Smart Dog Dog Training

What Smart Dog Dog Training does

Smart Dog Training & Consulting, founded in 2004 in Victoria, British Columbia by Sherry Antonishen, is a privately held, owner-operated dog training services business operating from a 7-acre McTavish Training Center in North Saanich and a secondary site hosted at the BC SPCA Victoria facility. The company delivers force-free, science-based training through a structured curriculum spanning SmartPuppy Basic and Socialization classes, progressive SmartDog Intermediate and Advanced classes, private one-on-one sessions, behavioural consultations, and agility programs from Sport Foundations through Intermediate levels plus hosted trials and seminars. Revenue is generated entirely through direct-to-consumer service delivery — group classes priced at $340 per 6-week course (e.g., Sport Foundations), private training at $150-$190 per hour depending on location, and behavioural consultations starting at $190, with all prices in CAD inclusive of GST. The business is BCSPCA AnimalKind accredited, employs approximately 9 staff including CPDT-KA and CBCC-KA certified trainers, and reaches customers through three physical access points plus two-way video-conferencing online classes and a self-serve registration portal at dogbizpro.com. Operations are confined to British Columbia, Canada, with no disclosed institutional funding, subsidiaries, M&A activity, or AI/ML capability; marketing relies on educational blog content, Facebook, Instagram, and email communication rather than paid digital acquisition at scale.

Name

Smart Dog Dog Training

Legal name

Smart Dog Training & Consulting

Website

https://smartdogtraining.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Smart Dog Training & Consulting is a BC-based dog training services business founded in 2004, delivering force-free, certified-trainer-led group classes, private sessions, agility programs, and behavioural consultations to individual pet owners across Victoria and North Saanich.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Training Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Pet Services (Grooming, Training, Daycare) (CRALAIAJ)

Keywords

• Dog obedience training
• Puppy training classes
• Canine behavior modification
• Dog agility training
• Private dog training

Headquarters

HQ city

Porter Corners, New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Group Training Classes: In-person group training classes including puppy classes, basic, intermediate, and advanced obedience training offered at multiple locations. Classes run in 6-week sessions.
2. Private Training Sessions: One-on-one training sessions for focused attention on specific training goals. Offered at McTavish location ($190), in-home ($175+), or via video-conferencing ($190).
3. Behavioural Consultations: Consultations for aggression, anxiety, and complex behavioural issues. Starting at $190 for first visit, with additional travel charges.
4. Agility Training: Dog agility training including Sport Foundations ($340 for 6 weeks), Agility FUNdamentals, and Starters/Intermediate classes. Also includes barn rental and trial hosting.
5. Seminars and Workshops: Specialized workshops such as Crate Training seminars and DogStars Tricks Class, plus seminars by visiting experts like Wendy Alexander

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SmartDog Training & Consulting provides science-based, force-free dog and puppy training services delivered through certified trainers across in-person group classes, private one-on-one sessions, agility training, behavioural modification consultations, online video-conferencing classes, and hosted agility trials and seminars. The service portfolio spans puppy socialisation and foundational obedience through advanced real-world distraction training, with offerings available at the 7-acre McTavish Training Center, the BC SPCA Victoria facility, in client homes, and via two-way video.

Product overview

SmartDog Training & Consulting is a dog and puppy training service offering a structured curriculum of in-person group classes, private one-on-one training, and online classes. The core product portfolio includes SmartPuppy Basic and Socialization classes, progressive SmartDog Intermediate and Advanced classes, private training options (in-person at McTavish Road, in-home, and via video-conferencing), and agility programs (Sport Foundations, Agility FUNdamentals, Starters and Intermediate). Additional offerings include DogStars Tricks Class, I Love My Crate workshop, Problem Behaviour Modification consultations, and hosted agility trials and seminars. The company operates from facilities in North Saanich and Victoria BC SPCA, serving Victoria since 2004.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SmartPuppy Basic Class
• SmartPuppy Socialization
• SmartDog Intermediate Class
• SmartDog Advanced Class
• Private Training - McTavish Road Location
• Private Training - Two-way Video-conferencing
• Private Training - In Home
• Private Training - In Office
• Problem Behaviour Modification
• Sport Foundations
• Agility FUNdamentals
• Agility Starters and Intermediate
• Agility Trials
• Agility Seminars
• DogStars Tricks Class
• I Love My Crate
• Online Classes

Quantifiable outcome

• Dogs learn to be excited to work with their owners, eager to listen, and love learning new things

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BC SPCA VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBC SPCA Victoria hosts SmartDog Training classes at their facility at Burnside and Napier Lane locations. This partnership provides SmartDog with dedicated training space while offering SPCA Victoria visitors access to professional dog training services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bark Busters Home Dog Training: Global home dog training franchise delivering in-home behavior modification and obedience training - comparable to SmartDog's in-home private training and problem behavior services.
• Zoom Room Dog Training: US franchise offering in-person group classes, agility, and private training at multiple locations - closely mirrors SmartDog's class structure, agility focus, and curriculum-based model.
• Dog Training Elite: Multi-location in-home dog training franchise with structured obedience and behavior programs; competes in the same private training and behavioral consultation category.

Emerging players

• Pupford: App- and subscription-based positive reinforcement training library with courses, tutorials, and a community; competes in the at-home and DIY training segment.
• SpiritDog Training: Online force-free, science-based training programs that compete directly with SmartDog's methodology and are adjacent to its online video-conferencing classes.
• Dogo: Mobile-first dog training app offering daily lessons, trick training, and behavior plans - direct competitor in the digital training category SmartDog also serves online.
• Dunbar Academy (Dog Star Daily): Online training platform by renowned dog behaviorist Ian Dunbar; uses force-free, science-based methods that mirror SmartDog's approach and competes for self-serve learners.

Others

• Karen Pryor Academy: Clicker/positive-reinforcement training certification body for trainers; adjacent ecosystem player that influences SmartDog's trainer development pipeline and methodology ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Petco Dog Training: Big-box pet retailer with national in-store group training and private lessons; broader portfolio but overlapping services, particularly in basic obedience and puppy classes.
• PetSmart Dog Training: Largest US pet retailer offering group classes and private training at hundreds of locations - competing at scale but with less curriculum depth and lower trainer specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SmartDogVictoria
• Instagraminstagram.com/smartdogtraining
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smart-dog-dog-training

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smart Dog Dog Training