I was very happy with Dorothy's training. I came here after I had a recommendation from a colleague. While it was hard at first for my little shorkie to get into things, the trick was really practice. And that's what Dorothy had mentioned. You need to practice at home. We are constantly getting compliments about how our dog, Pasta, is very obedient and well trained - thank you Dorothy. Prices are incredibly reasonable. Dorothy is adorable and has been doing this for many years. She definitely has an old school technique, but it works. Not everyone may like it, but it's the same with children - not everyone parents the same way. read more

Malik graduated from the first level of obedience here two months after we first adopted her! Our adoption agency recommended we take her to some sort of obedience training as soon as possible. Make it part of her transition... I think they were right! It was a great bonding activity to do with a new addition to your family, and it lays out some simple ground rules right at the beginning that you can continue to build on forever. At $135 per six-week course (one hour long, once a week), it is one of the most inexpensive obedience schools in the city, but still one of the best! Class sizes are small - there were 10-12 dogs in our group. Our classes were held at College & Bathurst, at College United Church. It's a convenient location to get to from just about anywhere, and there are about six free parking spots in behind the church. Dorothy Avery, the instructor and owner (presumably the mother in "Mother Knows Best"), is sooooo funny. We decided she would be the perfect character for a recurring SNL sketch. Dorothy's dog for demonstrations in class is a bright red stuffed thing she calls "Fido". It's hilarious. She is a great subject to do an impression of, and her one-liners are PRICELESS! All joking aside though, she is certainly a dog expert, and a no-nonsense trainer. Her own dogs do shows. The Mother Knows Best website is fantastic - something sorely lacking in a LOT of dog obedience places in the GTA. I have no idea why!!! We found it very useful to read through the handouts available on the website before taking classes, and we have gone back and used them as reference points since finishing the classes. I think it's useful information whether you take a MKB course or not! Check out all the sections - there's a pretty cute photo gallery of Dorothy's clients as well. We plan to continue on and take Dorothy's agility classes with Malik. She'd be awesome at the crazy obstacle courses, I think! She's too small to really do the frisbee stuff at 5 1/2 pounds! The Martingale collar recommended by Dorothy changed our lives. Walks are a very enjoyable activity now, as opposed to being pulled along and Malik being choked by a collar or pinched by a harness because she's pulling so hard! Dorothy's classroom helper/teaching assistant's name is Ola, and she's amazing too. Much younger and much more intimidating, all the dogs in the class were completely submissive to her - a la Cesar Millan -it's nuts! She DEFINITELY knows what she's doing, and is great at one-on-one tips if your dog is a little slower to catch onto something. At the last class, if you and your puppy pal are successful (which no doubt you will be), you participate in a graduation ceremony. Your dog walks up and receives a handshake and a diploma. I added a pic of the certificate - obviously we brought it home and framed it. It's definitely one of the most adorable moments of my life so far, and the photos are priceless. If your pet is essentially your child, it's a moment filled with pride and joy. Our little girl's all grown up!!! read more

Mother Knows Best - Pet Training Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I am posting 4 stars based solely on the first class with my pup. (now updates to 5 stars as my pup has graduated Level 1). My pup attended two other full 4 week sessions at another training facility that used treats for education but I just didn't like this method. I did bump into a few people that said they took their pups to Mother Knows Best so I decided to give it a go, and I am glad that I did! read more

Great teaching methods for our Dalmatian. He's a handful and her teaching methods worked well for him. He really responds to the no nonsense training, firm but NOT aggressive. We tried using treat training but he started manipulating us to get more treats. Teaching him to respond to our vocal tone and specific commands and gestures was much more effective. Dorothy gives straight forward information and was always willing to spend more time with us if needed. We would have loved to do another class with her but we are moving out of province. read more

Dorothy's classes are great for your freshly-baked, bag-of-bones puppy who doesn't know what you mean when you yell "sit!" at him over and over again. This is an obedience training class. If your dog/pup has specific behavioural issues - like aggression, separation anxiety, etc. - obedience training will not help. We had an aggressive dog who liked to bite. By the end of Dorothy's class, we had a well-behaved, obedient dog who could walk perfectly on-leash, sit, stay, leave-it.... and bite. Again, I would recommend her to anyone who needs basic obedience training, but if you need behavioural shaping or rehabilitation, this may not be your best bet. read more

