Dog Training FAQs for Norfolk County, Hamilton and Halton

Our group classes are held at our training facility located at 20 Upper Wellington St, Simcoe. However, we serve Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Binbrook, Hagersville, Jarvis, Simcoe, Port Dover, and Brantford (and anywhere in between) for private in-home training!  

We focus on family/pet dog training for basic manners and addressing behavioural issues. We train all breeds at any age. If you are looking for a service we do not offer we can certainly point you in the right direction.

We do not train service dogs.

We are currently accepting mild to moderate aggression cases. If you are unsure what level of aggression you are dealing with please send in the contact form with plenty of details!

Absolutely. We use food to help dogs learn how to be more calm, as well as a form of payment for making good choices. When we use food to reward good behaviour, that behaviour is going to happen more often and more quickly. All clients must be on board with using food for training.

We use a balanced approach to training. Our training is very gentle and effective, but also no-nonsense. We focus on teaching the humans how to understand their dog better, and teaching the dogs how to be well-behaved family members that you can be proud of. We do not use harsh corrections though we may suggest different training tools to achieve your desired goals, and our training results in happy, well-behaved dogs.

In order to be successful, all humans involved with the dogs will need to be on board. It will take effort and commitment to get results, and we promise that when our clients follow our instructions without variation they will get the desired training results!

We use a wide variety of training tools, which includes food, slip leads, head collars, prong collars, remote collars, and spray bottles. We do not use harnesses in our training program unless we are using them for long line work or young puppies. Our choice of tool is based on the individual dog we are working, the issues we are working to solve, and the owner’s skill set. We will use the best tool to get the results you are looking to achieve.  While we will never require that you use a certain tool, we do require that you are open-minded and willing to try one of our suggestions. Those who are not willing to use training tools would be best suited to work with a different trainer. 

We do not allow reactive dogs into group classes until they have done our Reactive Rover training program. Our group classes are a set curriculum, and only cover obedience skills (sit, down, come, place, loose leash walking).  When it comes to reactivity, we do not rely on Obedience skills to solve the issue.  It is also difficult for the other dogs and humans to learn and our trainers to teach when we are dealing with a reactive dog in the class. Many people who attend group classes with the intent to deal with reactivity have experienced that their dog learns to eventually tolerate the dogs in class but is still reactive on walks. Once private training is completed you would be welcome to join our group obedience classes!

Our training is based on results, not lessons. All our programs are customized to suit your needs. Since every dog is an individual and every owner has different goals, the prices and program outlines vary to match what you are looking for. Our pricing also reflects the many hours we have spent becoming experts in the field, as well as all the added benefits and support you get for each program. For prices and more information please fill out our contact form.

We accept cash, credit card and e-transfer. We now offer payment plans when requested with a processing fee.

We operate by appointment only so our business hours can vary and each trainer has different availability. Our training facility is not open to the public so we do require an appointment to come and see the facility or pick up raw food.

Yes. The Crunchy Canine provides behaviour support for dogs that are reactive toward people or other dogs. Reactive dogs are not placed directly into regular group obedience classes. The current approach is to address the reactivity through the Reactive Rover training program and private training first. Once private training is completed, the dog may then be able to participate in group obedience classes.