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Training

Our Training Methods

At Ruff Haus we believe training should be effective, enjoyable, and focused on building a strong relationship between dogs and their people. Our training programs are designed to help owners better understand and communicate with their dogs while teaching practical skills that create confident, well-mannered companions. We believe that clear communication is the foundation of successful training. 

Our curriculum combines practical exercises using positive reinforcement and reward-based training methods that focus on teaching the skills required to communicate effectively with your dog while incorporating food rewards, toys, play, praise, and affection to motivate learning. Through clear communication we educate owners on body language, understanding behaviour, how to provide clear direction, and reinforce appropriate choices helping dogs develop confidence, self-control, and reliable everyday skills.

Learning is a lifelong process which is why we offer programs for dogs at every stage including Puppy 1, Puppy 2, Beginner 1, Beginner 2, Urban Dog and Agility classes. Each program builds on communication, connection, and practical skills to help dogs and their owners succeed together. Whether you’re starting with a brand new puppy, building more advanced skills, or simply looking for a fun activity to enjoy together, there’s always something new to learn.

 Our goal is simple: to help owners develop a better understanding of how their dogs learn, communicate, and respond, creating a strong relationship built on trust, consistency and understanding. 

 

 

Our Trainers

Kelly Johnson CTB.CCS - Head Trainer

Kelly is the owner of Ruff Haus and a Certified Trainer & Behaviour Consultant bringing more then 30 years of professional experience in training, behaviour and owner education. She began her career in Markham before relocating to Barrie, where she has continued to build a respected career helping dogs and their owners succeed together. 

In 2004, Kelly became one of the first professionals in Canada to earn the designation of Certified Trainer & Behaviour Consultants through Canine Communication Studies. Her extensive experience encompasses puppy development, obedience, behaviour modification, agility, rally obedience and private behavioural consultations.  

Kelly’s approach to training is centered on clear communication, consistency and a through understanding of canine behaviour. She believes that effective training extends beyond teaching dogs individual skills – it also means providing owners with the knowledge and tools they need to communicate clearly with their dogs, understand their behaviour and confidently manage real-life situations. 

With decades of hands-on experience, Kelly is committed to providing professional, practical and individualized training that works and recognizes the unique needs of every dog.  Her goal is to help build confident, well-mannered dogs while fostering stronger, more successful relationships between dogs and their people. 

Emma - Obedience Trainer

Emma began her career within the pet care industry in Newmarket where she quickly discovered her passion for working with dogs and helping owners build strong relationships with their canine companions through training. 

She graduated from the Canine Foundation Trainer Academy program through Georgian College in June of 2021 and brings extensive hands-on experience in both dog training and behaviour. Since 2019, Emma has worked in several dog daycare environments as a dog handler and has assisted with the development and delivery of a variety of training programs. 

At Ruff Haus, Emma teaches all levels of group obedience and provides private behavioural training sessions, supporting dogs and their owners.

School

Group Classes & Private Training

Group Classes – 6 weeks – $245.00 (including tax)

Our Puppy 1 training program is specifically designed for puppies between 10 weeks and 6 months of age. This class focuses on building a strong foundation of essential skills while helping develop a positive, confident relationship with you puppy. 
One of the most important parts of successful training is clear communication. 
Our trainers will teach you how to better understand your puppy and communicate clearly and consistently with them helping your puppy understand what is expected while building trust and confidence. We also address common puppy behaviours such as nipping, chewing, jumping, barking and digging, giving you practical tools to encourage good manners from the very beginning. 
Throughout the program, we’ll cover important aspects of raising a well-rounded puppy, including socialization, appropriate exposure, grooming and handling, exercise, enrichment, confidence building and self-control. 

Upcoming Start Dates:  

Wednesday, September 30th @ 6pm

Sunday, October 18th @ 10am

Tuesday, October 20th @ 6pm

Wednesday, November 18th @ 6pm

Sunday, November 29th @ 10am 

Tuesday, December 8th @ 6pm

Wednesday, December 30th @ 6pm 

Our Puppy 2 class is the next level in your puppy’s training, and was designed for puppies that have successfully completed  Puppy 1 or have an equivalent level of training. Puppy 2 is designed to bridge the gap between foundational training and more advanced obedience. 
This class builds on the foundation established in Puppy 1 by helping you and your puppy develop stronger communication, greater reliability and more advanced everyday skills. We’ll continue teaching owners how to communicate clearly and consistently with their puppies while helping them to respond with greater independence, even as distractions increase. 
Training will focus on advancing previously learned skills while introducing new concepts and diving further into training distance, distraction and duration to help your puppy become reliable in real-world situations. We will continue to build confidence, self-control, appropriate social skills, focus and good manners. while teaching you how to progress your puppy’s training beyond the basics. 

