Comparisons
Private training vs a group class
Full disclosure first: everything we do is one-on-one, and there are no Northline K9 group classes to sell you. That makes this an odd comparison to write, and a useful one. Classes have real strengths. So does a private hour. The right pick depends on your dog's temperament, the problem in front of you, and how you like to learn.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Where classes shine
What a class does well, and where it strains.
A class gives a dog practice working near other dogs and people, in a room full of mild distraction. Many owners like the rhythm of a set weekly session and the company of others at the same stage. For a relaxed, sociable dog learning basic cues, that shared setting can be a reasonable fit, and the cost is often spread across the group.
The strain shows with dogs who find other dogs hard. A dog who lunges, barks or shuts down near strangers may spend a class over threshold, practising the very reaction you came to fix. Instruction time is shared too, so a problem that only happens at your front door or in your car may never come up. For dogs like these, management and a professional assessment come before any group setting.
- Calm around unfamiliar dogs
- Problem shows up anywhere
- Owner enjoys learning alongside others
- Goal is basic cues
The private hour
What one-on-one time buys you.
A Private Training session is a full hour, $150 + GST, focused on your dog and your problem. It covers behaviour troubleshooting, obedience development, owner education and relationship building, and you leave with a written plan to practise all week. You do the training yourself, with a professional reading over your shoulder, which suits hands-on owners who want the skills in their own hands.
Private work also lets us stop and say when a session is not the right tool. If a dog's anxiety, reactivity or aggression calls for deeper daily work, we explain what Behaviour Rehab is built for. If a short plan at home looks like enough, we say that instead. The consultation is where that recommendation happens, and it includes pointing you toward the lighter option whenever it fits.
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
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
S · 5–6 week board & train
Behaviour Rehab
Kaitlin's specialty, and the work she loves most.
Includes assessment-built plan, 2 follow-ups, deep owner education
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Does Northline K9 offer group classes?
No. Everything we do is one-on-one, including Private Training, Day Training and every board and train program.
Is private dog training better than group classes?
Neither is better for every dog. A sociable dog learning basic cues may do fine in a class, while a reactive or anxious dog often needs one-on-one work that does not put them beside other dogs.
How much does private dog training cost?
Our Private Training is $150 + GST for a one-hour session. Each session includes a written plan customized to your home that you practise during the week.
Should a reactive dog go to a group class?
A class can keep a reactive dog over threshold for the whole session, which tends to rehearse the reaction. Keep distance and management in place first, and get a professional assessment before trying any group setting.
Keep reading
Want one-on-one help?
Book a consultation and we will talk through your dog, your goals, and whether a private session is the right starting point.
From real owners
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Real Northline dogs