Obedience Courses at the Calgary Humane Society

Join us for a fun session of training and socializing your dog. It's a short time commitment for long-term results! Scroll down to find out more...

Please note that because of insurance restrictions, all dog handlers must be 18 years of age or older.

To register, please print off a registration form and a release form for the class you are interested in. 

Obedience

Pup Camp - puppy kindergarten

For puppies 10 to 18 weeks of age with their second vaccines. This class provides the perfect opportunity to learn how to properly socialize your puppy to new sights and sounds in a safe and positive environment. Get the latest tips on housetraining and relationship skills, along with starting basic skills like name attention, position commands and recall. The Tellington Touch method is integrated into all the classes to add increased handling ability along with relationship growth.  All students receive a copy of Taking Care of Puppy Business, by Gail Pivar & Leslie Nelson as well as handouts.

Classes are one hour long and run for six consecutive weeks. 

Cost: $160. Society members and owners of puppies adopted from the Society pay only $125. Fees are non-refundable.

Start Dates:
Monday, August 18 at 8:00pm
Wednesday, August 20 at 7:00pm
Wednesday, October 1 at 7:00pm
Monday, October 6 at 6:00pm
Saturday, October 18 at 9:00am or 11:00am

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Download and print a Pup Camp registration form and a release form.

Polite Pooches - basic adult dog obedience

This course is a great first step in developing a lifelong friendship with your four-legged best friend. Learn positive, gentle methods to help communicate how you want your dog to behave. Basic obedience skills are covered along with Tellington Touch, and leading and teaching your dog self control. Sessions run for one hour for six consecutive weeks. In addition to Calgary Humane Society handouts, all students receive a copy of How to be the Leader of the Pack, by Patricia McConnell.

Requirements: Dogs must be spayed or neutered, older than 5 months and must have up-to-date vaccinations. Your dog must be sociable with other dogs not reactive, examples of reactive behaviors - barking, growling, etc.

Cost: $160. Society members and the owners of dogs adopted from the Society pay only $125. Fees are non-refundable.

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Start Dates:
Saturday, July 19 at 10:15am
Thursday, July 24 at 6:00pm
Saturday, August 9 at 2:00pm or 3:00pm
Wednesday, August 20 at 6:00pm
Sunday, September 7 at 2:15pm
Wednesday, October 1 at 6:00pm
Monday, October 6 at 7:00pm or 8:00pm
Saturday, October 18 at 10:00am
Saturday, October 25 at 2:00pm or 3:00pm

Download and print a Polite Pooches registration form and a release form.

Specialty

Reactive Rover

This course is for dogs over six months of age with known aggression or reactivity. This concern will be addressed through learning how dogs communicate, examining your relationship with your dog, teaching appropriate behaviour and rewarding it. The small class size (maximum of five dogs) provides encouragement and a positive learning environment for the dogs and handlers! The Tellington Touch method is integrated in to all the classes to add increased ability to handle and lead, along with relationship growth.

In addition to Calgary Humane Society handouts, all students receive a copy of How to be the Leader of the Pack, by Patricia McConnell, and Feisty Fido, by Patricia McConnell and Karen London.

Requirements: Dog must be neutered/spayed and over 6 months. Dog also must be up to date on vaccinations.

Cost: $250. Society members and the owners of dogs adopted from the Society pay only $220. Fees are non-refundable.

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Start Dates:
Tuesday, July 22 at 5:30pm (Outside Class - Weather permitting)
Sunday, November 9 at 6:00pm, 7:15pm or 8:30pm

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Download and print a Reactive Rover information sheet, registration form and a release form.

Reactive Rover II

This course is for dogs with known aggression and/or reactivity concerns, which have completed the Calgary Humane Society’s Reactive Rover class, and would like to continue to work on increasing their dog’s skills.

It can be very difficult to take skills taught in a controlled classroom setting and apply them to everyday walks in new situations. This 6-week class will take place in many different park locations around the city of Calgary to allow for different experience and generalization of skills.

Requirements: Dog must be neutered/spayed and over 6 months. Dog also must be up to date on vaccinations.

Cost: $250. Society members and the owners of dogs adopted from the Society pay only $220. Fees are non-refundable.

Start Dates:
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:00pm

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE and parks throughout the City

Download and print a Reactive Rover II information sheet, registration form and a release form.

Toto Recall and Retrieve

Toto Recall and Retrieve is a course designed to develop a stronger relationship with your dog. You will work on your dog’s recall and get you and your dog playing fetch. These skills have many practical applications and will improve your bond with your dog. Your dog will get the benefit of both physical and mental exercise. A reliable recall will be developed through consistency and motivation and by rewarding good behaviour. Leslie Nelson’s Really Reliable Recall process and games will be used to increase your dogs understanding of these skills.

Sessions run for six consecutive weeks, one hour each week at the Calgary Humane Society. In addition to Calgary Humane Society handouts, all students receive a Long Line/Training Rope, Tug Toy and Fetching Pouch.

Requirements: Dog must be neutered/spayed and over 8 months of age. Completed a basic obedience class (preferably Loose Leashes/Polite Pooches). Dogs also must be up to date on vaccinations. Your dog must be sociable with other dogs not reactive, examples of reactive behaviors - barking, growling, etc.

