Group Dog Training Classes & Workshops
Group classes offer something that private training cannot — the opportunity for your dog to learn and practice skills in the presence of real-world distractions provided by other dogs and people. There is an enormous difference between a dog who can sit in your quiet living room and a dog who can hold a sit while another dog walks past them three feet away. Group classes bridge that gap in a structured, supportive environment where every handler-dog team progresses together.
At Global Good Dog, our group classes are intentionally small. With a maximum of six dogs per class, every team receives genuine individual attention from the instructor. You will never feel lost in the crowd or left behind because the class moved too fast. Our certified trainers circulate constantly, offering real-time feedback, adjusting exercises to each dog's level, and ensuring that every dog is having a positive experience. Group classes are held at our South Congress training facility in Austin, where our climate-controlled indoor space provides a comfortable, distraction-rich environment for learning.
Our Group Class Offerings
Six distinct class types designed to serve dogs at every stage of their training journey. All classes run in 6-week blocks with one 60-minute session per week.
Puppy Kindergarten
Ages 10 weeks to 5 months
A carefully structured class that combines supervised socialization with foundational training. Puppies practice meeting new people and dogs in a controlled setting, learn basic commands (sit, down, come, name recognition), and work on bite inhibition and handling exercises. Each class includes structured play time where puppies practice social skills while instructors coach owners on reading body language and intervening appropriately. This class fills the critical socialization gap during the most important period of your puppy's development.
Basic Manners
Ages 6 months and up
Our most popular group class covers the essential obedience skills every dog needs: sit, down, stay, recall, loose-leash walking, leave it, and polite greetings. What makes this class special is the built-in distraction training — every skill is practiced with other dogs working nearby, which means your dog learns to focus on you even when interesting things are happening around them. By the end of the 6-week block, your dog should be able to perform all basic commands reliably in the presence of other dogs and handlers.
Reactive Rover
Ages 8 months and up (screened enrollment)
A specialized class for dogs who bark, lunge, or become overly aroused when they see other dogs on walks. Limited to just 4 dogs to allow maximum space and individual attention, this class uses visual barriers, carefully managed distances, and counter-conditioning protocols to help reactive dogs learn to calmly observe other dogs without losing composure. Handlers learn to read early stress signals, manage trigger stacking, and implement look-at-that games and other evidence-based techniques for leash reactivity.
Canine Good Citizen Prep
Ages 6 months and up
Prepare your dog for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test with this focused 6-week class that covers all ten CGC test items. Each week targets specific test components: accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, appearance and grooming, walking on a loose leash, walking through a crowd, sit and down on command, coming when called, reaction to another dog, reaction to distractions, and supervised separation. The final class session includes a mock CGC test, and dogs who are ready can schedule an official test with our evaluator.
Rally Obedience
Ages 6 months and up with basic obedience
Rally obedience is a fun, fast-paced sport where dog-handler teams navigate a course of numbered signs, each indicating a specific obedience exercise to perform. This class teaches rally-specific skills including formal heeling, the 270-degree turn, the spiral, pace changes, and the moving down. Rally is an excellent way to keep your dog mentally stimulated and strengthen your teamwork, whether you plan to compete or just enjoy it as enrichment. Previous basic obedience training is required as a prerequisite.
Trick Training Workshop
All ages welcome
Our most lighthearted class, trick training is pure fun with a serious training benefit. Dogs learn crowd-pleasing tricks like shake, spin, roll over, bow, speak, high five, play dead, and weave between legs. Beyond the entertainment value, trick training builds confidence in shy dogs, provides mental stimulation for high-energy dogs, and strengthens the bond between handler and dog through collaborative problem-solving. This class runs as a 6-week workshop, and every dog earns a trick title based on the number of tricks mastered.
Why Choose Group Classes?
Group classes provide unique benefits that private training alone cannot replicate. The most significant advantage is real-world distraction training built into every session. When your dog practices sit-stay while another dog walks past, they are developing the kind of impulse control and focus that transfers directly to walks, vet visits, and social situations. Dogs trained exclusively in private sessions often struggle when they first encounter distractions, because they never practiced in that context.
Group classes also provide controlled socialization opportunities. Your dog learns to be calm and focused in the presence of other dogs without the chaos of a dog park. This is particularly valuable for adolescent dogs who missed early socialization, shy dogs who need gradual exposure to other dogs, and high-energy dogs who need to learn that other dogs exist without it being the most exciting thing in the world.
There is also the community benefit. Dog training can feel isolating, especially when you are struggling with a challenging dog. Group classes connect you with other owners who are on the same journey. You will share tips, celebrate each other's progress, and realize that you are not the only person whose dog loses their mind over squirrels. Many of our group class participants form lasting friendships and continue training together long after the class ends.
Finally, group classes are our most affordable training option at just $45 per session, making professional training accessible to families who might not be able to invest in private sessions. You still receive instruction from the same certified trainers who lead our private programs, just in a shared setting that keeps costs down while delivering exceptional results.
Group Class Pricing
Affordable training in a supportive group setting. All classes are 60 minutes and run in 6-week blocks at our South Congress facility.
