Best Dog Trainers in Quebec

In this article
Most Quebec dog trainers write their websites in French, so we read them and wrote this guide in plain English. It covers 28 trainers in 18 communities, from Gatineau on the Ottawa River to Rimouski on the lower St. Lawrence. Each card's position comes from its live Google Maps rating, and its Yelp rating sits next to it as a separate number. We checked every listing on November 12, 2026.
Quick picks
1. Monkey Business Dog Training
Group manners and brain games
View profile2. Montreal Canine Training
Reactivity and day training
View profile3. Laura Boisvert
Anxious and reactive dogs
View profile
How we picked these 28 dog trainers
Our directory had 76 Quebec listings, drawn from public professional directories, licensing records and the trainers' own websites. More than 20 were sled dog outfitters, boarding kennels or businesses that don't train pet dogs for the public, so they came off first. We then capped each city at four, kept trainers whose sites we could read, and favoured those that list credentials or clear services.
The best dog trainers in Quebec, ranked
Every card below opens the trainer's AnimalTrainerPro profile, where you'll find how to reach them.
Rank 1
Monkey Business Dog Training
Montreal, QC
Specialties: Humane, science-based in-home private training, group beginner and intermediate obedience, brain games classes, video and phone consultations
Monkey Business Dog Training in Montreal describes its methods as humane, science based and positive. You can start with a video or phone consultation, book private training in your home, or join a group class. Client comments on the site mention classes from Beginners and Basic Obedience to Intermediate and Brain Games, some held virtually, and name trainers Sam and Deb. The business lists membership in the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers. No prices are posted on the site.
Rank 2
Montreal Canine Training
Montreal, QC
Specialties: Private and group training, reactivity, puppy, obedience, separation anxiety, behaviour modification, in-home training, intro to dog sports; day training, daycare, grooming; trainer apprenticeships
Montreal Canine Training works from Henri Bourassa Boulevard East and has a separate page for West Island owners. It offers consultations, private lessons, in home training and group obedience grouped by age and skill. Behaviour work covers reactivity, aggression and separation anxiety, and day training runs on Mondays and Tuesdays. The site describes humane methods that start with your dog's emotional state. It lists 10 to 15+ years of experience for its team but doesn't name trainers. A 15 minute discovery call is free.
Rank 3
Laura Boisvert
Montreal, QC
Credentials: CTC (The academy for dog trainers), RQIEC, IAABC
Bonté Canine, or Canine Kindness, is run by Laura Boisvert. Our directory lists her CTC from The Academy for Dog Trainers and her RQIEC membership. The site describes a kind, science based approach focused on anxiety, reactivity and aggression. Consultations happen at your home or by video. Group classes include puppy kindergarten, adolescence and a leash reactivity class, and there's day training with an educator. The service area covers Montreal, the South Shore, the North Shore and the Laurentians. Prices aren't posted.
Rank 4
Zuzanna(Zuzia) Kubica
Montreal, QC
Credentials: CDBC from IAABC
Specialties: Private Training, Group Training, Behavior Consulting; Aggression and Reactivity
CoeurCanin is led by Zuzanna (Zuzia) Kubica, who holds the CDBC, the Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant credential from the IAABC. The site says the business has operated since 2002. Private consultations cover puppies, teens and adult dogs, with topics like barking, reactivity, a coming baby or a newly adopted dog. CoeurCanin also runs group classes, canine freestyle, and webinars on recall and impulse control. Its school trains future behaviour practitioners. Services are in Montreal and online, and prices aren't posted.
Rank 5
Elizabeth Boutet
Québec, QC
Specialties: puppy kindergarten; obedience; emotion management and reactive dogs; private and video consultations; behaviour seminars
BELI Concept Canin on Boulevard Charest Ouest in Quebec City is run by Elizabeth Boutet, a behaviourist and dog trainer who says she has worked with dogs since 2007. Group classes include puppy kindergarten for 8 to 16 weeks, obedience, leash walking, and a class on emotion management and focus. Private help comes as home training, video consultations, an online puppy course and a written behaviour assessment. BELI also gives seminars on fear and bite prevention. No class prices are posted.
