Everything a developing baby puppy needs!  There are four unique Puppy Elements classes with the activities changing every week. Our socialization classes make the most out of a puppy’s primary socialization period (before 16 weeks) and includes off-leash puppy interaction opportunities, handling exercises, object and equipment socialization, confidence building with agility and fitness equipment,  skills (like “sit”, coming when called, polite leash walking) and more! The first goal when raising a puppy is to start socializing (ideally) before 12 weeks old. 

What classes should I  register for? We recommend attending once a week for 4 consecutive weeks.

Prerequisite: Families must enroll in Puppy 101 online and complete the Introduction & Socialization lessons and quizzes before the date of their first in-person socialization class.

Do you have a puppy over 16 weeks old? Check out our Puppy Foundations classes for senior puppies instead.

The online course is divided into a 6 week course, but can be done at any pace. It covers how to troubleshoot basic unwanted behaviours (like begging at the table, jumpy greetings, counter surfing), and teaches a variety of training concepts and skills like sit/down, a reliable recall (coming when called), self-control (like ‘leave-it’),  settling on a place, and more.  

Puppy Foundations is now taught through an ONLINE COURSE geared towards dogs of all ages called: CANINE FOUNDATIONS.

Those with dogs under 10 months old looking for in-person coaching on the content covered in Canine Foundations can sign up for these group coaching sessions. Families signed up for weekly group sessions will need to watch the videos online before class and practice the week’s skills at home (ideally starting 5 – 7 days in advance of their in-person session).

Coaching sessions will include refreshers of the online content, but are not instructional in nature. Group coaching sessions are practice time with the help of a trainer to coach you and your dog through the skills for the week plus Q&A time. Students who appear to not be practicing at home may be excused from future attendance.

The first in-person session in the series is a HUMAN ONLY orientation and Q&A session.

Students MUST follow along with the online Canine Foundations course at home.

Introduction to K9 Nose Work class is for dogs brand new to scent detection. This class cultivates your dog’s natural scenting abilities and turns them into a super sniffer that’s ready to find hides in interior search areas and in containers both in and outdoors. Dogs in this class hone their searching skills by searching for their favourite food (or toy); essential oil odors are introduced in part two.

No prior training is needed. Open to dogs of all breeds and ages.

Introduction to K9 Nose Work: Intro to Odor class is for dogs that have built strong foundational skills from searching for primary reward. We will transfer the dog’s search skills from seeking out food/toy and onto searching for a target odor. We will building value for birch essential oil while continuing to work on foundational skills. 

Dogs should be confidently and independently searching for food or toys in and out of boxes before enrolling in this course and being introduced to target odor.

Novice Continuing K9 Nose Work classes is for dogs that are new to searching for odor. We will continue to build foundational skills like problem solving and independent hunt drive while ensuring the dogs are having fun. This class includes container, interior, and exterior searches and may include vehicle searches. Dogs will be introduced to up to 2 new odors. 

Completion of Intro to Odor class required. Dogs should be on birch odor, at minimum. 

Intermediate Continuing K9 Nose Work classes dive deeper into scent detection with fun new detection puzzles and team building! Geared toward dogs who have a solid understanding of odor and handlers looking for intermediate level searches. Teams will begin to navigate new challenges while also revisiting foundational skills with games and a variety of different search areas. In this class handlers will also work on honing their leash handling skills.

There may be a field trip off-premises during your 6 week term.

Permission from instructor required to attend this class. Dogs should be on birch, cypress, anise, and clove odor. 

Advanced Continuing K9 Nose Work classes will start to put your team to the test with opportunities to search blind and take on new challenges!  Teams may encounter new challenges like suspended hides, high level distractors, buried hides and complex search challenges in addition to basic searches and games designed to build motivation and reinforce foundational skills.

There may be a field trip off-premises during your 6 week term.

Permission from instructor required to attend this class.