Cost: $160. Society members and the owners of dogs adopted from the Society pay only $125. Fees are non-refundable.

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Start Dates:
Tuesday, September 16 at 7:00pm

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Download and print a Toto Recall registration form and a release form.

Scooby Tricks

Scooby Tricks is a course for owners and dogs who want to learn fun skills along with improving their dog’s health. The skills taught in this course will give something for owners to do with their dogs to exercise both Rover’s mind and body while remaining safe and cozy in their living room. Sessions are one hour long and run for six consecutive weeks.

Requirements: Dog must be neutered/spayed and over eight months of age. Completed a basic obedience class (preferably Loose Leashes/Polite Pooches). Dogs also must be up to date on vaccinations. Your dog must be sociable with other dogs not reactive, examples of reactive behaviors - barking, growling, etc.

Cost: $160. Society members and the owners of dogs adopted from the Society pay only $125. Fees are non-refundable.

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Start Dates:
Wednesday, August 20 at 8:00pm
Wednesday, October 1 at 8:00pm

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Download and print a Scooby Tricks registration form and a release form.

Kool Kids and Canines

This course is designed for children six to twelve years old to attend with their household dog and parent (a parent MUST attend with the child). The emphasis is on creating fun, empathetic bonds between children and dogs. Many of the skills taught during this course will be based on games and rhymes to increase the children’s enthusiasm and understanding of the process. Basic skills, such as name attention, position commands and recall, along with self control exercises for the dog will be focused on. Tellington Touch methods will also be covered during the classes

Requirements: Dog must be neutered/spayed and over six months of age. Completed a basic obedience class (preferably Loose Leashes/Polite Pooches). Dogs also must be up to date on vaccinations. Your dog must be sociable with other dogs not reactive, examples of reactive behaviors - barking, growling, etc.

Cost: $160. Society members and the owners of dogs adopted from the Society pay only $125. Fees are non-refundable.

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Start Dates: TBA

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Download and print a Kool Kids and Canines registration form and a release form.

Agility

Hop, Skip & a Jump - level 1 agility

Hop, Skip & a Jump focuses on building confidence and teamwork while learning the agility equipment foundations. Dogs will learn to perform jumps, tunnels, 6-weave poles, tires, table, A-frame, dog walk and teeter at a low beginner height. 

Requirements: Dog must be neutered/spayed and over 8 months of age. Completed a basic obedience class (preferably Loose Leashes/Polite Pooches). Dogs also must be up to date on vaccinations. Your dog must be sociable with other dogs (not reactive), if your dog is reactive please call Kirsty @ 723-6018 for additional agility options for reactive dogs. Examples of reactive behaviors - barking, growling, etc.

Cost: $160. Society members and dogs adopted from the Calgary Humane Society pay only $120. Fees are non-refundable and do not include GST.

Start Dates:
Tuesday, July 22 at 6:00pm
Thursday, September 25 at 6:00pm
Thursday, November 15 at 6:00pm

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Download and print a Hop, Skip & a Jump registration form and a release form.

Move'n Right Along - level 2 agility

Move'n Right Along continues to build on the foundation started in Hop Skip & a Jump. Dogs will begin to learn contact equipment (A-frame and dog walk) at full height along with the beginning of short sequences.  

Requirements: Dog must be neutered/spayed and over 8 months of age. Completed a basic obedience class (preferably Loose Leashes/Polite Pooches) along with Hop, Skip & a Jump. Dogs also must be up to date on vaccinations. Your dog must be sociable with other dogs (not reactive), if your dog is reactive please call Kirsty @ 723-6018 for additional agility options for reactive dogs. Examples of reactive behaviors – barking, growling etc.

Cost: $160. Society members and dogs adopted from the Calgary Humane Society pay only $120. Fees are non-refundable and do not include GST.

Start Dates:
Thursday, September 25 at 7:00pm
Thursday, November 13 at 7:00pm

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Download and print a Move'n Right Along registration form and a release form.

Agile Addicts - level 3 agility

Agile Addicts introduces dogs to direction cues and handlers to sequence running. You and your dog will develop a new level of understanding about the body language that you communicate with!  

Requirements: Dog must be neutered/spayed and over 8 months of age. Completed a basic obedience class (preferably Loose Leashes/Polite Pooches) along with Move n’ Right Along. Dogs also must be up to date on vaccinations. Your dog must be sociable with other dogs (not reactive), if your dogs is reactive please call Kirsty @ 723-6018 for additional agility options for reactive dogs. Examples of reactive behaviors – barking, growling, etc.

Cost: $160. Society members and dogs adopted from the Calgary Humane Society pay only $120. Fees are non-refundable and do not include GST.

Start Dates:
Thursday, September 25 at 8:00pm
Thursday, November 13 at 8:00pm

Location: Calgary Humane Society, 4455 110 Avenue SE

Download and print an Agile Addicts registration form and a release form.

To register, please print off a registration form, fill it out and either mail or fax them to:

Calgary Humane Society Behaviour Department, 4455 110 Avenue SE, Calgary  AB  T2C 2T7

Fax (403) 723-6053

For questions, please e-mail or call Helene at (403)723-6019.