PUPPY AND DOG CLASSES

Note: The WHS follows puppy socialization protocol from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Read its position statement on puppy socialization here.

PUPPY MANNERS

The first step in raising a well-mannered, educated dog is working on puppy manners and setting you and your puppy up with a good foundation. This class gives young dogs a chance to learn good behaviour at a critical time in their lives.

You’ll help your puppy develop important skills such as listening during distractions, inhibiting play-bites, and feeling comfortable when humans handle their food, teeth and bodies. This class is for puppies up to 4 months old at the start of classes.

IMPORTANT NOTE – This class is not suitable for dogs who exhibit reactive or fearful behaviours. These behaviours could include, but are not limited to barking, growling, and lunging when seeing other dogs or people. If you are experiencing reactivity with your dog, please take a look at our Reactive Rover program!

Classes are approximately 60 minutes in length, run for 6 continual weeks, and are held in the Joyce Gauthier Training Centre.

Want to get the most out of your puppy manners class? Read this important information.

Note: Puppies are required to have had their first round of vaccinations and can attend class 8 days after that. In addition they will need Bordetella, which is not a core vaccination.

Fee: $150

$25 cancellation fee. Sorry, no refunds if cancellation occurs two weeks or less before classes start.

Registration for classes will close 3 days before classes begin, please email [email protected] for inquiries for classes that are about to start or to be put on a wait list for the next round of classes.

Schedule:

Sundays, starting September 10th 11:30am-12:30pm with Hannah from Candor Canine Co

September 10th, September 17th, September 24th, October 1st, October 8th Skip for Thanksgiving,  October 15th, October 22nd

Wednesdays, starting September 13th 6:15pm-7:15pm with Hannah from Candor Canine Co

September 13th, September 20th, September 27th, October 4th, October 11th, October 18th

PUPPY PLAY GROUP

Puppy Play Group is the perfect opportunity for extra socialization for your puppy in a safe, supervised, and clean environment. Giving lots of opportunities for your puppy to socialize with other dogs and people is critical at this age and it is the most important thing you can do to ensure your puppy grows up friendly and well-adjusted.

Off-leash play with other puppies is one of the best ways to help your puppy learn and practice effective dog-to-dog communication, which serves them well later in life! Knowledgeable staff and volunteers will monitor the playgroups and Behaviour staff will be available to answer questions you may have about your new puppy.

Puppy Playgroups are for puppies for 20 weeks and under.

Classes are held in the Joyce Gauthier Centre and run for 45 minutes.

Note: Puppies are required to have had their first round of vaccinations a minimum of 8 days before attending puppy socials. In addition, they will need Bordetella, which is not a core vaccination. **Proof of vaccination must be provided at the start of the Puppy Play Group.**

Fee: $15/session

Schedule:

Saturdays, starting September 9th 12:00pm-12:45pm

September 9^th, September 16^th, September 23^rd, September 30^th, October 7^th

FAMILY DOG I

Does your Canine companion need some basic manners training? Do you feel like you and your dog are speaking different languages? This is the class for you. Training dogs is all about communication and communication is a two way street. Dogs will act like dogs until we teach them what we expect to be a good family member. We work on the basics in this class: sit, down, stay, come, polite greetings, leash manners, go to mat, and leave it.

IMPORTANT NOTE – This class is not suitable for dogs who exhibit reactive or fearful behaviours.  These behaviours could include, but are not limited to barking, growling, and lunging when seeing other dogs or people. If you are experiencing reactivity with your dog, please take a look at our Reactive Rover program!

Fee: $150
Class length: 6 weeks
Note: We do require that dogs attending classes are up to date on their Rabies, Parvo-Distemper, and Bordetella vaccinations. Proof of vaccinations is required.

$25 cancellation fee. Sorry, no refunds if cancellation occurs two weeks or less before classes start.

Registration for classes will close 3 days before classes begin, please email [email protected] for inquiries for classes that are about to start or to be put on a wait list for the next round of classes.