Rank 6
L'école des chiens
Québec, QC
Specialties: Dog training school offering puppy, basic and advanced obedience group classes, private behaviour consultations, online courses and workshops.
L'école des chiens runs its school from Boulevard Louis XIV in Quebec City and is open seven days a week. The site says its approach rests on positive reinforcement and behavioural science. Group classes cover puppy education, basic obedience, advanced obedience and after school activities. Private help is split into behaviour consultations and homework help for basic manners. There are also self paced online courses, a recall workshop and a young trainer program. Trainer Marie Audrey is named in client comments. Class prices aren't posted.
Rank 7
Le Domaine Anim'O Plus
Québec, QC
Specialties: puppy kindergarten; obedience levels 1 and 2; reactive dog classes; private lessons
Le Domaine Anim'O Plus sits on Boulevard Wilfrid Hamel in Quebec City and pairs a training centre with boarding, daycare, grooming and a shop. Training includes group classes for obedience and socialization, puppy classes and private behaviour consultations. The centre also teaches scent detection and agility, and it guides owners of emotional support dogs. The site calls its educator qualified but doesn't name trainers, so ask who will teach your class. It's a practical pick if you want classes and boarding in one place.
Rank 8
Claudine Chantal
Québec, QC
Specialties: in-home canine education; behaviour modification; obedience; phone consultations
Claudine Chantal works in your home across the Quebec City region, and her site lists more than 20 years of experience. Sessions target separation anxiety, barking, jumping, mouthing, house soiling and difficult walks, and she also teaches obedience at home. She describes positive training without food rewards, built on respect between dog and owner. Phone consultations are available. A 90 minute home consultation is listed on her site as $190, and travel fees apply beyond 15 km from her base.
Rank 9
Centre canin des ruisseaux
Laval, QC
Specialties: obedience, puppy, private and behaviour training, daycare, boarding, grooming
Centre canin des Ruisseaux on Montée St Aubin in Laval says it has been around for more than 50 years. Training includes puppy kindergarten, group obedience, private lessons at the centre or your home, and controlled socialization for reactive dogs. It also offers educational boarding and a day program with intensive training, plus behaviour therapy. Simon Laferrière is named as a dog educator. The centre also runs daycare and grooming, and it breeds German Shepherds, Schnauzers and Poodles. Prices sit on a separate page.
Rank 10
Aude Cloutier
Gatineau, QC
Credentials: RQIEC (Regroupement quebecois des intervenants en education canine)
Specialties: Private Training, Group Training, Behavior Consulting; Aggression and Reactivity
Pattes Fidèles in Gatineau is co owned by behaviour practitioners Aude Cloutier and Jennifer Fournier, who each completed a 500 hour canine behaviour program with distinction. Aude specializes in reactivity and aggression and belongs to the RQIEC, the Pet Professional Guild and the IAABC. Puppy classes take puppies 2 to 4 months old, and adult obedience starts at 5 months. Behaviour work covers resource guarding, leash reactivity and fear, with a free evaluation for dogs over 4 months. Sessions run at the facility, online or at your home.
Rank 11
Le Centre canin de l'Outaouais
Gatineau, QC
Specialties: Dog training centre offering puppy and basic group classes, reactive dog, fitness and rally obedience courses, private lessons and behaviour help.
Le Centre canin de l'Outaouais is on Boulevard Maloney Ouest in Gatineau and does training only, with no boarding or daycare. Group classes include puppy kindergarten, several obedience levels, a reactive dog class, canine fitness and rally obedience. Private classes happen at the centre or your home, and in home evaluations cover reactivity, aggression and fear. The centre also helps dogs that dislike nail trims or baths. Owner Joanie holds the CSAT and focuses on fear and separation anxiety, and her team belongs to the RQIEC.
