Puppy foundations
For dogs under five months. Gentle socialising, name games, handling and the first steps toward toilet training and quiet crates.
Puppy, manners and sport classes · Calgary, Alberta
Training that makes sense to the dog on the other end of the lead.
Steady Paws Dog School runs small evening and weekend classes in a heated indoor arena in Ramsay. We use food, play and patience, never choke chains or shouting, and every class ends with homework you can do in your kitchen with your dog's dinner.
First-time handlers can watch a class free before they enrol.
Four stages from puppy to reliable adult
- 01
Meet and assess
A fifteen-minute conversation with a trainer about your dog's age, history and the problems you want solved before you pick a class.
- 02
Learn the basics
Six weekly lessons of an hour, with no more than six dogs per trainer, covering recall, loose-lead walking, settling and polite greetings.
- 03
Practise with distractions
Each week adds a new challenge, from a dropped biscuit to a bicycle rolling past, so the lessons hold up in the real world.
- 04
Graduate and keep going
A friendly test at the end of the course, then monthly drop-in refreshers for as long as you like at half the usual price.
Classes for every kind of dog and handler
Each course has a clear goal, and you can move up whenever your dog is ready. We never keep a team in a level for the sake of the calendar.
Everyday manners
The course most families need. Sit, down, wait, leave it and a walk where the lead stays slack, taught with practical routines for home.
Tricks and confidence
High fives, spins and hide and seek. Playful lessons that suit shy dogs, bored adolescents and any owner who wants to laugh a little.
Agility and sport
Tunnels, jumps and weave poles for fit dogs who want a job. Courses build from low obstacles, with vet-approved heights for every age.
Reactive dog workshops
Small groups at a distance the dog can cope with, with a trainer-led plan for those who bark, lunge or hide when other dogs are near.
This week's classes
Select a day, then choose a session. Places are held for you until you confirm by email, and you can cancel from the same screen.
Your trainers
Every instructor holds a recognised force-free certification and trains with their own dogs on the arena floor.
- Marguerite TallisHead trainer and founder
- Devon Okonkwo-ReidPuppy and family classes
- Priya SandhuReactive dog specialist
- Tomasz WierzbickiAgility and sport coach
From the back row of the arena
“Our rescue greyhound used to freeze at every gate. Six weeks later she walks us into class. I did not think a treat pouch could change a household.”
“Devon taught my kids how to ask the puppy to sit before dinner. That alone was worth the fee, and the puppy now sleeps through the night.”
“I came for agility and stayed for the people. The instructors notice when you are frustrated and change the exercise before anyone gives up.”
Questions from new handlers
How old should my puppy be to start?
Puppy foundations accepts dogs from eight weeks, once they have had their first vaccination. Please bring the vet's card to the first class.
Do you use treats or equipment such as prong collars?
We train with food, toys and praise. Prong, choke and shock collars are not allowed on the arena floor, and we will help you find a comfortable harness.
What if my dog is nervous?
Tell us when you enrol. We can start you in a quiet room, offer a different time slot or recommend the reactive dog workshop.
Can the whole family attend?
Yes. Up to three people may share a class booking, and children over seven are welcome with an adult beside them.
Tell us about your dog
Send the details and a trainer will phone you within two working days to suggest the right course and a start date.