Canine to Five

Our goal is to create smiles… for both ends of the leash!

Professional training made easy!

Do you dream of having a well trained dog, but there just aren’t enough hours in a day? Does your schedule prevent you from being able to attend a weekly training course? Or maybe there are other factors that get in the way, such as mobility restrictions.

Our Canine to Five program is the solution!

With Canine to Five, a professional trainer comes to your home to work with your dog 1:1. We cut out the middle man.

Our skilled trainers make training very easy for your dog to understand, add challenges appropriately, and get your dog to a level of proficiency in a shorter amount of time than the average owner.

I know what you’re thinking: it doesn’t benefit our family to have a dog that listens well to the visiting trainer, but not to us! Included with the package are weekly 30-minute transfer sessions. Your trainer will meet with the human family members in your home, to teach all of you how to work together.

And since your trainer has done the majority of the heavy lifting, teaching your dog to apply the skills they learned with us is a smooth process.

We offer several programs for puppies and newly adopted adult dogs, as well as customized training programs!

Note: not all behaviors are appropriate for the Canine to Five program. Some cases may be better served with traditional private training lessons. Please contact us for more information! 

General program cost: $270/week
– Minimum program length: two weeks ($540).
– Includes six, 45-60-minute-long training visits, plus two 30-minute-long transfer sessions.

Specialty program cost: $500/week
Note: Specialty programs are those designed to address behavioral issues such as leash reactivity, food guarding, or fearfulness of grooming procedures. Specialty programs are customized for your dog, and may not be appropriate for all households or behavioral issues.
– Minimum program length: four weeks ($2000).
– Includes twelve, 45-60-minute-long training visits, plus four 60-minute-long transfer sessions.
Apply for a Specialty Program by filling out your dog’s personalized profile here >

Current Locations Served:

Southeast Minnesota: Pine Island, Oronoco, Rochester, St. Charles, Lewiston, Chatfield, Dover, Stewartville, and Eyota.

Twin Cities Metro: Apple Valley, Richfield, Edina, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Rosemount, Eagan, St. Louis Park, St. Paul, Woodbury, Oakdale, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Roseville, Falcon Heights, Shoreview, Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights, West St. Paul, and Longfellow.

Check out our catalog of general programs below!

Puppy Head Start Program

For puppies under 16 weeks of age at the start of their program. We recommend pairing this program with our low-cost Puppy Classes for a well-rounded training and socialization experience.

Two weeks of professional training and socialization, $540.00

Start your puppy off with the best paw forward! Your puppy’s action-packed Head Start program will include extensive socialization and handling. Positive handling ensures that your puppy loves the vet, behaves politely for the groomer (or for at-home grooming), and is easy to treat in the event of injuries or illness. No more nail trimming battles! You can have that happy, cooperative dog who makes the entire vet staff light up when you come in the door! Extensive professional socialization builds confidence and social skills in impressionable pups for a stable, balanced adult.

Program curriculum:

  • Crate training
    • Wait patiently while the crate door is opened
    • “Kennel up!” on cue
  • Name recognition
  • Potty training assistance (we will reward all outdoor potties and help you troubleshoot)
  • Socialization
    • Positive exposures to new surfaces
    • Confidence-building and body awareness through navigating obstacles
    • Desensitization to common noises such as fireworks, thunderstorms, city sounds, and household appliances
    • Polite greetings with people
  • Handling – teaching your puppy to LOVE…
    • Collar grabs
    • Nail trimming
    • Ear handling and cleaning
    • Paw handling/wiping
    • Brushing
    • Tooth/mouth checks
    • Tooth brushing
  • Positive introduction to a head halter or harness to instill good leash manners. A Gentle Leader head-collar is included free with this program for those families who wish to use one.
  • Sit for petting (instead of jumping up).
  • Gentle mouths (we will provide appropriate guidance to teach your puppy not to nip or bite in play, as well as redirection to a toy when she is excited).
  • Chew toy training (including introduction to a wide variety of puzzle toys and advice on your puppy’s favorite toys, so that she learns to chew up her toys instead of your shoes).

Apply for a Puppy Head Start program by filling out the personalized profile here >

Puppy Junior High Program

For puppies under 8 months of age at the start of their program.

Two weeks of professional training and socialization, $540.00

Adolescence is a tough time for puppies AND their people! Your puppy’s brains are still developing at this stage, and their bodies are undergoing lots of changes too. It can be hard for you to remember that your rapidly growing (or nearly full-grown) dog is still mentally a puppy. It’s hard for your puppy too, as they need to adjust to your changing expectations and their changing body all at the same time. Many dogs at this age might still be working on the simpler things in life that come with being a puppy. Others need to go back to basics as their changing hormones play havoc with their previously well-learned obedience skills. With this customized program, they will be getting the best of both worlds and will be better equipped to continue on into the Canine University program.

Program Curriculum:

  • Crate training
    • Wait patiently while the crate door is opened
    • “Kennel up!” on cue
  • Name recognition
  • Socialization
    • Positive exposures to new surfaces
    • Confidence-building and body awareness through navigating obstacles
    • Desensitization to common noises such as fireworks, thunderstorms, city sounds, and household appliances
    • Polite greetings with people.
  • Drop it/Trade
  • Food bowl exercises to prevent food guarding
  • Positive introduction to a head halter or harness to instill good leash manners. A Gentle Leader head-collar is included free with this program for those families who wish to use one.
  • Sit for petting (instead of jumping up).
  • Place (go to a mat or bed and stay there)
  • Chin rest – an easy way for your puppy to “opt in” for grooming, handling, and veterinary care.

Apply for a Puppy Junior High spot by filling out the personalized profile here >

Canine University Program

For friendly, non-reactive dogs of any age.

Four weeks of professional training and socialization, $1080.

In this intensive learning program, we will teach your dog all of the manners he needs to be a polite member of society. If you want a dog who will walk nicely on leash, come whenever you call, stay where you tell him, wait politely at doors, and greet others with impeccable manners – this is the program for you! Our professional trainers will teach your dog (and you!) the skills he needs to be a welcome guest at home and in public, as well as a joy to be around.

Program curriculum:

  • Name recognition
  • Sit and Lie Down on cue (and stay in place until you release him)
  • Sit and wait at doors
  • Automatically check in with you after going through doors
  • Crate training
    • Wait patiently while the crate door is opened
    • “Kennel up” on cue
  • Indoor recall (come when called)
  • Leave it (don’t touch dropped food, leave garbage alone on walks)
  • Place (go to a mat or bed and stay there)
  • Polite leash manners (including positive introduction to a head halter or harness)
  • Socialization
    • Greet people politely (no jumping!)
    • Positive exposure to new surfaces, obstacles, sights, smells, and sounds.

Apply for a Canine University spot by filling out the personalized profile here >

The Double-Whammy

Combine either the Puppy Head Start or the Puppy Junior High program with our Canine University Basic Obedience program, for a total of six weeks of professional training and socialization, for $1500.00 (a $120.00 savings).