We invite puppies from 12 to 16 weeks to puppy socials.  Puppy socials are short (15-20 minutes), supervised play sessions, usually before class.  It is part of the "learning experience".  Pups learn to navigate their way in interactions with other pups & humans.  They recognize and practice valuable body language cues & communications skills (Calming Signals© (Turid Rugaas).  Carefully taught human intervention emphasizes the leadership role (calm & assertive).  Puppy socials smoothly transitions into Basics ...

BASIC – I:   6 - 1+ hour weekly coaching sessions / $160

 5 2-dog discount: $300/1-book: 1-handler required for each dog team

Group classes are offered to pups at about 4-months (approved by your Primary Vet).  Older and adopted dogs are a joy.  We require assessment for most adopted dogs before entry into group classes.  Call to inquire.

Families and children are welcome.  Children and teens under 16 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. 

Positive-reward-based training (PRBT) focuses on breathing, walk on loose leash, sit, down, stand, stay, take-it, leave-it and give-it (object exchange) and using easy, fun sequences!  PRBT gives puppies/dogs the opportunity to think, offer behaviors and be rewarded!  What's not to like?  It is a delightful learning experience for all family members.  We encourage training our dogs with the perspective of building a relationship with another species.  It's about teaching our dogs, communications skills, wisdom (for ourselves) and respect, which every species deserves in an understandable way.  Learn about pack leadership, chewing, barking, digging, housetraining and the things that help teach a pup to live within a human hierarchy.  We have fun by integrating games, socialization, breathing and basic massage.  Touching calms us and the dogs.  It desensitizes dogs/puppies for handling by others such as a Veterinarian wellness check and healthy grooming.  Humans and dogs develop a positive foundation to build a life long relationship.  Clicker Training is encouraged and welcomed if you are experienced.  It is in our book and there are many good resources (www.clickertraining.com)! 

Other essentials include discussions on life management skills (with our dogs in mind) covering basic puppy care, housetraining, therapeutic chewing, occupational digging, exercise, well-being, whole nutrition and grooming for health and self esteem.  All information / resources are available in our book Train Your Dog, Change Your Life, on this website (click on canine coach) and in the growing library / articles.

Teams who have completed Basic I transition into Basics II.  We’ll briefly review Basics I.  Integrated will be training for adolescents, distractions, distance, diversity, duration & clickers (your choice), dynamic sequencing and beginning off leash work (at your own level of progress). 

Exchange of empowering information is shared to help you further develop your training relationship skills.  This includes, but is not limited to, attention getting and targeting (clicker training welcome).  Learn to recognize your dog’s realistic strengths, limitations, thresholds and boredom while managing behaviors like running off, lunging, and jumping.  Learn how to be pro-active with a win-win attitude and redirect our dog's natural energy / instincts into positive occupational / therapeutic outlets. 

Barking (canine communications), body language, relaxation and developing a careful sense of humor are explored. This prepares the dog teams for Integrated Challenging classes that include Dog Sports & Doga Flow. 

Sessions are for dog teams who have completed Basics I & II, have specific goals or who simply want to glean their skills and enjoy training with their dogs!  The focus is on continuing to foster a confident relationship that is predictable and reliable under a broad range of conditions and circumstances. We combine a smooth flow of off-leash training, dynamic sequencing, cross-training, rotation training, clicker training, games, and more challenging distraction and distance work. Specialized training using various equipment, sights, sounds and smells that will be encountered in the real world are employed.  Depending on the energy level, we oftentimes integrate dog sports and dog flow into Intermediate classes!

Dog Talk provides private, confidential, positive-reward based training designed for those who are unable to attend group classes or simply prefer individual attention. The same user-friendly training approaches for Basics-I (as described above) are taught in 1-hour sessions at our training sanctuary.  Need-in-home training, please call FMI.

Phone Coaching can be useful for some basic canine related behavioral issues.  If you have concerns or questions and cannot make it to a group and/or private coaching session, a behavioral questionnaire will be sent prior to phone consultation by e-mail.  MC / VISA / DISCOVER can be taken over the phone if you prefer to begin immediately. 

