Intermediate and Advanced Dog Training Classes

at the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL)

Take your training to the next level with intermediate and advanced dog training classes designed to build reliability, focus, and teamwork. Using positive reinforcement, these six-week classes help dogs and their owners strengthen skills, improve impulse control, and explore fun enrichment opportunities like rally obedience, canine sports, and more.

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

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

More Ways to Train with ARL

Introductory Classes
Workshops

Group Dog Training Classes

A gray and white dog wearing a teal harness lies on a platform, looking up eagerly at a person holding a leash, conveying a sense of anticipation and focus.

Intermediate Canine Foundation Behaviors (Ages: 6 months and up)

  • Cost: $240
  • Prerequisites: Introduction to Canine Foundation Behaviors or a related course at another facility.
  • Class Location: These classes are taught in Dedham.

These classes 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 CLASS

Two dogs attend obedience training. A black and white dog lies calmly, while a tan dog sits attentively. Owners hold leashes in a bright room.

Advanced Canine Foundation Behaviors
(Ages: 6 months and up)

  • Cost: $240
  • Prerequisites: Intermediate Canine Foundation Behaviors or a related course at another facility.
  • Class Location: These classes are taught in Dedham.

These classes 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 CLASS

A Corgi on a leash walks beside a person in a training area. An orange cone with a sign reads

Introduction to Rally Obedience
(Ages: 5 months and up)

  • Cost: $240
  • Prerequisites: Puppy Kindergarten, Introduction to Canine Foundation Behaviors, or Good Manners
  • Class Location: These classes are taught in Dedham.

Rally-O classes build on obedience exercises to improve your dog’s performance, accuracy, and focus. You and your dog will navigate a course of 10–20 signs, with each sign prompting a specific skill or behavior. Along the way, you’ll strengthen loose-leash walking, heeling, sit, down, stay, tricks, and more. This fun twist on traditional obedience adds engaging challenges that reinforce training techniques while building a stronger relationship with your dog.

ENROLL IN THIS CLASS

A woman with a labrador dog, in a sniffing activity on a patio with boxes. She holds the leash gently, while another person watches from a distance. Bright, sunny day.

Sports Sampler
(Ages: 6 months and up)

  • Cost: $240
  • Prerequisites: Individuals must have knowledge and be utilizing marker/reward training methods and have some mastery of basic manners skills including attention. Please note, due to the nature of this class, dogs that enroll must be able to work comfortably in the same room with other dogs.
  • Class Location: These classes are taught in Dedham.

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, Scent Work, and Parkour.

ENROLL IN THIS CLASS

A dog agility course with a person guiding a small dog through weave poles. The setting is indoors with bright pink tunnels in the background.

Weekend Mash Up
(Ages: 6 months and up)

  • Cost: $240
  • Prerequisites: Introduction to Canine Foundation Behaviors or comparable class at another facility.
  • Class Location: These classes are taught in Dedham.

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, agility, parkour, and more. As long as it is fun and enriching for both you and your dog, anything goes!

ENROLL IN THIS CLASS

Dog Training Pricing
& Class Details

Six-week classes are $240

For six-week classes, 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.

Class Size and Schedule

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, for one hour per week, 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

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.

Questions

For questions, please contact a dog training representative at (617) 426-9170 x227 or email dogtraining@arlboston.org