Starting April 5, 2025, all dog training classes will be held in Dedham until construction at ARL’s Boston building is complete.

Dog Training

All proceeds from dog training classes benefit the animals in our
care at the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

Sign up for a dog training course

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) offers a variety of dog training courses as part of our commitment to supporting positive relationships between people and their pets. Our certified, experienced, and caring dog trainers will help you teach your dog:

  • Basic manners

  • Advanced commands (Level II and above)

  • Healthy socialization skills

  • Mental enrichment exercises

  • How to channel physical energy into class activities

At the conclusion of each dog training course, your dog will receive a signed certificate of completion. You and your canine companion will benefit from the opportunity to strengthen your bond through interactive group training courses. Our human participants feel more confident about their pet and have a deeper understanding of how to encourage good behavior.

Classes are held at ARL’s Dedham Education and Training Center and Dedham Animal Care & Adoption Center. 

ARL’s Dedham Education and Training Center

ARL Dedham building 10 Anna's Pl

10 Anna’s Place
Dedham, MA 02026

ARL’s Dedham Animal Care & Adoption Center

Animal Rescue League of Boston's Dedham Animal Care & Adoption Center

55 Anna’s Pl
Dedham, MA 02026

Hear What Our Clients Have to Say

Enroll in a Course

You may enroll in a dog training class below either online or over the phone at (617) 426-9170 x227. If you are registering multiple dogs, please be advised that each dog must have its own individual handler.

Sign up for a dog training course

Course Offerings and Details

View ARL’s dog training course descriptions to determine which class best matches your dog’s current level of training and interests.

For six-week courses, a reduced rate is offered (first-time use only) to dogs adopted from the ARL within the previous six months, and for Boston Veterinary Care clients. Please note, that there are no discounts on workshops, Agility for Fun, or Reactive Dog classes. To learn more, please contact a dog training representative for details at (617) 426-9170 x227 or email dogtraining@arlboston.org.

Classes are limited to six dogs. All classes need at least three dogs to start and may be rescheduled if not filled. All class sessions run for 6 weeks and will be extended if a holiday falls within the session. If classes are cancelled due to weather or an emergency, the end date will be rescheduled.

Refund Policy

To receive a full refund, for a cancellation of a class registration, please email us at dogtraining@arlboston.org at least (3) days before the date of the first class. A Partial refund (prorated and equal to 5 of the 6 sessions) is available up until 24 hours after the first class, by emailing us at dogtraining@arlboston.org. We are unable to offer any refunds after this period. Refunds will be credited back to the original credit card used for payment.

Vaccination Requirements

Puppy Kindergarten ONLY: Distemper (DHLPP). We know that puppies must be a certain age before receiving the Rabies vaccine and this is OK.

We require that all dogs be vaccinated for Distemper (DHLPP) and Rabies, while Kennel Cough (Bordetella) is simply recommended. Please note every puppy/adult dog that can receive rabies is required to and all of our shelter dogs that share the space are fully vaccinated.

Donations

All donation proceeds made to the dog training department go towards the animals in our care at ARL. You can donate during your course registration.

Six Week Courses

Unless otherwise noted, classes are held for one hour per week for six weeks. Our variety of 6-week courses cover a range of options from Puppy Kindergarten to Advanced Canine Foundation Behaviors.

Workshops

Workshops are held for one hour per week for 2-3 weeks and range from heeling, loose leash walking, reactive dog handling, and more.

All proceeds from dog training classes benefit the animals in our care at ARL.

Course Fees

Discounts are available for repeating clients!