Rank 12
Kinergy Canine
Chelsea, QC
Specialties: Dog trainer serving the Ottawa and Outaouais region with puppy and group class series in Chelsea, private lessons and workshops.
Kinergy Canine is based in Chelsea and works across the Outaouais and Ottawa, naming Gatineau, Hull, Aylmer, Wakefield and Cantley among its towns. Services are offered in both English and French. The site lists puppy training, group classes, private lessons, behaviour modification and workshops. Kinergy describes positive reinforcement balanced with structure and accountability, and its skills list includes crate training and loose leash walking. The site shows an IACP 2024 member badge. You can book a free consultation through the site.
Rank 13
Raphael Pepin
Sherbrooke, QC
Credentials: PCBC-A, CPDT-KA, CSAT, CTC, FFCP
Specialties: Private Training, Group Training, Behavior Consulting; Separation Anxiety, Aggression and Reactivity
Canilogique is a dog education centre in Sherbrooke with services in Victoriaville and online. The site says it has operated since 2017 and that more than 1,250 puppies have gone through its puppy kindergarten. It describes positive reinforcement and avoids intimidation tools. Services include puppy kindergarten for 8 to 14 weeks, basic obedience from 4 months, in home consultations and educational leash walks, with separation anxiety help online. Our directory lists Raphael Pepin with the CPDT-KA, CSAT and Fear Free credentials, among others.
Rank 14
Mary MacLachlan
Sherbrooke, QC
Credentials: CPDT-KA
Specialties: Private Training, Group Training, Behavior Consulting; Separation Anxiety, Aggression and Reactivity
Paragon Pooch is Mary MacLachlan's business in Sherbrooke. She lists the CPDT-KA along with degrees in arts and education, and the site describes science based, force free training. Work usually starts with an at home consultation about your dog's history, behaviour and home life. From there you can book private training, join a small group class with a set curriculum, or choose day training, where Mary does most of the work. Consultations and classes are also offered online. The site doesn't post prices.
Rank 15
AccroCanin
Sherbrooke, QC
Specialties: Group classes: obedience, agility, hoopers, canicross and pulling sports, frisbee, detection; dog sports store
AccroCanin on King Street East in Sherbrooke is a dog sports centre that says it has been operating for more than 20 years. Group classes cover agility, hoopers, obedience, canicross and other pulling sports, frisbee, physical training, and scent and ratting sports. It also runs workshops and seminars and sells sports gear online. The site doesn't describe its methods or name the team on the page we read, so ask about both. AccroCanin fits an active dog that already has basic manners.
Rank 16
Centre Éducatif Canin Le Prestige
Magog, QC
Specialties: Canine education and obedience courses, puppy kindergarten, private and in-home lessons, aggression rehabilitation, canicross, canine freestyle; boarding; about 20 years experience
Centre Éducatif Canin Le Prestige is on Chemin Ayers Cliff in Magog, about 20 minutes from Sherbrooke, and says it has taught for about twenty years. It describes training based on leadership and positive reinforcement, with play built in and no harsh methods. Services include private training, home lessons, obedience, puppy kindergarten, canicross and freestyle. Behaviour work covers aggression, reactivity, anxiety and barking. The centre also offers boarding and dog adoption, and it says it prefers in person training over online courses. Rates are on a separate page.
Rank 17
Bienveillance Canine
Trois-Rivières, QC
Credentials: AIICA certification; trained at École Irène Poisson
Specialties: Canine psychology, communication and obedience courses, leadership, advanced courses, private consultations, behaviour analysis; holistic approach
Bienveillance Canine is on Rue Notre Dame Ouest in Trois-Rivières and lists Shawinigan, Drummondville, Louiseville and Bécancour among its service areas. Courses move from canine psychology and basic communication to relationship and leadership, then advanced training. Private sessions, puppy training and home consultations are also offered. Work starts with an analysis of your dog's temperament and looks at food, mental work and exercise. Training comes from the École Irène Poisson, and the business states AIICA certification. Prices come by quote.
