RSPCA WA dog training

RSPCA Puppy Kindy costs $150 per course, per puppy.

RSPCA Dog Training Level 1 and Level 2 each cost $240 per course, per dog.

One-on-one dog training sessions cost $210 for the initial 90-minute consultation session, and $145 per hour for subsequent lessons.

Course and one-on-one session fees contribute to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of animals in need.

Level 1 and Level 2 dog training courses are both six-week courses, with a 50 minute class each week. 

The first class for Level 1 Dog Training is for humans only. Please do not bring your dog. Dogs attend all sessions of Level 2 training.  

Puppy Kindy is a four-week course, with a one-hour class each week. Puppies attend all four weeks of the course.

Puppy Kindy 

All puppies enrolled in Puppy Kindy will need to have had their first vaccination before their first class and provide proof of vaccination to the trainer. Classes are held indoors and the rooms are sterilised before and after each class. We ask that you carry your puppy from your car to the classroom. 

Level One and Level Two Dog Training 

All dogs enrolled in either Level 1 or Level 2 Dog Training must be fully vaccinated. You will be required to present a valid, current vaccination record at week one of the course.

RSPCA WA Puppy Kindy and RSPCA WA Dog Training courses work best with small groups, which allows the instructor to demonstrate techniques more effectively, and spend ample time with each student.  

Courses will run with a minimum of four dogs and are limited to a maximum of 8 dogs. 

If you enrol in a course that does not meet the minimum number, your course will be postponed by one week to allow for additional dogs to sign up. You will receive confirmation of this via email. 

Puppy Kindy courses focus on socialisation and teach your dog how to interact properly with other dogs and people. 

Your instructor will also talk about puppy health, handling, how to read your puppy’s body language and touches on basic obedience such as sit, pay attention and recall (coming when you call them). 

You and your dog will learn some basic commands and more advanced techniques at RSPCA Dog Training. 

Level 1 

All basic dog obedience commands such as sit, stay, recall (coming to you when you call them), drop and loose lead walking. Your instructor will also discuss ways to address common dog behaviour challenges such as mouthing, jumping and barking. 

Level 2 

Your well-behaved dog might still be a little ‘ruff’ around the edges. Level Two will teach parallel walking, recall at a distance, attention with distractions, lead walking at heel, and some tricks and games. 

Private Dog Training

One-on-one training sessions are designed to address your dog’s particular behaviour issues. These can include reactivity to other dogs, anxiety, incessant barking, jumping up and other challenges that may be preventing you and your dog from getting out and about. 

The instructor will meet with you and your dog for an initial assessment before they design a dog training program tailor-made to suit you. 

Your confirmation email will include information about how to prepare and what to bring to class with you and your pet. 

Puppy Kindy 

Your dog attends from week one. 

• A hungry puppy to each class of the course. (Do not feed for two hours prior to each class).  

• A mixture of small, yummy treats. For example, chicken, meat, puppy roll. 

• A bowl, water and poo bags for your puppy. 

• An interactive food toy, i.e. Kong or similar. 

• A mat or bed for your puppy to settle on. 

• A 1.8m lead and flat collar. No stretch or extendable leads please.  

Level 1 

You will need to present your dog’s vaccination certificate at week one.  

From week two onwards: 

• Do not feed your dog 2 hours before the class.  

• Bring a mixture of small, yummy treats, i.e. chicken, meat, puppy roll etc. 

• Bring a bowl, water and poo bags for your dog. 

• It is recommended that handlers have a 1.8m lead and an adjustable collar.  

Level 2 

You will need to present your dog’s vaccination certificate at week one.  

From week two onwards: 

• Lots of yummy soft treats 

• A food pouch 

• A tug toy 

• A soft toy 

• A mat or towel for your dog to settle on 

• Water and bowl 

• Poo bags 

• 1.8m lead and soft collar or harness  

For puppies, please allow them some settling in time of at least a few days to a week before beginning a Puppy Kindy or Level 1 course. Please remember when booking a Puppy Kindy course, they will need to be 13 weeks or younger (at the first class) to join.  

If you have recently welcomed an older dog into your home, they may need some extra time to settle in before joining a Level 1 Dog Training course. Depending on your dog’s temperament, it can take up to three months for a dog to settle in and display their full behaviour repertoire. If you need help sooner than this, a private 1-on-1 dog training session may be better suited for you and your dog during this settling in period. 

To attend Puppy Kindy, your puppy will need to have a collar or harness and be on a lead. 

Part of Puppy Kindy is social play between puppies of similar temperaments, so it is essential that all puppies are under effective control. 

If your puppy has never been on a lead, please practise for a few days before your first class by putting your puppy’s collar or harness and lead on for short 5-10 minute sessions a few times a day. When your puppy shows signs of ignoring the lead, reward and praise them. 

Level 1 courses generally include dogs who have recently graduated from Puppy Kindy, or dogs who were too old to enrol in Puppy Kindy. On average, Level 1 students are around 4-6 months old. 

Older dogs are welcome to attend Level One – you CAN teach an older dog new tricks. These classes are especially useful if your dog has never been socialised or trained. We have many students who are rescued pets from shelters and are just starting to learn their manners. 

We recommend that you train your dogs separately as they tend to feed off of each other during the course and can be a distraction to each other. This can make it difficult to train them. 

If you feel that they will be able to concentrate together in one class, you can enrol both dogs in the same class as long they each have their own human handler. 

If you are not sure how your dog will react in a group situation, please call us on (08) 9209 9309 to discuss the options prior to enrolling in a course. 

RSPCA WA Dog Training also offers personal one-on-one training sessions to help you with your dog’s particular behaviour issues. 

We encourage children to attend and participate in Dog Training or Puppy Kindy courses as it helps them to understand why training is so important, and it will help them to be consistent with your dog or puppy at home. Children will need adult supervision when handling the dog. 

There is limited space in the Puppy Kindy rooms so we ask that a maximum of two people attend. Level 1 and Level 2 classes are held outdoors so more than one child can accompany you to these classes. 

We understand that occasionally there are uncontrollable events that mean you may need to miss a class. If this is the case, simply let your RSPCA WA trainer know. Your trainer can let you know what you have missed and they can advise you on how to work on your skills at home with your dog and resume classes the following week. If you should miss two or more sessions, we ask that you re-enrol to complete the program at another time. No refunds will be given for non-attendance.  

Puppy Kindy courses are all held indoors, so are not usually affected by adverse weather events. Classes are rarely impacted and if any changes do occur, your trainer will contact you directly.  

Level 1 and 2 Dog Training courses are held outdoors, and in some cases may be postponed due to severe weather events. If a class is to be postponed for any reason, your trainer or a representative from RSPCA WA Dog Training will contact you directly to advise. The course will be extended for one week and continue as normal. Classes will continue in conditions of light rain.