Scratch and Sniff Canine Services offers group training classes for puppies and adult dogs, as well as private sessions for reactivity, fear and aggression. The training facility is located in the heart of downtown Guelph, ON, at 37 Chapel Lane. We emphasize the use of positive reinforcement and clicker training in all group classes and private training.

What sets us apart?

Downtown Guelph’s Only Dog Training Facility

Scratch and Sniff Canine Services is a member of the  Downtown Guelph Business Association. It is the only dog training facility located in Guelph’s downtown core. Located on Chapel Lane, near Wyndam and Quebec Sts. there is ample parking available on street or in the Baker Street parking lot. Click here for a map.

Certification and Continuing Education

Emily Fisher is certified CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. The CCPDT “offers the only international, standardized certification for animal training and behaviour professionals that is both psychometrically sound and independent of any course of study.” Continuing education in the form of conferences and seminars is essential to keep certification and to offer the most up-to-date and comprehensive training to clients and their dogs. For more information on certification, professional memberships and continuing education, please view the About Us page.

Effective, Force-Free Training Methods

Positive reinforcement and clicker training isn’t just for cute tricks! It is proven in the lab, with family dogs, for serious behaviour modification/aggression cases and for dogs with jobs that require incredible reliability – including border patrol and bomb detection, service dogs, search and rescue dogs and police canine units. Training methodology will be explained in the orientation and during behaviour modification sessions because owners not only want to know ‘how’, they want to know ‘why’! Owners no longer have to accept that they must hurt their dogs with jerks to the neck or threats to make them comply; modern, force-free training creates dogs are happy to work with their people towards a common goal.

Open Enrolment for Group Classes

Our foundation classes (Puppy Socialization and Life Skills) are offered in an open enrolment format. This means that students may start class almost immediately. Don’t miss out on the critical window for socialization for your puppy! Choose your start date, any day and any time the class is offered, and you will automatically be enrolled in that time slot for the duration of your program. Take a look at the calendar here.

Small Group Class Size

Our class sizes are small to ensure an optimal learning environment with ample one-on-one instruction. Puppy Socialization classes are limited to 5 dogs and Life Skills is limited to 4 dogs.

Orientation for Group Classes

Prior to beginning classes with your dog, new students will sign up for a people-only orientation session. This session will focus on introducing students to the school and our positive training philosophy, what to expect in class, what to bring to class, and offers time to ask questions.

Real-Life Context, Everyday Manners

Classes at Scratch and Sniff Canine Services focus on teaching our dogs in real-life contexts. Training will easily carry over into everyday manners when behaviours are taught in the context of daily life.

In-Home or In-School Private Sessions
Private sessions may be scheduled at the facility or in the clients home depending on the training issue and on owner preference. Private sessions and behaviour modification sessions offer one-on-one instruction for a range of issues, including obedience and manners (such as coming when called, jumping up, leash walking, door manners, etc), puppy problem solving, aggression or reactivity toward dogs and people, guarding (protecting) resources such as food, bowls, toys, or other objects, fear and related behaviours, and much more.

FUN!

As well as learning effective training techniques, it is important to have fun! Training shouldn’t be a chore for you, and it shouldn’t be something we inflict upon our dogs. Take joy in teaching and learning through modern, force-free training techniques.

Scratch and Sniff Canine Services

37 Chapel Lane, Guelph ON