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Owned and operated by one of Calgary's only Certified Pet Dog Trainers (CPDT-KSA) and Certified Behaviour Consultant Canines (CBCC-KA), Dogma is the place to visit for all your dog education, training and product needs. At Dogma, we know that real dog training is about relationship building. It's about communicating with your four-legged companion, building a relationship based on mutual respect a
nd learning together. It's positive, it's peaceful and, yes, it's productive. We offer day school, group classes, and private training. Our dog day school and training facilities are based on the same philosophy; in an environment where you are both comfortable, you will unleash your dog's spirit and build a happy life together.
01/25/2025
💕FEBRUARY CLASSES💕
Love is in the air, and so is the excitement at Dogma this February! Get ready for a month filled with tail-wagging Classes, and some very Special Day school Activities.
Here's a sneak peek of what's coming your way:
Group Classes including:
▪For Puppies, our free socialization Puppy class and our 5 Week V.I.Pups class for our Puppies looking to learn the basics on top of socialization starts on February 12th.
▪Core foundations for our Dogs 6 months + where your Dog will work on all the important basics such as loose leash walking, recall, self-control and more also starting February 12th.
▪ Our popular Reactive program starts February 10th and is designed to help build confidence and work as a team so that your dog can enjoy more day-to-day activities in a safe controlled environment.
▪ Our single Topic Classes where we focus on specific topics like Recall, Leash Manners, Self Control and our Social Club!
🥳Day School: Love is meant to be shared, and we've got some heartwarming activities lined up for your furry friends. From valentines-themed antics to Massages and a Spa to Celebrate “Love your Pet day”, your pup will have plenty of ways to show love to their favorite valentines at school. 💝
We're looking forward to a great month!
01/17/2025
At Dogma, the difference is in the details and it’s all about your dog’s well-being.
We’re committed to providing a calm, controlled environment where dogs thrive emotionally, socially, and behaviourally. One of the key ways we do this is through our unique text system for drop-off and pick-up, which minimizes stress, avoids crowding, and ensures a personalized experience for every dog.
Our approach may take a bit more time, but it’s worth it. By avoiding chaotic entries and exits, we help dogs stay relaxed and set them up for success from the moment they arrive. This thoughtful process not only improves behaviour during the dogs time with us but also reduces anxiety and supports long-term positive changes.
We’re excited to share more of the Dogma Difference and how we go the extra mile to ensure your dog receives the best care possible. To learn more about why we do what we do with pick-up and drop-off, check out our blog post.
At Dogma, we believe that every aspect of your dog's experience matters, including their arrival and departure. Our innovative text system reflects the Dogma Difference by minimizing stress, promoting calmness, and positively influencing their overall behaviour.
01/17/2025
🎉 Ready to take your training to the next level? 🎉
Our Beyond the Basics class is here to help you achieve the ultimate goal: off leash reliability!
Here is what we focus on over 4 weeks:
✨Distraction training and real world scenarios
✨ Advanced skills with those distractions such as recall, leash manners and so much more
✨ Introducing important life skills such as the ever important “off switch”
Our next round of Beyond the Basics begins on Monday with only a few spots left! Registrants must have completed V.I.Pups or Urban Canine Foundations (or equivalent program) to ensure your dog has the foundation skills to build off and be successful in this level.
Follow the “Group Class” link in our bio for more information 📚
01/16/2025
One of the webinars Megan did for the Association for Professional Dog Training International is being featured today.
In this session, she shares practical strategies for navigating the challenges of living and working with reactive dogs in today’s busy world. While managing fearful/reactive dogs is important, we believe the key to success lies in integrating our dogs into our lives rather than merely managing their behaviours.
Whether you work with or live with fearful/reactive dogs, this webinar will help you better navigate life with them in our busy human world!
Struggling to help reactive or fearful dogs thrive in a busy urban environment? Join Megan Stanley for an inside look at her unique Reactive UrbanK9 program, designed to safely integrate these dogs back into our fast-paced world. Discover step-by-step guidelines for hosting supportive group classes, day school training options, and behavior modification strategies that go beyond simple management. Whether you’re a seasoned trainer or just starting out, this APDT International webinar will give you the tools to boost your programs, help more dogs succeed, and grow your revenue—all while creating a safer canine community in the city.
Celebrate Valentine’s and get creative while supporting a great local rescue group!
