Oceanside Paws and Pose

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Oceanside Paws and Pose

Capturing paws and moments in Parksville, Qualicum and Nanaimo | Dog Training | Email Only

10/31/2026

The fireworks debate….

Once a year, the community I live in allows fireworks.

I’m not here to debate whether they should or shouldn’t. I’m not here to debate whether it’s disturbing to animals and wildlife.

You can see all of these arguments play out viciously online.

What I am here to say is that arguing online accomplishes nothing, join a committee and create a petition.

And for those of us who enjoy and find value in training, train your dog to be able to withstand the stress of fireworks. This is entirely possible, and there are so many free materials to learn how to do it online.

Especially, if you are a new owner to a young puppy. Your dog undoubtably be exposed to unexpected loud noises.

Do something more productive than stress out or argue with strangers. Your dog can feel your attitude. Be a leader, show them the strength & calm you’d like them to embody.

This is our dog eating kibble in dry garbage in our garage while being desensitized to firework noises. I worked very hard on this, and then in August took him to the biggest firework event in Parksville. He aced it. Been doing this for months since we got him. Still do it periodically.

Get out there and train your dog.

10/27/2026

A little heads-up for this Thursday's dog meetup!

This week's session is going to look a little different from our usual meetups.

Typically, these sessions are a chance for everyone to work on their own training goals, using whatever methods they prefer, within certain safety guidelines and expectations that keep the group organized and productive.

This Thursday, I'm going to change things up a little!

I'd like to get more people on the same page during our group sessions, so I'll be offering some free demonstrations, observations, feedback, and opportunities to ask questions about how I approach dog training.

We'll be looking at things like loose leash walking, heeling, engagement, play, and some of the tools and techniques I use in my own training. I'll be sharing my opinions on these subjects, demonstrating certain exercises, and explaining why I approach things the way I do.

**I am a balanced trainer**, and I'm very open about that. I'm also happy to answer questions about balanced training in general, including the use of different tools and techniques.

If that approach isn't something you're interested in learning about, this particular session might not be for you, and that's completely fine! You're absolutely welcome to continue attending our regular meetups, where everyone is free to work within their own training philosophy.

These demonstration-style sessions will only happen occasionally, and I will pre- announce them, for those who are interested in learning more about how I train and why.

I just wanted to make sure everyone signing up for Thursday knows what to expect. There is no expectation that you adopt my training methods or agree with everything I do. This is simply an opportunity to watch, learn, ask questions, and hopefully take away something useful for your own training.

**Thursday at 5:30 PM!**

10/27/2026

There’s something lovely about people who arrive without a hundred expectations of how their photos should look.

These two women came with their two beautiful dogs, dressed simply, happy to wander through the autumn grass, share a few laughs, and let the afternoon unfold however it wanted to. No fussing over perfect poses, no worrying about whether the dogs were looking in the right direction. Just two very loved dogs, and the last of October’s golden leaves hanging in the trees.

And I think that ease found its way into every photograph.

What I found especially interesting was how naturally their simplicity carried into my editing. I didn’t want to dress these images up or make them something they weren’t. Soft autumn colours, clean lines, gentle light, and all those little expressions that say so much without trying.

Sometimes I think we forget that photographs don’t need to be elaborate to be beautiful. That the quiet affection between family, a dog leaning into familiar arms, or a little smile exchanged between moments can be more than enough.

This session felt like a breath of fresh air, and I hope these photographs feel that way to you, too.

FREE. Email me to register: oceansidepawsandpose@gmail.comThis week, we will be working on teaching your dog to heel and...

10/26/2026

FREE. Email me to register: [email protected]

This week, we will be working on teaching your dog to heel and discussing loose leash walking (facilitated by me). I want to move the group in the direction of a collective of dogs who are not being dragged around by their owners, and can maintain a heel for periods of time.

This will be instrumental in getting the dogs to move forward with better engagement with their handlers in various scenarios.

Additionally, we will be talking about engagement and play in detail.

10/25/2026

Somewhere deep in the woods, where the last of the autumn sunlight slips through the trees, a girl in a crimson cloak wandered a little too far into a fairytale.

But she wasn’t alone.

Beside her walked a gentle old wolf, with silver in her fur and a heart far too soft for the stories they tell about wolves.

They followed the winding paths, whispered secrets beneath the golden leaves, and stopped wherever the forest offered a little patch of sunshine. There were kisses stolen between the ferns, a basket full of treasures, and just enough mischief to make even Grandmother blush.

And when the woods grew quiet, the girl rested her cheek against her wolf’s, knowing that of all the magic hidden in that enchanted forest, the loveliest had been walking beside her all along.

Maybe the old stories had gotten it wrong.

Maybe the wolf was never something to fear.

Maybe she was the happy ending🍂

10/21/2026

A little autumn magic, two mischievous Jack Russell girls, and a woman who is quite clearly under their spell. 🍂

Somewhere between the tall grass, the falling leaves and a ghost hiding in the woods (scroll to the end), these three gave me the sweetest little peek into their world.

There were kisses to steal, tricks to perform, suspicious things lurking in the trees, and two little faces that never wandered too far from their favourite person.

And the way she looks at them? That’s my favourite part of these photographs. The kind of love that makes room for all the silliness, the mischief, and every little quirk that makes them who they are.

Two little cuties, one very smitten human, and just enough Halloween mischief to make the woods feel enchanted. 👻

10/20/2026

It's hard to imagine this goofy, soft-hearted boy was once found seemingly dumped, with no idea what his life was going to look like.

Now he's got two people completely smitten with him. A dad who happened to find him, and a mom who spends her days walking and caring for other people's dogs, only to come home and love this one some more.

I loved watching these three together. We wandered through the grass and into the trees, laughing at his antics, stopping for kisses, and occasionally attempting to convince him we had some sort of plan.

There was something really sweet about how little they cared about posing. She'd burst out laughing, he'd lean in to kiss the dog, and their boy would just carry on being his ridiculous, lovable self.

I think my favourite part was watching how naturally they all fit together. You could see it in the way they held him, laughed with him, and kept reaching for him between photographs.

A dog who was once left behind, spending an autumn afternoon being fussed over by the two people who can't seem to get enough of him.

*Fall Mini Session*

10/20/2026

Wednesday @ 5:30

Email me to register!

10/19/2026

I wonder if dogs know how much of our lives they become. How their little quirks, their silly expressions, the way they lean into us for love, become things we couldn’t imagine living without.

I spent an evening watching and her mom together, laughing in the long grass, stealing kisses, and making a little fool of themselves. There is always such a natural ease between them. The kind that comes from knowing each other year after year…… by heart.

What a beautiful thing, to share a little piece of your life with a creature who loves you so completely 🤎🥹🙌

*This was a fall mini session*

Address

Parksville, BC

Website

http://www.oceansidepawsandpose.com/

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