Group Classes
Control Unleashed Group Classes
Who knew giving dogs more control would make them want to work with us more?
All group classes taught by Samantha DeJong B.Sc, CCUI, CTB.ccs, IPDTA-CDT
Serving Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and Surrounding Areas
Ask for a FREE pdf to help troubleshoot specific behaviour problems while you wait for your class
What is Control Unleashed?
There’s so much more to puppy training than basic obedience classes! The Control Unleashed (CU) Program can be best described as conversational training: It creates a dialogue where the dog and handler give each other feedback rather than just traditional cue & response training. It empowers the learner by letting the dog direct its own counter-conditioning – the dog gets to tell you when it’s ready to take the next step in its training!
It is the secret sauce to creating a beautiful partnership where the dog is a willing and eager participant in everything we can think to apply CU concepts to!
Photo Credit: Barbara Brown Photography
“We are going down an exciting path, as a community, toward a future where all kinds of animals in all types of situations will be given the tools to be the director of their own show. As more and more research on animal cognition is done, we will finally be able to prove what most of us already know — animals have feelings, their own internal life, and their own opinions”
Leslie McDevitt
Benefits of learning the Control Unleashed Program
CU – The Puppy PrimeR
All the basics: sit, down, stand, leave it, loose-leash walking & stay – all taught the CU way!
In this class we’ll teach you the difference between cued vs offered behaviour, what default behaviour is and why you need it, and how to motivate your dog to want to work with you. We’ll teach you how we get dogs to choose to “leave it” without always having to say “leave it” and lots of self-control exercises so you can help your dog be as calm and confident as it can be.
WE NOW OFFER BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON OPTIONS WITH SMALL CLASS SIZES.
Learning from the comfort of home has huge benefits for puppies and new dog owners who are often overwhelmed coming into a class setting full of distractions when they have no idea how to handle them yet!  Our Puppy Primer class will give you a head start on the skills you need for class BEFORE you set foot in a classroom so that when you DO get to a class setting, you AND your puppy will actually be prepared for it. Our virtual option is entirely virtual and our Hybrid option is 1 week virtual with 3 weeks in person. The best part is you don’t have to sacrifice socialization if you choose the virtual option because you can add on as many socialization classes or daycare days as you want.  This also allows us to group the dogs more appropriately into small/timid dogs or confident dogs classes for the socialization aspect while everyone is able to sign up for the same puppy class. Daycare available only to pups who start before 16 weeks.
Not sure if virtual coaching is effective for dog training? Check out our blogpost about why I’m sold on virtual classes at least as a starting point for most dogs.
Virtual Only
$199 +HST
Totally virtual for the dogs who need to learn from the comfort of home for 4 weeks
Hybrid Option
$275 + HST
1 week virtual & weeks 2-4 in person at our Shantz Station location
Add ons
(Pay as you go)
Socialization Classes
($20 + HST)
Daycare* ($50 + HST)
*for pups under 16 weeks
CU – The Building Blocks
The basic building blocks of the CU Program
These critical behaviours are important for life skills, coping skills, and feeling comfortable in the world. Together these building block behaviours create a functional system of communication between the dog and the handler so you can empower the learner and build a lasting relationship with your dog based on trust and mutual respect.
You’ll learn how to get your dog to take a breath (biofeedback training), default behaviour and the offswitch game for self control and regulating arousal, matwork, and the Look at That Game. You’ll also learn Leslie McDevitt’s Pattern Games and we’ll discuss how they provide a predictable framework for the dog to help them process their environment and learn to stay calm around distractions.
Because these are virtual classes they are available to dogs of any age as well as reactive or fearful dogs.
The next step for most dogs graduating this class will be the In-Person Power of the Pattern class but this class also counts as a pre-req for all of our Specialty Classes
​
4 Weeks x 1 hour, virtual only.
225 + HST
CU – The Power of the Pattern
4 weeks in person to see the power of the patterns learned in the CU: Building Blocks class
Pattern games provide a rule structure for the dog that is predictable, safe, and easy to transport so we can use them anywhere to help the dog feel more secure and feel a sense of control in new environments.
This class expands on the patterns introduced in the Building Blocks class. You’ll learn variations of 1-2-3 walking, the chair game, and Superbowls. You’ll also get to learn Leslie’s newest technique LATTE, which introduces enrichment and promotes more decompression for the dog.
This class will be offered in-person and outdoors only. Weather permitted. Dress accordingly. A private consultation will be required for reactive dogs to join this class and reactive dogs will be given a private option for offleash play as an alternative to the social class add-on.
​
4 weeks x 1 hour – some dogs may only be able to handle 45 minutes and as such no new material will be introduced in the last 15 minutes.
295 + HST
Reactive to Relaxed Package
Our Reactive to Relaxed package combines our CU Building Blocks class with the Power of the Pattern class.
You will get 4 weeks to learn pattern games and handling techniques at home where your dog feels completely relaxed and then 4 weeks of taking those games on the road in a controlled setting around other people and dogs at our Shantz Station Rd location.
Full 8 weeks is 500 + HST