Rank 18
Éducation Tony & Co.
Lévis, QC
Specialties: obedience and behaviour classes; puppy socialization; urban training; in-home training; intensive sessions
Éducation Tony & Co. is a registered charity with a training school in Saint Jean Chrysostome, part of Lévis, and a head office in Quebec City. It teaches obedience and behaviour courses for the public at the school or in your home. Course fees help fund its shelter for dogs with health or behaviour problems, and the group also handles adoption and boarding. The site doesn't describe its methods, so ask on your first call. Visits are by appointment, and a course calendar is online.
Rank 19
Francis Connolly Carignan
Lévis, QC
Specialties: In-home canine behaviour consulting and training; pet sitting; dog walking
Francis Connolly Carignan founded Sagesse Canine in Lévis and works in homes across Lévis and Quebec City, including Limoilou and Charlesbourg. He holds a professional studies certificate in canine behaviour intervention and belongs to the RQIEC. Sessions target difficult walks, barking, reactivity, anxiety and resource guarding, and each comes with a written report and plan. He favours positive reinforcement and gentle, non punitive techniques. A 90 minute first session is listed on their site at a regular rate of $170, shown discounted to $150 when we checked.
Rank 20
Valérie Samson
Drummondville, QC
Specialties: Dog training school offering puppy, primary and intermediate group classes, private behaviour consultations and harness dog sports.
Éducation Canine AniVal is on Rue St Edgar in Drummondville and serves the Centre du Québec region. Valérie Samson leads it, and the site says she graduated in 2014 from the Jacinthe Bouchard program. Group classes run from puppy kindergarten to Primary and Intermediate levels, indoors or outdoors. Private behaviour consultations happen at the centre or your home. AniVal also teaches dog sports where your dog is hitched up to pull, and sells that gear. The site describes positive reinforcement and offers low stress grooming.
Rank 21
Sylvain Duchesneau
Terrebonne, QC
Specialties: Dog training school offering puppy, family dog, advanced companion, off-leash obedience, leash walking and clicker courses.
Sylvain Duchesneau teaches from Montée Major in the La Plaine sector of Terrebonne and also serves Mascouche. His site says he has more than 35 years of experience. Courses include puppy kindergarten for 8 to 16 weeks, a family dog course, loose leash walking, off leash obedience, a clicker introduction and even treadmill training. Behaviour consultations cover reactivity, anxiety and aggression, with a video option. He describes positive education without yelling. An emergency video consultation is listed on his site at $99 for 60 minutes.
Rank 22
Académie des 4 pattes
Saint-Paul, QC
Specialties: Dog training school offering puppy and obedience group classes plus agility, rally obedience, freestyle and frisbee.
Académie des 4 Pattes in Saint Paul, near Joliette, says it has taught dogs since 1998. Classes run in 8 week sessions, one hour a week, with no more than six dogs per group. Puppy kindergarten takes puppies 2 to 5 months old, and Base 1 to Base 3 move adult dogs toward off leash work. Graduates can go on to agility, rally obedience, freestyle and frisbee. The site describes gentle, progressive training based mainly on positive reinforcement. Registration is by phone.
Rank 23
Nick Zevgolis
Vaudreuil, QC
Specialties: Obedience, board and train, in-home training, reactive dogs, separation anxiety, puppy pre-school, aggression rehabilitation; serves Greater Montreal; since 1996
Family K9 Dog Training runs its kennel in Vaudreuil and serves Greater Montreal, Laval, the South Shore and Eastern Ontario. Nick Zevgolis leads it, and the site says the business started in 1996. Options include board and train, an in home intensive program, a six lesson obedience course and Puppy Pre School. Behaviour work covers reactivity, aggression and separation anxiety. Client stories on the site describe quick leash corrections and walks with no treats, so ask Nick how he trains before you book. Prices aren't posted.
