Group Classes for every dog.
Build real-life skills with your dog in a fun, supportive environment. Our small group dog training classes give you personalized attention and the proven benefits of positive reinforcement methods. Whether you’re starting with a new puppy, struggling with an adolescent dog (5 months to 2 years old), or improving everyday manners, you’ll learn practical skills that make life with your dog easier and more enjoyable.
Why choose group dog training with us:
Small class sizes – more one-on-one coaching, less stress for you and your dog
Supportive, safe environment – designed to help every dog and owner succeed
Force-free, positive methods – effective techniques that teach without fear or intimidation
Fun and practical learning – gain skills you can use immediately in real-world settings
First classses in a series are in bold
Classes in green are join any time.
Find the Right Class for You and Your Dog
From brand-new puppies to adolescent and adult dogs who need help with manners, reactivity, or specialized skills, there’s a class to fit your needs. Our group dog training options include everything from puppy foundations and everyday skills to loose leash walking, confidence-building games, and preparation for Emotional Support Dog roles. Whether you prefer in-person sessions in real-world settings or an online format designed for reactive dogs, you’ll find practical, positive training that strengthens your relationship with your dog.
Puppy Class: KinderPuppy
*IMPORTANT: READ THE FULL DESCRIPTION BEFORE REGISTERING.
Cost: $175
Class size: 3-5
(Please contact us if class is full. We may be able to start a new section.)
Class length: 6 weeks with rolling/open enrollment
(Start when your puppy is ready and enroll for 6 consecutive weeks.)
For: 8 weeks - 4.5 months when starting class.
Puppies must have been in the home for at least a week, received their first puppy shot (not the whole series, just one!), be free of parasites, and be declared healthy by YOUR veterinarian (Not the rescue’s or breeder’s).
KinderPuppy helps you start your young puppy (8 wks - 4.5 mos) on the road to being a well-adjusted, well-mannered adult dog. I strongly encourage you to enroll as soon after 8 weeks as possible, to ensure your puppy gets crucial early socialization. There is a critical socialization period that closes around 16 weeks. Having a variety of safe, novel experiences during this period increases your puppy’s ability to handle new people, vet visits, and other life events. Isolating your puppy from dogs, people, and the outdoors contributes to behavior problems that may never resolve. We would never think to isolate babies and toddlers from other humans so why do this to a puppy?
Combining positive reinforcement training with play, Puppy PE, and socialization exercises, you and your puppy will develop a lasting bond, making subsequent classes, and life in general, easier and more fun for both of you.
I follow the guidelines from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. The AVSAB states:
“In general, puppies can start puppy socialization classes as early as 7-8 weeks of age. Puppies should receive a minimum of one set of vaccines at least 7 days prior to the first class and a first deworming. They should be kept up-to-date on vaccines throughout the class.…the combination of maternal immunity, primary vaccination, and appropriate care makes the risk of infection relatively small compared to the chance of death from a behavior problem… Enrolling in puppy classes prior to three months of age can be an excellent means of improving training, strengthening the human-animal bond, and socializing puppies in an environment where the risk of illness can be minimized.”
Beginning Adolescent & Adult Class: Better Than Obedience
Cost: $175
Class size: 3-6
Class length: 6 weeks
For: 5+ months through adulthood, including KinderPuppy graduates
Better Than Obedience (BTO1) goes beyond basic commands to give your dog the skills they need to be a reliable, attentive, and well-mannered companion. It is customized to the ages/needs of the individual dogs in each class. In this 6-week course, students train their dogs to sit/stay, down/stay, go to place, loose-leash walking, leave it, drop it, and practical relaxation techniques such as deep breathing to manage stress and over-stimulation. BTO1 is ideal for dogs who tolerate being around other dogs and people, providing opportunities to practice self-control and focus in real-world settings.
Better Than Obedience Class Online for Reactive Dogs
Cost: $240/Dog
Class size: 4-10 people
Class length: 8 weeks
For: Anyone with a Leash Reactive dog
Does your dog overreact when out for a walk? Do they seem frustrated, overly excited, or even aggressive toward other dogs or people while on a leash?
