Dog Training & Workshops

Workshops

Pet First Aid and Disaster Response

Would you know what to do if your dog suddenly choked on a bone? What if your cat ate a toxic substance, like chocolate? Do you have a plan for your pet in the event you need to evacuate your family from your home? These topics, and more, will be addressed in our Pet First Aid and Disaster Response workshop as we discuss how to provide temporary, urgent care to cats and dogs until they can reach a veterinary or emergency clinic.

Takes place select Saturday mornings at our shelter in Bellevue. Cost: $85.

Click here to view upcoming sessions and register.

Please contact EducationServices@seattlehumane.org with questions.

Dog Training

About Our Classes 

Seattle Humane practices positive reinforcement methods in our training classes. These methods are effective and beneficial for dogs and puppies of all ages. Our training classes focus on good manners in the real world, socialization and giving you the tools to prevent or address behavior challenges. 

  • Classes are held on campus at Seattle Humane 
  • Foundation level classes (Puppy Head Start, Puppy Manners 1, Teen Manners, Dog Manners 1, and Shy Dog Manners) have a  mandatory prerequisite: Dog Training Basics.
  • Read our position statements on dog training and behavior management methods.  
  • View our program policies 
  • Class descriptions, age ranges, fees and prerequisites are listed below. 
  • Sign up using the provided links in the class descriptions 

Questions? Contact us at dogtraining@seattlehumane.org or (425) 373-5385

Dog Training Classes

Dog Training Basics Seminar

This single-session one-hour seminar for humans will give you a look at how dogs learn, how to teach them using positive reinforcement-based training, and the marker training method. You’ll also how to address common behavior problems and help bring out the best in your dog. We encourage everyone who will be training the dog to attend.

Fee:
-Our in-person class is open to the community at no cost (suggested donation $25)
-The virtual option is $25 per family
Prerequisite: none



Sign up for a Dog Training Basics Seminar. We have virtual and in-person options

Puppy Play Skills Session for puppies 8 - 22 weeks old

Off-leash play with other puppies! These sessions give young puppies a safe environment to make new friends, burn off excess energy, and learn new social skills. We offer Puppy Play Skills sessions that are divided by age and size of puppies to help each puppy learn in a safe environment. Each session is overseen by on of our qualified Dog Training Instructors and is 45 minutes long. These sessions are a great complement to our Puppy Head Start and Puppy Manners classes!

Fee: $25 per session
Prerequisite: none



Click here to sign up for a Puppy Play Skills Session

Puppy Head Start (8-14 weeks old)

Topics covered include house and crate training, puppy nipping, chewing, polite greetings, and the prevention of behavior problems. Each class features puppy playtime and thoughtful socialization exercises. This class is six weeks long and each weekly session is 1 hour long.

Fee: $260
Prerequisite: Dog Training Basics Seminar
*Age: Puppies joining this class should be between 8 and 14 weeks when they start this class



Sign up for Puppy Head Start

Puppy Manners 1 (15-22 weeks old)

Puppy Manners 1 offers basic training and ongoing socialization for puppies, either as a continuation of Puppy Head Start or as puppy’s first class. Topics include puppy behaviors, polite greetings, basic skills, socialization, and off-leash play. This class is six weeks long and each weekly session is one hour long.

Fee: $260
Prerequisite: Dog Training Basics Seminar
*Age: Puppies should be between the age of 15 and 22 weeks old when they start this class


Sign up for Puppy Manners 1

Puppy Manners 2 (Follow up to Puppy Manners 1)

In Puppy Manners 2 you’ll continue to progress skills such as recall and leash walking, and teach your dog new skills—stay, leave-it, hand targeting, wait. This class includes off-leash play. Puppy Manners 2 is six weeks long and each weekly session is one hour long.

Fee: $260
Prerequisite: Puppy Manners 1
Age: Up to 12 months old


Sign up for Puppy Manners 2

Teen Dog Manners (5.5 - 12 months)

Teen Dog Manners tackles the unique challenges of training dogs during this tricky time in your dog's life. Adolescent (or “teen”) dogs learn new skills such as loose leash walking, hand targeting, and polite greetings in an environment that motivates and supports them. This class is six weeks long and each weekly session is one hour long.

Fee: $285
Prerequisite: Dog Training Basics Seminar


Sign up for Teen Dog Manners

Dog Manners 1 (12 months & older)

Dog Manners is all about building the dog/handler relationship through training, leadership, and awareness of how dogs communicate. In class, we cover polite greetings, basic skills, and techniques for preventing unwanted behavior. This class is six weeks long and each weekly session is one hour long.

Fee: $260
Prerequisite: Dog Training Basics Seminar


Sign up for Dog Manners 1

Shy Dog Manners (5.5 months & older)

Shy Dog Manners covers basic manners in a setting designed for dogs who are fearful of new people, dogs, and/or certain environments. We will also teach you some skills to help your dog feel more confident and relaxed. It's a safe space for your dog to learn at their own pace. This class is six weeks long and each weekly session is one hour long.

