- $425 (one-hour consult + four 45-minute sessions)
- $85 (additional 45-minute session)
Private Dog Training
The OHS offers private dog training classes both virtually and in-person, to provide dog owners with behavioural support and specialized training for their canine companions.
Evening sessions are available between 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, year-round in-person at the OHS on 245 West Hunt Club Road.
Private lessons are geared towards owners who need customized assistance with specific behaviours, such as:
- Recall;
- Loose-leash walking;
- Jumping up;
- Mouthing/nipping;
- House-training;
- General basic obedience (sit, down, stay, leave it);
- General Q&A;
- Body handling;
- Stranger-directed aggression; and,
- On-leash reactivity.
Please note that we are not able to assist with separation anxiety at this time. We recommend a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer.
Why Book Training with the OHS: The OHS is lucky to be one of a few shelters that has the space and capacity to offer private dog training. Some of the benefits of attending training at the OHS are:
- Accessibly priced, high-value packages
- Personalized instruction, including customized training notes and homework provided after each session
- Flexibility of virtual or in-person training
- Experienced trainers with recognized credentials
- Fear Free and positive reinforcement training techniques
- Work on behaviours such as dog reactivity and fear reactivity in a controlled setting
- All proceeds beyond the cost of running the program go to the animals at the OHS!
Request Private Training: Those wishing to register their dog for private training classes must fill out and submit the “Private Training Request” form below. Our program coordinator will assess program suitability and respond to all requests within 2-4 business days. For more immediate training needs, please take a look at our group training classes and workshops.
For more information, contact us by email at education@ottawahumane.ca, or by phone (613) 725-3166, ext. 204.
Private Training Information
For in-person private dog training classes, dogs must have the following vaccinations:
- Parvovirus, Distemper, Adenovirus and Parainfluenza (up-to-date);
- Rabies vaccine (up-to-date).
The following are strongly recommended but not required:
- Bordetella vaccine (up-to-date)
- Preventative flea and worm treatment
A maximum of two human participants from the same household will be permitted to accompany each dog. Children attending class must be over the age of eight.
Spay or neuter is recommended but not required for class. Read more about our position on spay/neuter.
Booking for daytime or evening:
Evening sessions available between 5pm to 8pm on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, year-round.
Private training cancellation policy:
Refunds are not available. Cancellations 48 hours in advance of a scheduled class may be rescheduled. Cancellations within 24 hours of a scheduled class cannot be rebooked. Refund requests due to missing/out-of-date vaccinations are not exempt to this policy.
For more information, contact us by email at education@ottawahumane.ca, or by phone (613) 725-3166, ext. 204.
Meet Our Dog Trainers
Robyn Rittmaster
Robyn provides behaviour consults and teaches private training sessions for issues related to house-training, handling sensitivity, leash manners, mouthing/nipping, general manners and possessive behaviour. She was one of the founders and developers of dog training programs at the OHS.
Robyn is a certified behaviour consultant (CBCC-KA) and holds a certificate in training and counselling from the Academy for Dog Trainers. In 2015, she was the Academy’s scholarship award recipient, which is given to trainers who improve the lives of shelter dogs through force-free behaviour modification.
Before training professionally, Robyn was a hockey coach at the University of Ottawa and completed a Master of Science degree at the University of Alberta. Robyn has two dogs, Karma (a husky) and Journey (a pointer), who love to be on the move. Her dogs compete in skijoring, agility and Rally Obedience
Dian McTaggart
Dian is a certified Karen Pryor Academy dog trainer and a guild certified Level II Companion Animal Touch Practitioner. She has been teaching classes since 2003 using positive reinforcement practices. Her focus is to teach pet parents to have a well-mannered dog and build a trusting relationship with their canine companion.
She continues to develop her skill set by attending seminars, online webinars on dog behaviour in order to stay well-informed on the best training techniques.
Dian has two dogs. A Golden Retriever, Cody, and a Labrador Retriever, Benjamin. She participates and trials in rally obedience, scenting and dock diving. Dian has also been a volunteer with a pet therapy organization for the past 20 years.
Cindy Barnett
Cindy is an animal lover who is turning her passion for dogs into a second career. In spring of 2019, Cindy graduated from an apprenticeship program at a local dog training facility where she studied canine behaviour and gained experience leading group training classes. She has provided private training to many local families and their dogs up until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This time provided a great opportunity to take online courses, to study different areas of positive training and to stay current on training strategies.
In Fall 2022, Cindy joined the Canine Intervention program as a volunteer, working with dogs at the OHS, teaching them the ropes and preparing them for a brand new world with their new families.
Cindy lives in Barrhaven with her beagle Bentley, her cat Zoey and frequent feline foster guests.