Our popular Life Skills program is now offered in multiple formats! This program is perfect for puppies, new dogs, adolescents, and new adoptions. We cover all “the basics” of manners training and easier living with your dog! You can find full content details on each program webpage.
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.
In-Person Life Skills is great for those living in or near Guelph who enjoy the accountability that comes with a in-person, weekly interaction, and whose schedule allows for consecutive classes for this six-week program.
THIS is what you get to bring home from a Puppy Party!
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 75min of play, fun, socialization, confidence building and more. At the end of the Puppy Party, come back to our door for a no-contact pick up of your zonked out puppy.
For puppies to start between 8-18wks, until they age out of the program (dependant on size, development, and play skills)
Puppies must:
be up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccinations
be dewormed
have appropriate documentation, as outlined below
have been adopted/home at least 7 days prior to the Puppy Party
Wear a body harness (for safety reasons)
Important Health Requirement:
Before your puppy can attend her first Puppy Party, health documentation is STRICTLY required. The following must be in place:
Vaccination of at least ONE set of age appropriate vaccines, including Parvo-Distemper
Deworming
We can accept the following forms of documentation:
A clear photo or scan of your puppy’s vet papers, showing vaccination and deworming
An email from your local vet clinic stating that your puppy has received the above
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.
Take note that if this documentation isn’t received prior to your first Puppy Party, your puppy will not be able to attend and credit cannot be transferred/refunded.
Pricing
Standard Pricing: $30+HST (=$33.90 total)
SPECIAL DISCOUNT for puppies in our training classes: $20+HST (=$22.60 total) Join the All-Ages Life Skills Program, or Private Training to access this discount! Discounts cannot be applied retroactively.
Register Here!
Follow the below steps to register for Puppy Parties!
Email the required Health Documentation (above) to the office.
Book your Play Group below! If there are two groups available: – 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 – If your group isn’t on the schedule, contact the office
Send payment via email money transfer to complete registration (include puppy’s name and party dates in the message). Your booking is tentative until payment is received, unpaid registrations will be removed form the calendar without additional notice.
Check your email for instructions.
Book Your Puppy Party!
If a party is full, check back later or contact the office to be put on the waitlist!
Winter Weather Advisory: Puppy Parties will NOT be cancelled unless the weather is truly extreme – be prepared for our Canadian winters! Credit/refund will not be available for a missed Party unless the Party itself is canceled/rescheduled.
New curb-side drop-off procedures are in place to comply with the most recent (Jan 12) lockdown regulations. Review your email after registration for details.
Parties will be scheduled with less lead time than previously due to the potential for unpredictable changes to regulations/permissions. Please check back closer to the date for schedule updates!
Dog training in the age of Social Distancing… it CAN be done!
The COVID-19 pandemic has created lots of barriers in our lives, but luckily we can achieve the same great training results with the wonders of modern technology!
Virtual Life Skills is an all-ages manners and obedience program, appropriate for puppies and adult dogs alike – with the BONUS All Things Puppy Classroom for puppies under 6mo!
Who says learning can’t happen on the couch?
We will cover topics including:
Come when called
Settle and stay on a mat
Polite leash walking
Dealing with distractions
Polite greetings with people
Prevent running out the front door
Impulse control around food
Preventing “Counter surfing”
And more!
See what students say about our various virtual training programs!
Just click the image to read it.
How Does Virtual Life Skills Training Work?
Using a virtual classroom called Google Classrooms, you will be guided through training exercises with video demonstrations, verbal descriptions and written instructions. You will also receive entirely personalized feedback on your training from your instructor! This is NOT just a video tutorial.
Each exercise is broken down into easy-to-follow steps, and you will receive personalized support and guidance as you train your dog.
Train at your own pace and on your own schedule
Join class any time
Eight weeks access to dynamic content and personal guidance and training support
Access to the handy reference manual after your program is completed which includes written and video instructions for all training exercises
Technology requirements are:
A basic understanding of computer/internet use, including recording a video
Internet capacity that allows for watching and uploading videos
Puppy students receive FREE access to the All Things Puppy Classroom for information on socialization and problem prevention that is specific to puppies – including guidance on nipping, house training, crate training and more!
Want to try out Google Classroom?
You are encouraged to access the test classroom and familiarize yourself with how the platform works before registering. Simply:
Click the plus sign in the top right corner (click for image)
Enter the code “irzbk3g”
Watch this demo of Virtual Life Skills! (Note: the platform and content is the same, however now you can progress through at your own pace. This video will be updated to reflect this shortly!)