Schedule:

Saturdays, starting September 9th 10:15am-11:15am with Hannah from Candor Canine Co

September 9th, September 16th, September 23rd, September 30th, October 7th Skip for Thanskgiving, October 14th, October 21st

Sundays, starting September 10th 10:15am-11:15am with Hannah from Candor Canine Co

September 10th, September 17th, September 24th, October 1st, October 8th Skip for Thanksgiving,  October 15th, October 22nd

Tuesdays, starting September 12th 6:15pm-7:15pm with Hannah from Candor Canine Co

September 12th, September 19th, September 26th, October 3rd, October 10th, October 17th

Thursdays, starting September 14th 6:15pm-7:15pm with Cassandra from Candor Canine Co

September 14th, September 21st, September 28th, October 5th, October 12th, October 19th

Sessions are updated on the website periodically. Please call 204-988-8808 if you have difficulty booking a class.

FAMILY DOG II

Are you looking to spend some quality time with your dog? Are you looking for more enriching activities to help you enhance the skills you already learnt through basic manners or obedience class? This class introduces you to a variety of fun games and enrichment activities that you can do with your dog! To get the most from this class, we recommend that you and your dog have completed a basic manner or behaviour class such as our Family Dog. Please call us at 204-988-8808 to discuss whether this is the right class for you and your dog!

IMPORTANT NOTE – This class is not suitable for dogs who exhibit reactive or fearful behaviours.  These behaviours could include, but are not limited to barking, growling, and lunging when seeing other dogs or people. If you are experiencing reactivity with your dog, please take a look at our Reactive Rover program!

Fee: $150
Class length: 6 weeks
Note: We do require that dogs attending classes are up to date on their Rabies, Parvo-Distemper, and Bordetella vaccinations. Proof of vaccinations is required.

$25 cancellation fee. Sorry, no refunds if cancellation occurs two weeks or less before classes start.

Registration for classes will close 3 days before classes begin, please email [email protected] for inquiries for classes that are about to start or to be put on a wait list for the next round of classes.

Schedule:
TBD

REACTIVE ROVER I

Do you walk your dog at odd hours because your dog barks and lunges when he sees another dog? A dog’s overreaction while on a leash is a common problem and traditional approaches using corrections and punishment only make it worse. Let us help you and your dog enjoy your walks together using proven dog and human friendly methods. Special equipment may be required, for example head harness and/or body harness. The first class is for humans only — no dogs!

Fee: $200
Class length: 6 weeks
Note: We do require that dogs attending classes are up to date on their Rabies, Parvo-Distemper, and Bordetella vaccinations. Proof of vaccinations is required.

$25 cancellation fee. Sorry, no refunds if cancellation occurs two weeks or less before classes start.

Registration for classes will close 3 days before classes begin, please email [email protected] for inquiries for classes that are about to start or to be put on a wait list for the next round of classes.

Schedule:

Saturdays, starting September 9th 8:45am-9:45am with Hannah from Candor Canine Co

September 9th, September 16th, September 23rd, September 30th, October 7th Skip for Thanskgiving, October 14th, October 21st

Sundays, starting September 10th 8:45am-9:45am with Hannah from Candor Canine Co

September 10th, September 17th, September 24th, October 1st, October 8th Skip for Thanksgiving,  October 15th, October 22nd

Tuesdays, starting September 12th 7:45pm-8:45pm with Hannah from Candor Canine Co

September 12th, September 19th, September 26th, October 3rd, October 10th, October 17th

Wednesdays, starting September 13th 7:45pm-8:45pm with Hannah from Candor Canine Co

September 13th, September 20th, September 27th, October 4th, October 11th, October 18th

Thursdays, starting September 14th 7:45pm-8:45pm with Cassandra from Candor Canine Co

September 14th, September 21st, September 28th, October 5th, October 12th, October 19th