Fees for phone coaching are $1.00 a minute, $50.00 an hour and  begin with the behavioral assessment. 

Basic Training-I & Basic-II should be completed first or let us know what training you've had before joining Dog Sports:)  

A virtual playground for higher learning, non-competitive Agility and/or Dog Sports is contagious, fun games you can share with your dog.  DS is comprised of a maze of games using obstacles that dogs maneuver (with handler guidance).  The dog’s learn to traverse a dog walk, negotiate a see-saw, climb an A-frame, zigzag through weave poles, slinky through tunnels, soar over a variety of challenging hurdles, cones and challenging sequences.

Dog Sports of any kind (including Flyball), along with your own creative games are pure and simple joy!  It’s mentally and physically stimulating for dog and handler.  It is a great way to get rid of excess energy and blow off steam in a constructive, controlled and pleasurable manner.  Although agility can be a competition sport, it is as equally challenging and enjoyable for those who simply want to enjoy an enthusiastic game with their dogs! 

Dog Sports begins with an introduction to contact obstacles, teaching your dog to safely get use to cross-overs, dog walk, tire jump, climb the A-frame, weave poles, tunnels (chute and pipe) and tip the see-saw.  The teams will become familiar with commonly used jumps and hurdles.  As with any training, behavioral training is integrated and taught gradually, with positive reinforcement. 

Dogs are on lead, until they are reliable.  DS is designed to be fun, not stressful, judgmental or competitive.  However, we encourage you to realistically challenge yourself and your dog!   

More challenging Dog Sports is comprised of target training, obstacle discrimination and simple sequence set-ups for successful maneuvers.  Dogs will learn to serpentine the weave poles and use the pause table with teams working at their own level of progress!  Off-lead sequences will be introduced!

The connection between human and dog is unique ... 

Petting makes friends, but massage builds relationships!

Canine massage is integrated into basic training classes for desensization and grounding. 

Private Treatment Sessions are scheduled by appointment. 

Sessions are $1.00 per minute, $30 for 30 minutes, $50 for 1-hour. 

The first session includes a confidential assessment and consultation with a signed approval from your Primary Veterinarian (please bring on first session).  Massages will last as long as the dog responds positively.  Tolerance levels vary (physically, behaviorally and emotionally).  

Our goal is for this to be a positive, relaxing and enhancing experience for your dog.  We are pleased to consult with your dog's primary Veterinarian regarding specific issues relating to massage and your dog's most optimum treatment plan.  For more information or to schedule an assessment, we invite you to call:  (603) 635-DOGS (3647). 

If you and your dog can breathe, you can participate in RMT/Doga Flow/Massage which is integrated into most of our classes: (warm-up, desensitize with touch, intensity & learning at your level and choice, calmly cool down).  It is a mindful approach to training with your dog by noticing, observing, breathing and training.

The techniques are simple and can be used daily to reduce stress and increase clarity.  It is designed for all levels, but

If you choose to walk a mindful path with your dog, RMT and/or Doga Flow will give you the opportunity to improve the quality of your training practice while exploring & sharing your own creative ideas with other dog teams. 

Pet-Assisted Therapy Training is integrated into Basic Training Classes as part of "real-world" experiences, but not with the focus and intensity of private and/or event/workshop training.  This is a speciality-training-registration process for teams wanting to visit rehabs, nursing homes, hospitals, residental care and other therapeutic milieus with their pets.  Please journey to the web site for information or visit www.deltasociety.org and/or www.therapyanimals.org (R.E.A.D.). 

To receive more information,  we invite you to take-a-deep-breath and call us at

 603-635-DOGS-3647 or e-mail us at dogtalktraining@comcast.net or caninecoach@comcast.net

Click ~ Special Events ~ for workshops, programs and other offerings. 

Where available, please click for informational brochures & registrations that include fees & descriptions.  Currently, we accept online registration (PayPal) for events.  Group and Private Training requires a conversation with a live human, for the safety of dogs and families.  All private behavioral coaching requires an appointment and intake.