I enrolled my mini poodle into Dorothy's class after seeing the amazing reviews she received online and her prices were very reasonable for the service she was offering. Unfortunately, I had to remove my dog from the class as her teaching method was not something that I was looking for. Dorothy was very friendly but I personally felt that she would not address some of her student's questions and went in circles. Also, her tips and teaching style was not working for me and honestly, from what I saw in the class, it was not working for most of the dogs. I asked Dorothy for a refund and she happily obliged. This was something I definitely appreciated. read more

So we had our first class here last night. It was AMAZING. I took my pup to a puppy training class at a different place before (see previous reviews). I thought this would be a repeat of more of the same. I was SO wrong. The owner, Dorothy is a kooky lady who knows her stuff. She said that from the FIRST class with her, your dog will be 75% to 90% better at walking on lead without pulling. "Yeah right", I thought. We bought the Martingale collar that she recommended, and gave the class a try. Most classes start the dogs off with "sit" commands. Not Dorothy. We began with heeling, and true to her word, our dog has a vast improvement after only 1 class. Its cheaper than many other classes in town, located right downtown, and is already giving me results. This is serious business, and I cannot wait for the next class! read more

Very standard puppy training class -- Your puppy (or rather, you will) learn how to get your dog to heal, sit, stay, come ... the very basic commands, that my puppy was already well on his way to knowing prior to attending puppy classes. Dorothy 'Mother' talks way too much .. her stories long & often pointless - my dobie ended whining in frustration. What puppy is going to hold a 'sit', on a slippery tiled floor, during her 25 minute story on why you shouldn't take your dog off it's leash if it doesn't know 'come'. Yeah lady, we know, the dog got hit by a car (25 minutes later!) I ended up dreading the classes because of the over-drawn boring stories. Nothing special, and I wasn't crazy about the venue, a church - the reason I mention this, is because of the lanolin flooring - my jumbo sized puppy (a dobie) couldn't sit without sliding down - there was no rubber matting, which made most of the exercises very difficult for him. Very small space - Fine for small breed dogs, NOT so suitable for larger ones. Standard obedience class pricing. But again, nothing special. Parking, good luck. There's the church parking lot in the back, but there's literally maybe 6 spots. There's a few spots of street parking avail. I quickly realized "mother" aims her training towards small, easier breeds, as my large puppy wouldn't respond to even her, with that little overpriced, flimsy martingale collar they try and sell you during your first class. read more

I took my Yorkie to MKB for basic obedience training when she was a puppy and I was not impressed with Dorothy nor her training method. My dog was the smallest dog in the class and Dorothy constantly picked on her, calling her a 'spoiled princess' repeatedly and using negative training styles which neither I nor my dog appreciated. I have since trained her at positive reinforcement classes and she has done great! She loved the positive reinforcement classes and picked up the skills very quickly. In Dorothy's class, my dog did not even learn to sit - she was terrified of Dorothy and the punishments. My dog has a sweet temperament and has never met a soul she didn't like except Dorothy. We dropped out of the classes midway through and switched to another training school and it was a great decision! Perhaps if you have a big dog, this class may be more suitable for you. I felt that Dorothy had a negative attitude toward small dogs. read more

