Dog playgroups

We offer a number of playgroups and socialization opportunities for your pet.  Playgroups are offered at our Golden Valley location.  Click here for our schedules.

Small Dog Playgroup is a mixed-age group for dogs that are 20 lbs. and under. This group can be fairly rowdy. We have staff dogs help keep things under control. If your dog is very barky, we will ask you to have your dog wear a well-fitted Gentle Leader during playgroup to reduce the arousal level—which reduces barking. If your dog barks excessively, we need you to work with us to reduce the barking to provide a pleasant playgroup environment for our pets and their owners.

Puppy Playgroup is a group for puppies under 5 months of age. We also have our invited staff dogs to help keep the younguns corralled. This group sometimes is pretty rowdy, so if your puppy is very small, young, or shy, talk with the instructor about whether the Featherweight Playgroup is appropriate for your puppy.

Featherweight Playgroup is a mixed age group for dogs under 10 lbs. Now we get to the exceptions. Our staff dogs are invited to help socialize your pet and help them learn that dogs of different sizes are friendly and safe. We also will have dogs that are shy/fearful with other dogs come to the Featherweight Group, and we have had many small and large dogs learn from our wonderful Featherweight friends that dogs are safe and fun to play with. When they have developed some confidence, we send them on to the more appropriate playgroup. These shy dogs will be gentle and appropriate for play.

Micro Playgroup is a mixed age group for dogs under 7 lbs. We may also have a staff dog or a shy dog in this group. It is important for our tiny dogs to learn to feel comfortable around bigger safe dogs.

Yappy Hour is a mixed-age, all size group that we hold on some Friday evenings in the Auditorium at Golden Valley. We have an area for small dogs or dogs that may need a break. This can be a rowdy group, and may be too overwhelming for some dogs, so ask your instructor if this group is appropriate for your dog.

Some reminders: 

Staff supervision is an important element of our playgroups. We want to educate you about appropriate play and keep your pet safe. Please follow all staff directions.

All dogs coming to Playgroups must arrive and be checked in within the first 20 minutes of the session. Dogs arriving after the first 20 minutes will not be allowed in. This is to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all dogs that come to play.

If it is your first time to a Playgroup, please arrive a few minutes early in order to have your dog’s vaccinations checked and fill out the necessary paperwork.  You can print and fill out our waiver ahead of time.  Just bring the completed waiver and your dog's vaccination records with you to the playgroup.  All dogs must have current rabies, distemper/parvo, and bordetella vaccinations. 

Pottying your dog before playgroup is essential! We recommend toileting your dog before you get in the car, and also after you arrive. Leave enough time for your pet to relax enough to eliminate, using our Pet Exercise areas only. Feeding your pet after playgroup rather than before can reduce the number of poop accidents. Owners of dogs that mark must bring their pets in a belly band or sani-panties. We will stop all play while you clean up after your pet’s accident. Help us keep accidents to a minimum.

Staff dogs are dogs that belong to our instructors or volunteers, have outstanding social skills with other dogs and have shown an aptitude for helping other dogs with developing social skills learn how to behave in a group. These dogs may be large, medium, or small, but they are there because they serve an important function.

Questions:

Training School
Phone: (763) 489-2217
Online: submit dog training school questions here