Dog Training
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:
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 both the Boston Animal Care & Adoption Center and the Dedham Education and Training Center. FREE parking is available at both locations.
Meet Some Recent Graduates
BODIE
RIO
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.
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 contact a dog training representative for details.
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.
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 Obedience.
Four Week Courses:
Four-week courses are held for one hour per week for four weeks and range from puppy essentials and socialization, sniffing for fun, good manners, and more.
Workshops
Workshops are held for one hour per week for two weeks and range from heeling, loose leash walking, reactive dog handling, and more.
Private Lesson(s):
ARL is now offering 1.5-hour private lesson(s) at our Boston and Dedham location. These sessions are designed for dogs that may have a hard time in a group class or to focus on specific behavior concerns that they are having. The price per one-time, private lesson is $200. Please call (617) 426-9170 for availability.
All proceeds from dog training classes benefit the animals in our care at ARL.
Course Fees
Discount available for repeating clients!
Sign-up for a September class and receive a 10% discount using the code September
Beginner Classes
$225
6-week course- Puppy Kindergarten (ages 8 weeks – 5 months only)
- Beginner Obedience Level 1 (ages 5 months and up)
- Introduction to Nosework (ages 6 months and up)
- Trick Dog Training (ages 6 months and up)
- Focus for Fido: Refocusing your reactive/distracted dog (Ages 5 months and up)
- Single Make-up Class for Current Clients Only
Intermediate - Advanced Classes
$225
6-week course, for those that have attended a beginner class- Beginner Obedience Level 2 (ages 6 months and up)
- Canine Good Citizen Prep (ages 6 months and up)
- Advanced Obedience Level 3 (ages 6 months and up)
- Introduction to Rally Obedience (ages 6 months and up)
- Agility for Fun (ages 6 months and up)
Workshops
$100
2-weeks, 1 hour per week- Come When Called
- Good Manners
- Heeling and Loose Leash Walking
- Reactive Rovers: Handling Your Reactive Dog
Private Lesson(s)
$200
1-hour single session- $200 includes a 1-hour behavior consultation, the creation of a personalized training plan delivered through email, and a follow-up phone call or email with a trainer. After the initial session, single or 3-pack lessons are available for purchase through your trainer. No discounts apply.
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 24-48 hours for a response.
Dog Training Course Descriptions
Sign-up for a September class and receive a 10% discount using the code September
Workshops
Come When Called Workshop
Prerequisites: None
Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham and Boston.
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.
Good Manners Workshop
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 5 months and up
Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham and Boston.
Course Description: This workshop is designed to help prepare you and your dog for the holidays including large gatherings, vacations, and other events. You and your dog will be introduced to new skills including ‘Go to bed’, ‘Leave it’, and other basic obedience. Other techniques to manage problem behaviors will also be introduced. These behaviors include how to stop jumping, counter surfing, barking, and more.
Please note, discounts cannot be applied to this workshop.
Heeling and Loose Leash Walking Workshop
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 x227 or email dogtraining@arlboston.org.
Course Location: This workshop is taught in Dedham and Boston.
Course Description: During these 2 weeks, 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.
Reactive Rovers: Handling Your Reactive Dog Workshop
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 and Boston.
Course Description: This workshop will help you teach your dog how to refocus their attention back on you when they get reactive and fearful. Through the use of positive reinforcement methods, we will teach you how to manage your dog from growling, pulling, lunging, snapping, barking, and more. In this judgment-free environment, you will learn about your dog’s reactivity and gain the confidence to handle your reactive dog in our unpredictable world.
Trick Dog Training Class
Ages: 6 months and up
Prerequisites: None
Course Location: This class is taught in Boston.
Course Description: This course is designed for dogs of all ages and skill levels. No matter where your dog is in their training, trick training can help you build a stronger relationship with your dog. You will learn how to teach your dog specific tricks including, spin, weave between your legs, roll over, and more. Teaching new tricks is a fun and exciting way to learn how to reinforce good behaviors.
Focus for Fido: Refocusing your reactive/distracted 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 class is taught in both Dedham and Boston.
Course Description: This course will help you teach your dog how to learn self-control and learn the skills to become a more confident dog. We will teach you how to refocus your dog’s attention back onto you when they are reactive or over-excited around dogs, people, and other distractions. Through positive reinforcement methods, you will learn how to control your dog’s barking, lunging, excitement, and more.