01/15/2025
Our next free webinar for Train Your Dog Month focuses on the foundation for all training you’ll do with your dog - offered attention!
It’s a simple skill to teach and one that has a powerful impact on the relationship with your dog and their ability to be attentive in busy environments.
Watch our short free webinar to learn why this is one skill you want to power your dog with your pup! Whether you have a puppy, an excitable adult dog, or a dog that struggles with fear/reactivity, this is a must-teach skill!
A webinar that shares a skill that will be the foundation of all of your training. Learn how to teach offered attention for long-lasting and reliable results...
01/13/2025
🎉 Celebrating 11 Incredible Years! 🎉
Join us in congratulating and thanking Shelley Cherniawsky, our Director of Behaviour and Education, for 11 amazing years at Dogma!
Shelley is a true leader and a driving force behind everything we do. As a mentor, she has played a pivotal role in shaping our team and students, always guiding and inspiring those around her. Her expertise, combined with her incredible compassion for both dogs and people, makes a lasting impact in our group classes and private training sessions.
We also want to give a special shoutout to Shelley’s two wonderful daughters, who have helped countless dogs feel more comfortable around children. Their love for dogs is evident in everything they do, and we’re so grateful to have them as part of our Dogma family.
Shelley, we are a better team because of you. Thank you for embodying the Dogma Difference and for helping lead us to where we are today. We couldn’t do it without you! 💙
01/11/2025
Looking for ways to help animals impacted by the fires in California? Parachutes for Pets is going down to help and could use our support!
*California Wildfire Update*
Thank you to a very generous donor - PFP will be departing tomorrow early morning via a private plane stocked with donations and professional volunteers to relieve the volunteers there needing a break.
We will be documenting our journey as much as we can while we are there. The groups we are in contact with are so grateful for the generosity shown by the PFP community. We can still use donations!
🎉 It’s International Train Your Dog Month, and we’re celebrating with FREE webinars all month long! 🎉
We’re kicking off this special month with our first public webinar - a deep dive into one of the most powerful yet often overlooked training techniques: Capturing! Learn how to easily apply this method for long-lasting, reliable results that will transform your dog's behavior.
✨ What’s coming up:
* Free Weekly Webinars all January
* Exclusive Member Webinars
* Plus, training videos, resources, and much more!
Don’t miss out on the chance to improve your dog's training in fun and easy ways. Start learning today! ⬇️
👉 Watch the first webinar through the link below.
📅 Stay tuned for more updates throughout the month!
And remember, you can access quality dog training 24/7 from anywhere for just $30/month! 🐾 https://bit.ly/3H87FqU
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok for more tips and resources.
A webinar that shares one of the most powerful, yet most overlooked, approaches to training. Learn what it is and how to easily apply capturing for long-last...
01/02/2025
Happy New Year from all of us at Dogma! 🐾🎉
We’re wishing you and your pups a year full of joy, wagging tails, and memorable training moments. Here’s to another year of growth, fun, and strengthening the bond with your four-legged friends!
To kick off the year, we’re sharing our annual Megan’s Musing post on New Year's resolutions for your dogs. What do you think your pups would like to achieve in 2025? Let us know!
Plan out the year with ways you can bring more joy to your life through your dog. I've outlined some simple ways you can enhance the bond with your dog and improve their behaviour and overall well-being.
12/26/2024
🎉 Boxing Week Blowout – Unbeatable Deals on All Services! 🎉
The savings are here and they’re HUGE!
🎁 Take advantage of our BOGO (Buy One, Get One) and BMGM (Buy More, Get More) offers:
✨ Free class passes
✨ Private training sessions
✨ Discounts on the Klimb platform (our go-to dog training tool!)
🕐 Hurry – these deals end January 1st! Don’t miss out before prices go up on January 2nd. ⏳
🔗 Visit our Boxing Week page through the link to grab your offers today!
Hope you and your pups are having a paw-some holiday season! 🐾🎄
Boxing Week Sale! Save big and start the new year off right with your pups. Limited quantities available.
12/10/2024
As the holidays approach, there are things we can start now to ensure it's stress-free and safe for our dogs. Read through our post on Holiday Safety Tips!
When most of us think of the holiday season we think of celebrations, creating happy memories and spending time with those we love. For many, it is a time full of love and joy. However, for our pets, it can be full of dangers and be a time filled with fear and stress. This is because many of the thi...
12/06/2024
Another fun painting party to support Boomer’s Haven - Animal Rescue & Sanctuary!