Rank 24
Guides Canins
Saint-Lazare, QC
Specialties: Dog training centre with obedience, agility, canicross, skijoring, bikejoring, scent detection, flyball and reactivity classes.
Guides Canins sits on a large wooded property on Montée Poirier in Saint Lazare. Its class list is the longest in this guide, from obedience, agility and flyball to parkour, scent detection, canicross and skijoring. A reactivity and aggression group class is offered too. Workshops cover rally, tricks, tracking and first aid, and there are private lessons, a young trainers program and online courses. The site says training is based on conditioning and positive reinforcement. No trainers are named, and prices come on request.
Rank 25
Pierre-Luc Cyr
Rougemont, QC
Specialties: Puppy, obedience and agility group classes; private lessons; behavioural therapy; disc dog and tug sports
Centre PLC, short for Centre Professionnel Légitime Canin, is on Rang de la Montagne in Rougemont, in Montérégie. The site names a team of five trainers, including Pierre Luc Cyr. Group classes cover puppy education, obedience, agility, tug sport and disc dog, and the centre also runs seminars and agility competitions. Private lessons happen at the centre or your home, and behaviour therapy is available. The site describes a personal approach for each dog and owner but doesn't explain its methods, so ask about them.
Rank 26
Le Chien Coureur
Rimouski, QC
Specialties: Monthly coaching for puppies and adult dogs; behaviour problem consultations; educational dog daycare; online courses
Le Chien Coureur is based in Rimouski and also works online. New clients pick one of two ways to meet the team first, then can move into monthly coaching for puppies or adult dogs. Behaviour therapy handles problem behaviour, and an educational daycare gives dogs structured time. Online, there's a free workshop and a 21 day reactivity program. A children's dog camp near Saint Anaclet de Lessard teaches kids to read dog body language. The site describes ethical, positive reinforcement training. Trainers aren't named, and bookings run through its online store.
Rank 27
Melissa Vaillancourt
rue du PatrimoineCacouna, QC
MV Comportement Animal is run by Mélissa Vaillancourt, an animal behaviour practitioner who specializes in dogs and belongs to the RQIEC and the Pet Professional Guild. Her classes, held at her space in Cacouna, include obedience with clicker training, fun classes, leash walking workshops and puppy kindergarten. Home services cover Rivière du Loup, Kamouraska, Témiscouata and Les Basques, and remote consultations reach farther regions. Consultations handle behaviour problems. She describes modern, science based, non violent methods. She also gives seminars, and the Magdalen Islands appear in her seminar listings.
Rank 28
Nancy Guérin
Portneuf, QC
Specialties: Private obedience and obedience classes; herding (stockdog) training; boarding and grooming
Clos Dusilence is a farm in Portneuf, west of Quebec City, run by Nancy Guérin with co owner Paul Naud. Nancy teaches private obedience lessons, and the site says she has competed in obedience and rally obedience. The farm also gives sheep herding lessons and has hosted herding trials and clinics. It breeds Australian Shepherds and offers grooming and boarding by appointment. Methods aren't described, so ask how she teaches. This is the only listing in this guide that teaches herding.
Compare Quebec dog trainers side by side
The table shows each trainer's town and training formats so you can sort out the options near you.
