Give your Puppy the Best Start in Vancouver
Puppy Training during the critical 8-16 week socialization period sets the foundation for a happy, confident and well behaved adult dog. Our Puppy Programs focus on developmentally appropriate training, socialization and healthy play, obstacle exploration and confidence building in our purpose-built facility. Get answers to puppy training issues like leash pulling, nipping, house training, resource guarding and more
Classes are limited to 6 puppies with a high instructor-to-student ratio and 100% force-free methods throughout. Our studio is cleaned with vet-grade Prevail cleaner (the vet grade cleaner that kills Parvo) before every class and we exceed BC SPCA AnimalKind cleaning recommendations to keep your puppy safe during this critical stage. Our classes are able to be started at any time and if you need to miss a week not to worry!
All classes taught by Dr Sarah Shapiro-Ward &/Or Katrina Per-Carruthers so you know you're in excellent hands!
Credits purchased for Puppy Program roll directly into Key Skills when your puppy is ready to advance.
Puppy Classes consist of 6 modules: Confident Puppies, Smart Puppies, Independent Puppies, Focused Puppies, Relaxed Puppies and a Wildcard Puppy Module. All modules are able to be taken in any order and repeated if you so desire!
Start Anytime
No waiting for the next session start dates.
Puppy Programs run multiple times a week!
1 Credit
1 credit = 1 Class
Credits start at $50
Pricing
Max of 6 Puppies
Small classes, expert curriculum, highly qualified instructors. Extra support between classes.
Free Puppy Play!
Every Saturday Morning!
Pre-Registration Required
Our Class Schedule
Come join in the fun at The Dog School! We run Classes Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Please note that all classes including Free Puppy Play on Saturday mornings require pre-registration & an intake form
All Puppy Program Classes & Free Puppy Play are held in our Vancouver Studio.
To register for classes, please fill out our Intake Form
The schedule below shows just the next 10 classes.
Wednesday 26 August
Puppy Play (By Donation)
5:00 PM
Wednesday 26 August
Puppy Program
5:30 PM
Friday 28 August
Puppy Program
9:30 AM
Saturday 29 August
Puppy Play (By Donation)
9:30 AM
Saturday 29 August
Puppy Program
10:00 AM
Wednesday 2 September
Puppy Play (By Donation)
5:00 PM
Wednesday 2 September
Puppy Program
5:30 PM
Thursday 3 September
Puppy Program
4:30 PM
Wednesday 9 September
Puppy Play (By Donation)
5:00 PM
Wednesday 9 September
Puppy Program
5:30 PM
What You'll Learn in Puppy Classes
Puppy Program: Confident Puppies
Confident Puppies is about giving your puppy safe, positive first experiences with the things that tend to worry dogs later in life. We cover novel surfaces and obstacles, how to prevent resource guarding before it starts, and how to build genuine neutrality around other dogs.
Puppy Program: Focused Puppies
Focused Puppies covers three of the things new puppy owners ask about most. We start building a puppy recall you can rely on, tackle puppy biting properly rather than suppressing it, and develop neutrality around people so greetings stay calm.
Puppy Program: Smart Puppies
Smart Puppies introduces the leash and the mechanics of good leash handling, then starts building the loose leash walking habits that make every future walk easier. We also cover tucked sits and how to put a behaviour on cue properly.
Puppy Program: Relaxed Puppies
Relaxed Puppies is about settling. We cover going to a mat and settling there, an introduction to foldback downs, and early cooperative care so grooming, handling and equipment are something your puppy opts into rather than tolerates.
Puppy Program: Independent Puppies
Independent Puppies works on the everyday household things puppies find alarming. We cover conquering sounds, building neutrality around moving objects like vacuums and running kids, and starting separation practice so time alone is not frightening.
Puppy Program: Wildcard Puppies
Wildcard Puppies has no fixed curriculum. Your instructor chooses exercises from across the other five modules based on who is in class that day and what will help that particular group most. It might be extra recall work, more novel surfaces, or a session weighted toward settling. A good one to repeat, because it is never quite the same class twice.
Free Puppy Play
Every Saturday morning we offer free professionally supervised puppy play sessions.
Safe, fun and completely free.
We raise funds by donation for the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS), a Canadian organization that trains certified assistance dogs. Our Free Puppy play was developed because we believe that safe early socialization should be accessible to every Vancouver puppy (and who doesn't love seeing puppies thrive and play?!).
Donations are absolutely not necessary.
Registration is required (fill in our no-obligation form below)
Ready to Sign Up?
Fill out our no obligation form below - Have questions? Shoot us an email at info@thedogschool.ca
Frequently Asked Questions of Puppy Program
What age can my puppy start classes?
Puppies can join our Puppy Programs from 8 weeks old. Our classes are designed specifically for the 8 to 16 week socialization window, the most important developmental period in your puppy's life.
Do I need to wait for a new session to start?
No. Our start-anytime model means you can join as soon as your puppy is registered. There are no fixed session start dates.
Is it safe to bring an unvaccinated puppy?
We take puppy safety seriously. Our studio is cleaned before every class with Prevail — a vet-grade disinfectant that kills Parvo and we exceed BC SPCA AnimalKind cleaning recommendations. We require proof of your puppy's first vaccination before attending.
What is Free Puppy Play and how is it different from classes?
Free Puppy Play is a free, professionally supervised socialization session held every Saturday morning. It's not a training class — it's a safe, structured play session designed to help puppies build confidence and social skills early. Registration is required and we raise funds for PADS through these sessions.
What will my puppy learn in Puppy Program?
Classes focus on developmentally appropriate training including socialization, confidence building, healthy play and obstacle exploration all using 100% force-free methods. We set puppies up for a lifetime of happy, confident learning by training you to be the best owner you can be. We believe we've got the best puppy program around.
What happens when my puppy outgrows the Puppy Program?
Credits from the Puppy Program roll directly into Key Skills — our basic obedience program for dogs over 16 weeks. There's no extra cost and no gap in training.
How much does a puppy class cost?
One credit gets you one class. Credits start at $50. For full pricing and package options visit our Pricing page.