Novice Class Tuesday April 28 at 11:00 AM

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March 5, 2026

Novice Class Tuesday April 28 at 11:00 AM

For more information find it on our Group class page

This is the start of a 10 week course.

All Breeds, All Sizes, All Dogs.

Dave McMahon can help you through any issues you might be having with your dog.

Novice Level: Consists Of; how to train your dog in the following area: To heel on leash without pulling, to sit nicely when being petted by someone, to stand for examination so that grooming & Vet visits go smooth, sit stay, down stay, to come when called, the dogs will learn to DROP whatever is in their mouth on command. Hand signals & voice commands are taught. All questions on problem behavior are answered. Everything taught in this course is Essential.

Have your dog trained by Niagara’s Top Dog Trainer.

This is the start of a 10 week course.

All Breeds, All Sizes, All Dogs.

Dave McMahon can help you through any issues you might be having with your dog.

Novice Level: Consists Of; how to train your dog in the following area: To heel on leash without pulling, to sit nicely when being petted by someone, to stand for examination so that grooming & Vet visits go smooth, sit stay, down stay, to come when called, the dogs will learn to DROP whatever is in their mouth on command. Hand signals & voice commands are taught. All questions on problem behavior are answered. Everything taught in this course is Essential.

Thank you for your response. ✨

Novice Class Saturday April 18 at 12:30 PM

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March 5, 2026

Novice Class Saturday April 18 at 12:30 PM

For more information find it on our Group class page

This is the start of a 10 week course.

All Breeds, All Sizes, All Dogs.

Dave McMahon can help you through any issues you might be having with your dog.

Novice Level: Consists Of; how to train your dog in the following area: To heel on leash without pulling, to sit nicely when being petted by someone, to stand for examination so that grooming & Vet visits go smooth, sit stay, down stay, to come when called, the dogs will learn to DROP whatever is in their mouth on command. Hand signals & voice commands are taught. All questions on problem behavior are answered. Everything taught in this course is Essential.

Have your dog trained by Niagara’s Top Dog Trainer.

This is the start of a 10 week course.

All Breeds, All Sizes, All Dogs.

Dave McMahon can help you through any issues you might be having with your dog.

Novice Level: Consists Of; how to train your dog in the following area: To heel on leash without pulling, to sit nicely when being petted by someone, to stand for examination so that grooming & Vet visits go smooth, sit stay, down stay, to come when called, the dogs will learn to DROP whatever is in their mouth on command. Hand signals & voice commands are taught. All questions on problem behavior are answered. Everything taught in this course is Essential.

Thank you for your response. ✨

Novice Class Tuesday April 14 at 7:00 PM

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March 4, 2026

Novice Class Tuesday April 14 at 7:00 PM

For more information find it on our Group class page

This is the start of a 10 week course.

All Breeds, All Sizes, All Dogs.

Dave McMahon can help you through any issues you might be having with your dog.

Novice Level: Consists Of; how to train your dog in the following area: To heel on leash without pulling, to sit nicely when being petted by someone, to stand for examination so that grooming & Vet visits go smooth, sit stay, down stay, to come when called, the dogs will learn to DROP whatever is in their mouth on command. Hand signals & voice commands are taught. All questions on problem behavior are answered. Everything taught in this course is Essential.

Have your dog trained by Niagara’s Top Dog Trainer.

This is the start of a 10 week course.

All Breeds, All Sizes, All Dogs.

Dave McMahon can help you through any issues you might be having with your dog.

Novice Level: Consists Of; how to train your dog in the following area: To heel on leash without pulling, to sit nicely when being petted by someone, to stand for examination so that grooming & Vet visits go smooth, sit stay, down stay, to come when called, the dogs will learn to DROP whatever is in their mouth on command. Hand signals & voice commands are taught. All questions on problem behavior are answered. Everything taught in this course is Essential.

Thank you for your response. ✨

Fake Service Dogs

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February 12, 2026

young service dog with handler outdoors — Photo by Zander Smith-Pauls on Pexels.com

A growing and serious problem.

In recent years Fake Service Dogs have become a growing issue across North America. While legitimate service dogs are highly trained to assist individuals with disabilities many people are falsely labelling Untrained Pets as Service Dogs to gain access to public places. This trend creates serious problems for businesses the public and most importantly people who generally rely on properly trained service animals. True service dogs undergo extensive training to perform specific tasks such as guiding individuals who are blind , alerting to medical conditions , assisting with mobility , or responding to psychiatric disabilities , ect. They are trained to remain calm , focused , and unobtrusive in public settings. Fake service dogs , on the other hand often lack obedience training and may bark or lunge , have accidents indoors or behave aggressively. This not only disrupt businesses but can also pose safety risks.

service dog in training at pumpkin patch — Photo by Zander Smith-Pauls on Pexels.com

One of the biggest consequences is the harm done to individuals with legitimate service dogs. When an untrained dog causes a disturbance , it can lead to increased scepticism and stricter scrutiny toward all service dog handlers. People with real disabilities may face uncomfortable questioning , denied access , or public judgement because of the behaviour of fake service animals. Additionally , poorly behaved fake service dogs can distract or even attack working service dogs , potentially ruining years of training. A single negative encounter can cause stress or setbacks for a highly skilled working dog. The solution starts with education. The public must understand the difference between service dogs , emotional support animals , and pets. Stronger enforcement of existing laws and greater awareness about responsible dog ownership are also key. Respecting the role of the legitimate service dogs protect not only businesses and communities but also the independence and dignity of the people who truly depend on them !

Novice Class Tuesday February 24th at 5:00 PM

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January 14, 2026

Novice Class Tuesday February 24th at 5:00 PM

For more information find it on our Group class page

This is the start of a 10 week course.

All Breeds, All Sizes, All Dogs.

