If your beloved furry friend is experiencing severe behavioural problems, you may be looking for a trainer that specializes in training programs for aggressive dogs specifically. The good news is that many experienced professionals in the Toronto area are available to help you gain the skills to confidently manage your overly reactive dog.
A dog trainer experienced with training aggressive dogs, sometimes called a Behavioral Therapist, should be able to address canine aggression. It can be hard, however, to find the right trainer for you. Plus, not all training programs accept dogs that have shown aggressive behaviour.
Below you’ll find a list of the highest reviewed dog training programs in Toronto to help you find the best trainer for your own situation. Based on our research, we’ve included unique information, programs, and expertise these dog trainers have regarding, specifically, aggressive dog training.
As you’ll see, some of these Toronto dog trainers have more expertise than others in training aggressive dogs. Depending on the level of your dog’s aggressive behaviour, you may only need a general dog trainer with minimal experience working with aggressive dogs.
On the other hand, you may need someone with extreme commitment and experience working with the most aggressive dogs. You probably know your dog’s needs better than anyone.
As an additional aid, we’ve referenced articles or videos to help you if you have an aggressive dog which we found while doing our research for this post. There’s also a table that summarizes all the Toronto aggressive dog trainers included in this post.
We truly hope you’ll find a trainer that helps create safety and harmony between your and your dog. Like you, we love dogs here at Pooch & Harmony.
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1. Best Trainer for Aggressive Dogs in Toronto*: Gemini K9 Obedience
Gemini K9 Obedience is located in Scarborough, Ontario and has offered a wide range of training programs since 1995. Based in Toronto, their team offers free evaluations for programs such as preschool training, behavioural training, trick training, personal protection, and more.
When it comes to their training program for aggressive dogs, the team seeks to help the owner understand the dog’s needs before educating on how to reinforce the training. They offer dog and people aggression training and work in a large open field.
In addition to dog training, Gemini K9 Obedience is also a popular Toronto pet store with its large selection of dog supplies. Numerous reviewers commented on how this company trained for aggressive dog behaviour specifically. If you have an aggressive dog, Gemini’s Aggression Control program may be just the cure for your canine.
Trainers work to gain the trust of dogs very quickly, listen to your concerns, and attempt to find the best approach to calm your dog’s aggression. Contact Gemini K9 Obedience to get started.
This company has the highest number of high reviews, an excellent sign, but read about all these trainers. Some smaller dog trainers have extensive expertise, too, or specific boarding programs for aggressive dogs.
Several training companies have multiple locations around Toronto while some will come to your home so find the best trainer for your dog and your lifestyle.
*Based on reviews
2. Best Rated In Home Dog Training in GTA: Bark Busters In Home Dog Training
With trainers available across the Greater Toronto Area, Bark Busters In Home Dog Training offers one-on-one training for aggressive dogs in your home. They offer a lifetime guarantee and will return free of charge at any time during the dog’s life to fix reoccurring problems.
They provide a network of dog trainers with puppy, obedience, and severe behavioural modification training. Their aggressive dog programs are fully customized to your specific concerns and the dog’s type of aggression.
The initial session is 3 hours and will assess the situation through a detailed interview and a study of the dog’s temperament. Subsequent sessions will be 1.5 hours long and work to establish you as the leader.
Bark Buster’s blog post Understanding Dog Aggression may be helpful to you as the owner of an aggressive dog.
Many owners have noticed results in their dog’s aggression after the first session. Contact Bark Busters In Home Dog Training to set up your free consultation.
3. Best Rated Trainer for Aggressive Dogs in Northeast Toronto: Progressive K9
Located just northeast of Toronto in Scarborough, Ontario, Progressive K9 offers one on one training programs for aggressive dogs. They also offer house and obedience training, protection training, scent detection, and a board and train program while utilizing field-tested training and all quadrants of operant conditioning.
Trainers deal with most types of reactivity and will often use their own dogs to assist in cases of aggression, a nice added touch. Before they attempt to improve your dog’s behaviour, they will first try to understand it.
