top of page

Experience our personalized classes

We offer a variety of classes designed to enrich your dogs' lives and challenge them while maintaining an engaging and safe learning environment. Our classes that meet multiple times are limited to 6 students, among the smallest in the Twin Cities, so we can offer you personalized attention. ​

​​​​

Classes that meet multiple times are scheduled for 45 minutes so you and your dog can remain engaged for the whole class period. We encourage students to arrive up to 15 minutes before class starts so you can settle in and allow your dogs to explore or play with enrichment toys before class begins. After class, we allow up to 15 minutes for questions. 

​

Classes meet in downtown St. Paul on Sundays, and start times are flexible. If you don't see something that suits you on our schedule, please email your suggestion to giffydog@gmail.com. 

New Beginnings Class: Bonding and Confidence-Building
Great for new companions, timid dogs, and relationship-building

The class that started it all, our Bonding and Confidence-Building course has been designed to help you and your dog build a great relationship.  We will teach you how to calmly and confidently interact with one another through exploration and small, fun challenges while simultaneously working on confidence-building and introductory training activities. ​​We’ll also troubleshoot challenges specific to you and your dog.

​

CLASS DETAILS​

  • Sundays at 4:30p, open enrollment (so you can start whenever you like)

  • Length: Four or six 45-minute weekly sessions

  • Tuition: $140 for 4 weeks or $180 for 6 weeks​

Clicker Training Classes
Our version of obedience skills

Foundations

Based on the Karen Pryor curriculum, our 6-week introductory clicker-training class will teach you to communicate effectively with your dog while learning basic obedience skills, such as response to name, recall, loose leash walking, waiting at doors, settling in one spot, sit, and leave it. You will also learn introductory training concepts so you can teach additional behaviors of your choice after you complete the class. 
 

CLASS DETAILS

  • Sundays at 5:45p

  • Length: Six 45-minute weekly sessions

  • Tuition: $180 for 6 weeks

 

Advanced Clicker Training

For the trainer who is ready to try more complex challenges, this course will be different each time based on your personal goals. Conversations will include components of fluency and may include compound cues, poisoned behaviors, cooperative care, behavior chains, and/or other topics that the students choose. 
 

CLASS DETAILS

  • Sundays at 7:00p

  • Length: Six 45-minute weekly sessions

  • Tuition: $180 for 6 weeks

Out & About Class
Loose leash walking in public settings 

This class is intended for dogs that are easily distracted by other dogs and people. You’ll learn basic leash skills and how to confidently partner with your dog when encountering distractions, identify and troubleshoot challenges, and maybe even apply what you’ve learned on a walk through the neighborhood. 
 

CLASS DETAILS

  • Offered upon request

  • Length: Four or six 45-minute weekly sessions

  • Tuition: $140 for 4 weeks or $180 for 6 weeks

Short and Sweet Classes
Focused topics that meet one time

Socialization

Part activity and part observation, this class will help you keep your dog focused and calm in environments with other dogs and people. Dogs will be introduced to one another gradually in a controlled setting. You’ll learn about the complex ways dogs interact and how to anticipate and redirect behaviors. Prerequisite: New Beginnings, Clicker Foundations, instructor approval, or private consultation. 

 

CLASS DETAILS

  • Upon request

  • Length: One 1.5-hour session

  • Tuition: $60

​​​

Shy-dog Social Hour

If your dog is hesitant to join activities with people, this instructor-facilitated session is for you. More informal than a class, this drop-in session will provide your dog an opportunity to socialize with other people and dogs. We’ll throw in fun, confidence-building activities, too. NOTE: This session is limited to dog-social dogs and may have more dogs per trainer than other classes. 

​​​​

CLASS DETAILS

  • Upon request

  • Length: One 1.5-hour session

  • Tuition: $50

bottom of page