12/04/2024
🎅Santa's Workshop! 🎅
Bring your dog and the whole family for a one-of-a-kind socialization experience at Santa’s Workshop! In this fun and festive class, your pup will meet our very own Certified Trainer Santa, who’s an expert at creating a stress-free, positive environment so your dog can have a special moment with the jolly fellow himself! You’ll also receive a digital holiday photo of your dog (or the whole family!).
While you wait for your photo session, enjoy a variety of holiday-themed socialization and enrichment stations scattered throughout our facility, including:
✨ Holiday Sniff Scavenger Hunts
🎉 Festive Play Areas
🎁 And more surprises!
We’re offering separate sessions to ensure every dog has a comfortable and fun experience:
Thursday, December 6th:
Puppies: 6:30 pm
Urban Canine (social dogs over 5 months): 7:30 pm
Fearful/Reactive Dogs: 8:30 pm
Don’t miss out on this magical holiday event! Spots are limited, so reserve yours today and create lasting memories with your pup this holiday season. 🎄🐾
The holiday season is here, and we’ve got festive fun for your dog! From meeting Santa to agility with a seasonal twist, we’ve got something for every pup and family!
🎅 Santa’s Workshop – A personalized, positive Santa experience with festive photos!
🎉 Festive Agility for Fun – Seasonal agility courses with snowflakes and candy canes!
🐾 Puppy Keepsakes & Crafts – Create holiday pawprint tiles & enjoy socialization!
🎁 Holiday Tricks & Toys Workshop – Teach fun tricks & make a toy to take home!
Spots fill up fast, so reserve your place today!
✨ Full details & booking through the link in our bio! ✨
11/19/2024
🎄✨ Holiday Classes for You & Your Pup! ✨🎄
The holiday season is here, and we’ve got festive fun for your dog! From meeting Santa to agility with a seasonal twist, we’ve got something for every pup and family!
🎅 Santa’s Workshop – A personalized, positive Santa experience with festive photos!
🎉 Festive Agility for Fun – Seasonal agility courses with snowflakes and candy canes!
🐾 Puppy Keepsakes & Crafts – Create holiday pawprint tiles & enjoy socialization!
🎁 Holiday Tricks & Toys Workshop – Teach fun tricks & make a toy to take home!
Spots fill up fast, so reserve your place today!
✨ Full details & booking through the link! ✨
Training should be fun. Our events are a great way for you to get out with your pup(s), practice your skills, and provide some added socialization/enrichment to their day.
11/13/2024
🐾Through our Urban Canine YYC programs, we’re helping Calgary businesses, offices, and residential spaces become more dog-friendly—safely and effectively. Whether you're looking to create a welcoming space for dogs at your office, minimize liability in a dog-friendly business, or simply make your property more canine-friendly, we’ve got you covered!
We offer:
▪️ Training programs for dog-friendly offices, businesses, and properties
▪️ Consulting and Q&A sessions for personalized advice
▪️ Free Lunch 'n Learn sessions for vet clinics
▪️ Expert guidance on canine communication, body language, and conflict management
Our goal? To create harmonious, stress-free spaces for both dogs and humans. Let’s make Calgary a safer, more welcoming city for pets and people alike! 🐶❤️
Let’s work together to build a dog-friendly Calgary that’s safe, inclusive, and full of happy, wagging tails!
11/08/2024
To remember and honour all those who have served, we will be closed all weekend, including Monday, November 11th. We hope everyone has a restful and safe weekend. A reminder that emails and phones will not be answered until we open for regular business hours on Tuesday. Members, please post in the community if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you all again next week. Lest we forget.
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Shelley 10 Years!
🎉✨ 10 Years at Dogma! ✨🎉
Please join us in extending our utmost gratitude and sharing our congratulations to Shelley Cherniawsky, our Head of Behaviour & Education, who is celebrating 10 years with us today!
What a journey it has been!
✨ Graduated as a DCBC in 2013
✨ Joined our team in 2014 as a trainer
✨ Quickly advanced to Head Trainer in 2015
✨ Progressed to Location Manager in 2017
✨ Earned her CPDT-KA in 2018
✨ Welcomed 2 beautiful girls into the world
✨ Returned into her new role
✨ Continues to grow and help our dog and team
These are just some small highlights of her time with us. We are all so grateful for her leadership, desire to learn, and commitment to the Dogma Difference. We are a better team because of her.
