Dog Training Classes in Calgary
Foundations
For dogs of any age and any training level
Foundations is Clever Canines’ training program designed to help dogs of any age and training level. Whether you have a young dog who missed early training, a newly adopted dog, or a dog whose behaviour has changed overtime, Foundations will help you get your dog’s behaviour back on track, so you can get back to enjoying your time together.
For more than 21 years, Clever Canines has helped Calgary dog owners build calm, well-mannered dogs through structured training programs led by experienced instructors. Classes take place at our professional training facility and in real-world environments across Calgary.
Training Class Overview:
1.5 hour (90 minute) classes, 2 times per week for 2 weeks
2 hour pre-recorded training presentation
resource library with video recaps and tips
outdoor classes at our facility and local parks to deal with real-life situations; indoor classes during cold weather
Investment: $399 + GST
Class Bonus!
special discounted dog daycare package exclusive to participants with dogs under 7-months to encourage your puppy to apply newly learned behaviours
an exclusive locally crafted Clever Canines hands-free leash
10% off the purchase of a martingale collar and six-foot leash from Unleashed
10% off and priority enrolment for Core (advanced training program)
Upcoming Foundations Sessions
May 23 - Saturday and Sunday at 11am - 4 spots available!
June 8 - Monday and Wednesday at 7pm - 8 spots available!
June 13 - Saturday and Sunday at 9am - 13 spots available!
July 14 - Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm - 14 spots available!
July 18 - Saturday and Sunday at 9am - 14 spots available!
August 10 - Monday and Wednesday at 7pm - 14 spots available!
August 15 - Saturday and Sunday at 9am - 14 spots available!
Common Dog Behaviour Challenges We Help Solve
After more than 20 years of training, we’ve seen just about everything — and we know that dogs who struggle to listen or stay focused are not ignoring you. More often than not, they are struggling to understand what’s expected of them. When our dog’s behaviours change or no longer match our expectations, it can feel frustrating, overwhelming, or even a bit embarrassing.
Foundations was created with this in mind. It’s a focused, short program designed to address the behaviours that have the biggest impact on day-to-day life. And, with sessions starting monthly, you can get support as soon as you need it.
This program helps address common behaviour challenges such as:
pulling on the leash during walks
Not coming when called
jumping and/or barking due to excitement
difficulty settling or calming down
Overexcitement and lack of focus
What You and Your Dog Will Learn in Class
In Foundations, we focus on a small number of essential skills, taught in a way that builds consistency and trust between you and your dog.
Skills we will learn in class are:
calm leash walking and confidence in new environments
obedience skills including Come, Sit, and Lie Down, Stay
self control to help your dog learn not to bark, jump on people or chase the cat
ways to get your dog to focus on you, even with squirrels and bunnies around
exposure to different outdoor environments to learn how to handle real-life situations
WhyTraining Is So Important
Most behaviour challenges - from pulling on the leash to jumping, barking, or reactivity - can be traced back to a lack of basic skills. In Foundations, we focus on the core behaviours that have the greatest impact on your dog’s ability to stay calm, focused, and responsive in everyday situations.
Skills like loose-leash walking, stay, and reliable recall are more than just obedience commands - they create the structure, communication, and trust that allow dogs to make better choices, even around distractions. When these skills are strong, many common behaviour problems naturally begin to improve or disappear.
Foundations also teaches you how to train. Using our step-by-step training approach, you’ll learn how to build new behaviours, strengthen existing ones, and continue progressing with your dog long after the program ends. These skills become the base you can return to at any time to regain control, rebuild consistency, and continue developing a well-mannered, reliable dog. When in doubt, strong foundations are what bring behaviour back on track.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Your in-person puppy training classes are supported by an online resource library that includes videos demonstrating the skills taught in class, along with additional training tips and resources.
This allows owners to review exercises, practice at home, and keep everyone in the household involved in the training process. Consistency is one of the most important factors in raising a well-behaved dog. The resource library remains available for three months after the program ends, giving owners time to revisit lessons and continue building their puppy’s skills.
Calgary’s Purpose-Built Dog Training Facility
Clever Canines operates one of Calgary’s most established dog training facilities, designed specifically for both training and daycare programs. Our 10,000-square-foot facility includes three flexible training rooms and direct access to 7,600 square feet of turfed outdoor training space, allowing dogs to learn in multiple environments.
The facility was thoughtfully designed through more than twenty years of hands-on training and daycare experience to create a clean, calm, and comfortable learning environment for both dogs and their owners in Calgary.
Every detail of the facility was designed to support effective training while keeping dogs comfortable, safe, and focused during class:
spacious training rooms that can be adjusted for different class sizes
direct access to secure outdoor training areas
hospital-grade non-slip flooring to help dogs move safely and confidently
acoustic sound baffling to reduce noise and create a calmer training environment
chemical-free sanitation using advanced cleaning technology that is safe for dogs and people
modern air-exchange and ventilation systems that maintain fresh air throughout the building
These features help create a safe and comfortable learning environment for both dogs and their owners.
What Comes After Foundations?
Foundations builds the base skills needed for a well-behaved, responsive dog, but it is just the beginning of what’s possible. Many clients choose to continue their training journey in our CORE program, where these foundational skills are expanded into real-world reliability and advanced obedience.
CORE takes the concepts learned in Foundations and applies them in more challenging environments, helping dogs and owners develop consistency, confidence, and control in everyday life. Together, the two programs create a clear path from understanding the basics to living with a calm, well-mannered, and dependable dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Foundations is designed for dogs of any age. Whether your dog is a young adolescent or an older dog who never had formal training, the goal of Foundations is to build consistency in your communication with your dog. Dogs don’t age out of learning. In many cases, older dogs benefit from training just as much because it provides structure and clearer expectations that may have been missing.
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Many dogs “know” commands but don’t perform them consistently. In Foundations, we focus on improving reliability and communication so your dog understands what skills like sit or loose leash walking actually mean. This shift in understanding is often what makes the biggest difference in day-to-day behaviour.
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Yes. Many dogs in Foundations struggle with over-excitement rather than true reactivity.
We focus on helping dogs build patience, improve focus, and learn how to stay more regulated around distractions. While this program is not designed for severe behavioural cases, it is very effective for dogs who become overly excited around people, dogs, or in outdoor environments.
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Classes begin at our training facility and progress into real-world environments. The first classes take place in our outdoor training yards, where dogs can learn in a more controlled setting. The final class is held in a public park in the Calgary area, where we work with real-life distractions such as other dogs, people, and movement. This helps ensure that the skills learned in class carry over into everyday situations.
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Foundations is designed to be a focused, high-impact program that delivers the most important training concepts in a short period of time. Rather than spreading lessons out over several weeks, classes are held more frequently so you can apply what you learn right away, receive feedback, and continue building skills without losing momentum.
This structure helps both dogs and owners learn more quickly and effectively. You’ll develop a clear understanding of the skills and training concepts needed to improve behaviour, along with the ability to continue progressing on your own. Foundations provides the essential skills and understanding needed to move forward with confidence, whether continuing into more advanced training or building on these skills at home. Many clients come to Foundations looking for immediate help, and this format allows them to start seeing meaningful results quickly.
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Many dogs can perform skills at home but struggle in more distracting environments.
Foundations helps bridge that gap by gradually introducing distractions and teaching dogs how to stay engaged and responsive outside of familiar settings. This is an important step in helping training carry over into real life.
What clients are saying about
Foundations at Clever Canines!