Crossbones Dog Academy

Crossbones Dog Academy Positive dog training in Providence, RI. Day school, group classes, private lessons, and more! We have the ONLY Monday through Friday puppy program in the city!

Crossbones Dog Academy offers dog training, an innovative Puppy Day School program, and Educational Daycare in Providence, Rhode Island. Our Puppy Day School program combines training and socialization to ensure your puppy grows into a well-behaved dog who is a joy to be around. For adult dogs, we have Intensive Training Programs. Our experienced, certified professional dog trainer works with your

dog one-on-one while you're at work or school. Then, meet with one of our trainers for an evening lesson to see what your dog has learned. Our Flex Classes are held 6 days a week! Attend dog training classes when it's convenient for you, and start any time. (Really. Most of our clients start within 7 days!) We also occasionally host seminars and workshops to help you train your canine companion. For more details on our programs, visit our website! We have online registration for our classes & programs.

Struggling with a dog who barks, lunges, or overreacts on leash? You’re not alone. Our Reactive Recovery class is design...
05/26/2026

Struggling with a dog who barks, lunges, or overreacts on leash? You’re not alone.

Our Reactive Recovery class is designed specifically for dogs who need help staying calm and focused instead of getting triggered by other dogs. Each dog works at a safe distance with barriers, structure, and guidance.

In this class, you’ll learn…
🔸How you might be allowing or encouraging your dog to practice this behavior
🔸Exactly what to do when your dog sees another dog
🔸How to build focus and engagement with you, even around other dogs
🔸How to replace explosive behavior with calm responses
🔸Confidence handling your dog in the real world!

This is a supportive class where both you and your dog can succeed. Class is taught by our certified behavior consultant PJ, and spots are limited to keep the class safe and effective.

Ever wonder what is going on in the training hall on Thursday nights? It’s our Agility Competition Prep class starring t...
05/20/2026

Ever wonder what is going on in the training hall on Thursday nights? It’s our Agility Competition Prep class starring these four talented dogs: Paisley the Saluki, Vale the Labrador Retriever, and Kiwi & Juno the Vizslas!

Our Flex Class student Joan (Goda’s mom!) reached out to us asking if she could shoot our agility class for a photography class she’s taking. Turns out, she’s as talented as our agility students are! These photos are INCREDIBLE — shooting fast-moving dogs indoors is NOT an easy feat.

Joan, thank you so much for sharing these with us and our students! We love our Crossbones community! 🧡

Game on! 🎾Tug should be fun *and* functional. It’s a powerful training tool when done right. Dan’s working with Gibson o...
05/13/2026

Game on! 🎾

Tug should be fun *and* functional. It’s a powerful training tool when done right. Dan’s working with Gibson on something we prioritize with all toy-loving dogs: self-control around play.

For safety, play needs some ground rules. Dogs shouldn’t be jumping up or grabbing at the toy, and they need to wait for permission to engage. Just as important, they need to learn to let go when asked. Without that structure, play can quickly turn chaotic or even unsafe, especially if a dog starts grabbing things like gloves, sleeves, or scarves instead of appropriate toys.

But once those skills are in place, that’s when the magic happens! ✨ Toys become an incredibly effective reward for behaviors like loose leash walking, coming when called, and more. For some dogs, they’re even more motivating than food!

Here, Dan engages Gibson in a fun game of tug, encouraging him to shift his weight backwards and keeping his head in line with his spine (not cranked up towards the sky). When Dan cues Gibson to let go of the toy, he does so.

Gibson offers to sit, and Dan tests his stay skills by dragging the toy on the ground. (The toy moving is NOT permission to grab it!) When Dan gives Gibson his release cue, the game resumes!

We build these toy skills into our Complete Puppy Raising and Intensive Training Programs, and we’re always happy to coach you through them in private lessons too.

(P.S. No, playing tug does not make your dog “dominant” or contribute to aggression. Yes, it’s okay to let them win. And it’s also okay if they growl while they’re tugging!)

✨ Class Spotlight: Polite in Public 🔦�Polite in Public is all about the manners skills that make real-world outings smoo...
05/07/2026

✨ Class Spotlight: Polite in Public 🔦�

Polite in Public is all about the manners skills that make real-world outings smoother and more enjoyable. Your dog will learn to go for walks without pulling and greet people without jumping up — all 4 paws stay on the floor! 🐾

It’s a great class for dogs who need help with leash manners and polite greetings. Polite in Public is our most popular Core Manners class, and for good reason!

Our Flex Class program is built for real life: register online, start immediately, and build your dog’s skills at a pace that fits your goals. Classes are held 5-6 days each week. Attend when it’s convenient for you! Access is included in our comprehensive training programs, or purchase a Flex Pass to DIY your dog’s training plan.