| Rank | Trainer | City | Best for | Reviews | Credentials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monkey Business Dog Training | Montreal | Group manners and brain games | Be the first to review | |
| 2 | Montreal Canine Training | Montreal | Reactivity and day training | Be the first to review | |
| 3 | Laura Boisvert | Montreal | Anxious and reactive dogs | Be the first to review | CTC (The academy for dog trainers), RQIEC, IAABC |
| 4 | Zuzanna(Zuzia) Kubica | Montreal | Behaviour consults and webinars | Be the first to review | CDBC from IAABC |
| 5 | Elizabeth Boutet | Québec | Puppies and reactive dogs | Be the first to review | |
| 6 | L'école des chiens | Québec | Group obedience in Quebec City | Be the first to review | |
| 7 | Le Domaine Anim'O Plus | Québec | Classes plus boarding | Be the first to review | |
| 8 | Claudine Chantal | Québec | In home behaviour help | Be the first to review | |
| 9 | Centre canin des ruisseaux | Laval | Educational boarding in Laval | Be the first to review | |
| 10 | Aude Cloutier | Gatineau | Aggression and leash reactivity | Be the first to review | RQIEC (Regroupement quebecois des intervenants en education canine) |
| 11 | Le Centre canin de l'Outaouais | Gatineau | Fearful dogs and rally | Be the first to review | |
| 12 | Kinergy Canine | Chelsea | Bilingual help across the Outaouais | Be the first to review | |
| 13 | Raphael Pepin | Sherbrooke | Puppies and separation anxiety | Be the first to review | PCBC-A, CPDT-KA, CSAT, CTC, FFCP |
| 14 | Mary MacLachlan | Sherbrooke | Force free private training | Be the first to review | CPDT-KA |
| 15 | AccroCanin | Sherbrooke | Agility and dog sports | Be the first to review | |
| 16 | Centre Éducatif Canin Le Prestige | Magog | Owners from Magog to Sherbrooke | Be the first to review | |
| 17 | Bienveillance Canine | Trois-Rivières | Mauricie basic education | Be the first to review | AIICA certification; trained at École Irène Poisson |
| 18 | Éducation Tony & Co. | Lévis | Training that funds a shelter | Be the first to review | |
| 19 | Francis Connolly Carignan | Lévis | Written behaviour plans in Lévis | Be the first to review | |
| 20 | Valérie Samson | Drummondville | Puppies and pulling sports | Be the first to review | |
| 21 | Sylvain Duchesneau | Terrebonne | Off leash obedience courses | Be the first to review | |
| 22 | Académie des 4 pattes | Saint-Paul | Agility and rally near Joliette | Be the first to review | |
| 23 | Nick Zevgolis | Vaudreuil | Board and train, Greater Montreal | Be the first to review | |
| 24 | Guides Canins | Saint-Lazare | The widest dog sport menu | Be the first to review | |
| 25 | Pierre-Luc Cyr | Rougemont | Tug, disc and agility | Be the first to review | |
| 26 | Le Chien Coureur | Rimouski | Monthly coaching in Rimouski | Be the first to review | |
| 27 | Melissa Vaillancourt | rue du PatrimoineCacouna | Lower St. Lawrence families | Be the first to review | |
| 28 | Nancy Guérin | Portneuf | Sheep herding and obedience | Be the first to review |
Compare trainers
1. Monkey Business Dog Training
- City
- Montreal
- Best for
- Group manners and brain games
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
2. Montreal Canine Training
- City
- Montreal
- Best for
- Reactivity and day training
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
3. Laura Boisvert
- City
- Montreal
- Best for
- Anxious and reactive dogs
- Credentials
- CTC (The academy for dog trainers), RQIEC, IAABC
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
4. Zuzanna(Zuzia) Kubica
- City
- Montreal
- Best for
- Behaviour consults and webinars
- Credentials
- CDBC from IAABC
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
5. Elizabeth Boutet
- City
- Québec
- Best for
- Puppies and reactive dogs
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
6. L'école des chiens
- City
- Québec
- Best for
- Group obedience in Quebec City
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
7. Le Domaine Anim'O Plus
- City
- Québec
- Best for
- Classes plus boarding
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
8. Claudine Chantal
- City
- Québec
- Best for
- In home behaviour help
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
9. Centre canin des ruisseaux
- City
- Laval
- Best for
- Educational boarding in Laval
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
10. Aude Cloutier
- City
- Gatineau
- Best for
- Aggression and leash reactivity
- Credentials
- RQIEC (Regroupement quebecois des intervenants en education canine)
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
11. Le Centre canin de l'Outaouais
- City
- Gatineau
- Best for
- Fearful dogs and rally
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
12. Kinergy Canine
- City
- Chelsea
- Best for
- Bilingual help across the Outaouais
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
13. Raphael Pepin
- City
- Sherbrooke
- Best for
- Puppies and separation anxiety
- Credentials
- PCBC-A, CPDT-KA, CSAT, CTC, FFCP
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
14. Mary MacLachlan
- City
- Sherbrooke
- Best for
- Force free private training
- Credentials
- CPDT-KA
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
15. AccroCanin
- City
- Sherbrooke
- Best for
- Agility and dog sports
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
16. Centre Éducatif Canin Le Prestige
- City
- Magog
- Best for
- Owners from Magog to Sherbrooke
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
17. Bienveillance Canine
- City
- Trois-Rivières
- Best for
- Mauricie basic education
- Credentials
- AIICA certification; trained at École Irène Poisson
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
18. Éducation Tony & Co.
