Private training
Private training for senior dogs
Older dogs learn new manners, though the picture is often different from a puppy's. Habits have had years to set, and a change in how a dog responds to its name or the stairs may have more to do with hearing, sight or soreness than with attitude. We coach senior dogs one-on-one at $150 + GST per hour, with a written weekly plan built around short practice, rest and comfortable footing.
Last reviewed September 29, 2026
Priorities to discuss
Which manners matter most is a conversation, not a rule.
Every session is a full hour at $150 + GST; what changes with a senior is usually what goes on the list. Common asks for an older dog include a steadier loose-leash walk for winter sidewalks, calmer greetings at the door, or a settle on a mat, all reasonable places to start. Some owners want a trick or two for a dog who enjoys the game, and that is a fine choice too. We talk through the priorities with you rather than setting them.
The weekly plan is where the body gets a say. Practice between sessions can run in short bouts with rest between them, on footing the dog is sure of, and without long strings of repeated sits for joints that may object. A steadier leash is worth having on a January sidewalk, but no obedience skill stops a fall on ice; we suggest cleared, gritted routes outdoors and nonslip footing indoors. Any tool is matched to the individual dog, introduced properly and taught to you.
- Full hour, short practice bouts
- Nonslip footing, ice avoided
- Priorities set together
- Rest built into the plan
Vet before trainer
A change in an old dog is a vet question before a training one.
We ask what has changed before anything else. A dog that stops answering its name may not be ignoring anyone; a dog that balks at stairs or flinches when touched may be uncomfortable. Hearing, sight and soreness are questions for your vet first, and we would rather send you there than practise a cue the dog cannot hear. Once your vet has weighed in, the plan adapts around what they found, with hand signals or a touch cue where they help.
Program fit is decided dog by dog, not by birthday. Private Training is built for hands-on owners who want to do the training themselves with a professional reading over their shoulder, whatever the dog's age. An older dog with real reactivity, anxiety or aggression may be recommended Behaviour Rehab, a five to six week board and train planned and priced after a full assessment. The consultation is where the program is recommended, including a smaller one when it is enough.
The programs
Programs and prices
W · One-hour session
Private Training
One-on-one coaching with you on the other end of the leash.
Includes a written weekly plan to work from
SW · Weekdays, drop-off 8–10 am · pick-up 5–7 pm
Day Training
Professional training all day, your couch at night.
Includes weekly one-hour go-home lesson, daily structure
NE · 2-week board & train
On-Leash Foundations
If every walk is a wrestling match, pulling, barking, zig-zagging, this two-week program rebuilds the walk from the ground up with foundational on-leash obedience..
Includes handover lesson, follow-up session, lifetime support, slip lead + collar
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Is private training worth it for a senior dog?
If the dog pulls, bolts through the door or cannot settle, coaching can work on those habits at any age. Sessions are $150 + GST for a full hour, with a written weekly plan shaped around short practice and rest. What goes on the list is a conversation between you and us.
Do you offer private lessons for an old dog who has never been trained?
Yes. Age itself is not the barrier; the bigger question is whether hearing, sight and joints have changed, which is a vet conversation first. The plan is then written around what the dog is comfortable doing.
How is one on one training different for an older dog than for a puppy?
The session is the same full hour at $150 + GST; the difference is usually in the plan. Home practice for a senior tends to run in shorter bouts with more rest, on footing the dog trusts, with priorities chosen around the dog's comfort. A puppy's plan is usually building everything from scratch.
Should a senior dog do a board and train instead of private lessons?
That depends on the dog, not the age, and the consultation is where the program is recommended. A senior with serious reactivity, anxiety or aggression may be recommended Behaviour Rehab after a full assessment. When a session and a written plan are enough, that is what we recommend.
Keep reading
Old dog, new plan
Share the dog's age, what has changed lately and what worries you on walks. Book a consultation and we will plan around it.
From real owners
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Real Northline dogs