I couldn't disagree more with Erica B.'s review. My husband and I completed the entire course with our very sweet five month old puppy - 2 classes a week for 8 weeks - and loved Diane and the experience. But more importantly, so did our dog. Diane is a huge dog lover and the whole class is built around helping train you and your pup so that you have fun together in any situation. We loved the fact that classes were held outdoors in different parts of the city, as we not only discovered new parks to take our dog, but it has also encouraged us to be more mobile with our dog than we likely would have been otherwise. (e.g. One of the classes involved taking the dogs on the subway for the first time, taking them into dog friendly stores, exposing them to the hustle and bustle of Yonge and Dundas Square so they feel comfortable in busy, urban settings etc.) As my husband and I were both encouraged to come to the classes and take an equal role in the training process, it really helped us be consistent with our dog (key), and strengthened both of our bonds with her. Diane does keep you on your toes, and if you're not doing something right, she'll call you on it - but it's not personal, and it's because she wants to help you learn. More importantly, it should be noted that she is also hugely enthusiastic and offers tons of positive encouragement - including offering to meet one-on-one before or after class to help anyone who's having trouble mastering a specific skill. I believe there's a big difference between being firm and consistent, and being aggressive. Yes, the class uses a martingale collar to help train and communicate to the dogs what they should or shouldn't be doing, but it doesn't hurt the dogs AT ALL, and never once during the course did I feel like we were unkind, or asked to do something that was harmful to our dog. Quite the opposite: our dog got excited going to the class, loved seeing Diane and the other dogs, and thrived off the challenges the class offered. If Erica B. had done the whole course she would have learned that you only have to refrain from verbal communication with your dog for a short period of time (I think it was 1 - 2 weeks). Yes, it's hard on the owner, because we all love to talk to our dogs and give them lots of love, but it was an excellent way to learn how to communicate with our dog nonverbally - the way they do. As a result of this class our dog is happy, well-socialized and well-behaved. She gets to go on lots of offleash hikes because we know she'll listen when we call her to come back to us. She visits friends' houses and their children, because we - and they - trust that she'll behave herself. And when we are out with her, strangers regularly comment on what a nice dog she is. I firmly believe our training with Diane helped contribute to this, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend her course. read more

Our 6-month-old puppy regularly gets compliments on the street about how well-behaved, sweet and well-trained she is - particularly for her age. Let me tell you how NOT true that was on the first day of Diane's class. We adopted a shelter puppy and were first time dog-owners. Flying blindly, we took Diane's Street Safety class on the recommendation of a friend - and we agree it's the best money we've spent in years. On the first day of our small group class, Diane asked if we were all committed to our dogs - and then proceeded to show that *she* was committed to each of them. Different dogs have different challenges, obviously - our puppy couldn't focus for very long at all, pulled on her leash, and was obsessed with eating EVERYTHING - while other dogs had other issues. I was stunned by how much personal attention we all got - how Diane would use a struggle any of us was having with our dog as a teaching experience for others in the group. She never hesitates to deviate from her lesson if a 'teaching opportunity' should arise. Not only did we get to know our dog and her personality, but because Diane highlighted all the dogs' differences and skill challenges, we learned a lot about dog interactions - which is invaluable when meeting other dogs on the street. Our dog LOVED it. She soaked it up like a sponge. Each new thing she learned made her more attentive to us - because the way Diane teaches means that it's you, the owner, who is changing your dog's behavior - or rather, changing your own behavior which your dog then responds to. I never went home and felt that our dog wouldn't do at home what she did i class. Our interactions with our puppy grew more and more rewarding and fulfilling - and she was visibly proud when she performed one of her new skills well. Diane is great about checking and reinforcing skills as they all come together - and about providing an alternative if one of the methods doesn't seem to work with your pup. Our dog is still a puppy, so there's going to be more she has to learn and stages and phases to get through. One of the reasons I feel confident is that Diane has given us the skills to be consistent (and know we'll see results) and because a really great drop-in policy with her classes - you can come visit when you feel you and your dog need a 'tune-up'! She has a great memory for past members of her classes and is genuinely excited to see how well all the dogs are doing. Contrary to the review that says the training is harsh, she is the dogs' biggest cheerleader and WILL tell you if you're not praising you dog enthusiastically enough! I'd recommend Diane's class to anyone - but particularly if you're looking to get off on the right foot with a puppy or new dog and want to develop a trust and respect that will stay with you long after the course is finished. read more