- City
- Lévis
- Best for
- Training that funds a shelter
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
19. Francis Connolly Carignan
- City
- Lévis
- Best for
- Written behaviour plans in Lévis
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
20. Valérie Samson
- City
- Drummondville
- Best for
- Puppies and pulling sports
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
21. Sylvain Duchesneau
- City
- Terrebonne
- Best for
- Off leash obedience courses
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
22. Académie des 4 pattes
- City
- Saint-Paul
- Best for
- Agility and rally near Joliette
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
23. Nick Zevgolis
- City
- Vaudreuil
- Best for
- Board and train, Greater Montreal
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
24. Guides Canins
- City
- Saint-Lazare
- Best for
- The widest dog sport menu
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
25. Pierre-Luc Cyr
- City
- Rougemont
- Best for
- Tug, disc and agility
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
26. Le Chien Coureur
- City
- Rimouski
- Best for
- Monthly coaching in Rimouski
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
27. Melissa Vaillancourt
- City
- rue du PatrimoineCacouna
- Best for
- Lower St. Lawrence families
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
28. Nancy Guérin
- City
- Portneuf
- Best for
- Sheep herding and obedience
- Credentials
- Not listed
- Reviews
- Be the first to review
What dog training in Quebec looks like
Home visits are common here. 18 of the 28 trainers list lessons or consultations in your home, and group classes from puppy kindergarten to advanced obedience are easy to find. Overnight training stays are rare. Only Family K9 in Vaudreuil and Centre canin des Ruisseaux in Laval offer a program where your dog boards with them, while Montreal Canine Training, Bonté Canine and Paragon Pooch offer day training.
Dog sports are a strength. Guides Canins, AccroCanin, Centre PLC and Académie des 4 Pattes are built around sports like agility, flyball, frisbee and canicross, and Clos Dusilence in Portneuf is the only listing that teaches sheep herding. Behaviour help is well covered in Gatineau, Montreal and Lévis, where several trainers focus on reactivity, fear or aggression.
The thin spots are in the regions. We found no trainer listed in Saguenay or Longueuil, and the Quebec listings we have for Saguenay and Lac Saint Jean are sled dog outfits. East of Quebec City, Le Chien Coureur in Rimouski and MV Comportement Animal in Cacouna cover a large area, and both offer remote help.
Methods vary, so read the cards. 16 of the 28 describe positive reinforcement, humane or science based work. Client stories on Family K9's site mention quick leash corrections, and Claudine Chantal teaches without food rewards.
How to choose a dog trainer in Quebec
Start by asking how the trainer rewards your dog and what happens when your dog gets it wrong. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends reward based methods for all dog training, including behaviour problems, and advises against shock, prong and choke collars. It also suggests picking a trainer who is certified and humane.
Credentials help you compare. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers is an independent group that certifies trainers through the CPDT-KA and related credentials, and Paragon Pooch lists that one. Many Quebec trainers instead name the RQIEC, a provincial group of dog educators, or the school where they trained.
