Life Skills for the Family Dog
For dogs of all ages and skill levels
Real-Life Dog Training for Families in Adelaide
Pulling on lead? Jumping on visitors? Ignoring you when distracted? Struggling to settle at home?
Life Skills for the Family Dog is a practical, positive reinforcement training course designed to help dogs and their families navigate real life with more confidence, calmness, and connection.
This small-group course focuses on the everyday skills that actually matter — not perfect obedience routines.
Whether your dog is adolescent, newly adopted, or simply needs help building better manners, this course will help you create calmer walks, better focus around distractions, improved impulse control, and more enjoyable day-to-day life together.
Why Families Choose Paws & Reward
Unlike many large-scale dog training programs, our courses are run by highly qualified trainers with formal education in animal behaviour, welfare, veterinary nursing, and evidence-based dog training.
Our instructors have completed university degrees, industry certifications, and ongoing professional development in areas such as canine communication, behaviour modification, reactivity, cooperative care, scent work, and real-world training skills.
This means you receive more than basic obedience training — you’ll be guided by professionals who understand why behaviour happens and how to build calm, practical skills that work in everyday life using modern, force-free methods.
✨ Small classes • Qualified instructors • Positive & Force-Free Training • Indoor & Outdoor Training Opportunities ✨
Private Session Add-on:
Need extra support or want a head start? Add a one-hour private session before, during, or after the course for personalised help tailored to your dog and family.
Upcoming Course Dates
Saturday 11 July at 9 am
Saturday 29 August at 9 am (Please note that there will be a break on the 5th of September. Thus, the course dates are: 29/8, 12/9, 19/9 and 26/9.)
What Will Your Learn?
This course focuses on developing the essential life skills your dog needs to be calm, responsive, and well-mannered in everyday situations.
Over 4 weeks, you and your dog will work on practical skills including:
Building calm behaviour and helping your dog learn to switch off
Developing strong engagement and focus around distractions
Mat (place) training for settling at home and in public
Impulse control skills for real-life situations
Sit, stay, and waiting politely at doors and boundaries
Loose lead walking and staying connected to you on walks
Disengaging from people, dogs, and environmental triggers
Polite greetings with people (no jumping)
Enrichment and scent-based games to support calm behaviour
Play skills, including how to balance excitement and relaxation
You’ll also learn how to support your dog in challenging situations, so they can stay calm, make better decisions, and respond reliably in everyday environments.
Why Families Love This Course
Unlike traditional obedience classes that focus heavily on precision exercises, Life Skills focuses on helping dogs succeed in the real world.
Our goal isn’t to create robots.
Our goal is to help you:
• Enjoy walks again • Feel more confident handling your dog • Understand your dog better • Build a stronger relationship • Reduce daily stress and frustration • Create realistic, achievable progress
Training is tailored to real families living real lives.
Small classes, personalised support
The Life Skills for the Family Dog course is limited to just 5 dogs per course, ensuring personalised coaching and plenty of individual support.
This small class size allows us to tailor exercises to your dog’s needs and help you work through any challenges with expert guidance.
Course Details
Duration:
Life Skills for the Family Dog includes 4 consecutive weekly in-person classes. Your course runs for 4 weeks from your selected start date, with classes held on the same day and time each week
Location:
Weekly classes held at Flagstaff Hill Scout Hall, Adelaide
Requirements:
Dogs must be friendly towards people and other dogs
Dogs must be able to eat treats in a training environment
If you’re unsure whether this course is the right fit, please get in touch before booking
Tuition: $219 for the full course, including instant access to the Family Dog E-Booklet.
Optional Add-On:
Want extra one-on-one support alongside the course? Add a private one-hour session when you book. Priced at $135, this session includes customised training resources and a detailed email summary tailored to your dog and home environment. It’s a great way to address specific challenges at home, build confidence, and receive personalised guidance alongside Life Skills for the Family Dog. Private sessions can be used anytime up to 1 month after completing the course.
Highly Recommended – Treat Pouch:
Investing in a quality treat pouch makes training easier, faster, and more enjoyable for both you and your dog. Purchase a treat pouch and good quality harness at the time of booking Life Skills for the Family Dog, and you’ll receive a 15% discount.
Please note: Dogs must be dog- and people-friendly to attend classes. If your dog is uncomfortable around unfamiliar dogs or strangers, private training will provide a more suitable and effective platform for training success.
What’s Included
Comprehensive Training Notes: When you enroll, you'll receive access to a dedicated online folder containing the Life Skills for the Family Dog E-booklet and additional resources to support your dog’s training and help you continue their progress at home.
Ongoing Support: Receive support throughout the weeks as needed to ensure you and your dog are on the right track.
Enrichment Tools: Access to chews, toys, lickimats, and snufflemats during class to help keep your dog settled and focused.
Graduation Package: Celebrate your dog’s achievements with a graduation bag, a photo, and a certificate.
Ready to Enjoy Life With Your Dog Again?
Whether you’re dealing with adolescent chaos, frustrating walks, overexcitement, or simply want a calmer, better-connected dog, Life Skills for the Family Dog will help you build practical skills that make everyday life easier.
Spaces are limited to keep classes small.