A Foundation Program for Companion and Future Service Dogs

Puppy Socialization Group Classes in the Park

Raising a puppy goes beyond teaching commands. It is about shaping how your dog learns, responds, and navigates the world.

This outdoor group program is designed to give puppies a strong behavioural foundation using the same principles applied in service dog development, but adapted for everyday dog owners.

Whether your goal is a well-adjusted companion or you are considering a future working role for your dog, this program focuses on the skills that matter most: attention, emotional regulation, and the ability to learn in real-world environments.

Why Train in the Park?

Broholmer puppy sitting on a cement stair

Training in a controlled outdoor setting allows puppies to learn where it matters most: around real-life distractions.

Rather than working in an artificial environment, your puppy learns to:

  • Stay connected to you around dogs and people
  • Process new environments without becoming overwhelmed
  • Develop neutrality and impulse-control instead of overexcitement, fear, or aggression

What Your Puppy Will Learn

This program goes beyond basic obedience. Each exercise is designed to support how dogs learn through observation, interaction, and experience.

We focus on:

  • Attention and Check-Ins: teaching your puppy to voluntarily look to you for guidance
  • Emotional Regulation: helping your dog remain calm and responsive in stimulating environments
  • Social Cognitive Learning: learning around other dogs without frustration, fear, or over-arousal
  • Foundational Skills: sit, recall, drop it, and leash walking
  • Environmental Confidence: building resilience What Your Puppy Will Learn

This program goes beyond basic obedience. Each exercise is designed to support how dogs learn through observation, interaction, and experience.

We focus on:

  • Attention and Check-Ins: teaching your puppy to voluntarily look to you for guidance
  • Emotional Regulation: helping your dog remain calm and responsive in stimulating environments
  • Social Cognitive Learning: learning around other dogs without frustration, fear, or over-arousal
  • Foundational Skills: sit, recall, drop it, and leash walking
  • Environmental Confidence: building resilience 

Program Structure

Classes are intentionally kept small (maximum of 4 dogs) to ensure each puppy receives individual guidance while benefiting from a group learning environment.

This allows for:

  • Personalized coaching
  • Safe, structured social exposure
  • Better learning outcomes
  • Flexible and adaptable exercises 
  

5 consecutive 1h weekly classes

  • Held outdoors in the park
  • Rotating curriculum 
  • Support progressive learning 
  • Ongoing registration

Classes are Monday nights at 6:00 pm.
Registration is mandatory.

A Different Approach to Puppy Training

French bulldog puupy in a harness witting in the grass in a park during group puppy class

Many puppy classes focus on teaching behaviours. 

This program focuses on developing a dog who can think, adapt, and stay connected to you, even in complex environments.

Food is used as a reward within the learning process, but not as a lure or bribe. This allows behaviours to emerge through understanding and engagement, rather than dependence on visible rewards.

That difference is what defines service dog training, and it’s what we bring into this class.

Who This Program Is For

This program is ideal for:

  • Puppies in early development stages, aged between 7 and 12 weeks
  • Dog owners who want more than basic obedience
  • Those interested in laying the groundwork for advanced or service dog training

Important Considerations

Consistency is an important part of your puppy’s learning process. For this reason:

  • Classes are non-transferable
  • Missed classes are not rescheduled
  • Commitment to all 5 sessions is strongly recommended