The Life Skills Series is your go-to for manners and obedience!

The Foundation Life Skills Program, in-person or virtual, will get you started right with your puppy or new adoption of any age. (Or maybe your old dog want to learn new tricks!)

From there, work through the Advanced Life Skills Programs for an intensive focus on advanced skill-building for distractions, come when called, stay, leave it and more!

Foundation Life Skills Program (In-Person)

In-Person Life Skills is great for those living in or near Guelph who enjoy the accountability that comes with a in-person interaction, and whose schedule allows for weekly classes in this six-class program.

Advanced Life Skills Series (In-Person)

The Advanced Life Skills Series is made up of multiple programs that you can attend in any order for a deep-dive into advanced application and skill-building of concepts introduced in the Life Skills Foundation program.

Foundation Life Skills Program (Virtual)

Virtual Life Skills is perfect for pandemic safety, for those living outside of Guelph, and owners with hectic or unpredictable schedules! Get started on-demand and receive personal feedback on your training for the duration of the 8-week program.

Puppy Play is now included in the Socialization Skills Program so Puppy Parties are not currently on the schedule. Click here for details and registration for Socialization Skills!

A Puppy Party: Socialization & Play Drop-off is the ideal way to socialize your puppy while social distancing!

Drop your pup off at our door, and we’ll take your puppy for a session of play, fun, socialization, confidence building and more. At the end of the Puppy Party, come back to our door for a minimum-contact pick up of your zonked out puppy.

Wondering about letting your 8wk old pup out to play? Check out this position statement from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour.

Want more Puppy Party videos? Check out this YouTube Playlist!

The Details:

• For puppies to start between 8-18wks, until they age out of the program (dependant on size, development, and play skills)
• Puppies must:
  • be kept up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccinations
  • be dewormed
  • have appropriate health documentation (below)
  • have been in your home at least 7 days prior to the Puppy Party
  • wear a body harness (why?)

Strict Health Documentation Requirements:

Health documentation is STRICTLY required with no exceptions nor credit/refund for failing to provide:

• At least ONE set of vaccinations for Parvovirus/Distemper, administered by a veterinarian
• Deworming

This must be provided in advance in one of the following ways:

• Photo/scan of your puppy’s vet papers, showing vaccination and deworming
• An email from your vet clinic stating that your puppy has received the above

Pricing

Standard Rate: $38+HST

Special Discount for those attending classes with Scratch and Sniff: $28 +HST

Register for a Puppy Party!

1. Read the FAQ here
2. Book your Play Group below!
   – For SHY or SMALL puppies: Book the EARLY group
   – For BOLD or LARGE puppies: Book the LATER group
   – Your puppy may need to be moved between groups depending on the other puppies present in each
3. Email the required Health Documentation (vaccination AND deworming) to the office immediately
4. Check your email for instructions.

Book Your Puppy Party!

If a party is full, check back later – New parties may be added to accommodate high enrolment.

If your puppy exhibits any sign of illness in advance of a party (for example, lethargy, gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms), please do not attend and contact the office immediately.

Puppy Play is now included in the Socialization Skills Program so Puppy Parties are not currently on the schedule. Click here for details and registration for Socialization Skills!

Life Skills is an all-ages manners and obedience program, appropriate for puppies, adolescents and adult dogs alike.

If you have a new pup, also check out the Socialization Skills Puppy Class!

We will cover topics such as:

• Come when called
• Settle and stay on a mat
• Polite leash walking
• Dealing with distractions
• Intro to polite greetings with people
• Prevent running out the front door
• Impulse control around food
• Prevent “Counter surfing”
• And more!

What you get…

• Orientation Webinar to watch before getting started
• Six weekly group classes
• Classroom Visuals for clear instruction during class time
• Life Skills Online Resource Classroom including written instructions, videos of training exercises and bonus training exercises
• Access to the All Things Puppy Classroom for quick answers on common puppy issues, such as house training, nipping, crate training and more (Also check out the Socialization Skills Puppy Class!)

Flexible Start Date

You can start class any time space is available!

1. Submit the registration form below and specify your preferred class day. We’ll confirm the next available start date.
2. Once your start date is selected, submit payment within 24hrs to confirm your spot

What you need to know:

For additional information, read the Group Class FAQs:

• Do not attend class if you are ill.
• Your program will run for six consecutive weeks from the confirmed start date (save for clearly stated holidays/cancellations). Students can keep up in the online resource classroom if absent from class.
• Your new dog/puppy must be living with you for at least 7 days prior to your first class.
• Documentation of dog vaccination administered by a veterinarian (Parvo/Distemper, Rabies if age appropriate) is required for ALL dogs.
• Should your instructor become ill class may be put on hold until recovery is confirmed. Please leave additional availability after your program to accommodate possibility of this safety procedure.

Read additional Group Class FAQ here.

Schedule and Pricing:

$295+HST

Sundays at 3pm with Kathleen
Tuesday at 6:45pm with Emily

Your start date will be confirmed upon submission of the registration form.

Weather notice: Classes will only be cancelled in truly extreme weather. Please be prepared for our Ontario winters and leave time to arrive to class safely!

Register for Life Skills!

After reading through this webpage, group FAQ and Policy, complete the form by clicking the button below and you’ll receive confirmation of your start date shortly! If you have questions, contact the office before completing the form.

Payment must be received within 24hrs in order to confirm the time slot offered to you, and vaccination documents must be received prior to your first class

Check your spam folder if you do not see a timely reply.
If you do not see an immediate auto-confirmation of this form in your email, complete the form on a different device. (That means we didn’t get it either!)