Dog Training Tips for Toronto Dog Owners
Browse our library of actionable dog & puppy training articles
Actionable advice for Toronto Dog Owners
My Dog is Bored and is Driving Me Crazy – Enrichment During Social Distancing / COVID-19
By Dr. Sarah Shapiro-Ward Enrichment describes all the activities our dogs do which fulfill their mental, social and physical needs. Toronto dogs are typically accustomed to getting their social time through daycare, dog walkers, playdates and dog parks. Physical...
Is my dog playing, bullying, or fighting?
In our Puppy Socialization classes, one of the lessons we try to teach new puppy owners is how to recognize the signs of appropriate and healthy play between dogs. On one hand, we have some owners that are "helicopter parents" and at the onset of anything more...
New Puppy Help! Expert Advice from When Hounds Fly Dog Training
Congratulations on your new addition! Bringing home a new puppy is a big event and it’s your job to raise them to be confident and successful in the world. Having helped over 12,000 dogs (and their owners) since 2010, we’ve been asked a lot of questions from new puppy...
We’re Thinking About Getting A Puppy.. Any Advice?
A couple of months ago I got an email from friends saying they had been thinking about it, and they wanted to get a puppy. They wanted some tips and also some feedback. They recently found a breeder that was selling Golden Doodles (Golden Retriever/Poodle crosses)...
Resource Guarding – Dog growls to protect his bone
How do you safely take a toy or bone away from a dog? Does your dog exhibit aggressive behavior when he has a bone or toy? This issue is called Resource Guarding and if not addressed, can escalate into dangerous behaviors like biting. From an evolutionary standpoint,...
How to Stop Your Dog from Digging in the Yard
As springtime blossoms, garden enthusiasts and lawn lovers are eagerly planning to bring their outdoor spaces to life. However, dog owners face a unique challenge: their beloved pets might see the freshly turned soil as an irresistible playground. If your dog has a...
How to Successfully Trim Your Dog’s Nails: A Step-by-Step Guide
Nail trimming is an essential part of dog care, yet it can be a daunting task for both pet and pet parent, especially if your dog has a history of discomfort or fear associated with it. Keeping your dog's nails short is crucial for their overall health and mobility,...
Understanding Your Dog’s World: Preparing for a New Baby
Welcoming a new baby into your home is a life-changing event, not just for you but for your dog as well. As your family grows, your dog will face adjustments to new sounds, sights, and routines. Understanding these changes from your dog's perspective is crucial for...
That Time I Sent My Parent’s Dog to a Choke Chain Trainer
When I was a new dog owner, I thought all training was positive reinforcement based and I had never heard of or seen aversive training techniques. My parents, who lived in the Vancouver area at the time, were eager to adopt a Beagle mix named Cooper. To ensure a...
Five Tips to Keep Your Dog Exercised and Enriched When It’s Freezing Outside
As a dog guardian, you know how important exercise and mental stimulation are for your furry friend. But what do you do when the weather outside is frightful? Keeping your dog active and engaged during the cold months can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Here...
Managing and Treating Separation Anxiety
What is Separation Anxiety? Separation anxiety is a condition in dogs where emotionally and physiologically, the dog becomes panic stricken when he's apart from his owner or people in general. Typically it manifests itself when a dog is left home alone. Behaviors that...
Resource Guarding – Dog growls to protect his bone
How do you safely take a toy or bone away from a dog? Does your dog exhibit aggressive behavior when he has a bone or toy? This issue is called Resource Guarding and if not addressed, can escalate into dangerous behaviors like biting. From an evolutionary standpoint,...
Why has my dog started getting into fights at the dog park?
Is he dominant? NO... Why has my dog, who used to love other dogs, started to get into fights at the dog park? Is he dominant? Dominant? Usually not. Few dogs are born wanting to get into fights. Fighting behaviour is evolutionary suicide. So why has my dog...
On-leash aggression towards dogs
Why does my dog bark and lunge at other dogs on leash? First, rest assured, you are not alone. This behavioral issue is so common that there are volumes of books specifically written about the subject. Dog trainers and behaviorists refer to this issue as "on-leash...
Dog Bite Prevention and Safety
Keep Your Dog and Your Family Safe from Dog Bites Did you know that in the US, 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year? And, of those incidents, 77% of them are bites from the family pet (or a friend's pet), and 50% of bites occur on the owner's property? This...
Pups and Pints: A Successful Night at The Redwood Theatre
We're pleased to announce that Sunday night's event was a success! Past and present students of When Hounds Fly gathered at The Redwood Theatre for a fun night filled with smiles, tail wags, treats, pints, and socialization. The proceeds of the night were happily...
Pups and Pints – Sunday June 4 at The Redwood Theatre
Welcome to "Pups & Pints: An Evening of Canine Companionship"! Join us for a tail-waggin' good time at our dog-friendly event at The Redwood Theatre. Calling all pet parents! This is the perfect opportunity to bring your furry friends along for a fun-filled...
Control Unleashed Seminar Toronto – February 18-19, 2023
When Hounds Fly is hosting Samantha DeJong, CCUI for a two-day Control Unleashed Seminar in February 2023
Transforming Lives Through Rescue
When Hounds Fly, Don't You Want Me, and Toronto Dog Moms have teamed up to bring you an awesome event: Transforming Lives Through Rescue What will be happening? We've gathered a team of experts from the pet professional industry for a panel discussion on helping our...
Flash Sale! Foundation Skills 10% Off Till Canada Day 2022
To celebrate this Canada Day, we're having a sale! Worried about missing a class? Our dog training classes are Start Anytime, so even if you're away for a few cottage trips, you can jump back in when you return. The foundation skills program includes 6 modules that...
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When Hounds Fly is proud to have the largest number of Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partners (KPA CTPs) and Certified Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KAs) on staff of any training organization in Canada.
You can count on us to deliver
Training You’ll Feel Good About – A Commitment to Positive Reinforcement
Positive Reinforcement methods are the most effective way to change behaviour, and make the learner (both human and dog!) feel supported and have a fun and enjoyable time learning.
An Experience Both You and Your Dog Will Enjoy
Every time you train this way with your dog, they’ll light up and come to you with this look of eagerness, joy, and anticipation. Working with us means that training changes from something you do to your dog – into an activity that you and your dog can’t wait for. The connection you build with your dog through our training methods is something that you have to experience.
In Your Neighbourhood, When You Need Us
We believe every dog (and their owners) should benefit from socialization and training as part of their health and wellness. We’re in convenient locations, with classes nearly every day of the week, at convenient times. To keep you from waiting too long, our core classes are “Start Anytime”, so enrollment is on-going. For private lessons, we continue to grow our team (currently over 12 instructors) so you can see us as quickly as possible.
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