Four-week courses
Sniffing for Fun
Prerequisites: None—However, no dog/human aggressive dogs. For questions, please contact the Dog Training Manager at (617) 426-9170 x227 or email dogtraining@arlboston.org.
Course Location: This course is taught in Dedham and Boston.
Course Description: During the 4-weeks, your dog will use its natural ability to sniff out hidden target odors and treats. In this beginner-level course your dog will be challenged in sniffing out odors and treats around objects, cones, barriers, and more. Sniffing for fun classes allow dogs of any age and ability to build confidence. Excited and over-active dogs learn how to focus and shy/fearful dogs learn how to build confidence in new environments. You and your dog will build a strong relationship through this fun companionship activity.
Puppy Essentials and Socialization
Ages: Puppies 8 weeks – 5 months
Prerequisites: None. For questions, please contact the Dog Training Manager at (617) 426-9170 x227 or email dogtraining@arlboston.org.
Course Location: This course is taught in Dedham and Boston.
Course Description: This four-week course is designed for new puppy owners to help get you off to the right start. Early socialization is very important to your puppy’s development. Your trainer will guide you on how to properly socialize your puppy around dogs, humans, novel stimuli, and more. Each class will consist of obedience, playtime, and discussion topics like house training, crate training, chewing, biting, and the proper handling of your puppy.
Puppy Kindergarten
Ages: Puppies 8 weeks – 5 months
Prerequisites: None
Course Location: This class is taught in both Dedham and Boston.
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.
Beginner Obedience Level 1
Ages: 5 months and up
Prerequisites: None
Course Location: This class is taught in both Boston and 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.
Beginner Obedience Level 2
Ages: Puppies 6 months and up
Prerequisites: Beginner Obedience Level 1 or a related course at another facility
Course Location: This class is taught in both Dedham and Boston.
Course Description: This level 2 class will build on the skills learned in the level 1 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.
Advanced Obedience Level 3
Ages: 6 months and up
Prerequisites: Beginner Obedience Level 2 or a related course at another facility
Course Location: This class is taught in both Dedham and Boston.
Course Description: This is a level 3 course that 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.
Canine Good Citizen Prep
Ages: 6 months and up
Prerequisites: Puppy Kindergarten or Beginner Obedience.
Course Location: This class is taught in both Dedham and Boston.
Course Description: The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program promotes responsible dog ownership and encourages the training of well-mannered dogs. The CGC is a 10-skill-based test that is open to all dogs (purebred and mixed). The test includes walking on a loose leash, sitting politely for petting/not jumping on people, reacting appropriately to different distractions, and much more. This class will prepare to take the CGC test.
Introduction to Nosework
Ages: 6 months and up
Prerequisites: Puppy Kindergarten, Beginner Obedience, or prior training at another location
Course Location: This class is taught in Dedham and Boston.
Course Description: Nosework is a class that provides you and your dog with a fun companionship activity. The goal of the course is for dogs to sniff out the hidden target odor (birch), having to learn how to ignore distractions in the process. Using fun games, dogs learn to search high and low, around cones, boxes, barriers, and other unique places to find the target odor and alert their owner. This class is an excellent way to learn how to communicate with your dog and foster a stronger relationship. Owners can work their way up to compete for titles in multiple venues or they can just do it for fun.
Introduction to Rally Obedience
Ages: 6 months and up
Prerequisites: Puppy Kindergarten, Beginner Adolescents, or Good Manners
Course Location: This class 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.
Agility for Fun
Ages: 6 months and up
Prerequisites: Beginner Level 1 or have taken a class at another facility.
Course Location: This class is taught in Boston only.
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.
Single Make-up Class for Current Clients Only
Prerequisites: Current client (missed class must have occurred within the last 7 weeks).
Course Location: This class is taught in Dedham and Boston.
Course Description: This is a make-up session for current clients who have missed one of their classes during their 6-week session.
Private Lesson(s)
Ages: any age
Prerequisites: None
Lesson Location: Lessons are offered in both Boston and Dedham.
Description: These lessons are designed for owners and their dogs that need one on one attention with the trainer focusing on any behavior issue or to improve on skills with less distraction. $200 includes a 1-hour behavior consultation, the creation of a personalized training plan delivered through email, and a follow-up phone call or email with a trainer. After the initial session, single or 3-pack lessons are available for purchase through your trainer. No discounts apply.
Please call (617) 426-9170 for availability.
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.