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Dog Obedience Classes in Des Moines, IA — Find the Best Trainers

Dog Obedience Classes in Des Moines, IA

GDBy the GetDogSchool team·Updated 2026·Expert-reviewed
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Few metros of its size have as many ways to take an obedience class as Des Moines. A volunteer-run club, an all-breed school that dates to 1958, two indoor training gyms and several class-based schools and sport teams all run group courses, and many private trainers finish their programs with group sessions.

This page walks through what an obedience class teaches, the different class formats around Des Moines, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Clive, Urbandale and Ankeny, how to judge a class before you enroll, and what to do if your dog is not ready for a group setting yet.

What an obedience class teaches

A beginner class is about everyday control, not show-ring polish. Curricula around the metro overlap heavily, and most beginner and intermediate courses work through a familiar list.

  • Loose-leash walking and heeling. Walking at your side without pulling, first in the classroom and then with distractions.
  • Sit, down and stay. Holding a position while you step away, including the stand-stay some schools teach.
  • Recall. Coming when called, the cue that matters most for safety.
  • Place and impulse control. Going to a mat or bed and staying there, and waiting instead of grabbing.
  • Leave it and attention. Ignoring food, dogs and people on cue and checking in with the handler.
  • Hand signals. Cues your dog can follow when it cannot hear you, which several local classes include.

The value of a class is that it adds the thing home practice cannot: other dogs and people nearby. A dog that sits perfectly in the living room often forgets everything in a room full of barking classmates, and a good instructor teaches you how to rebuild the behavior in that setting.

Class formats around the metro

The long-running obedience club in Des Moines runs public classes mostly on Monday and Tuesday evenings and Tuesday mornings, and most are six-week courses. Beginner obedience is for dogs 6 months and older, followed by intermediate, advanced and a distraction class, and training happens in three matted, heated and air-conditioned rings totaling over 7,000 square feet. The all-breed school in Windsor Heights offers either flexible open enrollment of 15 classes over six months or a fixed six-week class, with at most eight dogs per class and trainers at every session.

A science-based Des Moines facility runs weekly small-group classes, with an obedience class for dogs 9 months and older covering hand and verbal cues, loose-leash walking, recall, place and impulse control, and a second-level class after that. A Des Moines team that also runs a day school offers a five-week first obedience class for dogs about 5 to 6 months and older and a four-week second level that adds down-stay, advanced heeling, leave it and Canine Good Citizen preparation, in group or private form.

The indoor gyms in Clive and Ankeny let you book obedience classes on evenings, weekends and weekdays rather than committing to a set night. In Urbandale, a clicker-based performance center requires its core obedience class, or a test-out, before dogs move on to agility, tricks, advanced obedience or therapy dog work. Ankeny adds a class-based school with competition work and a team of obedience, rally and IGP competitors that runs a basic obedience group class.

Private programs that lead into classes

Some trainers deliberately start one-on-one and add group work later. A balanced trainer based in Clive begins with in-home sessions involving the whole family and moves dogs into group classes once basic commands are mastered, and its in-home packages bundle group classes with private sessions. A metro team led by an owner and head trainer continues with group training after its board-and-train, day camp and private lesson programs to keep progress going.

Smaller formats sit in between. A Des Moines clicker trainer runs small group labs for two to five friends and their dogs, a family-owned West Des Moines business with roots going back to 2007 offers training clubs alongside private lessons, and a West Des Moines in-home trainer teaches general obedience at home with the whole family involved. An Ankeny pet resort’s training programs work on sit, stay, lay down, come and heel along with leash pulling and jumping.

How to judge a class before you enroll

  • Class size. Smaller groups mean more individual help. One Windsor Heights school caps classes at eight dogs, and some gym-style classes run smaller.
  • Method. The metro spans positive-reinforcement clubs, clicker-based centers and balanced programs. Ask how the instructor responds when a dog ignores a cue or lunges at a classmate.
  • Watch first. Many programs let you tour or observe. The indoor gyms start with a free orientation, and several trainers offer a free evaluation or consultation.
  • Prerequisites and vaccines. Check age limits and vaccination rules, which each program sets for itself.
  • A path forward. Look for a next level, whether that is an advanced class, Canine Good Citizen testing, rally or agility, so training does not stop after six weeks.

Beyond beginner obedience

Once the basics are solid, the metro offers plenty of places to keep going. The obedience club in Des Moines runs intermediate and advanced levels, a distraction class, agility, rally, trick dog and conformation handling, and it hosts obedience, rally and agility trials, tracking tests and scent work. The Windsor Heights school adds competition obedience, rally, scent work and conformation.

The Urbandale performance center opens agility, tricks, advanced obedience and therapy dog classes to dogs that finish its core obedience class, and it runs a club for dogs that already know basic obedience. The indoor gyms in Clive and Ankeny offer agility, tricks and scent work, a science-based Des Moines facility runs a trick class, a Canine Good Citizen class and an introduction to scent work, and an Ankeny team whose trainers compete in obedience, rally and IGP helps with competition prep. Advanced classes keep skills sharp and give an energetic dog a job.

Practicing between classes

One class a week is not enough on its own. Five or ten minutes a day at home, in the yard and on walks is where cues really stick. Practice in the kitchen first, then the driveway, then a sidewalk with a jogger or cyclist passing, raising the difficulty only when your dog succeeds most of the time. Keep sessions short and end on a success.

Save off-leash recall practice for safe, enclosed spaces. Raccoon River Park Dog Park in West Des Moines has a 10-acre fenced area, open daily year-round from 6:30 am until dusk, with entry by annual permit or day pass. Ankeny Dog Park is fully fenced on 7.5 acres, takes an annual pass only and allows just flat buckle collars. Des Moines has fenced off-leash areas at Ewing Dog Park and Riverwalk Dog Park. A dog park is a demanding test, so try recall there only once it is dependable at home.

Reviewed Dog Obedience Classes Trainers in Des Moines

These reviewed Des Moines-area trainers from our directory are the local options for dog obedience classes. Each links to a full profile with specialties, certified credentials, reviews, and contact info:

See all Des Moines dog obedience classes trainers →

Frequently Asked Questions

How old does my dog need to be for an obedience class in Des Moines?

It depends on the class. The obedience club’s beginner class starts at 6 months, the science-based facility’s obedience class at 9 months, and one Des Moines day-school team’s first obedience class at about 5 to 6 months. The Windsor Heights all-breed school accepts dogs from 8 weeks.

What if my dog has shown aggression?

Tell the instructor before you enroll. The Des Moines obedience club runs group classes only and points owners of dogs that have shown aggression toward a private trainer. Several local trainers and a science-based facility work on aggression one-on-one before a dog joins a group.

Can I join an obedience class without a fixed weekly schedule?

Yes. The indoor gyms in Clive and Ankeny book classes on a flexible schedule, and the Windsor Heights school offers open enrollment of 15 classes over six months alongside its fixed six-week class.

Where can my dog take the Canine Good Citizen test?

The Des Moines obedience club tests for all levels of the Canine Good Citizen program, the Windsor Heights school offers Canine Good Citizen and advanced testing, and several trainers, including a West Des Moines in-home trainer and an Ankeny science-based trainer, can evaluate or prepare dogs for it.

Is an adult rescue dog too old for obedience classes?

No. Classes are open to adult dogs of any age, and a structured class is a good way for a new rescue to learn your cues. Start with a beginner level even if the dog seems to know some commands.

Related: read our complete dog obedience classes guide or the full Des Moines dog training overview.

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