Quick answer
- US: private training ranges from $45 to $250 a session, with a national average around $50; group classes run $30-$80 a session.1 Another price guide puts private lessons at $100-$250 an hour.2
- Group courses typically cost $150-$300 for a six-week block.2
- Canada: in Toronto, group obedience classes run $200-$400 CAD for six weeks and private lessons $100-$200 an hour.7
Prices by type of training
| Format | US (USD) | Canada (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Private session | $45-$250, average about $501; $100-$250 an hour2; $100-$150 an hour3 | Toronto $100-$200 an hour7; $125-$200 a session in the Toronto area9 |
| Group course (4-6 weeks) | $150-$3002; $150-$2503 | Toronto $200-$4007; $595 for six sessions at one academy10 |
| Puppy training | - | About $60 average, $45-$758 |
| Aggressive behavior | - | About $97.50 average, $75-$1208 |
| Board and train | 2 weeks $2,200-$3,000 at one Dallas trainer4 | About $1,000 a week in the Toronto area9; $3,900-$7,900 per program across Canada12 |
Packages beat single sessions
Dogs learn over weeks, not one visit, so most trainers sell packages - for example four or six private sessions, paid up front, with a small discount. Packages give clients a realistic plan and give you committed clients and steadier income. Private lessons commonly run $50-$150 a session,6 and the calculator above shows what a package comes to.
Charge more for behavior work
Reactivity, aggression and separation anxiety take more skill, more risk and usually more sessions. The price difference shows in Canadian averages: about $97.50 a session for aggressive behavior against $60 for puppy training.8 Many trainers start these cases with a longer paid assessment before quoting a plan.
Work out your own rate
One trainer's data-driven approach: start from the income you need, add about 20% for taxes, then add business expenses like treats and promotional materials, and divide by the sessions you can realistically teach in a year.5 That gives your floor; your market and reputation decide how far above it you go.
For a sense of the low end of the market, big-box stores sell structured classes - PetSmart Canada, for example, lists 6-week classes at $159 and 30-minute private sessions at $55.11 Independent trainers charge more for individual attention, flexible scheduling and in-home sessions.
Board-and-train pricing
Board and train - the dog lives with the trainer for one to several weeks - is priced as a program, not per session, because you're providing care around the clock. One Dallas trainer's most popular 2-week program costs $2,200-$3,000,4 Toronto-area programs typically charge around $1,000 a week,9 and across Canada board and train generally runs $3,900-$7,900 depending on length.12 Include follow-up sessions with the owner, since the hand-off is where most results are kept or lost.
Dog training rates in Canada
- Toronto: group obedience $200-$400 for six weeks; private lessons $100-$200 an hour.7
- Averages: about $60 for puppy training, $97.50 for aggressive behavior.8
- Group programs: $300-$500 for a full program in the Toronto area;9 $595 for six one-hour group sessions at one academy.10
- Board and train: about $1,000 a week in the Toronto area;9 $3,900-$7,900 per program across Canada.12
- Big-box classes: $159 for a 6-week class; $55 for a 30-minute private session.11
Quote in CAD before tax, and register for GST/HST once your taxable revenue passes $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters.
Common questions
How much do people charge to train a dog?
In the US, private sessions range from $45 to $250 (one guide puts private lessons at $100-$250 an hour), and group courses $150-$300 for six weeks. In Toronto, private lessons run $100-$200 CAD an hour.
How much should I charge for dog training per month?
Price packages rather than months - for example four private sessions at your rate with a small prepay discount. At $100 a session, a month of weekly sessions is about $400.
How much does 2 week dog training cost?
One Dallas trainer prices its popular 2-week board and train at $2,200-$3,000. Toronto-area programs typically charge around $1,000 CAD a week.
Should I charge more for aggressive dogs?
Yes - behavior cases take more skill and more sessions. Canadian averages show about $97.50 a session for aggression against $60 for puppy training.
How much do dog trainers charge in Canada?
In Toronto, about $100-$200 CAD an hour for private lessons and $200-$400 for a six-week group class.
Sell sessions and packages, with the dog described first
On 1MinuteBooking, owners book a meet and greet, private sessions or prepaid packages, and tell you the dog's breed, age and vaccinations before the first session. Free plan, no time limit.
See the dog training booking pageSources
- Bark, Dog Trainer Prices 2026: Average Cost by Type (US)
- Sit Means Sit, How Much Does Dog Training Cost? 2026 Price Guide &
- PetWorks, How Much Does Dog Training Cost in 2026? - PetWorks
- Off Leash K9 (Dallas), How Much Does Dog Training Cost in Dallas? (2026) (one trainer's prices)
- Dog Trainer's Umbrella, Pricing Dog Training Services Based on Data
- Sniffspot, How to Start a Dog Training Business
- Dogfather (Toronto), How Much Does Dog Training Cost in Toronto? (2026 Honest
- Bark Canada, How Much Does Dog Training Cost?
- When Hounds Fly, How Much Does Dog Training Cost?
- K9 Academy (Canada), Rates — Group Training
- PetSmart Canada, Puppy and Adult Dog Training Classes - Pet Services
- MP Canine Academy, BEST Dog Board & Train In Canada
Prices are what these sources published as of September-October 2026. Rates vary by city, season and the job itself - use them as a starting point, not a rule.