Cheryl Smith

Cheryl has over forty years of experience in canine behavioural training and has been recognized as “one of Canada’s Top Dog Trainers”. She began as an educator working with disadvantaged children, and subsequently transitioned to a career as a Human Resources Specialist. In 1972, she began instructing dog obedience classes.

Cheryl’s area of interest and expertise is in the canine behaviourism. In 1989 she opened The Good Dog Training School in Toronto, where she was living at the time. Subsequently, Cheryl moved to the Ottawa area, and founded Forever Friends Dog Training School in 1996. In 2019, Cheryl established the Call of the Canine training center offering new and innovative training and behavior services to local dogs and their owners.

In the manner that Dr. Dunbar is recognized for introducing puppy classes to dog training, Cheryl has brought important and effective approaches and techniques for rehabilitating dogs with behavioural issues, in particular dog-dog and dog-human interaction. Cheryl developed the concept of “Growl Classes”, using humane behaviour modification techniques to retrain dogs that display aggressive behaviour towards humans and/or other dogs. These classes are in such high demand that she is often requested to take the classes on the road to other locations. She is also the author of Biting, Barking, Lunging, Growling.

Cheryl has attended numerous training seminars given by Job Michael Evans, Carol Lee Benjamin, Jack and Wendy Volhard, Dr. Ian Dunbar, Jean Donaldson and Pamela Reid, and the University of Guelph’s Behavioural Science Department. She has amassed a wealth of knowledge of humane, caring methodologies for training and living with dogs.

Cheryl shares her knowledge and has presented at many acclaimed workshops and seminars around the globe, in Japan and the United States at Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Ann Arbour, Green Bay, Richmond Virginia, and Washington DC; and in Canada at Pickering, Kingston, Kemptville, Ottawa, Toronto, Port Hope, Sudbury, Vancouver, Red Deer, Edmonton, Calgary and Prince Albert.

She participated in the international committee sponsored by the American Humane Society and the Delta Society to review and update the ethical and professional standards for dog trainers, and she has served as a member of the Board of Directors for Therapeutic Paws of Canada and Responsible Dog Owners of Canada.

Cheryl continues to explore innovative ways to increase her knowledge and remain at the forefront of canine behaviour. She is a graduate of Earning The Light program (8th Fire Inc.) and currently continuing her training with Pete Bernard in The Way Of The Medicine Keeper.