Upcoming Start Dates:  

Sunday, September 27th @ 11am

Tuesday, September 22nd @ 7pm

Sunday, September 27th @ 11am

Tuesday, November 10th @ 7pm

Sunday, November 15th @ 11am

Tuesday, December 22nd @ 7pm

Sunday, December 27th @ 11am

Our Beginner 1 program is designed for dogs 6 months and older who have had little or no previous formal training who would benefit from building a strong training foundation and provides you the knowledge and tools to communicate effectively with your dog.
A major focus of this class is helping you better understand your dog and learn how to communicate with them clearly and consistency. Our experienced trainers will teach practical training techniques that help your dog understand what is expected of them while strengthening trust, confidence and the relationship you share. 
You will learn practical and essential everyday skills that help create a well-mannered dog both at home an in the community. We also provide guidance for managing and improving common behaviours, discuss important elements of your dogs overall well-being and educate owners on why behaviours happen as well as how your own communication, timing and consistency can influence your dog’s success. 

Upcoming Start Dates:

Sunday, September 20th @ 12pm

Wednesday, September 23rd @ 7pm

Sunday. November 8th @ 12pm

Wednesday, November 11th @ 7pm

Sunday, December 20th @ 12pm

Wednesday, December 23rd @ 7pm

Beginner 2 is designed for dogs who have successfully completed Beginner 1, Puppy 2 or an equivalent level of training and are ready to build greater reliability, focus and confidence. 
This class builds on your dog’s existing foundation while continuing to strengthen clear communication between you and your dog. You will learn how to refine your training techniques, improve consistency and help you dog respond more reliably – even when the environment becomes more challenging. 
We will advance previously learned skills by increasing distance, duration and distraction while introducing more challenging exercises and real-life applications. You will also learn how to proof your dog’s skills, recognize when they are ready for greater challenges and continue progressing their training beyond the classroom. 

Upcoming Start Dates: 

Coming soon!

Our Urban Dog program is designed to bridge the gap between classroom training and everyday life. This is where training meets the real world and builds dogs who can confidently navigate the community.
This class takes training beyond a controlled setting and teaches you how to communicate clearly with your dog, maintain their focus and build reliable responses. You and your dog will practice a variety of both indoor and outdoor environments where you may encounter other dogs, people, traffic, bicycles, children, new sights and sounds and other everyday distractions. 
Urban Dog also helps owners learn how to read their dog, manage challenging situations and adjust their communication and training techniques as the environment changes. 
Prerequisite: Dogs must have completed Puppy 2, Beginner 1, Beginner 2 or demonstrate an equivalent level of training to participate.

Upcoming Start Dates:

Coming Spring 2027!

Agility 1 introduces you and your dog to the fundamentals of dog agility in a fun, positive and supportive environment. Throughout this class, you’ll learn how to clearly guide and communicate with your dog using body language, verbal cues and hand signals while safely navigating a variety of agility obstacles. 
Dogs will be introduced to equipment with exercises designed to build confidence, focus, coordination and teamwork at an appropriate pace for each dog. 
Agility is a fantastic form of physical exercise and mental enrichment and is suitable for dogs of many breeds, sizes and experience levels. Most importantly, its a great opportunity to have fun with your dog!
Please note: Our agility equipment includes jumps, tunnels, a table, tire, weave poles and a small A-frame. We do not currently have a dog walk or teeter.

Upcoming Start Dates:

Sunday, November 8th @ 3:30pm

Sunday, December 20th @ 3:30pm

Agility 2 builds on the foundation established in Agility 1, helping you and your dog develop greater confidence, communication and teamwork as you progress to more advanced skills. 
Handler will learn how to guide their dog through longer sequences of obstacles, build distance, improve timing and refine their use of body language, verbal cues and hand signals. Dogs will continue developing confidence, focus independence and a better understanding of how to navigate agility equipment with their handler. 
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Agility 1 or equivalent skills. 

Upcoming Start Dates:

Coming soon!

This advanced Agility class is designed for dogs and handlers ready for a greater challenge. This class focuses on strengthening handler technique, communication, timing and teamwork while navigating more complex sequences and course combinations. 
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Agility 2 or equivalent skills. 

Upcoming Start Dates:  

Sunday, September 27th @ 2:30pm

Sunday, November 15th @ 2:30pm

Sunday, December 27th @ 2:30pm

$250.00 per session (in home) – includes HST

$150.00 per session (virtual only) – includes HST

Our private training sessions provide personalized, one-to-one support tailored to you and your dog. These sessions are ideal for addressing specific behavioural concerns, strengthening communication or working toward individualized training goals. 
Each privates session is one hour in length and focuses on providing practical strategies, clear guidance and a customized approach based on your dog’s individual needs.
Each session includes: A detailed session recap emailed within 24 hours, outlining recommendations and next steps and a 30 minutes follow up consultation by phone approximately one week after your session to review your progress, answer questions and provide additional support. 
To book a private session, please contact our office at 705-739-7833 or email [email protected]. One of our trainers will connect with you to discuss your training needs, goals and availability. 
Travel fees: A $25.00 travel fee applies to in-home and off site appointments outside of Barrie. Locations more than 30 minutes outside of Barrie are subject to a $40.00 travel fee. 

