No aggression or bite histories. Our programs aren't suited to dogs with a history of aggression or bites toward people or other dogs.
The Northern Collar Club · Training
Ready to start your training journey?
What if training wasn't just about teaching your dog commands?
What if it helped you understand each other better?
Whether you're starting from scratch, rebuilding your foundation or ready to challenge the skills you've already developed, our training program is designed to help you communicate more clearly, grow your skills and build the relationship you've always wanted with your dog.
You don't need to arrive with a perfectly trained dog. You just need somewhere to start.
So… where do we start?
Maybe your dog knows "sit", sometimes.
Maybe walks feel more like a negotiation than something you enjoy together.
Maybe you've watched training videos, bought different tools, tried different techniques and somehow ended up with more questions than answers.
Or maybe you simply have a great dog and want to learn how to communicate with them even better.
That's exactly why we start with the foundation.
Good training isn't about collecting commands.
It's about creating communication that both ends of the leash understand.
Our Philosophy
We train both ends of the leash.
Your dog isn't the only student in our classes.
We want handlers to leave understanding not only what to do, but why they're doing it.
You'll learn more about how dogs learn, timing, communication, leash handling, reinforcement, training tools, body language and how your own actions influence your dog's response.
Because long-term progress shouldn't depend on having a trainer standing beside you.
Our goal is to give you skills you can continue using long after class ends.
Both ends of the leash
The Training Journey
One pathway, three steps.
You don't have to figure out where you fit. We'll guide you through each step.
01
Fundamentals
Learn the language.
New to training? Start here.
Fundamentals is our introductory small-group course designed to build the foundation of communication, trust and everyday manners between you and your dog.
If you're unsure how to communicate clearly with your dog, when to reward, how to use your leash effectively, or even which training tools are appropriate for you and your dog, this is where we start.
We'll introduce the communication system that becomes the foundation for everything that follows, including marker words, leash pressure, engagement, release cues and foundational obedience.
We'll also begin applying those skills to everyday challenges, including the foundations of loose-leash walking and better manners.
But this isn't simply about teaching your dog commands. We'll work with the human end of the leash too.
You'll begin learning about timing, consistency, body language, handler advocacy and how clearer communication can change what happens at the other end of your leash.
This class may be for you if…
No previous training experience required.
02
Fundamentals Plus
Build the skills.
You've built the foundation.
Now we're going to start asking for a little more.
Fundamentals Plus is designed for dogs and handlers who already understand our foundational communication system and are ready to strengthen and expand those skills.
We'll continue developing loose-leash walking, engagement, impulse control, movement and practical obedience while beginning to challenge familiar behaviours in new ways.
The Four Ds of Training
Throughout our training progression, we use the Four Ds to help handlers understand how behaviours become stronger. In Fundamentals Plus, we place particular emphasis on:
Duration
Can your dog maintain the behaviour for longer?
Diversity
Can your dog understand it in different contexts?
Distance
What happens when you step away?
Distraction
What happens when the world competes for attention?
DURATION
Can your dog maintain the behaviour for longer instead of immediately performing it and moving on?
DIVERSITY
Can your dog understand familiar communication when the situation, position or context begins to change?
Knowing a skill and being able to consistently apply that skill are two very different things.
Fundamentals Plus helps bridge that gap.
Fundamentals completion or instructor approval recommended.
03
Beyond the Basics
Take it into real life.
Training is easier when the room is quiet.
Real life usually isn't.
Beyond the Basics is where we begin bridging the gap between learning skills and using those skills when the world around your dog becomes more interesting. We'll continue developing practical obedience while increasing the challenge for both dog and handler.
The Four Ds of Training
Returning to the Four Ds, Beyond the Basics places particular emphasis on:
Duration
Can your dog maintain the behaviour for longer?
Diversity
Can your dog understand it in different contexts?
Distance
What happens when you step away?
Distraction
What happens when the world competes for attention?
DISTANCE
What happens when you're no longer standing directly beside your dog?
DISTRACTION
What happens when other dogs, people, movement, smells and the environment begin competing for your dog's attention?
We'll also begin introducing more purposeful positioning and movement, including foundations of heel work, while continuing to develop recall, leash skills, engagement and impulse control.
The goal isn't a perfectly programmed dog. It's a dog-and-handler team with communication and skills they can actually use in everyday life.
Fundamentals Plus completion or instructor approval recommended.
Because you shouldn't be just another leash in the room.
Our classes are intentionally small.
Dogs learn differently, and so do people. One team may need help with timing. Another may need an adjustment to leash handling, reward placement, equipment or communication.
Keeping our groups small allows us to actually coach the individual dog-and-handler teams standing in front of us.
You still get the invaluable experience of learning around other dogs and people, without disappearing into a crowd.
Small classes. Personal coaching. Real-life skills.
Why We Chose Wizard of Paws
Every detail of our venue was chosen with you and your dog in mind. Safety, comfort, and convenience come first.
Right Downtown
Conveniently located in downtown Timmins, easy to get to from anywhere in the city.
Daylight Sessions
Class times are set so you arrive and leave in full daylight, no walking to your car in the dark after evening sessions.
Free Weekend Parking
Plenty of free parking right nearby on weekends, so you can pull up, grab your dog, and walk in without the hassle.
Outdoor Relief Space
Wizard of Paws has an excellent indoor area plus a dedicated outdoor space. Dogs can step out for a break without hitting the downtown sidewalk.
Built Around Safety
We chose this venue with safety front of mind: a controlled, enclosed environment that keeps every dog comfortable and secure throughout the session.
Sundays: A Quieter Day
We run on Sundays on purpose. It's a calmer day for most people, so you can show up relaxed and focused on your dog.
Still thinking, "Okay… but where do we start?"
That's completely fine.
Sometimes the hardest part of training is figuring out what kind of help you actually need. Book a one-on-one phone consultation with Christine to talk about your dog, what you're struggling with, what you've already tried and what you'd like life together to look like. It's an affordable, low-pressure way to get started, just $19.99 for 30 minutes.
This is particularly useful if:
$19.99 + HST
Duration
30 min
Indoor Small-Group Training
A progressive pathway with a maximum of 3 dogs per class. Choose the program and the time slot that fits where you and your dog are right now.
Fundamentals
Learn the language.
A four-week indoor small-group course that builds the foundation of communication, trust, and everyday manners between you and your dog.
Fundamentals Plus
Build the skills.
The next four-week step. We continue developing your Fundamentals skills while introducing additional skills, more duration, and more distance, all in a controlled indoor environment.
Beyond the Basics
Put your skills in motion.
We teach the heel, the get-in, and the switch, then work through distractions so your dog stays reliable in real-world situations.
Beyond the Basics Plus
For dogs who already know heel, release, get-in & switch.
For dogs who already know the heel, a release command, and the get-in & switch. If you've taken Intermediate with Christine at PetSmart, this is the class for you. We work with virtually no treats — pitching the pouch — and focus on the four D's: distance, duration, distraction, and diversity. You'll practise out-of-sight stays, the back-up, and the heel, pushing reliability and real-world performance further than ever.
Where we train
Indoor training at Wizard of Paws
Wizard of Paws
220 3rd Ave
Timmins, Ontario
Sundays
Classes are held on Sundays, a quieter day for most people.
You don't need to have it all figured out before you start.
Maybe you're starting with a puppy.
Maybe you have an adult dog and you're realizing there are a few gaps in your communication.
Maybe you've been working hard and you're ready for the next challenge.
Wherever you're starting, we'll meet you there and help you build forward.
Because better training isn't just about creating a dog who listens.
It's about creating a relationship where you understand each other.