Register for Virtual Life Skills!
This program is not interchangeable with the in-person Life Skills Program. You cannot transfer between programs after registration.
Life Skills is an all-ages manners and obedience program, appropriate for puppies, adolescents and adult dogs alike.
We will cover topics such as:
Come when called
Settle and stay on a mat
Polite leash walking
Dealing with distractions
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 with a flexible start date
Life Skills Online Resource Classroom including videos of training exercises and bonus material
If there is a COVID related closure, illness or quarantine, you will be transferred directly to Virtual Life Skills to seamlessly complete the program!
Puppies! You get all of the above PLUS:
Access to the All Things Puppy Classroom for quick answers on common puppy issues, such as house training, nipping, crate training and more
Submit the registration form below and specify your preferred class day. We’ll confirm the next available start date.
Once your start date is selected, submit payment within 24hrs to confirm your spot
Attend SIX consecutive weeks of in-person training classes with your dog
COVID-19 Precautions
Masks that cover the nose/mouth and without vents are strictly mandatory when indoors and sanitizer is provided, as directed by WDG Public Health. No vented masks or gaitors/scarves.
Small group class size and limited attendance
Frequent cleaning and disinfection of the premises
Social/Physical Distancing in effect
Puppy Party Drop-offs prevent contact between owners while maintaining socialization benefits for your puppy. Drop off your pup, play and socialization will be managed by your trainer, and you bring home a tired puppy!
In the event of a COVID-related closure, illness, quarantine, or other issue that prevents either the running or attendance of in-person classes, students will immediately transition seamlessly into the Virtual Life Skills Program to complete their program in an online format including personal feedback and guidance.
Masks are mandatory, and must cover the nose and mouth, no vents or neck gaiters. Virtual or outdoor private training is the best option for those who are uncomfortable in or unable to wear a mask.
One person per dog is permitted in the facility in order to allow for distancing. Family members may switch off each class.
In case of ANY COVID-related closure or absence, including illness, quarantine or isolation, your program will transfer directly to the Virtual Life Skills Program. No refund, credit or other service will be provided in this circumstance.
Your program will run for six consecutive weeks from the confirmed start date (save for clearly stated holidays/cancellations). Make up classes are not available, however you will have access to class instructions in order to keep up.
Your new dog/puppy must be living with you for at least 7 days prior to your first class.
Documentation of vaccination (Parvo/Distemper, Rabies if applicable) is required for ALL dogs.
Because COVID symptoms mimic regular cold and flu, should your instructor become ill class will be put on hold and run an extra week in length. Please leave an extra week of availability after your program to accommodate possibility of this safety procedure.
Schedule: Tuesdays at 6pm and 7:15pm Wednesdays at 6pm Each class runs 50-60min in length
Start any time space is available and attend six consecutive weeks of class. Your start date will be confirmed upon registration, or contact the office for availability.
Pricing: $269+HST 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
Winter Weather Advisory: Classes will NOT be cancelled unless the weather is truly extreme – be prepared for our Canadian winters! If you feel unsafe driving in winter weather, or are coming from a distance, please consider joining Virtual Life Skills instead. Check the Online Resource Classroom for content if you have to miss a class. If a class is cancelled you will be contacted directly.
The Orientation Webinar is a free, no-obligation webinar that is open to everyone.
View as the prerequisite for group classes and private training – or simply to see what we’re all about!
Register below to receive an email immediately with details and links to view, and you can get started in class immediately!
Get Started!
Register below by clicking on the bold date and receive full instructions via auto-email.Contact the office if you don’t immediately see an email.
Note: The date noted is for admin purposes only. Select the bolded date and register to receive an email with full instructions on how to get started in class.
“Socialization: That just means having friends over and going to the dog park, right…?”
Think again!
You’ve probably heard about socialization, but do you really know what that means? Often, “common knowledge” approaches to socialization can do more damage than they do good. Proper socialization is like a ‘behavioural vaccine’ that can protect your puppy from developing a multitude of behaviour problems as an adult.
Did you know that this “window of socialization” closes at a very young age?
Do you know what are you doing now that might be putting your puppy at risk as an adult?
Are you missing critical pieces of the socialization puzzle?
Come learn about Socialization, what it is, what you need to do, and what you need to avoid.