Teenage dogs get a bad reputation… but really, they’re just works in progress!Jorge the Airedale Terrier is in that in-b...
05/05/2026

Teenage dogs get a bad reputation… but really, they’re just works in progress!

Jorge the Airedale Terrier is in that in-between stage: more independent, easily distracted, and testing boundaries. Early puppyhood (8-16 weeks) is the most important time for socialization and exposure, while the adolescent months are the most important for training.

Don’t take your foot off the training gas pedal. 5 months to 12 months old is the time to stay consistent and put in the reps. Remember, you’re laying the foundation for the behavior you’ll enjoy for the next 15+ years with your dog!

The teenage phase doesn’t have to feel out of control. Our Complete Puppy Raising program gives you the structure, support, and training you need to turn chaos into focus. We’ll help you raise a dog you actually enjoy living with.

✨ Class Spotlight: Orientation 🔦Start here! 🐾 In this class, you’ll learn our training approach, meet one of our instruc...
04/29/2026

✨ Class Spotlight: Orientation 🔦

Start here! 🐾 In this class, you’ll learn our training approach, meet one of our instructors, and practice the basics before you start training your dog. It’s the foundation for a successful experience in our classes.

Fun fact: we have taught over 450 Orientation classes in Providence over the past 9 years!

Our Flex Class program is built for real life: register online, start immediately, and build your dog’s skills at a pace that fits your goals. Classes are held 5-6 days each week. Attend when it’s convenient for you! Access is included in our comprehensive training programs, or purchase a Flex Pass to DIY your dog’s training plan.

04/28/2026

Here are our secrets to train your puppy to walk politely on leash!

(Starring & the pups of 🔥)

Key tips:

🔸Keep training sessions short: ~3 minutes is plenty!

🔸Use a clicker to mark the instant your pup is walking. This will speed up the training process and help your pup know “why” they earned a treat.

🔸Hold the clicker in the same hand as your lightweight leash.

🔸Use the hand closest to your puppy to deliver treats to their mouth at your pup’s eye level.

🔸Treats should be smaller than the size of a pea, and cut up BEFORE you train. There’s no time to break up treats mid-session!

🔸If your pup stops, sits, sniffs, or scratches, just wait. Keep facing the direction you want to go (don’t face your puppy). Click when they start walking again!

🔸Pause while your pup eats their treat. At this age, most of them aren’t coordinated to chew and walk at the same time.

🔸Walk at your pup’s pace.

🔸Not having much success? Practice in the house first, then bring tastier treats next time.

Another one! Congratulations to Shirley the Woodland Creature™️ for passing the AKC STAR Puppy Test yesterday.🎖️Shirley ...
04/13/2026

Another one! Congratulations to Shirley the Woodland Creature™️ for passing the AKC STAR Puppy Test yesterday.🎖️

Shirley is a graduate of our Complete Puppy Raising Program and is now enrolled in Educational Daycare. She’s a fantastic dog, and her owners have put in the work to make her even better. 🧡

To take the American Kennel Club STAR Puppy test, pups & owners must first attend 6 classes here at Crossbones. The 20 test items include:

🔸puppy life skills: like accepting a hug or being picked up and tolerating a collar or harness

🔸basic manners skills: including sit, down, leash walking, and coming when called

🔸responsible dog ownership: having a form of ID like a tag or microchip and describing a daily exercise plan for their puppy

STAR Puppy Testing is included in our Flex Class and Puppy Day School programs. If you’ve taken at least 6 Flex Classes with your puppy, email us to schedule your puppy’s test today!

Congratulations to our two newest STAR Puppy graduates: Sity the Belgian Sheepdog and Liam the Whippet! 🎖️To take the Am...
04/03/2026

Congratulations to our two newest STAR Puppy graduates: Sity the Belgian Sheepdog and Liam the Whippet! 🎖️

To take the American Kennel Club STAR Puppy test, pups & owners must first attend 6 classes here at Crossbones. The 20 test items include:

🔸puppy life skills: like accepting a hug or being picked up and tolerating a collar or harness

🔸basic manners skills: including sit, down, leash walking, and coming when called

🔸responsible dog ownership: having a form of ID like a tag or microchip and describing a daily exercise plan for their puppy

STAR Puppy Testing is included in our Flex Class and Puppy Day School programs. If you’ve taken at least 6 Flex Classes with your puppy, email us to schedule your puppy’s test today!

Address

189 Swan Street
Providence, RI
02905

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 6:30pm
Thursday 10am - 6:30pm
Friday 10am - 6:30pm

Telephone

+14013305892

Website

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