dog

Group Dog Training Classes

In Stoney Creek and Norfolk County

Our group classes are a fun way to learn obedience with other dogs and their people. Group classes are geared towards functional obedience that can be used in the real world. We offer small classes with plenty of one-on-one time to ensure you get everything you need from us.

As you go through our group class levels, you will be working towards earning your dog’s CCSD “Perfect Pet” Certificate. The Perfect Pet Certificate tests your dog on a variety of skills including socialization, obedience, and manners. You can find out more about the certificate here.

We have two locations!
Simcoe – Classes are held at our facility at 20 Upper Wellington St, Simcoe (Norfolk County)
Stoney Creek – Classes are held at the Stoney Creek Optimist Club (890 Queenston Rd, Stoney Creek)

Golden Retriever group class Burlington DogDen

Puppy Life Skills and Socialization

Our Puppy Life Skills and Socialization class is for puppies aged 10-22 weeks! This class goes far beyond your basic puppy obedience training! You will get plenty of hands on training in class, as well as access to our online Puppy Training course. This class runs as a rolling registration, on your schedule! Meaning you can start as soon as your puppy turns 10 weeks, you do not have to wait until a new class begins. Included in the course, is access to our Online Puppy Preschool with over 45 videos and handouts to support your training journey!

What you will learn:

– Introduction to basic obedience
– Dealing with unwanted behaviours (jumping, mouthing, destructiveness etc)
– Crate training and House training
– Teaching your puppy to accept handling for the groomer and/or vet
– Proper socialization
– Confidence building
– Proper greetings with humans and other dogs
– Dog body language
– Appropriate play

Learn more

This program includes:

– Four 45 minute group classes

– Access to our online Puppy Preschool Course, which includes videos and handouts for all skills taught in class

– Unlimited support throughout the course to ensure you have success between each class

– Discounted rate on all future private training

– Access to our exclusive client only Facebook group for further support

– Access to our Holistic Nutrition Course

Investment: $175 plus HST

Requirements: Proof of age appropriate vaccinations or titres

Contact us today to sign up for Puppy Life Skills and Socialization!

Golden Retriever group class Burlington DogDen

Obedience Foundations (Level 1) Group Training

Our Obedience Foundations class is for dogs 5 months and up! We focus on the foundations of learning loose leash walking, sit, down, stay, come and leave it. Students are given access to our Online Obedience Foundations videos to ensure successful training.

Upcoming Class dates
Stoney Creek (890 Queenston Rd, Stoney Creek) Monday, April 29th at 7pm & 8pm
Simcoe (20 Upper Wellington St, Simcoe) Thursday, April 18th at 7pm

Learn more

This program includes:

– Four 60 minute group classes

– Unlimited support throughout the course to ensure you have success between each class

– Discounted rate on all future private training

– Access to our exclusive client only Facebook group for further support

– Access to our Holistic Nutrition Course

Investment: $175 plus HST

Requirements: Proof of age appropriate vaccinations or titres

Contact us today to sign up for Obedience Foundations!

dog walking exercise schnauzer ancaster

Advanced Obedience (Level 2) Group Training

Our Advanced Obedience really fine tunes your dogs skills and is an opportunity to earn your dog’s Perfect Pet Certificate. It is a 4 week program that covers sit/stay and down/stay (with distance, distractions, and duration beyond what is taught in level 1), loose leash walking (outside with distractions and challenges), recall (coming when called with distractions), leave it command, drop command, place command (with distance, distractions, and duration beyond what is taught in level 1). 

Upcoming class dates
Stoney Creek (890 Queenston Rd, Stoney Creek) Monday, April 29th at 6pm

Learn more

– Four 60 minute group classes

– Unlimited support throughout the course to ensure you have success between each class

– Discounted rate on all future training

– Access to our exclusive client only Facebook group for further support

– Access to our Holistic Nutrition Course

Investment: $195 plus HST

Requirements: Completion of Level 1 Obedience (or private training equivalent) with proof of age appropriate vaccinations or titres

Contact us today to sign up for Advanced Obedience!

 

What is the Perfect Pet Certificate?

Perfect Pet Certificate Exam

The Perfect Pet Certificate tests your dog on a variety of skills including socialization, obedience, and manners. This is a non-competitive test, open to all dogs over the age of 6 months old. During exam, the dog must demonstrate a calm and confident demeanor. Handlers are permitted to give verbal commands or hand signals, but are not allowed to repeat commands, lure, distract, or correct during the exam. Food rewards are permitted after each test. In addition to the 10 skills to be demonstrated, dog must appear to be in good health, clean and groomed regularly. The Perfect Pet Certificate Test The test is comprised of 10 skills: 1. Greet and accept touch from a stranger – Dog must politely greet and accept petting from a stranger. Handler may ask the dog to sit but it is not required. Handler may not give further commands. 2. Walk loose leash through distractions – Dog must demonstrate their ability to walk past distractions while maintaining a loose leash. Handler may use a “heel” command but is not permitted to attempt to distract the dog. Dog may look at distractions, but must not stare for more than 3 seconds or show signs of excitement or distress. 3. Sit on command and stay – Dog must respond to the first command. Handler may use the word stay only once, and dog must stay in place for 2 minutes with the handler 6 feet in front of the dog. Dog must ignore mild distractions like people, and dogs moving around the room no closer than 15 feet. 4. Down on command and stay – Dog must respond to the first command. Handler may use the word stay only once, and dog must stay in place for 2 minutes with the handler 6 feet in front of the dog. Dog must ignore mild distractions like people, and dogs moving around the room no closer than 15 feet. 5. Come on command – Handler is to put the dog in a sit, unclip the leash, and walk away from the dog to 30 ft. Dog must maintain the sit while handler walks away. Once at 30 feet the handler will call the dog to front with a sit. Dog must maintain the sit until they are leashed up and released. 6. Leave it command – Dog is permitted to sit or stand, handler will toss food no further than 3 feet from the dog and give the “leave it” command. Dog must display an understanding of leave it and not move towards the food for 30 seconds. Handler to pick up the food from the floor. 7. Walk through doorway – Dog must present manners going through 2 doorways, one indoors and one leading to outdoors. Dog must be beside or behind handler while walking through. 8. Separation from handler – Handler is to hand the leash over to the evaluator and leave the room. Dog must remain calm and not display discomfort or anxiety and not display anything more than mild agitation. 9. Relax by feet – Handler is to sit down on a chair and may ask the dog to down (command not required). Dog must display the ability to lie quietly and calmly by the handler’s feet for 5 minutes. Whining, circling, pacing, barking is not permitted. 10 . Examination – Evaluator will perform a basic exam on the dog by touching the body, legs, feet, ears, mouth, and tail (mock vet exam). Dog must accept with showing no more than mild agitation.