Choosing a trainer
Are dog obedience classes worth it?
We should say it up front: we do not run group classes, so we have no class to sell you. That makes it easier to be fair about them. Classes suit some dogs and some owners very well. For others, the room itself becomes the problem. Here is how to tell which side of that line your dog is on.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
The case for classes
Where a group setting genuinely helps.
A good class gives you a weekly appointment, homework and a room full of distractions you could not easily set up at home. For a friendly young dog who can settle near other dogs, practising sit or recall while a Lab bounces two mats over is valuable. Owners also pick up a lot by watching other handlers, and many enjoy the social side of a weekly session.
Classes also tend to cost less per hour than one-on-one work, which matters when the goals are simple. If your dog is curious rather than worried, listens with mild distractions around and you will practise between sessions, a well-run class with a small group and clear instruction can be a sensible first step.
- Dog relaxes near other dogs
- Goals are basic manners
- You will practise between sessions
- Small group, clear instruction
Where they stall
The dogs a class room does not suit.
A fearful dog may spend the whole hour hiding under a chair, and a reactive dog may spend it barking and lunging, rehearsing the very behaviour you came to change. Highly excitable dogs can be too wound up by the room to take in anything. Instructors split attention across the group, so a stalled dog may get a few minutes of help. That is no failing of classes; the setting simply does not fit.
For those dogs, one-on-one work lets the distractions be added at the dog's pace. We offer Private Training at $150 per session with a written plan, Day Training at $650 per week, and board and train programs from $1,865, all plus GST. Behaviour Rehab works on fear and reactivity after a full assessment. The consultation suggests a format, including a lighter one when that suffices.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Are group dog training classes worth it?
They can be for a social, confident dog with basic goals and an owner who practises. They are less suited to fearful, reactive or very overexcited dogs. We do not run classes ourselves, so we can be candid either way.
Is private training better than group classes?
Not always better, but more tailored. One-on-one work lets the trainer focus on your dog and control the distractions. Our Private Training is $150 + GST per one-hour session.
Should I take my reactive dog to obedience class?
Usually a group room is a hard place to start for a reactive dog, since it can rehearse the barking and lunging. Begin with one-on-one work and a professional assessment. Classes may suit later, if the dog copes.
Do you offer group obedience classes?
No. Everything we offer is one-on-one: Private Training, Day Training and board and train programs. If a class would serve your dog better, we will say so.
Keep reading
Not sure a class fits?
Book a consultation and we will help you decide between a class elsewhere and one-on-one work with us.
From real owners
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Real Northline dogs