A good trainer will tell you up front what a first session includes, whether it happens at your home or their centre, and what follow up costs. Ask if classes are taught in French, English or both. Be wary of anyone who guarantees a fixed result or won't let you watch them work with your dog.
Dog rules in Quebec worth knowing
Quebec has a provincial regulation on dogs. Under it, you must register your dog with the local municipality where you live within 30 days of getting it, moving, or the dog turning three months old. Your dog must wear the medal the municipality gives you at all times.
In public places, your dog must be under the control of a person who can handle it. Outside a dog park or an organized dog activity, it must be on a leash no longer than 1.85 m, and a dog of 20 kg or more must also wear a halter or chest strap clipped to that leash. The provincial government says fines run from $250 to $20,000 and that cities can set stricter rules.
City bylaws add their own rules. Montreal requires a permit for every dog, listed at $31.80, with the dog microchipped and sterilized once it's over six months old, and the medal worn at all times. Quebec City charges $39 a year to register a dog and runs five dog parks, where your dog must be registered, wear the city medal and stay leashed until it reaches the park's entry airlock.
Gear to bring to a first class from Gatineau to Rimouski
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Ask your trainer what to bring before your first session, since a class at Guides Canins and a home visit in Lévis call for different things. MV Comportement Animal and Sylvain Duchesneau both teach clicker training, so a clicker may be on your list.
- Treat pouch that clips to your waist so rewards stay ready.
- Clicker for marking the moment your dog gets it right.
- Front clip harness to attach the leash on larger dogs.
- Long line, 15 to 30 feet for recall practice at a distance.
Pick two or three trainers whose cards match your dog's needs and your part of Quebec. Open their profiles, check whether they teach in your language, and book a first call or evaluation. Make sure your dog is registered with your municipality and wearing its medal before the first lesson.
Trainer choices depend on your dog’s needs and your goals.
Questions and answers
How much does dog training cost in Quebec?
Few trainers here post prices. Claudine Chantal lists a 90 minute home consultation in the Quebec City region at $190. Sagesse Canine in Lévis lists a 90 minute first session at a regular rate of $170, and Sylvain Duchesneau lists an emergency video consultation at $99. Most others give prices on request.
Do I have to register my dog in Quebec?
Yes. The provincial dog regulation says you must register your dog with your local municipality within 30 days of getting it, moving, or the dog turning three months old, and the dog must wear the medal. Montreal and Quebec City each charge their own fee.
How old should my puppy be to start classes?
Several trainers start early. BELI and Sylvain Duchesneau take puppies from 8 to 16 weeks, Canilogique from 8 to 14 weeks, Pattes Fidèles from 2 to 4 months, and Académie des 4 Pattes from 2 to 5 months.
Can I find an English speaking dog trainer in Quebec?
Yes. Kinergy Canine says it works in English and French across the Outaouais. Monkey Business, Montreal Canine Training, Paragon Pooch and Family K9 have English websites, so ask each one which language the lessons use.
Who helps with a reactive or aggressive dog?
Pattes Fidèles, Le Centre canin de l'Outaouais, CoeurCanin, Bonté Canine, Sagesse Canine and Montreal Canine Training all list reactivity or aggression work. AVSAB recommends reward based methods for behaviour problems, so ask how each trainer works before you book.
Does any Quebec trainer offer board and train?
Family K9 in Vaudreuil runs board and train at its kennel, and Centre canin des Ruisseaux in Laval offers educational boarding. Ask how many lessons you get at pickup, since that's when you learn to keep the training going at home.
Sources
- Règlement d'application de la Loi visant à favoriser la protection des personnes par la mise en place d'un encadrement concernant les chiens (LégisQuébec, P-38.002, r. 1)
- Gouvernement du Québec: Encadrement des chiens
- Ville de Montréal: Obtenir un permis pour chien
- Ville de Québec: Enregistrer votre chien ou votre chat
- Ville de Québec: Parcs et espaces canins
- AVSAB Position Statement on Humane Dog Training (2021)
- Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
