Kristina Rapson

Providing The Best Dog Training in Toronto

Kristina is an award winning dog trainer and behaviourist in Toronto who recently won best dog trainer for the Canadian Choice Awards 2024 & 2025. She is also on the finalist list for 2026. She has also been listed in the top 5 on 6 different lists, and has over 160 five star Google reviews. With a specialty in behavioural issues and rescue dogs, her methods are different than most other trainers with a focus first and foremost on improving the human / dog relationship and communication. If you think you’ve tried everything, it’s likely that Kristina has some new methods that will help you get you and your dog to where you want to be.

For more information on Kristina’s background, philosophies and services, please navigate through the menu

We Specialize in Behaviour Modification

Having some trouble with your dog's behaviour?
We can help with anything including but not limited to:

Obedience Training

Dog obedience training is the process of teaching a dog to follow basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and heel. While it’s a valuable tool for managing behavior in specific situations, obedience training doesn’t always address the root causes of behavioral issues.

Kristina is professionally trained in obedience training at the National K9 Learning Center and takes a well-rounded approach to dog behavior.

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Puppy Training

Not all puppy classes teach you how to stop bad behaviour. Most puppy parents struggle with potty training, destructive chewing and nipping and biting.

We focus on the most important aspects of raising a puppy that unfortunately most puppy classes don't teach: proper socialization, people / house manners & potty training.

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OFF LEASH RECALL

Training your dog to have a reliable off-leash recall is not just about obedience; it’s about ensuring their safety and allowing them the freedom to explore the world responsibly.

Kristina teaches the two most effective methods for achieving a reliable recall: traditional long line method and e-collar training.

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Leash Reactivity & Aggression

Does your dog react by lunging, barking and growling towards people, dogs, small animals or fast moving objects on or off leash?

Reactivity and aggression are extremely stressful to deal with. Hairy Tales specializes in helping reactive and aggressive dogs become calm and confident companions.

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RESOURCE GUARDING

Resource guarding refers to when a dog displays protective or aggressive behaviour in order to defend or control access to a particular resource. This resource can be food, toys, treats, bones, beds, furniture, people or any item the dog perceives as valuable.

Since resource guarding is almost always a relationship problem, the first most important step to any dog training, is improving the relationship with your dog.

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Over-Excitement / Hyperactivity

Does your dog have a tendency to be hyperactive or over-excited? Are they constantly jumping up on people, pulling on the leash and barking or whining?

The vast majority of dogs that appear to be hyperactive are actually not like that naturally. This behaviour is almost always created by attention and affection at the wrong time. Hairy Tales can help!

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Fear & Anxiety

Does your dog have anxiety or fear towards people, environments or stimuli? Does your dog need some major confidence boosting?

Confidence building can only begin once a dog has learned that they can trust you to be their leader protector.

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RESCUE DOGS

Rescue dogs often come with some baggage and specific behaviour issues that need to be addressed. Oftentimes, these behaviours will not show themselves until about 3-4 weeks after arriving in the home.

Some common behaviors that we see in rescue dogs include, but are not limited to : reactivity, aggression, fear / low confidence etc. We specialize in rehabilitating rescue dogs and street dogs.

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E-COLLAR TRAINING

E-collar training can be an invaluable tool for specific behaviour modification or obedience training. It is DEFINITELY NOT an abusive tool when used correctly.

If used correctly, e-collar training can be an extremely gentle and effective tool. I have rehabilitated even some of the most traumatized and fearful rescues using e-collars.

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Trusted & Certified

See what people are saying...

Kristina was a wonderful help with our rescue dog. The best thing we did was book a session with Kristina BEFORE we got our dog. That way we were able to start out on the right foot immediately, and Kristina also had great recommendations for products/equipment to buy. We booked more sessions afterward as well, but booking an introductory/prep session before getting a dog was a game changer. It really helped us create good habits from the get-go. Kristina helped us with many things, including (i) our dog's reactivity around other dogs and people, (ii) loose-leash walking, (iii) setting up healthy boundaries and establishing leadership at home, and (iv) crate training. Kristina was easy to work with, accessible and very knowledgeable. She also sent us fulsome notes after every session, which were really helpful. Could not recommend her more, and we're clearly in good company looking at all of these five star reviews!

Rebecca Cochrane
We met Kristina for the first time today for help with training our rescue dog Rhodi. We found Kristina incredibly knowledgeable about dog behaviour and able to articulate how to achieve results with Rhodi, all with a pleasant manner. We look forward to working with Kristina as she helps us build a constructive relationship with Rhodi.

Keith Aldridge
My favourite thing about Kristina’s training style is her supportive/interactive nature, articulate and honest communication. I started working with Kristina on my dogs leash reactivity/aggression ~1month ago, and I have seen tangible and consistent improvements in my dogs obedience, engagement, and our relationship in general. This was previously a big source of stress in my journey as an owner, and something I have struggled immensely for quite sometime. If you are having difficulties with your dog or maybe you have a dog with behavioural issues that is above your current skill level, she’s your gal!

Elaina X
Kristina was amazing in helping us with our dogs' sudden fights for attention. Our lives are now back to normal and we can happily cuddle with both of our girls once again. Consistency is key. Thank you!!

Anel M.
Milo and I are so lucky that we have found Kristina. She is very knowledgeable and helpful. Milo ignored me all the time and always pulling me on the walk. Now, after two sessions, he has no pulling at all. Walking has never been this easy and relaxing. More importantly, the training sessions help me a lot to understand Milo’s behavior. Will definitely recommend Kristina to everyone who is seeking for help with your pup! And we will keep our sessions with her!

Kailin Zhang
I have a super reactive dog that has so greatly improved through working with Kristina! Now we are able to pass other dogs where she does not react (except for the very few times, but we’re still working on those lol). So happy to have found Kristina to help me and the family have a much more happy and fulfilling life with our love Muffy 💜

Said Saffarini
Working with Kristina has done wonders for my dog’s on-leash reactivity to other dogs. Before meeting with Kristina, my dog was very reactive - barking and becoming very anxious at the sight or sound of any dog. Taking my dog out in public had become a stressful and anxiety inducing affair for both me and my dog. Across three sessions, Kristina showed me how to set up more consistent boundaries at home for my dog and manage my dog’s behavior on leash. After each session, Kristina shared detailed notes and was available for follow up questions - she was always considerate and approachable. My dog showed a ton of improvement after two months of consistently applying Kristina’s lessons and now, at the three month mark, has virtually no signs of reactive behavior. She can calmly pass by other dogs on the same sidewalk, is unfazed by other dogs barking at her, and confidently enjoys herself at the dog park. My relationship with my dog is so much better after working with Kristina. Thank you very much Kristina!

Henry Choi
Kristina helped us with our anxious and aggressive rescue dog a few years ago. Her guidance helped us gain confidence and, in turn, give our dog the environment he needed to flourish. We recently reached out for further support and I was surprised that she remembered all about our dog and where we had left off in our training. She is calm, clear and patient (both with our dog and with us) which is so helpful when dealing with stressful behavioural issues.

Sandra Bertoia
Kristina answered all my questions before I even had a chance to ask. She is thorough and approachable. Highly recommend!

Karen Benzakein
Kristina has been incredible to work with. She’s thoughtful and takes her time with my pup. She provided detailed notes and homework based on what your dog needs and sends follow ups to check in on your dogs progression. I’ve seen an incredible improvement in my pups behaviour and I definitely attribute that to the help I got from her!

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