Mill Bay, Duncan & Campbell River Group Classes
Our programs bring professional dog training to the Cowichan Valley and Northern Island, offering both group obedience classes and puppy socialization.
Puppy Socialization Classes
With the guidance and support of our trainer, your pup will be supervised while interacting with other suitable puppies.
They are carefully chosen so that the puppies feel safe with each other.
Your Puppy Will:
How does it work?
- Age: Up to 8 months old
- Duration: 45-minutes based on location
- Class size: limited to a maximum of 6 dogs
- Vaccines: Proof of first and second vaccines + at least one dose of Bortadella are required at first session
Please Note:
Please don’t feed your pup right before class. A full tummy and excited play can lead to bloat.
What to expect at our Puppy Social Classes
With the guidance and support of our trainer, your pup will be supervised while interacting with other suitable puppies. Puppies are brought in to the pen in small groups (typically 2 or 4 at a time). The trainer will always carefully match your pup with others and ensure it is a positive and safe experience for them.
They are then encouraged and guided through how to interact with each other appropriately, whether it is to slow down, approach respectfully and learn to read the other dogs body language or boost their confidence by encouraging play and curiosity with each other.
Owner’s will stand on the outside of the enclosure while their pup is interacting. Every few minutes the puppies get to take a break and are given back to you while a few other puppies get to take a try.
When outside of the pen your puppy is under your care and you are encouraged to work with your pup on their patience, calmness in a stimulating environment, or work on their basic training until it is their turn to go back in the enclosure. This cooldown time where they can just observe without participating is just as important for socialization!
Our classes teach your puppy how to respectfully engage with other dogs, they will learn to be confident but controlled and respectful when making new friends.
This class is designed to be as educational for you as it is for your puppy.
Upcoming Social Classes:
Level 1: Basic Obedience
Level 1 Obedience is a blend of basic training techniques and dog psychology to teach well-mannered behaviour, regardless of age or experience.
If you haven’t taken a program with us before we recommend you start here.
Please note:
This package is not a fit for reactive or aggressive dogs – please see our Reactivity Training options here
Who is it for?
Dogs of all ages, and training stages who haven’t taken a program with us before, or haven’t recently taken a formal obedience course.
Where do we train?
Classes are held at convenient locations in the Mill Bay and Duncan area.
Program Features
How does it work?
- 4x group sessions: one 45-minute session per week for four weeks – skips holiday weekends
- Class size: limited to a maximum of 4 dogs
- Attendees: up to 2 people per dog
- Vaccines: Proof of first and second vaccines + at least one dose of Bortadella are required at first session
Upcoming Level 1 Classes:
Looking for more personalized support for your dog?
Aviva Shtull, BabyDog co-founder and master trainer with 20+ years of experience, offers 1-on-1 private lessons tailored to your dog, your goals, and your real-life challenges. Available only in Quadra, Campbell River, and surrounding communities.
Group Walks
During this one hour walk, you will participate with your dog while being guided by a qualified trainer. We walk as a big pack of people and dogs, we get some exercise, we help our dogs learn to walk calmly around other dogs and we have fun with obedience training games while we go!
Our trainer is there to give guidance during the walk and offer assistance when needed.
Who is it for?
Anyone who is looking to improve or maintain their dog’s socialization and practice basic on-leash skills and join a welcoming group of people
Where do we train?
- Quadra Island Community Centre
- Campbell River Tyee Spit
Benefits
Please note: This is not a training class
It is an opportunity to practice your dog’s training and social skills in a controlled and safe setting where everyone else is there to do the same.
If your dog has leash reactivity (tends to lunge, bark or snap at other dogs while on leash) please contact us about training so that we can help you. Bringing a reactive dog on our group walks without prior behaviour modification training is not conducive to your dogs learning. We would love to help you out through training and work towards the goal of setting you up for success when joining our group walks.
Restrictions and Requirements
- Registration is required ahead of time
- 2 person per dog maximum.
- Age — Any age
- Weight — Any weight is allowed, dog’s are not to play or directly interact so small dogs will remain safe
- 24-hour cancellation policy in effect
Safety Information
- Please keep dogs at least 10 feet apart at all times as temperaments cannot be guaranteed
- Dogs will be on-leash with their owners responsible for them
- Please refrain from pulling out toys or treats if close to any other dog to avoid any resource-guarding aggression.
- No aggressive dogs allowed. If your dog struggles with aggression or reactivity, please contact us about training and behaviour modification. We can help you work towards being able to participate in a class like this.
Upcoming Group Walks
