Dog Obedience Classes
At HSWM, we offer a wide variety of canine courses for you and your dog's needs. Our classes address not just basic cues but socializing, house training, chewing, barking, play biting and other behavior concerns. We use a respect based training approach, which consists of positive reinforcement such as praise, toys, playtime or treats to motivate, reward and correct behaviors.
To learn about each of these unique opportunities read the descriptions below.
To learn about each of these unique opportunities read the descriptions below.
Class Information
Puppy Preschool: Starting Off on the Right Paw | Lead Trainer - Theresa Nolan
Cost: $20 dollars pers session (Free for puppies adopted from HSWM up to 20 weeks old)
Ages 8-20 weeks
Puppy Preschool is for puppies aged 8 weeks to 20 weeks. Puppies will learn basic skills, how to be calm, how to play appropriately, and to avoid inappropriate mouthing and chewing. Please note that we have limitations on puppy ages to protect the rest of the group. Therefore, once a puppy reaches 21 weeks they are unable to participate in further classes with the group. This program has an ongoing open enrollment with a limit of 8 puppies per session. Each puppy can be registered for a maximum of 6 sessions.
All Classes are held on Tuesdays from 6pm to 6:45pm between the following dates:
Cost: $20 dollars pers session (Free for puppies adopted from HSWM up to 20 weeks old)
Ages 8-20 weeks
Puppy Preschool is for puppies aged 8 weeks to 20 weeks. Puppies will learn basic skills, how to be calm, how to play appropriately, and to avoid inappropriate mouthing and chewing. Please note that we have limitations on puppy ages to protect the rest of the group. Therefore, once a puppy reaches 21 weeks they are unable to participate in further classes with the group. This program has an ongoing open enrollment with a limit of 8 puppies per session. Each puppy can be registered for a maximum of 6 sessions.
All Classes are held on Tuesdays from 6pm to 6:45pm between the following dates:
- January 6th - February 10th
- February 24th - March 31st
- April 13th - May 19th
- June 2nd - July 7th
- July 21st - August 25th
- September 8th - October 13th
- October 27th - December 8th
Kindergarten: Boosting Good Behaviors | Lead Trainer - Stephen Dube (Wednesdays) & Theresa Nolan (Thursdays)
Cost: $200 per dog ($175 if adopted from HSWM)
Ages 16 weeks-6 months & 6 months-1 year
Build a solid relationship with your puppy by learning how to effectively communicate with them. Enjoy teaching your puppy basic skills that can help prevent unwanted behaviors. At the end of the session, The AKC Star Puppy Evaluation is available to those attending all 6 weeks. This class is 6 consecutive weeks with a limit of 8 dogs. Wednesday class is for dogs aged 16 weeks to 6 months. Thursday class is for dogs aged 6 months to 1 year.
Wednesday Classes (6 months to 1 year):
Thursday Classes: (16 weeks to 6 months):
Cost: $200 per dog ($175 if adopted from HSWM)
Ages 16 weeks-6 months & 6 months-1 year
Build a solid relationship with your puppy by learning how to effectively communicate with them. Enjoy teaching your puppy basic skills that can help prevent unwanted behaviors. At the end of the session, The AKC Star Puppy Evaluation is available to those attending all 6 weeks. This class is 6 consecutive weeks with a limit of 8 dogs. Wednesday class is for dogs aged 16 weeks to 6 months. Thursday class is for dogs aged 6 months to 1 year.
Wednesday Classes (6 months to 1 year):
- January 7th - February 11th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- February 25th - April 1st | 6:00-7:00 PM
- April 15th - May 20th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- June 3rd - July 8th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- July 22nd - August 26th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- September 9th - October 14th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- October 28th - December 9th | 6:00-7:00 PM
Thursday Classes: (16 weeks to 6 months):
- January 8th - February 12th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- February 26th - April 2nd | 6:00-7:00 PM
- April 16th - May 21st | 6:00-7:00 PM
- June 4th - July 9th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- July 23rd - August 27th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- September 10th - October 15th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- October 29th - December 10th | 6:00-7:00 PM
Elementary School: Manners Matter | Lead Trainer - Stephen Dube
Cost: $200 per dog ($175 if adopted from HSWM)
Ages 6 months and older
This class is designed for dogs 6 months and older who have never had a previous training class and for those who will benefit by taking the class again. The focus of the class is on good doggy manners and the basic cues of sit, stay, down, come, "leave it," and walking on a loose leash. This class is 6 consecutive weeks with a limit of 8 dogs.
