City Dog®
Day School

Welcome to rearing and training for urban dog life.

For City Dogs, Life is Different.

Raising a dog in the city isn’t like the ‘burbs or the country. Every walk brings challenges—the lobby gauntlet, curb cuisine, crowded sidewalks, the occasional Philly raccoon, and strangers trying to pet your dog.

You need more than “sit” and “stay.” You need a dog who can be prepared to handle it all—and a team to help you get there.

That’s where City Dog Day School comes in.

City Dog® Day School is a complete rethinking of what it means to raise a dog in the city.

We designed City Dog® as an immersive adventure—part training, part real-life prep, all built into a structured day of learning and fulfillment. The goal is to build resilience for urban living and optimize understanding of how to work within the confines of the city without the “we don’t have a yard” guilt.

What real-world training looks like:

Sidewalk Savvy: Navigate walks without your dog pulling like a freight train or lunging at dogs, adoring strangers or squirrels. Learn how to advocate for your dog and provide the social support they need to thrive IRL.
Coffee Shop Composure: Your morning latte with your dog calmly at your feet? It’s possible.
Leave the Chicken Bones: Master the art of the urban walk—where your dog ignores street snacks and other Philly specials.
Green Space Gold: Turn that neighborhood park into your fulfillment haven, maximizing what you’ve got for mental work, bonding, and decompression.

Handling Big Feelings (a.k.a. Reactivity, Barking, Lunging): Helping dogs manage that heart-racing moment when another dog, person, or delivery truck gets them over the edge.
Navigating Tight Spaces & Crowds: Sidewalks, elevators, narrow hallways—helping dogs feel confident in the squeeze.
Polite Greetings (Without the Flying Leap): Training dogs to say “Hi, I’m happy!” without knocking over your neighbor and or learning how not to say hi (also a totally remarkable and needed skill for dogs suffering from CDS, Cute Dog Syndrome).

For humans:

Letting Go of Perfect: Realizing you don’t need a “model citizen” dog—you need a dog who fits your life and can roll with its quirks.
Urban Fulfillment: Understand how to work with your dog’s drive so your dog gets to “dog” more, and you get to be a part of creating access to that magic
Learning to Read Your Dog: Picking up on their early signs of stress or excitement—so you can steer the ship before the storm hits.
Building Confidence in Your Handling: Feeling capable, not embarrassed when your dog has a moment—because you know what to do next.
Creating Structure Without Rigidity: Finding that sweet spot where you guide your dog without feeling like you’re always “on duty.”
Practicing Patience & Progress, Not Perfection: Accepting the small wins—because those daily, imperfect steps add up to a capable, trusted companion.

Ready to get started?

1. Book Your Pup’s Assessment 🦮

The magic begins when we take the time to uncover the heart of who your dog is—digging into their personality, behavior, and unique quirks. From there, we’ll craft a plan that meets them where they are and sets them up to thrive in the world you share.

Book Your Pup’s Assessment

2. “City Dog Ready” Training Program

Once we’re on the same page, we start the program—typically lasting 3+ weeks, Tuesday through Friday. Here, your dog will build the foundation or level up their skills with immersive training: calm leash walking, managing distractions, and honing sidewalk manners.
OPB Grads can purchase a City Dog Day Package to support their journey beyond Foundations.

3. City Dog Membership

When your dog finishes training, they graduate to City Dog Membership. They’ll participate in real-world practice through Field Trips and Immersion Days, continuing to refine their skills with group outings and mentoring new pups along the way.

What is a Day in School Like?

Drop off your dog at our Old City studio, and while you're working, or sipping a cuppa at Menagerie, we get to work on leash skills, impulse control, confidence, and the kind of city-proofing that makes daily life together easier.

Here’s the Flow:
Training Days at our Old City Studio:
Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday

☀️ Morning Drop-Off: 8:15 – 9:00 am
The day starts with a balance of play, training, and chill time. We’ll take your dog through purposeful training walks, enriching activities, and downtime designed to fulfill their needs and set them up for success at home and in the ‘hood.

☕ Afternoon Pick-Up: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
You’ll pick up a tired, happy, and smarter dog, and we’ll loop you in with personalized lessons to keep the progress rolling at home and out in the world.
We are happy to coordinate a walker or taxi service to make pick-up and drop-off smooth for you.

📚 Owner Lessons: Fridays
We hand you the leash (and the know-how) so you can lead with confidence. This is about laser-focusing your handling savvy to maximize results.

Program Options:

1-Hour Focus Sessions: Laser-targeted behavior work for Behaviorally challenged pups that often thrive with a working session followed by a tuck-in at home.
Half-Day Immersion: Training, downtime, social exposure—perfect for dogs who can chill between sessions.

What’s Included?

Private Lessons: Personalized, one-on-one coaching built around your dog and your goals.

Training video and photo updates that loop you in and explain concepts so you learn alongside your pup.

Video Courses & Community Forum: On-demand learning and real-world problem-solving when needed.

Starter Kit: Gear + resources to set you and your pup up for success.

This Is For You If:

You love your puppy or dog, but your time is stretched thin.
You adore your dog but need support for big, behavioral changes.
You want your dog to thrive in the city and handle everyday life.
You love the idea of transformative results + having your dog home to cuddle each night.
You believe a well-trained dog means more freedom—for both of you.

This Is Not:
A free-for-all environment where bad habits are formed.
A quick fix for every problem—real training takes time, reps, and buy-in from you.
A program for those who want to keep doing things the same way/hard way.