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 PREP SCHOOL

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. This class may appear on the scheduler as “Puppy Manners” when you go to book.

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 5 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.

Fee: $150
Class length: 5 weeks
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.

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

Registration for classes will close 5 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 11:30am-12:30pm – Oct 19, Oct 26, Nov 2, Nov 9, and Nov 16

PUPPY PLAYGROUP

Puppy Playgroup 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.

Safe and supervised 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 60 minutes.

Fee: $20/session
Class length: Single, 1 hour session
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.**

Schedule:

Saturdays: 11am–12pm
September 7
September 14
September 21
October 5
October 12

Saturdays: 3pm–4pm
October 19
October 26
November 2

LEVEL ONE

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. This class may appear on the scheduler as “Family Dog 1” when you go to book.

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: 5 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 5 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:

Tuesdays 6:30pm-7:30pm – Oct 15, Oct 22, Oct 29, Nov 5, Nov 12 – FULL

Saturdays 10am-11am – Oct 19, Oct 26, Nov 2, Nov 9, Nov 16 – FULL

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

REACTIVITY 101

Do you walk your dog at odd hours because your dog barks and lunges when they see 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. This class may appear on the scheduler as “Reactive Rover 1” when you go to book. The first class is for humans only — no dogs!

Fee: $200
Class length: 5 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 5 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:

Tuesdays – 8pm-9pm – Oct 15, Oct 22, Oct 29, Nov 5, Nov 12 – FULL

Thursdays – 6:30pm-7:30pm – Oct 17, Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14 – FULL

Thursdays – 8pm-9pm – Oct 17, Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14 – FULL

Saturdays 8:30am-9:30am – Oct 19, Oct 26, Nov 2, Nov 9, Nov 16 – FULL