Choosing a trainer
Does Northline K9 offer group classes?
If you were picturing a weeknight class in a hall full of other dogs, that is not what we do. Every hour of training here is one-on-one, and you learn alongside your dog in your own lessons. That choice shapes everything from how tools are introduced to how a nervous dog is socialized. Here is the reasoning and what to book instead.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Why one-on-one
Individual training lets each dog set the pace.
In a class, the lesson moves at the speed of the room. A dog who is overwhelmed by other dogs may spend the hour too worked up to learn, and a quick learner waits for everyone else. One-on-one, the session follows the dog: we can stop, break a skill into smaller steps, or add distraction the moment the dog is ready for it.
Tools are the other reason. Our method starts with markers and rewards, and where a slip lead, prong collar or Educator e-collar suits a particular dog, it is introduced properly to that dog and then taught to that owner. That is hard to do well for a row of dogs at once. Socialization is structured too, rather than left to whoever happens to be in the class.
- Pace set by your dog
- Tools fitted to one dog
- Structured, not random, socialization
- Lessons focused on your household
What to book instead
Private Training is the closest swap for a weekly class.
Owners looking for a class often want to do the training themselves, with guidance each week. Private Training is built for that: a full one-hour session at $150 + GST, behaviour troubleshooting and obedience work, and a written plan you can practise until the next session. Where private sessions take place is not published, so confirm it at the consultation.
If you want more hours of professional work than you can fit in yourself, Day Training at $650 + GST per week gives your dog one-on-one training Monday to Friday plus a weekly one-hour go-home lesson for you. Board and train programs, from On-Leash Foundations at $1,865 + GST to Behaviour Rehab, add daily training inside a structured routine. The consultation recommends one, smaller options included.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Do you have puppy classes?
No, there are no group puppy classes. Puppy Fundamentals is a three-week one-on-one board and train at $2,775 + GST, and Private Training is available if you prefer to train your puppy yourself.
Why don't you offer group obedience classes?
Every dog learns at a different pace and may need different tools, and we introduce those tools to one dog and one owner at a time. One-on-one work keeps the session about your dog.
Is private training more expensive than a group class?
Private Training is $150 + GST per one-hour session. We do not compare ourselves with other trainers' classes, so the fairer question is what format your dog needs, which the consultation answers.
Will my dog still get socialized without a class?
Yes, structured socialization is part of every board and train and of Day Training. It is planned around your dog's comfort rather than left to chance in a busy room.
Keep reading
One dog, full attention
Book a consultation and we will recommend the one-on-one format that fits your dog, whether that is a private session or more.
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