Please note, that there are no discounts on workshops, Agility for Fun, or Reactive Dog classes

 

  • Introductory Classes

  • $240

    6-week course
  • Puppy Kindergarten (ages 8 weeks – 5 months only)
  • Introduction to Canine Foundation Behaviors (ages 5 months and up)
  • Managing Your Dog's Reactive Behavior
  • Introduction to Nosework (and Beyond!) (5 months and up)
  • Puppy Headstart (ages 8 weeks – 5 months only)
  • Intermediate - Advanced Classes

  • $240

    6-week course, for those that have attended an introductory class
  • Intermediate Canine Foundation Behaviors (ages 6 months and up)
  • Advanced Canine Foundation Behaviors (ages 6 months and up)
  • Introduction to Rally Obedience (ages 6 months and up)
  • Sports Sampler (ages 6 months and up)
  • Friday Night Mash-Up (ages 6 months and up)

Workshops

  • 3-week workshops

  • $140

  • Reactive Dog
  • Come When Called
  • Heeling and Loose Leash Walking
  • Holiday Manners (offered November–January)

Contact a Dog Training Representative

To speak with a dog training representative, call (617) 426-9170 x227 or email dogtraining@arlboston.org and please allow 48 hours for a response.

Dog Training Course Descriptions

Come When Called Workshop

  • Duration: 3 weeks
  • Prerequisites: None
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: Coming when called can be very challenging for most pet owners. This two-week workshop will focus on how we can teach our dogs to come around high-level distractions. Through the use of positive reinforcement methods, you will learn how to get your dog to come away from other dogs, people, novel stimuli, and more.

Please note, discounts cannot be applied to this workshop.

enroll in this workshop

Healing and Loose Leash Walking Workshop

  • Duration: 3 weeks
  • Prerequisites: None—However, no dog/human aggressive dogs. This is not a reactive dog-handling workshop. For questions, please contact the Dog Training Manager at (617) 426-9170 or email dogtraining@arlboston.org
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: During this workshop, you and your dog will master the art of “Heeling” which is a structured loose leash walk. This workshop will help you teach your dog how to walk by your side regardless of distractions. Through the use of positive reinforcement methods, we will teach you how to stop your dog from pulling. Dog training is about fostering a relationship with your pet. Your dog will learn lifelong leash skills in a fun and productive way.

enroll in this workshop

Reactive Dog

  • Ages: 5 months and up
  • Prerequisites: None. We cannot accept dogs with aggression to dogs or people, including those with a bite history to a dog or a person. For questions, please contact the Dog Training Manager at (617) 426-9170 x227 or email dogtraining@arlboston.org
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: This course will help you develop the necessary skills and knowledge to manage your dog’s reactive responses such as lunging and barking at dogs and people.

This course will focus primarily on dog to dog reactiveness, but can include dogs who bark/lunge at people, bikes, vehicles, joggers, etc. This course is not suitable for dogs who experience extreme fear behaviors/phobias that inhibit the dog’s participation such as: not taking treats, lack of focus or extreme withdrawal such as avoiding, hiding, shaking or defensive behaviors.

A variety of topics will be covered including why dogs react, the difference between reactiveness and excitability, and inappropriate training theories. You will also learn how behavior modification works through a series of practice exercises.

As with all our courses we use reward based training and force free methods. If you have any questions about if your dog might be a fit for the class, please reach out by emailing dogtraining@arlboston.org.

enroll in this workshop

Puppy Kindergarten

  • Ages: 8 weeks – 5 months
  • Prerequisites: None.
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: This class concentrates on the importance of socialization in puppies and how to raise a happy well-adjusted adult dog. This class will also introduce some important skills such as appropriate play with other dogs, name recognition, how to greet people/dogs, and how to become more comfortable wearing a harness, collar and leash along with many other fun activities! Puppy play during class is at the trainer’s discretion.

enroll in this workshop

Introduction to Canine Foundation Behaviors

  • Ages: 5 months and up
  • Prerequisites: None.
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: This course is designed for dogs over 5 months and have little or no previous training. Using positive reinforcement methods, your dog will be introduced to all basic cues such as sit, down, stay, coming when called, loose leash walking with a goal of becoming a well-mannered dog. Some socialization and play will be covered. Positive training leads to positive results.

