A dog owner asks before buying a course whether the money is refunded if something comes up, whether an absence is compensated, what a private lesson costs and how many dog-handler pairs are in a group. These decide 50 points out of a hundred.
luonnontassu.fi · Luonnontassu Ky, dog school in Sastamala (puppy and obedience courses, also an online shop for natural dog food), course prices published online
64.8SCORE
Cancellation terms100
Price of a private lesson0
Compensation for absence30
Group size88
Basic metrics · 69.6
Digital quality74
Transparency72
Reachability45
AI quality score82
+ The price and number of sessions for each course are shown in the course description, for example Puppy course 85 euros including six training sessions and Scent work course 85 euros with three sessions
Basic metrics: 69.6, rank 4 · ▲ 3 places
– Private lesson price: The price of a private lesson was not found on the dog school, courses or delivery terms page.
koirakoutsi.fi · Koirakoutsi K&M Oy, commercial dog school in Ylöjärvi (Tampere region), course-specific prices public in the online shop
63.3SCORE
Cancellation terms25
Price of a private lesson40
Compensation for absence100
Group size75
Basic metrics · 75.0
Digital quality74
Transparency78
Reachability60
AI quality score86
+ The full course range with prices and numbers of sessions is shown in the online shop, for example Puppy course 5 sessions 116-137 euros and Everyday obedience 10 sessions 281 euros
www.koirakeidas.com · Koirakeidas Oy, commercial dog school in Vantaa (group and private training), course-specific prices published in the online store
58.5SCORE
Cancellation terms75
Price of a private lesson65
Compensation for absence0
Group size0
Basic metrics · 71.3
Digital quality77
Transparency84
Reachability30
AI quality score82
+ Courses are sold in the online shop with public prices and dates, for example an Agility follow-up course for five sessions for 123 euros and a price range of 25-250 euros
Basic metrics: 71.3, rank 3 · no change
– Group size: The group size is not stated on the front page, in the course info or on the private lesson page.
koirakouluilo.fi · Koirakoulu Ilo Oy, a commercial dog school in Helsinki (puppy, everyday and hobby courses, private lessons), course information and registration online
58.3SCORE
Cancellation terms50
Price of a private lesson44
Compensation for absence60
Group size0
Basic metrics · 74.1
Digital quality77
Transparency83
Reachability45
AI quality score83
+ The trainers' qualifications are set out at individual level: for example Outi Savukoski, an animal trainer (AT) who graduated from Taitotalo in autumn 2025, and all the trainers have studied at institutions in the field
Basic metrics: 74.1, rank 2 · ▼ 2 places
– Group size: Group size is not stated on the front page, in the course listing, on the private lesson page or in the shop terms.
www.pawsiteam.fi · Pawsiteam Oy, commercial dog school in several locations (Turku, Tampere, Helsinki, Kaarina, Lempäälä + online courses), prices of puppy and obedience courses public in the online shop
48.7SCORE
Cancellation terms0
Price of a private lesson0
Compensation for absence60
Group size100
Basic metrics · 69.4
Digital quality70
Transparency78
Reachability30
AI quality score85
+ Courses are sold in the online shop at public prices: for example a puppy course 195.00 euros including VAT 25.5 percent, and the length of the course is stated on the product (7 sessions and a lecture)
Basic metrics: 69.4, rank 5 · no change
– Private lesson price: There is no price on the behaviour counselling page, and prices are shown only on the online shop's product pages. Checked: behaviour counselling, delivery terms and FAQ.
www.haamujatuulessa.net · Haamuja Tuulessa Oy, dog school in Kerava (search/nose work and obedience, courses held at various locations), some course prices published online
42.7SCORE
Cancellation terms60
Price of a private lesson0
Compensation for absence30
Group size0
Basic metrics · 55.4
Digital quality70
Transparency56
Reachability15
AI quality score70
+ The trainer's qualifications are set out exceptionally thoroughly: Reija Nieminen, dog trainer and professional coach, competing since 1999, Finnish championship medallist in IGP protection trials and author of a book in the field
Basic metrics: 55.4, rank 6 · no change
– Private lesson price: The price list has been moved to the online store, and the private lesson price is not on the price list page. Checked the front page and the price list.
QUESTIONCan I get the course fee back if I can't attend?
What share of the course fee is refunded and when.
Full refund a week before = 100, refund 10 days before with a handling fee = 75, full refund only 30 days before = 60, 50% refund two weeks before = 50, refund only against a certificate = 25, no right of refund = 0.
20 p
Price of a private lesson
QUESTIONWhat does a private lesson cost?
Published price of a single private lesson or one hour of private tuition in euros.
€40 or less = 100 points, €120 or more = 0, proportional in between.
12 p
Compensation for absence
QUESTIONCan I make up a missed course session if I can't attend?
Whether a missed course session can be made up, and whether a sick note is required for it.
Replacement session on notice without a certificate = 100, compensation in case of illness = 60, only the place can be resold = 30, no compensation = 0.
10 p
Group size
QUESTIONHow many dog-handler teams are in the group?
Maximum number of dog-handler teams allowed in a regular course group.
