Specialist Program · Reactive & Anxious Dogs
BEHAVIOR
MANAGEMENT
Leash reactivity, anxiety, barking, resource guarding — handled by the trainer GTA owners call when everyone else has said no.
How much is reactive dog training in Toronto?
Behavior management with The Dogfather is $175 per session, sold in 10, 20, or 30-session packages (from $1,750 CAD). The 20-session package includes 1 free session; the 30-session package includes 2 free. It's the structured program for leash-reactive, anxious, fearful, and difficult dogs in Scarborough & the Toronto GTA — sessions run 1–3× per week and are ongoing based on your dog's progress and homework. Dogs with bite history go into Aggression Rehabilitation ($3,500). Free $50-credited evaluation decides the right track.
Diagnose
Full behavioural assessment: triggers, thresholds, history, and household dynamics. No protocol before diagnosis.
Threshold Work
Controlled exposure below threshold — rebuilding the dog's decision-making instead of suppressing symptoms.
Counter-Conditioning & Structure
New default behaviours around triggers, plus the daily structure that keeps the nervous system regulated.
Real-World Proofing & Handover
Your streets, your park, your front door. You learn the handling so the results survive without us.
What This Program Handles
- ✓Leash reactivity — lunging and barking at dogs or strangers
- ✓Separation anxiety and destructive behaviour
- ✓Fear-based behaviour and noise sensitivity
- ✓Resource guarding around food, toys, and people
- ✓Demand barking and over-arousal in the home
- ✓Strong dogs that overpower their owners on walks
Travelling or need immersion? Reactive dogs are a board & train specialty, and we offer reactive dog boarding most kennels refuse.
Reactive Dog Training FAQ
How much does behavior management training cost in Toronto?+
$175/session, from $1,750 CAD, for The Dogfather's Behavior Management program — sold in 10, 20, or 30-session packages (the 20-pack includes 1 free session, the 30-pack 2 free). Sessions run 1–3× per week and are ongoing based on your dog's progress: assessment, structured threshold and counter-conditioning work, real-world proofing, and owner handover. The $50 evaluation is credited toward the program.
What's the difference between Behavior Management and Aggression Rehabilitation?+
Behavior Management ($175/session, from $1,750) handles leash reactivity, anxiety, fear, barking, and resource guarding before there's a serious bite history. Aggression Rehabilitation ($3,500) is the specialist program for dogs with bite incidents or dangerous aggression. We place your dog in the right track at the evaluation.
Can leash reactivity actually be fixed?+
In most dogs, yes — dramatically. Lunging and barking at dogs or strangers is usually fear or frustration, not 'dominance'. With structured threshold work most reactive dogs walk calmly past triggers within 6–10 weeks, with a management plan that keeps it that way.
Do you offer board and train for reactive dogs?+
Yes. Reactive dogs are one of our board & train specialties — immersive 24/7 structure, then in-home handover sessions to transfer the results to you. Most kennels and trainers won't take reactive dogs; we built our program around them.
Behavior Management Packages
$175/session · sold in 10, 20, or 30-session packages.
Sessions run 1–3× per week, face to face. Packages are ongoing — how many your dog needs depends on their progress and your homework between sessions.
Once the reactivity is under control, most dogs move into obedience training for full off-leash reliability. Start with a free evaluation.
Your Dog Isn't Broken
Reactivity is a training problem with a training solution. It starts with a $50 evaluation — credited toward the program.