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 free, but mandatory prerequisite: Behavior Basics. This seminar is also open to the public at no cost (suggested donation: $25) 
• 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) 641-0080. 

Dog Training Classes

Behavior Basics Seminar

This single-session two-hour seminar for humans-only will give you a comprehensive look at how dogs learn, how to teach them using positive reinforcement-based training, and the clicker method. You’ll also learn how dogs communicate and how to address common behavior problems. We encourage everyone who will be training the dog to attend. This class is open to the community at no cost.

Fee: none (suggested donation: $25)
Prerequisite: none
Note: HUMAN-ONLY CLASS. PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG TO THIS CLASS.

Sign up for Behavior Basics

Puppy Play Skills (8-16 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 play skills. Each session is overseen by a Certified Dog Trainer and 45 minutes long. These sessions are a great complement to our Puppy Head Start and Puppy Manners classes!

Fee: $25 per session
Prerequisite: none

Sign up for Puppy Play Skills

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 45 minutes long.

Fee: $260
Prerequisite: Behavior Basics Seminar

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: Behavior Basics Seminar

Sign up for Puppy Manners 1

Teen Dog Manners (5.5 - 12 months)

Teen Dog Manners Class 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: Behavior 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: Behavior 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: Behavior 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: Teen 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
Pre-requisite: Behavior Basics and instructor permission

Sign up for Reactive Rover 1 Class

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 Seminar

In this fun, family-friendly, two-hour class 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! Our interactive Canine Enrichment seminar will teach you how to create engaging games and activities that stimulate your dog(s) and give them healthy outlets for a large variety of natural behaviors.

Fee: $75 per family
Prerequisite: none

Sign up for one of our Canine Enrichment Seminars!

Introduction to K9 Nose work Workshop

Introduction to K9 Nose Work®
This introductory workshop is the first step in learning the foundational elements of the activity and sport of K9 Nose Work® as developed by the founders of the sport. This seminar is for dog sport enthusiasts, pet owners and potential K9 Nose Work® instructors. During the K9 Nose Work® workshop we will take you through the process of the first steps in getting a dog started in K9 Nose Work, concentrating on the basic concepts and foundation skills for dogs and handlers.

Additional Training & Behavior Resources

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.