4 dog-handler teams or fewer = 100 points, 12 or more = 0, in between directly proportional.
8 p
Basic metrics
Digital quality, transparency, reachability and AI quality score
Basic metrics × 0.5
50 p
Notes
The comparison includes six dog schools. What is measured is what the schools state on their own pages: cancellation terms, compensation for absences, price of a private lesson and group size.
Course prices depend on the type, the number of sessions and the instructor, so a comparable price is a private lesson. The length of a lesson varies by school and is stated in the note.
Information that could not be found on the school's pages is marked as missing and receives zero points for that motive.
About this comparison
We scored 6 commercial dog schools on 20 metrics. The key question: is the course price in euros visible online, or is it only revealed by registering or asking?
In choosing a dog school, what often decides is how openly the course price, number of sessions and terms are visible before enrolment. We compared six Finnish commercial dog schools from a transparency perspective: whether the course price in euros is visible online, whether the course length and number of sessions are stated, whether the trainer's qualifications are disclosed and whether clear cancellation terms can be found. All of those included have their own live website and a business ID (Y-tunnus) verified from the trade register. We do not assess whether one training method is better but whether the customer gets clear information in advance to support their decision.
What transparency means in this category
Course price publicly shown in euros (30), number of sessions and duration of the course shown (14), differences and prices of private and group lessons shown (12), instructor's qualifications or training described (12), cancellation and enrolment terms stated (12), trial session or introduction policy stated (10), business ID (Y-tunnus) or operating company shown (10)
How to read the comparison correctly: Half of the points come from buyer's questions, i.e. things the buyer finds out before deciding. The other half measures how openly the company publishes its prices, terms and contact details. Clear differences in points indicate a genuine difference: one tells you the price immediately, another only after logging in. Close scores should not be read as a ranking order, because every measurement has a margin of variation. The measurement accuracy and the full calculation formula are open in the methodology.
Customer experience is brought into the assessment separately. We also collect customer feedback and customer experiences about companies through separate surveys. The survey results will be added to the overall assessment later.
Who is on the list? Commercial dog schools offering puppy, obedience and hobby courses to consumers, with their own active website and a business ID (Y-tunnus) verified from PRH. The pool covers different localities (Helsinki, Vantaa, Ylöjärvi, Kerava, Sastamala and chains in several cities), because training is a local service and the comparison measures openness, not proximity.
What do we not measure? We do not assess how good a training method is or the skill of an individual instructor, but how openly the course price, duration and terms are shown before enrolment. Sole-trader schools run by a single instructor, whose responsible company cannot be verified from PRH, are not included.
Comparison guide
What to consider in the comparison
The clearest price information is found at schools that sell courses in an online shop: the price and often the number of sessions are shown directly next to the course, for example a puppy course of six sessions at a given euro price.
Some schools publish the price of only one course and price the others by individual quote. In that case the total cost only becomes clear after contacting them, which weakens comparability.
Trainer qualifications are reported very inconsistently. Some name the trainers and their qualifications (for example animal trainer AT), others mention only general professional skill or association membership.
Cancellation terms at many schools are strict and tiered: the closer to the course start the cancellation is made, the smaller the share of the payment that is refunded, and in cases of illness a veterinarian's certificate is often requested.
Dog schools are a local service. The comparison does not measure the distance from you but how openly the information is presented, so schools from different parts of Finland are included.
How Suomen Paras assesses and scores
Every company is measured with the same public formula: half of the points come from buyer's questions and half from basic metrics, which have four pillars: technical quality, transparency, reachability and AI quality score. Ranking cannot be bought, and you can see the origin of each point on the company's profile. Read the full methodology →
Expert tips
In addition to the course price, check the number of sessions and the length of a single session so that you can calculate the real hourly price between different schools.
Check the cancellation terms before registering: how many days before the course you can cancel and get a refund, and whether a veterinarian's certificate is needed in case of illness.
If you want personal guidance, make sure the school offers private lessons in addition to group courses. Some schools focus only on small-group courses.
Find out who teaches the course and what training they have. A named instructor with qualification details says more than a mere mention of professional skill.
Frequently asked questions
Is the course price usually shown directly online?
Some schools show it: courses are sold in the web shop, so the price and often the number of sessions are shown directly at the course. Others state the price of only one course and price the rest by case-by-case quote, so the price is only found out by asking.
What do cancellation terms usually mean at a dog school?
Most often the refund is tiered: when you cancel early enough (for example 10-30 days before), you get all or part of the payment back, and for a cancellation made close to the start of the course the refund often requires a vet's certificate. Some charge a small handling fee.
Can you get private lessons at a dog school instead of group courses?
Some schools offer both group courses and private lessons, including for special situations such as overtaking problems. Some focus only on small-group courses. In the comparison we state which it is, so that you can find a school that suits your needs.
Are you listed and would like to rank higher?
The free pre-analysis shows every item where your company loses points and which rank fixing it is enough for. The paid analysis shows what the items are and how to fix them.
Can't find your company on the list even though it should be there? Get in touch and we will include it in the next measurement round.
