Dog Obedience Classes Toronto

Your dog as the perfect canine companion that you can bring to work, the cottage, friends and family’s homes, and the dog park. You’ll feel a surge of pride knowing that you can bring your dog everywhere, where they’ll be a welcomed guest.

jack russell dog at cafe patio

Well-behaved dogs need Foundation Skills!

Congrats! You have a new dog in your life. What kind of hopes and dreams do you have?

Imagine your dog confidently greeting friends and neighbors with a wagging tail, calmly walking by your side on leash, and quickly recalling back to you while at the dog park. You’ll feel a surge of pride as you confidently take your dog anywhere, knowing they’ll be a welcomed guest.

Everyone remarks how sweet and well-trained they are. Friends offer to dog sit for you, they’re always welcome to come over, you can bring them to work with you, and they are your sidekick at the farmer’s market, outdoor patios, and hanging at the local park.

But this isn’t possible for a lot of dogs. Why? Dogs that don’t get the second invite over… jump all over people, steal food from the counter, bark incessantly, pull on leash like a bungee cord, bolt through open doors, and take off chasing other dogs and squirrels at the park with no recall.

Want to have a dog that’s welcome everywhere? Get them in Foundation Skills.

Since 2010, Toronto’s best-behaved dogs have depended on our expert run Foundation Skills classes to instill good habits from the get-go.

Foundation Skills - How's It Work?

  • Start Anytime means open enrollment (we welcome new students every day)
  • Classes are taken in any order (except Module 7 which is taken last)
  • Each class has a specific collection of exercises (see below)
  • You can attend any of our Toronto  locations (mix and match, or stick with one - you choose!)
  • Your dog is 16 weeks or older and has all their shots
  • Your pup is entering adolescence and you want to get ahead of not listening, pulling on leash, jumping on people, or not recalling
  • You have a new rescue dog of any age and are looking to build their confidence and trust in you as a foundation for your new relationship
  • You want to take our advanced classes, where Foundation Skills is the prerequisite
  • Your dog is younger? Check our Puppy Start Right

What’s Covered?

Module 1 – Clicker Skills

  • Capturing Attention (Voluntary Attention)
  • Sit and Down
  • Go to Mat

Module 2 – Impulse Control

  • Leave It
  • Drop It
  • Paw Target

Module 3 – Walk with Me

  • Walk With Me
  • Give to Pressure
  • Engage/Disengage

Module 4 – Stay

  • Touch
  • Stay (Distance, Duration, Distraction)

Module 5 – Recall

  • Name Attention
  • Engagement Games with Clean Training Loops
  • Recall Games

Module 6 – Perfectly Polite

  • Polite Greetings (Humans)
  • Polite Greetings (Dogs on Leash)
  • Co-operative Care and Start-Buttons

Module 7* – (Take This Last) Advanced Skills and Generalization

  • Behaviour Chains
  • Phasing out the Clicker
  • Generalization
  • Top Dog Finisher Game

When you’ve trained all the exercises to fluency, and you’re ready for our advanced classes:

I remember reading on your site about enjoying off-leash hikes and relaxed patio visits with a well-trained dog. These goals seemed ambitious at first, but your training made them a reality. Todd’s progress is clear in everyday situations—whether he’s calmly walking off-leash at Hannah’s family cottage or behaving perfectly during long patio outings. The pride we feel is huge, and our friends and family are constantly impressed by Todd’s behavior.

The real test was our first weekend at the cottage, where Todd’s off-leash behavior was perfect. We even got a great photo of him walking off-leash, looking right at me while I gazed lovingly back at him —a memory I’ll always cherish, so much so I got a tattoo of the photo on my arm.

Russell, Hannah, and Todd

 

 

Dog Obedience Program Tuition

Prices do not include HST.

For details regarding class/training policies, please see our Policy page:

All five of our locations (Dundas West, Riverdale, Yonge & Eglinton, South Etobicoke, and Markham in 2025). Tuition grants you flexible access to all locations!

Already Attended When Hounds Fly Puppy Start Right?

Alumni: Log into the class calendar system and purchase the Foundation Skills bundle and start booking!

Okay, I’m Ready to Book!

New rescue or foster dog owner?

Fostering or adopted a rescue dog? Get out free guide on what you need to know about training and behaviour for a rescue dog!