Dave McMahon can help you through any issues you might be having with your dog.

Novice Level: Consists Of; how to train your dog in the following area: To heel on leash without pulling, to sit nicely when being petted by someone, to stand for examination so that grooming & Vet visits go smooth, sit stay, down stay, to come when called, the dogs will learn to DROP whatever is in their mouth on command. Hand signals & voice commands are taught. All questions on problem behavior are answered. Everything taught in this course is Essential.

Have your dog trained by Niagara’s Top Dog Trainer.

This is the start of a 10 week course.

All Breeds, All Sizes, All Dogs.

Dave McMahon can help you through any issues you might be having with your dog.

Novice Level: Consists Of; how to train your dog in the following area: To heel on leash without pulling, to sit nicely when being petted by someone, to stand for examination so that grooming & Vet visits go smooth, sit stay, down stay, to come when called, the dogs will learn to DROP whatever is in their mouth on command. Hand signals & voice commands are taught. All questions on problem behavior are answered. Everything taught in this course is Essential.

Thank you for your response. ✨

Novice Class Wednesday February 11th at 7:00 PM

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January 14, 2026

Novice Class Wednesday February 11th at 7:00 PM

For more information find it on our Group class page

This is the start of a 10 week course.

All Breeds, All Sizes, All Dogs.

Dave McMahon can help you through any issues you might be having with your dog.

Novice Level: Consists Of; how to train your dog in the following area: To heel on leash without pulling, to sit nicely when being petted by someone, to stand for examination so that grooming & Vet visits go smooth, sit stay, down stay, to come when called, the dogs will learn to DROP whatever is in their mouth on command. Hand signals & voice commands are taught. All questions on problem behavior are answered. Everything taught in this course is Essential.

Have your dog trained by Niagara’s Top Dog Trainer.

This is the start of a 10 week course.

All Breeds, All Sizes, All Dogs.

Dave McMahon can help you through any issues you might be having with your dog.

Novice Level: Consists Of; how to train your dog in the following area: To heel on leash without pulling, to sit nicely when being petted by someone, to stand for examination so that grooming & Vet visits go smooth, sit stay, down stay, to come when called, the dogs will learn to DROP whatever is in their mouth on command. Hand signals & voice commands are taught. All questions on problem behavior are answered. Everything taught in this course is Essential.

Thank you for your response. ✨

The Prong Collar

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December 30, 2025

The prong collar is a highly effective training collar when used properly however that being said it’s not the collar for every dog.

The prong collar doesn’t come with instructions and it’s certainly not self-explanatory. Trainers that exclude the prong collar from their toolbox are short changing their clients and their dawgs. From a visual perspective the prong collar definitely lacks curb side appeal. Many have said that it looks like a mid evil torture device.

If you’re going to choose to use the prong collar on your dog I recommend the Sprenger Brand.I always tell people to first try it on YOUR calf or your forearm or your NECK before trying it on your DOG. I think it’s important that you feel and experience what you’re about to subject your dog to. You will be surprised to discover the device doesn’t cause excruciating pain to you.

FYI : Anyone considering using a prong collar to train their dog prior to doing so I would be happy to provide you with a free consultation to teach you how to use it safely and humanely and of course effectively.

IMPORTANT to note that there are no two dogs the same , each dog has their own personality, disposition and individual temperament. I don’t believe the prong collar is for EVERY DOG.

I often recommend a Regular Flat Buckle Collar or a Martingale Training Collar to my students. If you’re interested in my professional opinion and expertise, I would be happy to recommend what collar would be most compatible with your dog at this current stage of your dog‘s life.

Important to note that I don’t have a favourite training collar , we need to be open minded and realize that there is no one particular training collar that works on every dog.

Dognapping is big business in Canada

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September 27, 2024

https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/opinion/contributors/dognapping-is-big-business-in-canada/article_b58cf320-a3b3-5beb-870c-ee445a574b7b.html#:~:text=Seven%20out%20of%2010%20animal,traced%20back%20to%20their%20owners.

Check out the latest article from Dave in Canine Corner.

The Standard

When I was 9 yrs old dog training was my hobby.

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May 29, 2021

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I always had dogs growing up as a child , I started training my own dog at the age of 9 at a local dog school close to my home. My mother would drive me to my dog obedience classes & I immediately became so incredibly interested in the entire experience of learning how to train my dog.I followed what I was taught in class and practised with my dog every day and passed the obedience test at the end of the course and earned my certificate. This was my biggest accomplishment as a child and not only did I love my dog but I also fell in love with dog training. My passion for dog training continued through my youth and by the age of 12 I knew I wanted to be a professional dog trainer when I grew up.When I was a teenager I worked part time after school at a veterinary clinic cleaning kennels and feeding animals & I really enjoyed the job.I also worked at a Humane Society scooping dog poop & cleaning kennels as a summer job , still a teenager at this time.I saved up enough money to buy a purebred Doberman Pincher with CKC registration papers & I began to compete with my dog in obedience trials and earn obedience titles with my dog.Dog training was my hobby and I couldn’t be any happier. I wanted to teach others how to train their dogs so I did a apprenticeship at a local kennel club to become an obedience instructor. I assisted with obedience classes and eventually learned to teach dog obedience classes on my own. I began offering private lessons in my backyard in my late teens & eventually started to teach group classes. It wasn’t before long that I rented a hall and begin teaching classes a few nights a week and on Saturdays. My thirst for further knowledge in dog training lead to me learning other aspects of dog training from experienced Trainers. I attended the University of Guelph to study canine behaviour & attended many seminars on a variety of dog training subjects. What started off as a childhood hobby grew into a lifelong passion for me.Follow your dreams ! ~ Dave McMahon.

Board & Train Programs

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May 5, 2021