When I had just gotten my now 7mo old puppy, I was in a PetSmart in the evening buying some supplies. While I was there, one of their treat-training based puppy classes was happening. What I saw actually made me sick. I was watching people putting treat after treat into their dogs mouths while they were sit-staying, which the philosophy would have you understand teaches them that sit-staying is a good thing to do... but these people were going through handfuls of treats in very short periods of time. It was actually pretty gross, and really didn't sit right with me. Beyond that, it just doesn't make sense to me. My dog will do just about anything when I'm holding food, but all he cares about is getting the food. He's not really focused on the action he's doing. If I'm in an off-lease park, and choose to get him to come to me for a treat, of course he'd come. But if I'm standing there, holding a lease, he's smart enough to realize that it's time to go, and if I had done treat training I'd be super surprised if he easily came. Have you ever seen those people in the dog park who call their dog over and over and over and over again, and the dog just simply ignores them, because he/she can? Are you one of them? I'm not. When I call my 7mo old puppy, it counts, and he comes the first time. That is the type of quality outcome that you can expect from taking Diane's course, as well as any other Brad Pattison CET Certified course. Erica B. and Anton have it wrong. This course is a really effective way to train your dog, and it is by NO means cruel at all. Cruelty towards animals would never sit right with me. Understanding how to think and communicate like a dog, so that your dog understands what you want of them, learns from you and bonds with you does sit right with me. This is what that course does. It also, does it in the real world, not inside a PetSmart or some other stale already safe environment. It also has puppies learning from the older dogs in the class, as opposed to just other puppies. This is remarkably important in your dogs development. Anyway, that's a long winded way to say that I would (and often do) strongly recommend this course to anyone with a dog that they'd like to listen to them more. Be it on small things, or with major issues. Also, Diane happens to be super nice and awesome! read more

We have a 4 1/2 yr old dog already and decided to adopt a 6 month old dog from Toronto Animal Services. They got along really well but began to display some untoward habits as they grew more confident with each other. I began reaching out to and investigating trainers who did not use treats as a teaching method. I was getting a bit frustrated at the lack of response from any of them. I contacted Brad Pattison in B.C. for some assistance and he had me in contact with Diane Holmes within 24 hrs . What a difference I have seen in my dogs over the last 6 months. Diane's classes are open to canines and people of all different ages and sizes, they take place at different locations every week, and we go rain or shine. It's great because out in the real world that's what we face. The Street Safety Courses are 6 - 8 weeks long and it is awesome to see the progress of all the dogs as the class unfolds. At the first class I never would have believed that by the last class I would be walking my dog off leash on a busy street in Toronto, proud that she was confident to stay right with me. Diane teaches with a great amount of enthusiasm and patience, she spends a lot of time focusing on the tiny details that are important in understanding what our dogs are all about. I have learned how to understand my dogs wants and needs; I have learned that there are additional communication tools to verbal; and my dogs are totally engaged; Thanks Diane, My Dogs ROCK too! read more

My wife and I were having challenges crate training our puppy so a friend suggested Diane for a private session to help us crate train our new dog. As neither of us had raised a puppy before (my wife grew up with dogs but never trained them) we needed help. Diane was wonderful and so we decided to signed up for the My Dog Rocks street smart training program to train our Wheaten Poodle at 5 months old. The class was superb. From 7 months of age, Kali was off leash walking with us in the city and up at our cottage. How many dog owners can say that! The methods used to train the dogs are not as brutal as Erica B would lead you to believe. The training teaches the dog to pay attention to you. Our dog has never had "behaviour problems" and we only get complements on how amazing she is. If the methods used were too aggressive, my wife who is an extremely gentle person would not have let us continue with the course. We recommended this training to another family with a new puppy, and they also enjoyed the experience. We will continue to advise our friends and family in Toronto looking for urban training to use My Dog Rocks. read more

Woohoo is right! We took our then 1-year-old boxer to Diane's classes and saw an immediate improvement in both her behaviour and our confidence in handling her. Prior to classes she was terrible on walks, went ballistic when visitors came over and did not know her manners when greeting other dogs. As much as this course trains the dogs, it also trains the owners to be consistent, commited and firm in their dog training efforts - and boy does it pay off! You achieve your goals by communicating with your dog non-verbally because most dogs dont speak English. My dog quickly realized that the new rules are here to stay, and the results were amazing. I now walk my dog with confidence and a relaxed leash to boot. I dont have to use the numerous choke collars or 'halties' that I purchased prior to taking this course (none of which I am proud of). The occasional squirrel still gets her going, but she is my crazy dog after all. I would HIGHLY recommend Diane as a trainer if you see room for improvement for your highly lovable (but probably spoiled) companion. Thanks Diane! read more

A punitive centered training that bases her approach on the disproven belief that dogs are trying to 'be alpha.' The result is a pain and fear based approach to coerce dogs. Many false claims were made here during the training, most importantly that using treats will make dogs aggressive... yet this is how Seeing Eye Dogs are introduced to training. read more