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Group Dog Training Classes
Whether your furry loved one is a puppy, a rookie, or an honors student ready to advance, we offer a course designed to fetch any obedience goal!
Training in a group is a fantastic way to improve your dog's behavior. The environment mimics everyday situations, with new dogs and people, lots of movement, and tempting smells. Your pup learns to tune in to you even when the world around them is buzzing.
You'll both develop new skills and knowledge, gain confidence in your interactions, build mutual trust and understanding, and deepen your special bond.
Check out our robust menu of courses to see what barks at you! Choose your dog's category to view those offerings or roll over the page to see all group classes available to our Ruff Life pack.
Doggie School for Beginners
Ruff Starters
This seven-week course for beginners focuses on building a strong foundation of obedience. Learn essential commands such as "place," "leave it," "walk," "heel," "stay," and "recall" through positive reinforcement techniques. Each week, we'll work on refining these skills, ensuring clarity and consistency in your training approach. By the end of the course, you'll have the tools and knowledge to effectively train these commands and enjoy a harmonious relationship with your pup.
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Recall & Engagement
The goal of this four-week course is to be able to gain the attention of your dog in new environments and to create a strong foundation for recall. Activities include working around distractions, teaching your dog to respond to their name, and improving their ability to come when called.
Leash Walking
This four-week course teaches you how to communicate with your dog using the leash. We'll practice the "walk," "heel," and "leave it" commands and work toward maintaining a loose leash, even around other dog and in new environments. The final session will be held in a public spot to practice around new distractions. Please note, this course is not appropriate for dogs who are experiencing extreme reactivity or struggle to be in a room with multiple other dogs. If that describes your dog, reach out to us to discuss the best training option for you!
Patio Pups
Do you dream of having a serene, easy-going dog you can bring with you to hang at a restaurant or brewery? This four-week course will give you the tools necessary to work on creating a relaxed mindset, engagement around distractions, and simply existing with other people and dogs around. Some of the commands we'll teach include "place," "settle," "down," and "leave it." By the end of this class, we hope to have you both feeling cool, calm, and comfortable with being out in public together.
House Manners
If your dog gets a bit too “enthusiastic” when people come over or has trouble maintaining decorum around food or commotion, then this is the class for you! The goal of this four-week course is to teach your dog to greet people appropriately, feel settled in the home even with company, and assist with impulse control around food or other tempting items. Everyone will be impressed by your pup’s politeness!
Doggie School for Puppies
Puppy Prep School
Set your new cutie up for success with this comprehensive five-week course designed to build confidence, good manners, and a strong foundation for lifelong learning. We'll focus on the topics that are crucial in this developmental stage, such as housebreaking, proper socialization, leash walking, recall, dropping objects, and techniques to mitigate chewing and sooth discomfort during the teething process. Our goal is to help you to raise a happy, well-adjusted, responsive companion, and to reduce friction in your home environment!
Advanced Doggie Classes
Advanced Recall
In this three-week course, you and your doggo will build on the skills learned in our Beginner Recall & Engagement course. Together, we'll work toward the goal of your dog being reliable and well-behaved completely off leash by visiting local Sniffspots! E-collars are encouraged but not required. Our Beginner Recall & Engagement course is a prerequisite.
Advanced Leash Walking
In this three-week course, we will build on the skills learned in our Beginner Leash Walking class. If you're seeking to practice leash walking in high-distraction areas, this is the course for you! Each week we will venture into a public space (e.g. downtown Asheville) to master leash walking skills. Our Beginner Leash Walking class (or an equivalent) is a prerequisite.
Canine Good Citizen Prep
This course is designed to prepare
your pup to pass the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test, which will be administered (but is not required) at the end of the course. The 10-part test assesses your dog's manners and obedience in everyday situations and is a first step to becoming certified as a therapy dog. Your stellar student must be eight months or older, and previous training experience is recommended.
If you've already taken a prep course, we also administer the test as an individual service!
Doggie Tricks
This four-week class will challenge your dog’s brain, strengthen your bond with your pup, and you both will have lots of fun!
Ask us what the theme of the next class will be!