Teaching you to be a great dog owner
At Swansea, we combine praise, positive motivation and reinforcement to enable every dog to reach its full potential as a well-behaved companion or a participant in competitions. Our instructors are professional and highly experienced, some with decades of experience and multiple performance titles. We offer many options to bring out the best in your dog, and the best in you! Remember, great dogs are the product of great owners. And we endeavor to help you become the best dog owner you can be. Since 1974, the Club has successfully instructed thousands of dogs and their owners in puppy, basic obedience, competitive obedience, Rally-O, Agility classes and much, much more.
Classes take place in the west end of Toronto, Ontario at St. Matthew’s Church (3962 Bloor Street West, a few blocks east of Highway 427). Our training venue offers plenty of free parking. Swansea is a not-for-profit volunteer club. Members of the club volunteer their time to promote responsible dog ownership through class instruction, seminars, obedience trials, agility competitions. We also undertake community outreach initiatives, attending festivals, offering demonstrations, and providing pet companionship at seniors' residences.
Every dog is different, and many dog training techniques exist. What to do?
At Swansea we gravitate to a motivational approach as studies have shown that when a dog performs a behavior willingly, there is a higher retention rate which leads to reliability even when a dog faces tempting distractions. Having a dog who behaves well because he wants to, works better than behaving because he has to.
We encourage a happy, positive approach so your dog will equate trying new things with good times and amazing rewards. Likewise, we want you to have fun too because isn't that why you got your dog in the first place?
One size does not always fit all so we are flexible when it comes to employing different methods to reach the same goals. As far as we are concerned training is really about communication, and by reading your dog properly you can make great strides quickly. This is a two-way street and your dog can teach you a lot too, so long as you are open to learning and show your dog respect and consideration. Mutual respect and trust allow you to build a closer bond with your dog. An "educated dog" makes a much more interesting companion, with deeper cognitive power and consciousness. It is remarkable how profound a connection you can forge after working with your dog even for a short time. What you get back will far exceed the effort you put in.
We DO NOT employ coercive training techniques based on punishment, which was popular in the past.
Training with a gentle hand can take more skill and finesse, compared to crude methods, but long term, that's the way to go if you are looking to build a lasting relationship both you and your dog feel good about. You will never regret treating your dog or any living being compassionately.
The Swansea Dog Obedience Club (SDOC) is a member of the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) and abides by the principles mandated by this organization. Our mission includes the following:
"I would like to thank Swansea Dog Obedience Club for helping me make a breakthrough with my Border Terrier, Pym. We have been struggling for months with retrieving the dumbell in Open. I have tried so many things to motivate her. This is actually a bigger issue than just between me and Pym. I have struggled with the dumbell with other dogs. It really affected my confidence in the ring and, I feel, hurt my relationship with my dogs. (All my fault!!)
After a couple of weeks of calm instruction and unfailing positivity, we made a breakthrough! Pym retrieved the dumbell with a happy attitude!! I really feel I may have given up on Competition Obedience if this had not happened. Thank you so much for keeping us going, checking in and your detailed homework."
Lisa and Pym (Border Terrier)
"My dog Carbon and I started training with Swansea in 2019. We’ve taken both Obedience and Rally classes and the instructors have been absolutely amazing. They work with each student to provide a personalized experience, whether it be making an exercise more simple or advanced to ensure your dog either fully understands what’s being asked of them or are being challenged if they’ve already grasped the concepts. We’ve trained with several other schools and clubs before and I cannot say enough about the quality that comes from this club. We’re looking forward to the next set of classes so we can start preparing for competitions!
Thank you so much Swansea Dog Obedience Club!
Jenny Lu and Carbon
Hi Kelly,
Just wanted to thank you once again for all your support and guidance over the last several weeks. You and your team did an outstanding job teaching me and the others how to train our dogs!
Your expertise and wonderful patience was much appreciated as I had little experience training our dog Winnie. Obedience 1 was wel worth my time and money as I feel so much more prepared to care and further train Winnie!
I would and will reccomend Obedience 1 to anyone with a new dog!
Siana and Winnie about Beginner Obedience 1
"My dog and I greatly enjoyed Swansea's Obedience Level 1 and Level 2, Handling and Rally classes. The instructors's enthusiasm, knowledge and instruction was superb and we feel more prepared as we continue on our competitive obedience journey. Astra alreasy have qualification score for her RN carrier, she won Group 1 at All Breed Internation Show, and getting close to United Kennel Club Champion title"
Eugine Tkachenko and Astra