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Dog & Puppy Group Classes

Good dogs need a little help sometimes, too. Our dog training group classes focus less on traditional obedience and more on communicating with your dog, relationship building and learning practical life skills.

Training is a life-long adventure. Dogs do not come equipped with the knowledge or skills to understand our crazy human world – it’s our job to teach them skills to help them succeed, guide them through challenges, advocate for them, and meet their instinctual needs.

Group Learning Classes Can Help With:

  • Puppy Life Skills
  • Puppy Socialization
  • Teenage Terrors
  • Life Skills And Manners
  • Having Fun With Your Dog!
  • Meeting Your Dog’s Needs
  • On-Leash Reactivity
  • Behaviour Therapy Support
Barks and Recreation Trail BC Dog Training Group Classes
“I am not sure where my dog and I would be today without the ongoing support of Sarah and the Barks team. I knew that getting a puppy would come with its own set of challenges and learning, I did not realize that adolescence was actually the life stage I needed to be prepared for, and when it hit I realized very quickly that I needed more support. I was lucky enough to have met a few people that had worked with or knew of Sarah and referred me to her. There are so many things I have loved about our time at Barks, the education I received around supporting a dog that is struggling through adolescence, the variety of class offerings that are fun for both of us, the development of a truly incredible relationship with my dog, the friends I have made along the way, and the team who feels like family. My dog and I have come SO far in our journey, and I cannot thank Sarah and barks enough for this and their ongoing support of both of us!”
- Carissa A.

Group Learning Programs Include:

Puppy Smart Start – for puppies 9-16 weeks

Team Builders – for dogs and puppies 16+ weeks

Group Walks/Hikes – on-leash practice

“The Nose Knows” Scent Detection

Toss N Fetch Canine Disc

Intro to Agility

And more!

  Puppy Smart Start

Puppies 9-16 weeks old

Our Smart Start puppy classes can help you raise your puppy to be a well-mannered and well-adjusted companion. 

Dogs must be:

  • Under 4 months old at start of classes

Puppy Pre-School and Kindergarten classes cover:

  • confidence building and environmental socialization
  • emotional regulation and impulse control
  • tolerance of body handling
  • exposure to sounds, surfaces and novel stimuli which need to be completed during your puppy’s primary socialization window before 16 weeks of age
  • foundation manners training like drop it, settle on a mat, come when called and puppy leash walking

The first 4 classes (Pre-School):

  • are held indoors at Barks and Recreation Saturdays.
  • The classroom is a sanitized and safe environment and no puppy play is included so you can start your puppy off on the right paw safely before all vaccinations are complete.

The second 4 sessions (Kindergarten):

  • are outdoors taking your socialization experience in the world around us.
  • how to get your puppy to focus on you around distractions
  • what positive socialization should really look like
  • beginning manners training. 

Includes:

  • 8 in-person small group classes (4 x Pre-School, 4 x Kindergarten)
  • a long training line
  • a whistle/clicker

Price: 8 weeks for $299.99

***SUMMER SPECIAL*** – 6 Classes for $199.99

Flexible enrollment to work around your holidays

 

Includes:
4 x Puppy Preschool Classes (4 in a row recommended)
2 x Drop-In Puppy Kindergarten Classes (1 Off Leash Socialization and 1 Around Town)

 

CLICK HERE to read about safely socializing young puppies!

START ANY SATURDAY:

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All of our group classes are small so you’ll get a lot of instructor attention

 Team Builders 1

Life skills and Manners

Puppies 16 weeks and older

Our Team Builders Class Series is fantastic if you want to learn how to train your dog yourself, and put in the time building that relationship

Dogs must be:

  • over 4 months old
  • able to take food treats in public
  • must be non-aggressive and non-reactive (excessive barking/lunging) towards people and other dogs to benefit from group classes.

Classes cover:

  • attention to you around distractions
  • self control
  • polite greetings
  • loose leash walking
  • come when called
  • stay and go to bed/stay
  • wait at boundaries
  • back up/excuse me
  • play, enrichment, exploration and leadership.

Team Builders 1 Includes:

  • 1 x Online Group Class (Self Study)
  • 5 x In-Person Group Classes
  • 2 x Drop-In Team Builders 2
  • Access to Online Classroom
  • Access to Students-only Facebook group

***SUMMER SPECIAL***

7 Classes PLUS Online Foundations Class – $279.99

 

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 Team Builders 2

Street Smarts

Grads of Team Builders 1

For graduates of Team Builders 1 who want to put their skills into practice in real world situations with the guidance of a Certified Trainer.

Dogs must be:

  • graduates of Team Builders 1

Classes cover:

  • all of the skills covered in Team Builders 1
  • Practice in different real life situations

*must be used by graduation day of Team Builders 2

Drop-In Workshops Price: $50

**SUMMER SPECIAL** $40 each

 

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Have Even More Fun!

Have Even More Fun

Training builds relationships. Have fun with your dog!

We offer a variety of fun, fulfilling recreational classes for you and your dog. Come and have fun and find out the difference sports and fun training can make in improving your dog’s behaviour.

Our fun and continuing education classes include:

  • Group Walks/Hikes
  • Sniffer Dog Classes
  • Disc Dog Classes
  • Agility Foundations*

*Team Builders or Puppy Smart Start may be a pre-requisite for this class. Some classes are only offered during certain seasons.

To learn more about our different class offerings visit this page.

To see current availability, VISIT HERE or e-mail.

 

Vaccination Requirements Dogs must be up to date on the following for all training appointments:

  • rabies
  • DHPP
  • Bordetella

Puppies require one set of Distemper/Parvo (DAPP) at 8 weeks old, 2 sets by 12 weeks (Bordetella recommended here as well), and 3 sets plus Rabies by 16 weeks.

Proof of vaccination must be provided before the appointment time. We cannot provide services to dogs without up to date vaccinations, but can accept titer test results of exemption letters from your veterinarian if your dog cannot be vaccinated for health reasons.

Cancellation Policy We have a 48-hour cancellation policy. If you are unable to provide this notice, we will charge you in full for the missed appointment if we are unable to fill the spot. Evaluations will be charged a no-show fee. We sometimes have a waiting list and if given enough notice we can fill the appointment. There is no refunds for group class cancellations less than one week from start date of classes, and no refunds or make ups for missed classes. There is no refund for pre-paid lesson packages. If you have an emergency, please let us know so that we can treat your specific situation with personal attention. We do not consider conflicts to be emergencies. This cancellation policy is necessary for our small business to continue to serve our clients in need. Please call the store to cancel an appointment. E-mail cancellations will not be accepted. Thank you for understanding.

Group Class Cancellations: 50% will be refunded if cancelling within a week of start date.     

NO REFUNDS OR CREDITS for cancellations within 48 hours of start date or after class start.

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