Choosing a trainer
How to choose a dog training program for a puppy
A puppy changes fast, and so does the list of habits it is quietly practising. Picking a program is less about finding the biggest option and more about being honest with your calendar, your patience and who in the house will follow through. Here is a decision path built on our published puppy options, with what each one asks of you.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Start with time
Count the hours your household can really give.
Every puppy program shares the same hidden cost: practice at home. Before comparing prices, write down who walks the pup, who feeds it, and who will run a five-minute name game after dinner. If that list has one tired name on it, a coached plan you run yourself may stall. If the house has steady hands and calm evenings, coaching can carry a lot.
Then look at what the puppy is rehearsing right now. Nipping at sleeves, crying in the crate, pulling toward every new smell: in our experience, the more a pup repeats a habit, the more practised it becomes. If your pup is already practising habits you don't love, we think sooner is better than later. That is worth raising early, before the routine at home sets around those habits.
- Who practises with the puppy daily
- Which habits are already forming
- How calm your evenings are
- What the budget comfortably allows
Three puppy paths
Compare what each option puts in your hands.
Private Training is $150 + GST for a one-hour session with a written plan customized to your home, built for owners who want to do the work with a professional reading over their shoulder. Day Training is $650 + GST a week, Monday to Friday, with one-on-one daily training, structured socialization and a weekly one-hour go-home lesson, so the pup still sleeps at home each night.
Puppy Fundamentals is a 3-week board and train at $2,775 + GST. It works on name recognition, sit, down, place, crate comfort and new sights and sounds, calmly. It includes a slip lead and training collar, an owner handover lesson, and one free follow-up session within 60 days. At the consultation we recommend a program, and when a smaller one covers your pup, that is the one we suggest.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
What is the best training program for a new puppy?
The best fit depends on your pup's habits and how much practice time your household has. Hands-on families can start with private coaching, while busier homes may compare Day Training or Puppy Fundamentals. The consultation is where we recommend one, including a smaller option when it is enough.
Is board and train okay for a puppy?
Puppy Fundamentals is our board and train built for puppies. It includes daily one-on-one training, a structured routine, socialization, an owner handover lesson and one free follow-up session within 60 days. Whether it suits your pup is decided together at the consultation.
How much does puppy training cost in Calgary?
Our published puppy options are Private Training at $150 per session, Day Training at $650 per week, and Puppy Fundamentals at $2,775 for the 3-week board and train. All prices are plus GST.
Do you offer puppy classes?
No. Everything we do is one-on-one, with no group classes. Socialization in our programs is structured and individual, matched to how your puppy handles new sights and sounds.
Keep reading
Talk through your puppy's options
Book a consultation and tell us about your pup and your week. We recommend the fit, smaller options included.
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