Drop-In Session
$45
per class
- 60-minute class session
- Max 6 dogs per class
- Certified instructor
- Handouts and homework
6-Week Block
$240
save $30
- 6 consecutive weekly classes
- Reserved spot guaranteed
- Make-up class option
- Progress tracking
- Graduation certificate
Multi-Dog Discount
$200
per dog, 6-week block
- For 2+ dogs from same household
- Dogs may be in different classes
- All block benefits included
- Family coordination support
New 6-week blocks start monthly. Class schedule: Puppy Kindergarten (Saturday 9am), Basic Manners (Tuesday 6pm and Saturday 10:30am), Reactive Rover (Wednesday 6pm), CGC Prep (Thursday 6pm), Rally Obedience (Saturday 12pm), Trick Training (Sunday 11am).
What Group Class Participants Say
The Reactive Rover class was a game-changer for my leash-reactive terrier mix. Before class, I was terrified of encountering other dogs on walks. Aisha set up the room with visual barriers and started us at distances where my dog could see other dogs without reacting. Week by week, we decreased the distance while my dog learned to look at me instead of barking at the other dogs. By week five, she could walk past another dog at ten feet with just a glance. The other participants in the class were so supportive — we all understood each other's struggles. I have since enrolled in the Basic Manners class and my dog is thriving.
My daughter and I took the trick training workshop with our poodle and it was the most fun we have had together in ages. Aisha makes the class feel like a party — upbeat music, celebration of every small win, and tricks that are genuinely impressive when your dog nails them. Our poodle learned spin, bow, shake, play dead, and weave between legs in six weeks, and more importantly, the whole experience reignited my daughter's interest in working with our dog. She now practices tricks with him every evening after school. For us, the class was about way more than tricks. It was about building a connection between my daughter and our dog through something they both enjoyed.
We enrolled our two dogs in the Basic Manners class and loved the small group size. With only six dogs, Aisha had time to help us with each dog individually and address their very different learning styles — our older lab mix is food-motivated and catches on quickly, while our younger hound mix is more scent-driven and needs more repetition. In a bigger class, we would have been lost. Aisha gave us specific homework for each dog and checked in on our progress every week. Both dogs can now sit-stay reliably with other dogs walking around them, which seemed impossible six weeks ago. We are signed up for the CGC prep class next.
Aisha Patel
CPDT-KA, Group Class Coordinator
About Your Group Class Instructor
Aisha Patel is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed and the coordinator of all group class programs at Global Good Dog. With a background in education and a gift for managing multi-dog environments, Aisha creates group classes that are organized, engaging, and genuinely enjoyable for both dogs and their humans.
Before transitioning to professional dog training, Aisha spent five years as an elementary school teacher, and her teaching skills translate beautifully to the group class setting. She has a talent for explaining complex training concepts in clear, accessible language, managing multiple learners at different levels simultaneously, and creating an atmosphere where everyone feels welcomed and supported. Aisha has led over 300 group class sessions and is particularly passionate about her Reactive Rover program, which she developed specifically to help owners of leash-reactive dogs access group training in a safe, controlled format.
Group Class FAQ
Everything you need to know before enrolling in one of our group training classes.
We maintain a strict maximum of 6 dogs per class. This is significantly smaller than most group training programs, which often have 10 to 20 dogs. Our small class size ensures that every handler-dog team receives personalized attention, questions get answered, and dogs have enough space to work comfortably without feeling overwhelmed. For the Reactive Rover class, we limit enrollment to 4 dogs to allow even more space and individual coaching time.
All group classes are held at our South Congress training facility at 4712 South Congress Avenue, Suite 210, Austin, TX 78745. Our indoor training space is climate-controlled, with rubberized flooring for traction, visual barriers between stations, and plenty of room for 6 dogs to work simultaneously without crowding. For certain classes and workshops, we also utilize nearby outdoor spaces for real-world practice in parks and on neighborhood sidewalks.
We offer a dedicated Reactive Rover class specifically for dogs who struggle with seeing other dogs. This class uses visual barriers, carefully managed distances, and counter-conditioning techniques in a controlled environment. The class is limited to 4 dogs to ensure adequate space and individual attention. If your dog's reactivity is severe, we may recommend starting with private sessions first. We assess each potential participant before enrollment to ensure a positive experience for every dog.
Yes. If you need to miss a class session, you can make it up by attending the same week's session in a different class series, subject to availability and the instructor's approval. We also offer a private make-up session option at a discounted rate of $65. Please notify us at least 24 hours before a missed class so we can adjust the roster. If you miss more than two sessions in a 6-week block, we recommend scheduling a private session to catch up before continuing with the group.
Please bring your dog on a standard 6-foot leash (no retractable leashes), a flat collar or front-clip harness, and a generous supply of small, soft, high-value treats. We recommend treats that are pea-sized and can be eaten quickly, like commercial training treats, small pieces of cheese, or cooked chicken. Also bring a treat pouch or ziplock bag for easy access. We provide water bowls, training mats, and any specialized equipment needed for class exercises. For the first class, please also bring proof of current vaccinations.
Puppy Kindergarten is open to puppies 10 weeks to 5 months old who have had at least their first set of vaccinations. Basic Manners and all other group classes require dogs to be at least 6 months old. There is no upper age limit for any class — senior dogs are welcome and often thrive in the structured group environment. For the Reactive Rover class, dogs must be at least 8 months old and must complete a brief screening to ensure the group format is appropriate for their level of reactivity.
Join Our Next Group Class
New 6-week blocks start monthly, and classes fill quickly thanks to our small group size. Reserve your spot today and give your dog the gift of structured learning in a fun, social environment.
Enroll Now