Leash Reactive dogs cannot normally take training classes and this affects their relationship with their pup parents. Learning basic training skills builds your relationship and trust, and your dog’s ability to turn to you in uncertain situations. It can help, along with learning specific Leash Reactivity skills, to reduce the out-of-control behaviors more easily.
Combining both basic training and Leash Reactivity training, daily life with your Leash Reactive dog can become easier and more peaceful.
This is a remote class except for the first session which is in-person and conducted without dogs. This allows you (and your dog!) to relax and focus on learning.
NOTE: This class is not suitable if you have a dog with a history of biting people or attacking and injuring another dog. If you are unsure, please contact Joanne for a free 15-minute consultation.
Intermediate Class: Training Games
Cost: $175
Class size: 3-6
Class length: 6 weeks
For: Dogs who have taken Better Than Obedience or comparable beginning training class
PLEASE NOTE: THIS CLASS IS NOT SUITABLE FOR FEARFUL OR REACTIVE DOGS.
If it has been a year or more since your last class, please schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation before enrolling.
Training doesn’t have to feel like work! It can be fun, engaging, and deeply rewarding for both you and your dog. In Training Games, you and your dog will take the foundation skills you’ve already built and expand them through positive reinforcement games designed to strengthen communication, cooperation, and trust.
Through Pattern Games and playful group activities like Musical Mats and Stop and Chat, you’ll learn how to problem-solve in the moment, keep your dog focused in distracting environments, and turn everyday challenges into training opportunities. These games not only sharpen your dog’s manners and responsiveness but also make practice enjoyable, so you both look forward to learning together.
By the end of the course, you and your dog will have stronger teamwork, more reliable skills, and a deeper bond built on positive experiences.
Advanced Class: Take It On the Road
Cost: $175
Class size: 3-6
Class length: 6 weeks
For: Dogs who have taken 1-2 training classes such as KinderPuppy plus BTO1, or BTO1
PLEASE NOTE: THIS CLASS IS NOT SUITABLE FOR FEARFUL OR REACTIVE DOGS.
If it has been a year or more since your last class, please schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation before enrolling.
In Take It On the Road, we focus on practical, fun exercises that help your dog respond consistently to your cues, even in distracting environments. Through structured games and interactive activities, you’ll strengthen your observation and communication skills while your dog learns to stay attentive, confident, and reliable outside the home. This class is designed for dogs who have completed foundational training and are ready to practice their skills in parks, urban spaces, and other real-life situations, making everyday walks, outings, and social interactions smoother and more enjoyable for both of you.
Intermediate/Advanced Class: A Walk in the Park
Cost: $175
Class Size: 3-6
Class Length: 6 weeks
For: Students who have taken at least one training class such as Better Than Obedience 1. NOT SUITABLE FOR LEASH REACTIVE DOGS
This 6-week force-free dog training class focuses exclusively on Loose Leash Walking, helping your dog learn to pay attention, walk politely without pulling, and stay relaxed when you pause to chat. Using proven, positive reinforcement techniques, you and your dog will practice in a variety of parks and urban settings, building confidence and reliability in real-world situations. By the end of the program, walks will feel smoother, more enjoyable, and more connected for both you and your dog.
Intermediate/Advanced Class: Emotional Support Dog
Cost: $175
Class size: 3-6
Class length: 6 weeks
For: Dogs who have taken a basic training class
While Service Dogs must perform specific tasks, there are no laws governing Emotional Support Dog (ESD) training. Many landlords hesitate to accept ESDs because of untrained or poorly trained dog, but we can change that!
In our Emotional Support Dog course, you’ll train your dog using force-free, positive reinforcement techniques to exhibit calm behavior, navigate distractions, and walk politely past other dogs. Your dog will learn practical skills that make apartment life easier, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone: you, your dog, and your neighbors. By the end of the course, your ESD will be a model of reliability, helping you live confidently together in any environment.