Dorothy was recommended to us by a Neighbour who had had taken both his Siberian Huskies there some time back. We took levels one and two. I am going to speak from the perspective of having very small dogs. We adopted 2 Chihuahuas from a breeder and at 4.5 months enrolled them in Dorothy's classes. Our Chis are 3.8 pounds and 5 pounds. Chihuahuas by nature are very smart but like many small breeds, very stubborn. We elected to join Dorothy's classes because she did not advertise, it was all through word of mouth and the most reasonable prices; other places would have cost us double for both dogs, at each level. Style: She teaches you the basics in a group setting of different breeds and their human parents. Her style is firm with lots of praise when your Canine does well. She further emphasizes that it is all about your presence around the dog. Our Chis would listen to her, and then to me. I have to say different about them listening to my spouse! lol. Location: Her location in the West (Bathurst/College) is convenient by streetcar and there is parking available. Results: How well has her training worked for our stubborn Chis? I would say quite well and I am glad that we started them early. This is further validated by the compliments we receive from others when we visit their homes or walk by in the park. Final thoughts: If you love to spoil your Canine Baby/Kid or love putting your small dog in your purse most of the time, then perhaps it may not be the place for you or your Canine Baby/Kid. All dogs are treated equally, regardless of breed or size in this venue and, like in real life, this is how most social interactions are. However, if you do want to learn the basics at a reasonable price in a laid back environment without all the frills, I highly suggest Dorothy's classes. She has a lot of experience and is open to discussing her experiences so that you may also learn from them. read more

Over about 2 decades, and 2 dogs, Dorothy has been an absolute light in the dark. I grew up with dogs, and thought I knew what I was doing, but through my older family members, inherited an admittedly outdated system of dog education. This changed when my wife and I first met Dorothy during the classes for my/our first dog of 'our own' (a 3 mo old German Shepherd). As many have recognized, obedience training classes is more about the owners being trained, not the dogs. And, man, did we learn a lot about dog training--which is mostly quite simple, as far as I can tell: 1) be consistent; most owners are, by human nature, horrible at this--this is why we need a trainer, and we need to practice (your once-a-week class alone ain't gonna do it)! 2) you can be firm without being mean; simply insist on your dog performing the appropriate behaviour by putting them in that position; no yelling or threatening required! 3) praise is the most important motivator; sure your dog may like liver treats more than praise, but is that really the type of relationship you want to be fostering? I know lots of people who can call their dog (along with 100 other random dogs) back at the park, so long as there's a treat in their hands. But my dogs always come running back (even away from your treats)--praise IS that GOOD!! Many years later and multiple international/inter-city moves later, we landed back in Toronto and my second dog (a 9wk old golden mutt) joined the family. Once again (and fortunately) we tracked Dorothy down to initiate the new pup into the family system. As a testament to her motivation for taking the time to train us noobs--the price for classes was exactly the same in 2017 as it was in 2003! Anyway, I can say that both dogs we've had were model citizens, and we frequently would hear the whole "wow, your dog is so smart/so good!". In reality, it is neither--both dogs are as different in personalities as they come, but both are identically 'obedient', and we (dogs and humans) have a simple but wonderful relationship. Both dogs were CKC level 1 and level 2 certified with the school. Both extensively travel(ed) with the family and are easily controlled off-leash. Consistent training means they understand what we want them to do (mostly, just 'follow me, and be cool/be chill')--no confusion, no stress. My opinion of dog-human relationships/training is that there is no single 'right' way, but I think Dorothy's method is simple, kind, but also firm. Even a dog that isn't 'mean' will roll over you, if you let them--it's in their nature (to take charge when someone else won't). Leadership is not about being mean, it's about being consistent--dogs (all animals?) like predictability. As for some of the negative reviews--people are certainly entitled to their opinions (and there are different scenarios/issues of consideration beyond basic obedience; i.e. if you have adopted a dog with a history), but it seems like some of the comments are like "this method won't work because my dog is small". I think that 'small' dog behaviour is more of a reflection of the owners who think (or make excuses) that expectations are somehow different for 'small' dogs. There are analogous issues with 'big' dogs and the personalities of some of their owners too (certain human personalities apparently are attracted to certain types of dogs). Bottom line is that untrained dogs are a menace, regardless of size (we've all seen small dogs bite--not cool especially, when these are kids). I've heard many people say: "well my dog is pretty obedient except if/when....". Well, if there's an "if/when" condition, that is literally the opposite of 'trained'. People often forget dogs aren't people/your kids. Baby-talking your dog in a purse is not helpful (at least to the dog), and feeding them your leftovers is not necessarily love. Again, YOUR dog, so YOUR choice on those matters.... .....BUT to live in a world/community with other people/dogs, ALL dogs need to be trained as well as loved. Your dog is not allowed to be an a$$hole! FYI, a Martingale collar is not a choke collar, unless (as Dorothy explained) you are using it incorrectly (or wrong size). It is there to give your dog instantaneous signals (most humans are way too slow to do so! That's why the little poke to the side works; you don't do it hard, just do it swiftly!)--it is PSYCH 101. Now (as Dorothy promised), my voice acts like the 'click' in the collar--off leash dog walks are nearly the same as on-leash. Sure, you might have better luck with another school (and largely this will be fine), but I think every dog-person agrees, that the point is that ANY training is better than none, and 'your own common sense' and YouTube is no replacement for pro advice! read more

