviours will make everyone happier.
Free 20 minute phone consult + $240 for 2 sessions of 1 hour. Price includes 2 check in emails as a follow up to ensure you’re staying on the right track!
Husbandry package
Going to the vet can be scary, but we can teach dogs what to expect for routine care and emergency services. Let Emily take the fear out of strange handling by working with your dog to enjoy restraints, blood draw holds, ear touching, body handling and even xrays and more. Great for a young puppy, adolescent dog or older dog with negative vet history. Let’s make this better for everyone!
Free 20 minute phone consult + $240 for 2 sessions of 1 hour for basic vet exam. $120/hour additional for add on or if you would like Emily to attend the vet appointments with you and your dog.
15% off initial service
with the trade in of prong collars, bark collars, electric fence or shock collars.
Techniques and Training
At Wild at Heart, we’re committed to being 100% transparent, non-aversive and current on techniques. We promise never to hurt, scare, punish or intimidate you or your dog- something that “old school” dog trainers want you to think is part of “balanced training”. Emily will use scientifically proven methods and will engage your dog and work with him to get more of the behaviours you want and less of those you don’t.
Flooding, dominating, shocking, physically correcting and punishing your dog is not what any of us want and we promise to get results without the use of these techniques and tools. We feel so strongly about this, you’ll receive 15% off your initial service if you trade in your shock collar, bark collar, prong collar or electric fence.
If at any point you’re uncomfortable about a trainer, a technique, a method or a tool, you have the right to ask for the leash back. At Wild at Heart, we are committed to doing no harm, but as this profession is unregulated, anyone can call themselves a trainer, behaviourist, whisperer or dog psychologist. For that reason, ask questions, feel comfortable with the answers and feel free to ask for clarification on how techniques will be done and why they work. If you’re ever uncomfortable or the trainer you’re working with can’t answer your questions, don’t walk, run!