Monday Classes:
Wednesday Classes:
Cost: $200 per dog ($175 if adopted from HSWM)
Ages 6 months and older
This class is designed for dogs 6 months and older who have never had a previous training class and for those who will benefit by taking the class again. The focus of the class is on good doggy manners and the basic cues of sit, stay, down, come, "leave it," and walking on a loose leash. This class is 6 consecutive weeks with a limit of 8 dogs.
Monday Classes:
- January 5th - February 9th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- January 5th - February 9th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- February 23rd - March 30th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- February 23rd - March 30th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- April 13th - May 18th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- April 13th - May 18th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- June 1st - July 6th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- June 1st - July 6th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- July 20th - August 24th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- July 20th - August 24th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- September 7th - October 12th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- September 7th - October 12th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- October 26th - December 7th | 6:00-7:00 PM
- October 26th - December 7th | 7:15-8:15 PM
Wednesday Classes:
- January 7th - February 11th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- February 25th - April 1st | 7:15-8:15 PM
- April 15th - May 20th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- June 3rd - July 8th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- July 22nd - August 26th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- September 9th - October 14th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- October 28th - December 9th | 7:15-8:15 PM
High School Jocks: Finding the Beauty in your Beast (Designed for Reactive Dogs) | Lead Trainer - Theresa Nolan
Cost: $200 per dog ($175 if adopted from HSWM)
Ages 6 Months & Older
This unique class is designed for dogs 6 months and older to help you better understand your dog's reactivity towards other dogs and how to best manage their impulses. The basic manners focus, sit, down, focus, recall, stay, polite walking and leave it are reviewed in this course. You will learn how to recognize and reward behaviors you want to keep as well as develop skills to change your canine's undesirable behaviors. Dog to human reactivity is not addressed in this class. Please contact our behavior staff if your dog is experiencing this type of reactivity. This class is 6 consecutive weeks with a limit of 4 dogs. The first night is WITHOUT dogs.
Tuesday Classes:
Thursday Classes:
Cost: $200 per dog ($175 if adopted from HSWM)
Ages 6 Months & Older
This unique class is designed for dogs 6 months and older to help you better understand your dog's reactivity towards other dogs and how to best manage their impulses. The basic manners focus, sit, down, focus, recall, stay, polite walking and leave it are reviewed in this course. You will learn how to recognize and reward behaviors you want to keep as well as develop skills to change your canine's undesirable behaviors. Dog to human reactivity is not addressed in this class. Please contact our behavior staff if your dog is experiencing this type of reactivity. This class is 6 consecutive weeks with a limit of 4 dogs. The first night is WITHOUT dogs.
Tuesday Classes:
- January 6th - February 10th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- February 24th - March 31st | 7:15-8:15 PM
- April 13th - May 19th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- June 2nd - July 7th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- July 21st - August 25th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- September 8th - October 13th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- October 27th - December 8th | 7:15-8:15 PM
Thursday Classes:
- January 8th - February 12th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- February 26th - April 2nd | 7:15-8:15 PM
- April 16th - May 21st | 7:15-8:15 PM
- June 4th - July 9th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- July 23rd - August 27th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- September 10th - October 15th | 7:15-8:15 PM
- October 29th - December 10th | 7:15-8:15 PM
Port City Dog with Steve Dube
If you are looking for a personalized training experience, please visit www.portcitydog.com for information on individual in-home training sessions with our trainer, Steve Dube. Please remember if your animal is experiencing anything outside of basic obedience needs, these are not behavior evaluations or consultations. Those services can be acquired by reaching out to our behavior staff through the "Behavior Consultation" signup on our website.
If you are looking for a personalized training experience, please visit www.portcitydog.com for information on individual in-home training sessions with our trainer, Steve Dube. Please remember if your animal is experiencing anything outside of basic obedience needs, these are not behavior evaluations or consultations. Those services can be acquired by reaching out to our behavior staff through the "Behavior Consultation" signup on our website.
Meet the Trainers
Lyndsey Sturgeon
Canine Behavior Coordinator ABCDT, CPDT-KA Fear Free Certified |
Theresa Nolan
Canine Obedience Trainer AKC Evaluator Fear Free Certified |
Stephen Dube
Canine Obedience Trainer ABCDT, CPDT-KA AKC Evaluator Fear Free Certified |
Humane Society of West Michigan
3077 Wilson Dr. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
616.453.8900
[email protected]
3077 Wilson Dr. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
616.453.8900
[email protected]
Photos By: AGL Photography and Sara Cozolino Photography.
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