enroll in this workshop

Intermediate Canine Foundation Behaviors

  • Ages: 6 months and up
  • Prerequisites: Introduction to Canine Foundation Behaviors or a related course at another facility.
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: This class will build on the skills learned in Introduction to Canine Foundation Behaviors classes by adding more duration, distance and distractions. New skills will be taught such as ‘Leave it’ ‘Drop it’ ‘go to place’ and ‘heel’. This course will help prepare you and your dog to join other fun classes we offer.

enroll in this workshop

Advanced Canine Foundation Behaviors

  • Ages: 6 months and up
  • Prerequisites: Intermediate Canine Foundation Behaviors or a related course at another facility.
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: This course will prepare you for the real world. You will continue to enhance your dog’s loose leash walking, stay, recall, greetings, and go to place behavior. You will learn how to walk pass other dogs, food, toys, people and more. You will continue to learn and understand how to be consistent regardless of location and distractions.

enroll in this workshop

Introduction to Rally Obedience

  • Ages: 5 months and up
  • Prerequisites: Puppy Kindergarten, Beginner Adolescents, or Good Manners
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: Rally-O is a class that takes obedience exercises and skills and improves performance and accuracy. The handler and dog will navigate through a course of 10-20 signs, asking for a specific skill to attempt. You and your dog will strengthen your loose-leash walking, heeling, sit, down stay, tricks and more! This is a spin on traditional obedience by adding challenging fun exercises to build a stronger relationship with your dog while reinforcing your obedience techniques.

enroll in this workshop

Agility for Fun

  • Ages: 6 months and up
  • Prerequisites: Introduction to Canine Foundation Behaviors or have taken a class at another facility. 
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: This course is designed to build mental and physical exercise for your dog. Agility for fun is a fun outlet that allows your dog to release their energy in a fun safe way. Your dog will learn impulse control and build confidence around jumps, tunnels, weaves, and more. This class will be focused on creating focus out of your dog through attention games. 

enroll in this workshop

Introduction to Nosework (and Beyond!)

  • Ages: 5 months and up
  • Prerequisites: Have attended a group training class at our facility or another within the past year.
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: This course will introduce you and your dog to Nosework: an enrichment activity that helps with mental stimulation, physical exercise, and confidence building for your pup.

enroll in this workshop

Sports Sampler

  • Ages: 6 months and up
  • Prerequisites: Individuals must have knowledge and be utilizing marker/reward training methods and have some mastery of basic manners skills including attention. Prerequisite note: Due to the nature of this class, dogs that enroll must be able to work comfortably in the same room with other dogs.
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: Dog sports are a great way to bond with your dog while also getting exercise and mental stimulation. Sports can build confidence, help generalize and broaden skills while adding new dimension to your partnership with your dog. In this six-week session, we will try three different dog sports: Rally, Scentwork, and Parkour.

enroll in this workshop

Friday Night Mash-up

  • Ages: 6 months and up
  • Prerequisites: Introduction to Canine Foundation Behaviors or comparable class at another facility.
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: Have you and your pup put in the work in basic training and are ready for some fun? Friday Night Mash-Up is for you! This class will focus on tricks, games, rally, obility, parkour, and MORE! As long as it is fun and enriching for both you and your dog, anything goes!

enroll in this workshop

Puppy Headstart

  • Ages: 8 week – 5 months only
  • Prerequisites: Introduction to Canine Foundation Behaviors or comparable class at another facility.
  • Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham.

Course Description: This is a shorter, headstart class for your puppy to get a rundown of the basics! We will focus on socialization, handling skills, and introduce your puppy to new experiences! Any puppy is welcome, whether you have already completed Puppy Kindergarten, or if this is your first training class. Please note, puppies ages 8 week – 5 months only.

enroll in this workshop

Have a question about your pet’s behavior?

If you have a question regarding you pet’s behavior, please contact our Pet Behavior Helpline to speak with a knowledgeable staff member or volunteer.