Private Dog Training vs Group Classes
Group class or private lessons? Both can teach a dog to sit. The difference is what happens when the problem is at home, on your street or at the end of the leash.
By MJ Stoltz, ABCDTIACP Professional MemberUpdated November 2026Group classes can be a fun, social way for a confident, easygoing dog to learn the basics. Private in-home training is the better fit if your dog has a specific problem, gets overwhelmed around other dogs or people, or you need training to fit your schedule.
Private training builds the plan around your dog, in the place where the behavior actually happens.
How they compare
| Private in-home training | Group classes | |
|---|---|---|
| Where training happens | Your home first, then your neighborhood and real-world places | A classroom, store or park |
| Attention on your dog | One-on-one, the whole session | Shared with everyone in the class |
| What you work on | Your dog’s actual problems and your goals | The same curriculum for every dog |
| Schedule | Built around your week | A set day and time |
| Distractions | Added step by step, when your dog is ready | A room full of dogs and people from day one |
| Reactive or anxious dogs | A good starting point | Often too much, too soon |
| Good fit for | Behavior problems, specific goals, busy households, reactive dogs | Social, easygoing dogs learning basics |
| Offered by Highwater | Yes, plus Homeschool | No traditional classes. I offer group training walks instead |
The problem with learning in a room full of dogs
For a calm, social dog, a class full of other dogs is good practice. For a dog who’s reactive, anxious or just very excited, it can be the hardest possible place to learn. They spend the hour barking, pulling or hiding, and you spend it managing them instead of learning.
It’s also hard for a class to fix a problem that only happens at home: the doorbell, the window, the guest who walks in, the dog next door behind the fence. Private training starts with those moments, because that’s where your dog lives.
If your dog barks or lunges at other dogs, my reactive dog training page explains how I help.
When a group class makes sense
If your dog is confident, social and you mainly want basic manners plus some practice around distractions, a good group class can be a great choice. Once your dog has a solid foundation through private lessons, my group training walks give them that real-world practice around other dogs in a structured, low-pressure setup.
Curious what affects the cost of private training? I cover it in In-Home Dog Training vs Board & Train. Not sure which program fits? Try the program finder.
Popular private training programs
Each one is in-home and built around your dog, your goals and your schedule.
Essentials Program
The skills every great dog needs, built around the one thing you most want to change.
- Lessons4 private lessons
- WhereIn your home
- Timeline4 weeks or less
Mild Manners
Everyday manners for the dog who's a little too much, a little too often.
- Lessons6 private lessons
- WhereIn your home
- Timeline6 weeks or less
Puppy Plus+
Everything in Puppy Foundations, plus real-world adventures so your puppy learns to handle life outside your living room.
- Lessons8 private lessons
- Where6 at home, 2 out in the world
- Timeline8 weeks or less
Private Training vs Group Classes FAQ
Do you offer group classes?
I don't run traditional group classes at this time. What I do offer instead are group training walks and similar setups, real opportunities to practice around genuine distractions once your dog has a solid foundation built through private lessons first.
Can you help with reactivity?
Yes, this is genuinely one of the behavior challenges I see and work with most. No two reactive dogs look exactly alike, so we start by figuring out what's actually triggering the response, then build a step-by-step plan from there, one that improves how you and your dog communicate, builds real confidence, and helps both of you handle those tricky situations with a lot more success than before.
How is private training different from a group class?
Group classes teach the same curriculum to every dog in the room, regardless of what's actually going on with them at home. Private training happens in your home, on your schedule, and the plan is built around your specific dog from the start.
Will my dog still learn to behave around other dogs?
Yes. We start at home, then add other dogs and busier places step by step once your dog is ready. When your dog has a solid foundation, my group training walks give them structured practice around other dogs.
Let’s Talk About Your Dog
Tell me a little about your dog and your goals, and I’ll help you figure out which training option makes the most sense.