They firmly believe that all dogs are capable of training, even if you have been told otherwise; they accept all dogs, even those than seem helpless. Contact Progressive K9 if you’re looking for trainers who seek to make a significant impact, are knowledgeable, and friendly.
4. Mellow Vibes Dog Training
Mellow Vibes Dog Training offers convenient board training in Toronto, Ontario. Trainers keep the dog for the duration of the program, then spend time with you until your furry friend sees you as pack leader. They also offer dog walking, daycare, and doggie hotel services.
Their team trains dogs with love, respect, and discipline. Mellow Vibes Dog Training offers both dog and human aggression rehabilitation, focusing on helping you understand your dog.
Several of the reviews on Mellow Vibes Dog Training website mention how these trainers helped their dog overcome aggressive dog behaviours specifically, which indicates an area of expertise.
They offer free unlimited follow-ups for the rest of your dog’s life, and you only pay for training once you see results. Contact Mellow Vibes Dog Training to learn more about their board and train program.
5. Meet Your Mutt
Meet Your Mutt offers private, in-home training sessions in the Greater Toronto Area for well adjusted as well as aggressive dogs. Other services include boarding, basic training, walk and training sessions, and a human and dog matchmaking service.
Dog behaviorist Ashley Baylen got her start studying dog psychology and dog/owner relationships at Companion Animal Sciences Institute. Meet Your Mutt also offers a 90 day online boot camp with video dog training and virtual support.
The trainers will get to know how your dog thinks, producing both intuition and experience-based insights. They will follow a custom training plan and establish the root cause of the aggression. Contact Meet Your Mutt to get started.
6. K9 Academy Training
Located in Toronto, Ontario, K9 Academy Training works with problematic dog behaviors including reactivity, biting and other aggressive behaviors. If you’re afraid or at your wits’ end with your dog, you may want to consider their Emergency Dog Consultation here.
K9 provides a six week Board and Train program for highly anxious or aggressive dogs. They also offer an eight week program for aggressive dogs with a history of biting and emergency cases; this program helps dogs with aggression toward its own family or displaying multi-dog fighting.
Head dog trainer Anesh has worked extensively with dog rescues around Ontario helping train dogs with aggressive behaviour to rehabilitate them, making it clear that aggressive dog training is an area of commitment and expertise at this facility.
7. Deena Speaks Dog
Deena Speaks Dog offers training programs for aggressive dogs in Toronto, Ontario, as well as puppy conditioning and agility training. Deena has been training dogs since 1996 and even introduced Canada’s first dedicated first aid kit for pets in 1998.
Deena Speaks Dog offers one-on-one sessions that work with you to manage, prevent, and resolve specific behaviour problems. Her training method is positive reinforcement. Deena also provides a board and train service, with a minimum stay of 3 weeks for behavioural issues. Contact Deena Speaks Dog for more information.
You may find the following podcast How to Avoid Aggressive Behavior in Dogs helpful.
8. Raising Rover
Raising Rover offers training programs for aggressive dogs in Toronto, Ontario. They also offer new puppy training, adolescent training, and behaviour modification.
Impressively, Caroline established Raising Rover over 20 years ago and has helped more than 6000 dogs. She has an education in the Evolution of Animal Behaviour and has taken a two-year mentorship program with one of Toronto’s leading training schools.
Caroline’s recent studies include Genetics of Dog Aggression and Arousal and Aggression: When There’s Fuel Behind the Fire along with 13 more courses!
Caroline is a positive reinforcement trainer and believes that training allows for a deeper connection with your dog. Raising Rover offers personalized behaviour modification plans, tune-up lessons, and individual lessons. Contact Raising Rover to learn more about Toronto’s first board certified dog trainer.
9. When Hounds Fly
When Hounds Fly has locations conveniently scattered across Toronto, in Dundas West, Queen West, Pape Village, Younge St, and South Etobicoke. (Map below). This innovative dog training company displays they are a Karen Prior Academy Certified Training Partner as well as CPDT (Certified Profession Dog Trainer).
This dog training company offers two kinds of reactivity classes, group or private. Group is for dogs who react to other dogs, while private training is for more severely aggressive dogs who display anxiety, bark and lunge or have bitten other dogs or people.