We have much to celebrate! Thank you for all you do for the dogs, their families, and our team 🙏
🥂 Cheers to many more! 🚀
As we say goodbye to 2023, we want to thank everyone for your continued commitment to your dog's well-being through training, enrichment, and socialization. We are grateful for the trust you put in us and the joy your dogs bring us each day.
We've had a big year - we celebrated 15 years at Chinook and closed the doors on our Killarney location after 11 years. This transition has paved the way for exciting opportunities, allowing us to expand our services and create a foundation for growth in 2024. We have big plans and cannot wait to share them with you and spend more time with your pups.
Your support has been instrumental in our journey, and we are truly grateful for it.
As the holiday season wraps up, we hope you've enjoyed moments of warmth and happiness. May the year ahead be filled with countless snuggles and grand adventures with your canine companions.
Happy New Year! 🎉✨
Our story begins in 2002 when our Founder, Megan Stanley, adopted her first dog Guinniss. She quickly learned that the sweet and affectionate boy at home became a scary and reactive dog out in the real world. Guinniss was terrified of our urban environment and demonstrated his fear through over-the-top reactions. Megan knew that through patience and the right approach with training, that she could teach Guinniss that the world was safe and help him integrate successfully in our busy human environment.
Guinnis was Megan’s best teacher and is credited as being dogma’s Canine Co-Founder. Through the work with Guinniss, Megan learned that there were limited options for dogs with reactivity and fear concerns. The options available utilized punishment, which Megan knew put Guinniss at risk to worsen his behaviour and he could become a dangerous dog due to the behavioural fallout from these harsh methods. As well, facilities were ran by well-intentioned dog owners who put far too many dogs in groups with only one or two supervisors with no experience or education on canine behaviour. She knew that she needed to create an organization to set the standard for care and training and advocate for improving the lives of dogs and the people who love them.
Megan quickly began attending seminars, apprenticed through The Calgary Humane Society and earned her Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) designation. She was then the first of only four in Canada to obtain her Certified Behaviour Consultant Canine (CBCC-KA) designation. She has become a leader in the industry and was a founding member of pause4change Animal Rescue Foundation, is the President of The Guinniss Foundation and was the first Canadian to sit as Chair for the Association of Professional Dog Trainers in 2018.
Dogma opened its doors in 2008 and quickly became the place to visit for all your dog education, daycare and training needs. At Dogma, we know that real dog training is about relationship building. It's about communicating with your four-legged companion, building a relationship based on mutual respect and learning together. It's positive, it's peaceful and, yes, it's productive.
We are the only facility to offer a variety of education programs ran by reward-based certified dog trainers. Our education, awareness programs and seminars are the core of our business. Our dog behaviour and education facilities are conveniently located and are based on the same philosophy as our training: in an environment where you are both comfortable, you will unleash your dog's spirit and build a happy life together.
As part of the #dogmadifference, Dogma was the first to have only certified trainers conduct training, segregate play groups based on size and play style, mandate an assessment before dogs were allowed to attend day school, maintain strict capacity numbers, ensure a low staff-dog ratio, provide rubber-flooring and solid, high walls to ensure the dogs’ safety. We maintain the highest standards of excellence through staff training, 100% supervision, the lowest staff-dog ratio, facility design, equipment used and we make every decision to ensure the emotional, physical and behavioural well-being of each dog in our care.
We continue to innovate dog training to ensure training is easy and accessible. We have training to fit every budget and schedule and work with any breed or behaviour. We are not a dog daycare. Our programs focus on training, not free play. Let our certified trainers do the training for you so you can come home after a busy day to a trained and appropriately tired dog. We offer an exclusive training and socialization program, kinderPUPS, to get your puppy started off on the right paw. From there, we offer dogmaHigh and then dogs graduate into dogmaU, before becoming a dogmaALUM. We ensure dogs are comfortable and successful in our day school programs to prevent over-arousal or behavioural fallout, which is commonly seen due to time spent at dog daycare.
We also offer unique membership-based group classes to allow you to progress at your dog’s level and attend classes at your convenience. From basic obedience to helping with fear/reactivity concerns, we help you integrate your dog successfully into our urban world. We also have a variety of private training options that can happen at a location of your choice.
Register today to learn more about the #dogmadifference and how we can help you develop an ideal urbanK9; a well-mannered and confident dog that you can take anywhere with confidence!