Fee: $285
Prerequisite: Dog Training Basics Seminar

Sign up for Shy Dog Manners

Dog Manners 2 (7 months & older)

Take it to the next level! This class will focus on working on increasing your dog’s reliability around distractions as well as improving responsiveness from a distance and for longer durations. You’ll both learn some new skills! This class is six weeks long and each weekly session is one hour long.

Fee: $260
Prerequisite: Puppy Manners 2, Teen Dog Manners, Shy Dog Manners, Dog Manners 1, or instructor permission


Sign up for Dog Manners 2

Reactive Rover 1

The primary goal of our Reactive Rover classes is to help improve the behavior of dogs who bark, lunge and growl at other dogs while on leash. This class will help owners better understand their dogs reactivity, and learn management skills to teach their dog to react more appropriately on leash around other dogs.





Fee: $375
Prerequisite: Dog Training Basics and instructor permission
Sign up for Reactive Rover 1

Puppy Priorities Seminar - Virtual

Are you preparing to bring a puppy home? Have you recently added a new puppy tp your household? Then this invaluable seminar is for you! This seminar covers the most important knowledge you need to get your new puppy started on the right paw. Learn how to create a simple schedule to make potty training, meal time, sleeping and play sessions smooth for your puppy and your family.








Upcoming seminar date: Sunday, March 31th at 3pm
Seminar length: 90 minutes
Cost: $37.50

Sign up for an upcoming Virtual Puppy Priorities Seminar

Leash Reactivity Seminar

Do you have a dog who barks excessively while you're trying to have a nice relaxing walk? It could be Leash Reactivity! Want to learn more about this common behavior problem? Then this is the seminar for you! In this seminar you will learn why dogs become reactive, how well meaning owners might be reinforcing it and how to start reducing the barking now!





Upcoming seminar date: Sunday, March 17th at 4:30pm
Seminar length: 90 minutes
Cost: $37.50


Sign up for our next Leash Reactivity Seminar!

Resource Guarding Seminar

Resource guarding refers to a dog displaying behavior (growling, snapping, etc) intended to convince other dogs or humans to stay away from a particular treasure or “resource”. The resource can be food, treats, toys, a place (a bed or favorite chair) or occasionally a person. In this 90 minute seminar we will look at the causes of resource guarding, strategies to manage and reduce this potentially dangerous issue.







Upcoming seminar date: Sunday, March 31th at 4:30pm
Seminar length: 90 minutes
Cost: $37.50

Sign up for one of our Resource Guarding Seminars

Canine Good Citizen (8 months & older)

Canine Good Citizen Prepares students and their dogs to take the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, a certification program designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. For more details, please visit www.akc.org. This class is six weeks long and each weekly session is one hour long--the course is five weeks of prep and on the last night of the course, there will be an opportunity to take the CGC test. Dogs who have their CGC certificates are eligible to apply for our volunteer Visiting Pet Friends program.

Fee: $285
Prerequisite: Dog Manners 2 or instructor permission


Notify me when CGC Class is available!

Canine Enrichment Workshop

In this fun, family-friendly, two-hour class (for humans only) you will learn more about your dog’s behavior and how to set up simple enrichment activities to help them be more focused, calmer, and all-around happier! In this hands-on session you will create an enrichment item to take home to your dog.
We’ll explore how dogs evolved and what makes them the unique canines we share our homes with, as well as other fascinating knowledge that will help you understand your dog and how to meet their needs.

Fee: $75 per family (up to 3 people)
Prerequisite: none

Sign up for our Canine Enrichment Workshop

Tricks Are For Kids

This fun 90 minute workshop is specially designed for kids 8 to 14 years old. Kids will learn about positive reinforcement training and how to safely interact with dogs. Kids will have the opportunity to utilize these valuable skills to teach their dog best friend new tricks and skills.



Fee: $85 per dog and kid handler

*Dog should be over one year old or a graduate of our Teen Dog Manners and/or Puppy Manners 1 classes.

Notify me when the next Tricks Are For Kids in available!

Leash Skills Go Outdoors

Take your dogs leash walking skills to the next level! In this engaging 90-minute leash skills workshop we will work outside in a local park with all of the distractions nature has to offer. Learn new ways to teach your dog loose leash walking skills through fun games and skills.





Fee: $75
Date: Sunday, August 20th
Time: 11:00am
Prerequisites: Shy Dog Manners, Teen Dog Manners, or Dog Manners 1


Notify me when the next Leash Skills seminar is available!

Virtual Dog Training Sessions

Looking for a way to learn more about your dogs behavior? Looking to prepare for a new baby in your home? Unable to get to our shelter for training? We got you covered! Check out our virtual dog training options!
















Coming soon! Virtual Dog Training Sessions!

Additional Training & Behavior Resources

We recommend positive, dog-friendly training methods, focusing on good manners in the real world and socialization. Explore other pet training and behavior resources recommended by our team of certified dog trainers and animal behavior specialists:

Looking for support after the loss of a pet?  

Join our Virtual Pet Loss Support Groups – you can find more information on our End of Life page.