I simply cannot say enough about Dorothy and Mother Knows Best. The best part about her is that she is totally committed to helping you get the most from your dog. She goes above and beyond to serve your individual needs and help your dog be his or her best self. We took the initial obedience class. Now our dog Blue is walking, sitting, staying, etc. like a champ. He has had some aggression issues and when I mentioned it to Dorothy she gave me one on one direction to get it solved and we saw amazing progress in days. At the core, Dorothy is a woman with an amazing heart and that's what you want in a trainer. She runs programs that pair dogs with children with Downs and other special needs in her (not so) free time. I can't recommend her highly enough. She is a resource we simply could not do without. read more

Norman completed 1 1/2 years of training with Dorothy and Ola. He went through levels one and two of obedience and then spent a year doing agility. Loved the agility! We'll probably go back in the fall. Norman is now very well behaved and he really had fun at the agility. The church where the classes are held is close by. The downsides...the church gets really hot so dress appropriately, especially for agility when you'll both be running around; no treats allowed during obedience which works for some dogs but my dog seems to learn better with food; and Dorothy has one set approach and doesn't deviate from this....so if her tips don't work for your dog you end up feeling a little stuck. However, highly recommended as good basic training. Ola is one tough cookie too! read more

Dorothy and Andria are the best, most thoughtful, most helpful trainers in the world!!! I apologize about the hyperbole, but they do deserve a ton of credit. They have excellent courses that are fun for the owners and pets and they take so much extra time to help with specific obedience issues. For example, I often stay after the class to ask specific questions about how to deal with some possessive issues that my dog has, and Dorothy will sit down for half an hour and work with me and my dog - it is like getting a free private lesson. And, they key thing for you to know is just how much the team loves animals. Dorothy and Andria both have day jobs and they work super hard at night to give these courses, not because they are earning a ton, but because they genuinely love the animals and love helping people become better owners. Thank you so much - you guys are the best! -Mike & Liz (& Mackie) read more

I was extremely disappointed with the Mother Knows Best obedience class. I enrolled my puppy in the Level 1 course, which was advertised as six, one hour sessions. Dorothy consistently started 5-10 minutes late, as well as let the class out 15 minutes early; she justified letting us early because of the small class size. Even if we did finish content more quickly due to the smaller class size, it doesn't mean we can't spend more time practicing and getting her feedback...as far as I am concerned, I did not get my money's worth at all! She rambled on most classes, rather than spending time practicing or doing any one-on-one work with the dogs. On the last week, we spent at most 10 minutes doing skills, before she proceeded to spend 40 minutes talking about other tricks that we could learn in the future and in advanced levels. We also had one class cancelled half way through, as she was feeling ill (totally understandable). She told us to come to the next week's class half an hour early to make up the lost time. I showed up, only to sit around waiting for nothing. At the age of three months, my puppy can't be expected to sit still and do nothing for 30 minutes...it is not a realistic expectation. Needless to say, we never made up the time she owed, and promised us. If you are a didactic learner who doesn't want hands-on practice, and if you are interested in only getting (at most) two thirds of your money's worth...then this is the obedience class for you. Mother absolutely DOES NOT "Know Best"!! read more