$60.00 (Including HST)

Our mini training sessions were designed exclusively for dogs attending daycare who could benefit from a little extra one-on-one training during their visit. Whether your dog needs to brush up on existing skills or work on something new, these focused sessions provide personalized training based on your dog’s individual needs.
Each session is 45 minutes and focuses on one or two specific skills or behaviours to ensure your dog receives clear, productive and individualized instruction. Following the session, owners will receive a training recap or videos outlining what was worked on and guidance to help continue reinforcing those skills at home.
Mini Sessions must be booked in advance and scheduled alongside your dog’s daycare visit. To book, please contact our office at 705-739-7833 or [email protected]. One of our trainers will contact you to discuss availability and your training goals. 
How to Apply

Forms

Training Enrollment Form

Online training form

We require that this form be received prior to the start of your training class. You will only be required to complete this form once as it will be kept on file and applied to each class registration.

WHat To Know

Policies

We recommend registering for your preferred training class in advance as class sizes are limited and spaces may fill quickly. Full payment is required at the time of registration to secure your spot in the class. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit, Debit and cash. Credit card payments may be made in person or over the phone.

A training enrollment form must be competed and submitted prior to the start of your class. Once your form has been submitted, please contact our office at 705-739-7833 to complete your registration and payment.

Please note: Submitting an enrollment form does not reserve or guarantee a spot in class. Registration is only confirmed once full payment has been received. 

Cancellation, Refunds & Class Transfers

Once payment has been received, you have one year from the original date of payment to request a refund provided you have not attended or participated in any portion of the class. Once a class has begun and you have attended or participated, no refunds will be issued for the remaining classes, regardless of attendance. If you are unable to continue in the class you originally registered for after it has begun, we may permit one transfer to another eligible class, subject to availability. Class registrations and payments are non-transferable to another person or dog unless otherwise approved by Ruff Haus. 

We reserve the right to reschedule, postpone or cancel a class when necessary due to circumstances such as instructor availability, severe weather, safety concerns or insufficient enrollment. In the event of a cancelled class and an appropriate alternative cannot be provided, affected clients will be contacted regarding available options. 

For the health and safety of all dogs in our care, all dogs participating in training services must be up to date on the following vaccines:

Rabies, DHPP and Bordatella

All vaccines must be administered by a licensed veterinarian and must be given 48 hours prior to attending class. 

Puppies under 6 months must have their second set of vaccinations, including a bordatella vaccine before attending training classes. 

Proof of vaccination must be provided prior to your class start dates and can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by text to 705-739-7833. Dogs without the required vaccination documentation will not be permitted to participate in class. 

Please note that we do not accept titre testing as an alternative to the required vaccinations. 

The health and safety of all dogs , clients and staff is our priority. Ruff Haus reserves the right to refuse, restrict or discontinue participation in training services if a dog is ill, injured, in pain or displays behaviour that may pose a health or safety concern to themselves , other dogs, clients or staff. Ruff Haus may modify a dog’s participation or recommend an alternative training option when necessary to protect the safety, comfort and well-being of everyone involved. 

Health Requirements

All dogs must be in good health when attending class. Dogs experiencing coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea or other signs of illness within 48 hour prior to class must not attend. If your dog develops or displays signs of illness during class, you ill be asked to leave.

Contagious illness

Dogs diagnosed with or treated for a contagious illness may not attend training classes until they have been symptom-free for a minimum of two weeks. Veterinary clearance may be required before returning.

Parasites

Dogs being treated for internal parasites , including but not limited to roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm, giardia or coccidia may not participate until treatment has been completed. Proof of treatment and/or a negative test may be require before returning to class. 

Aggression & Reactivity

Dogs displaying aggression that may pose a safety risk to people or other dogs may not be appropriate for a group class environment. If your dog is reactive, fearful or has a history of aggression behaviour, please disclose this to our trainers prior to registration so we can determine the safest and most appropriate training option. 

Leash & Equipment

Dogs must arrive on a secure flat buckle or snap collar and a standard 4-6 foot leash. Head halters, properly fitted harnesses and martingale collars are also permitted when appropriate. Retractable leashes are not permitted. 

Training Tools:

Choke chains and prong collars are not permitted in Ruff Haus training classes.

Ruff Haus is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and professional environment for our staff, clients, and the dogs in our care. Clients are expected to conduct themselves respectfully in all interactions with Ruff Haus staff, clients, and representatives, whether in person, by telephone, by email, through social media, or by any other form of communication.

Abusive, threatening, intimidating, harassing, discriminatory, defamatory, or otherwise inappropriate conduct toward our staff, clients, or business will not be tolerated. Ruff Haus reserves the sole discretion to refuse, suspend, or terminate services immediately if a client engages in such conduct or violates any of our policies or procedures.

Where services are refused, suspended, or terminated due to a client’s conduct or a breach of Ruff Haus policies, the client shall not be entitled to any refund, credit, or compensation for any unused services, packages, memberships, or prepaid fees, except where required by applicable law.

“Rhythm always comes home exhausted, he learns so much at Training and Daycare!”

-Jake and cassandra with Rhythm