Group Dog Training
Classes in Moose Jaw

Puppies can attend puppy class between 8 weeks and 5 months of age. For medium and large breed puppies, we usually recommend starting between 8-14 weeks. For small breed puppies, starting around 12-16 weeks is often a better fit, depending on their size, confidence, and readiness for a group class setting.

Puppies should have at least their first set of vaccinations a minimum of 7 days before attending puppy class, along with their first deworming. They should also stay up to date with their vaccine schedule throughout the class. This follows guidance shared by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, which support safe early socialization before puppies are fully vaccinated.

For your puppy’s specific vaccine schedule, please follow your veterinarian’s recommendations.

Some classes can be a good fit for reactive dogs, but it depends on the dog, the severity of the behaviour, and what the person means by “reactive.”

We generally define reactivity as a dog who barks, lunges, charges, or becomes difficult to redirect around triggers such as dogs, people, animals, vehicles, or moving objects.

For some fearful or anxious dogs, our Mantrailing classes can be a helpful confidence-building activity because the focus is on sniffing, searching, and working independently in a lower-pressure way. Our Outdoor Manners & Walking class may also be a good next step for dogs who have already completed private training with us for reactivity and are ready to practise around more outside distractions.

For most dogs with active reactivity concerns, we usually recommend starting with private training before joining a group class. This helps us make sure the class environment is safe, productive, and supportive for you, your dog and the others in class.

All of our group classes are hosted at our training facility located at 710 Fairford St West unit #3 in Moose Jaw. With the exception of our Outdoor Manners & Walking class and Mantrailing class. These are often hosted within Spring Creek Park in Moose Jaw but location is confirmed within our registration form.

The best class for your dog depends on their age, current skill level, and what goals or challenges you are working on right now.

For puppies 5 months and younger, Puppy Class is usually the best starting point. Once a dog is older than 5 months, Adolescent Dog Class is often the next step, even if they have not attended puppy class before. It is also a good entry point for adult dogs who are newly adopted, have not taken any group classes, or need help with listening, focus, manners, and relationship-building.

Outdoor Manners & Walking class is one of our more challenging classes because the environment is constantly changing and more distracting. Dogs should usually complete an adolescent or adult group class before joining. Dogs who have completed private training with us may also be able to join this class directly if it is a good fit.

Mantrailing is a little different. It is open to dogs of many ages, sizes, and temperaments because it is focused on fun, confidence-building, sniffing, and letting dogs use their natural instincts in a positive way.

To keep it simple, Puppy Class is best for puppies under 5 months. Adolescent Dog Class is the usual starting point for older puppies, adolescent dogs, and many adult dogs. Mantrailing is open to a wider range of dogs, and Outdoor Manners is best for dogs who already have some basic training experience.

You can reach us anytime via any of our contact forms on this site, email ndlb@sasktel.net or call/text 306-630-5801. We aim to respond quickly, typically within one business day.

Our training focuses heavily on positive reinforcement, gentle handling, and clear communication between you and your dog.

We do not endorse tools such as prong collars, choke chains, slip leads used for corrections, or electronic collars. That said, we also do not believe in shaming people who have used these tools or who are unsure where to start. Our goal is to meet you and your dog where you are, help you understand your options, and guide you toward approaches that are practical, effective, and kind.

We aim to make training simple, realistic, and lasting while using the least intrusive and most dog-friendly methods possible. Our focus is always on helping dogs learn, helping people feel supported, and building a better relationship between the two.

It is very common for dogs to bark, get excited, or have trouble focusing in a group class environment, especially at the beginning.

Our trainers will help you navigate this in a supportive way, and many dogs begin to settle in and make noticeable progress within the first class or two. Group classes are also a great place for dogs to learn how to focus and respond around common distractions.

If we feel the class environment is not the best fit for your dog at that time, we will talk with you about the next best step. In some cases, unused classes may be applied as a credit toward private training so your dog can get more personalized support before returning to a group setting.