3.5 stars. I would describe this class as "old school." Dorothy is good at what she does and, undoubtedly, is extremely knowledge and experienced in dealing with dogs. However, she does utilize leash corrections and supports spraying water, foghorns, and deep-voiced scolding of our puppy. These methods are not for everyone, especially with the newer, positive-reinforcement only classes that can be found which I am moving my pup to. read more

We just had our first class yesterday and I am so happy about it! I decided to go with Dorothy and her team because I met a off-leash rottweiler that was absolutely amazing with my dog. My dog is an adopted 4 year old, 76 lbs. mixed breed that looks intimidating at first sight. Yes, Dorothy's classes focus on fundamentals (based on my first class), but that's what dogs and dog owners need. It's like basketball training. Forget the fancy stuff, stick to fundamentals and you'll do well. I actually contacted Dorothy to do one-on-one training with her or Courtney, and I was (and still am) willing to spend $100 per lesson. Dorothy refused and requested I do a group class (which is cheap) and then, if necessary, we will do private lessons. Like I said, we learned 'heel' and 'sit' yesterday, but my confidence in training has exploded overnight. Dorothy and Courtney are both so cool, in control and really exemplify what a dog owner should look like. Just watching then and listening to them is worth the money. I am planning on making all 6 lessons, but even if I miss the next 5, the $135 was well worth it, even for the one lesson. Dorothy doesn't use treats, and my dog actually responded well! I've been training him with treats since I adopted him a month ago. Dorothy and the other pet owners made the class a true learning space. I can't say anything bad about it. Oh yeah, I was super scared that the other did would be tiny pups, but I was so happy to see a true mix of dogs! It was well worth the hour long walk and can't wait for it again! read more

I enrolled my dog for two levels of training with Mother Knows Best. The prices were reasonable and Dorothy seemed to know what she was talking about. Other than learning to sit, my dog came away with no other skills. She is a rescue and many of her issues were not addressed. I also didn't agree with the method of training- using a choke chain (not suitable for smaller dogs) and poking your dog in the ribs to correct undesirable behaviour. I was also instructed to keep my dog crated while at work (8 hours) and at night. My dog basically lived in a crate and was miserable for two months, until I decided to just leave her out. I noticed a HUGE improvement in her behaviour and she was so much happier. It really upsets me to think of all the poor advice I received in dealing with her and I feel like I was basically abusing her. I've since trained elsewhere and my dog is so happy and well behaved. read more

Last night was week three of my six week long beginner obedience training course for Ophelia, dog in the city. Ophelia is what dog people call "sassy" and she has always been particularly disobedient with me (I am not a dominant person by any stretch of the imagination). At ten months old, she is probably the oldest dog in the class of about 16. Most of the dogs are young, small puppies. I have to admit that I was feeling a bit meh about the first two classes - Ophelia doesn't have any of the typical dog problems, she can walk on a leash, doesn't bark much, is housetrained, etc. Rather, her major problem is that she bites....me only. Last night she was acting up in class and the dog ladies (Dorothy, the instructor, and her two helpers Andrea and Olga - they are all awesome!) were really helpful in showing me how to deal with it. I am looking forward to seeing how well their tricks work after some practise. The six week course is $135 and you are encouraged to buy a $20 Martingale collar at the first class. Watching the cute little puppies learn is worth the cost of admission alone, but the "dog talk" approach used seems to be very effective. I plan to take the advanced course in the future. read more

Dorothy of Mother Knows Best is an extremely experienced dog trainer. She makes the classes fun for both owners and dogs. Each lesson during the 6 week sessions you will learn a new command, which is clearly explained as to how, why or what, is demonstrated, and practiced. Previously learned commands are reviewed and thrown in to keep the pups from getting bored and to review continuously. I have been through several levels of obedience and agility with 2 dogs over the last 10 years and would take any new dog I will own in the future back to Mother Knows Best. The prices are certainly right and the location (I've only been to the Bathurst and College location, but there are 2 or 3 other locations throughout the city) was clean and light, although does get very warm in the summer months. The floor is a bit slippery, but mats are placed down in certain areas during agility sessions. Dorothy is a great, energetic and passionate person who loves "her" doggies above all else. read more