When Houndz Fly does not use punishment techniques or fear-induced deterrents. Trainers will teach foundation and emergency behaviours. They will gather background history, explain underlying principles, and give you the tools you and your dog need to live a balanced life.
Instagram image with link to page of Founder and Dog trainer Andra Yeu.
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You can meet the When Hounds Fly dog trainers on their YouTube channel. You may also wish to enjoy the video with dog trainer Rachel Johnston, CPDT-KA outlining the best dog parks in Toronto.
You may also enjoy When Hounds Fly Founder and Behavior Therapist Andre Yeu’s interview with the Toronto Star on how dog owners return to work can invoke anxiety.
Contact When Hounds Fly to discuss which program is right for your dog.
| Dog Trainer | Program | Address | Phone | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini K9 Obedience https://www.geminik9.com/ | Aggression Control Program | 643 McCowan Rd, Scarborough, ON M1J 1K2, Canada (Google Maps) | 416-297-1077 | Pet Supplies |
| Bark Busters In Home Dog Training https://www.barkbusters.ca/ | One-on-One Training | Garibaldi Highlands, BC V0N 1T0 (Google Maps) | +1 866-418-4584 | Training for Dogs in Your Home |
| Progressive K9 https://www.progressivek9gta.com/ | One-on-One Training | 4320 Kingston Rd Scarborough, ON M1E 2M8 (Google Maps) | 647-963-4871 | Use Their Dogs to Assist with Aggressive Dogs |
| Mellow Vibes Dog Training https://www.mellowvibesiriedogtraining.ca/ | Board Training | 129 Glendale Avenue Toronto, ON M6R 2T4 (Google Maps) | 416-537-7022 | Free Unlimited Follow-ups |
| Meet Your Mutt https://www.meetyourmutt.com/ | One-on-One Training | Toronto, ON M6G 3E6 (Google Maps) | 416-830-9223 | Dog Psychology Expert |
| K9 Academy Training https://www.k9academytraining.ca/ | Various Trainings | 16 - 30 Canvarco Road Toronto, ON M4G 1L3 (Google Maps) | 437-778-5273 | Emergency Dog Consultation |
| Deena Speaks Dog https://www.deenaspeaksdog.com/ | One-on-One Training | 920 Eglinton Avenue West, Upstairs Unit, Side Door, York ON, M6C 2C3 (Google Maps) | 416-653-2165 | Board & Train Service for Aggressive Dogs Training Dogs Since 1996 |
| Raising Rover https://raisingrover.com/ | Group Classes | 105 Heath St W #6, Toronto, ON M4V 1T5, Canada (Google Maps) | 416-996-7339 | Multiple Dog Training Credentials |
| When Hounds Fly https://www.whenhoundsfly.com/ | Various Trainings | 1108 Dundas Street West, Lower Level Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1X2 (Google Maps) | +1 647-993-2275 | Dog Behaviour Therapist Credential |
Summary: Aggressive Dog Trainers in Toronto
If you live in Toronto and are looking for help for your aggressive dog, you’re not alone. Many people got puppies from dog rescues during the shutdown, and the dogs are understandably now exhibiting reactive behaviours now that the dog owners have returned to their offices for hours each day.
You may want to consider any of the trainers listed above if you need some help modifying your dog’s behaviour.
You May Also Be Wondering:
What is the best option for an aggressive dog?
The best option for an aggressive dog depends on the level of aggression being displayed and the safety of the owner and her family. Training performed by a trainer with extensive experience in aggressive dog training may solve the problem completely, so this is an excellent initial option.
Is it ever too late to train an aggressive dog?
Puppies and young dogs are easier to train than older dogs. Many older dogs, however, have been successfully trained out of their aggressive behavior. The key is the find the right trainer and approach that will work for your dog, specifically.
How much does it cost to train an aggressive dog?
Group training cost much less expensive than private dog training, but not all aggressive dogs get along with other dogs. Many trainers don’t allow aggressive dogs in their group programs, although we’ve found some trainers that work with small groups of aggressive dogs.