Great for dogs of all shapes and sizes.
No training experience needed.
Learn a creative way to have fun training your dog.

(scroll down for list of classes)

-All Classes meet for 6-weeks of fun, held beneath the East Bay sun in North Oakland (on the border of Emeryville).

Canine Circus School has classes for every age, breed, and temperament, offering performance routines meticulously crafted by award-winning dog trainer, Francis Metcalf.

You can journey into the world of Canine Circus School through this backstories video.

Call us if you have any questions. 415 779 6550 or email

Please visit our policy page to see age requirements, vaccination and refund information.

Price and payment options: You will find prices for classes listed under each class description. To reserve your class, you have the option to pay online or to mail a check. We will e-mail you a check/or PayPal invoice if you wish to pay using a credit card.
How do I sign up?

Scroll down to the list of classes.
Find a class time and date that suits you.
Fill out the new student form.

Watch our latest video. Nothing fancy, just a bunch of footage that ended up on our phones. The first half shows Francis and his dog, Schwartz, a little terrier mix he found roaming the streets of Oakland. The second half shows some nice moments we captured during our classes last year, including seminars in Spain and New York.

Start Here

Our Circus 1 Class is where all new students begin their training at Canine Circus School. (You’ve never been in a training class? No problem.)

Circus 1 Class:

Our Circus 1 Class is where all new students begin their training at Canine Circus School. (You’ve never been in a training class? No problem.) In this class we teach you many of the obedience and trick drills that we do in our more advanced classes in easy steps that anyone can follow. A big part of Circus 1 is getting your dog used to working around other dogs.

To do this we start spaced at a distance, over the course of the six weeks we get closer and closer until the dogs are maintaining complete focus on their handlers but working in close proximity to other dogs.

Circus Class is much more than just trick training, Circus 1 is about becoming an excellent handler and teacher. We cover more real world scenarios than any obedience class. We build confidence to perform in challenging environments and set a great foundation that does not conflict with, but only enhances, other training disciplines.

Class times and dates for Circus 1:

Tuesday afternoon class, 12:30 PM, starts September 29, meets weekly through November 3;
Tuesday evening class, 5 PM – 6 PM, starts September 29, meets weekly through November 3;
Wednesday morning class, 11 AM – 12 PM, starts September 30, meets weekly through November 4;
Saturday afternoon class, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM, starts October 3, meets weekly through November 7.

(Classes are for dogs of ALL SIZES: big, medium and small dogs welcome! We have a Small Dog only class listed below.)

*New Students fill out this form to sign up. Once you’ve completed the sign-up form, we will e-mail you a check/or PayPal invoice to complete your registration.

Students wishing to repeat Circus 1, email us which class to hold or call 415-779-6550.

We have a class just for you. Learn how to teach your small dog to do anything you can dream of.

Small Dog? We have a class just for you. Learn how to teach your small dog to do anything you can dream of.

Circus 1 Small Dog Class (this class is for Small Dogs ONLY, up to 25 lbs.)

Small Dog Class:

Saturday morning class, 11 AM − 12 PM, starts October 3, meets weekly through November 7.

*The classes above are for both first time students and students who want to repeat Circus 1. The class costs $260 for new students and $195 for repeating students, 6-week course.

* New Students fill out this form to sign up. Once you’ve completed the sign-up form, we will e-mail you a check/or PayPal invoice to complete your registration.

Students wishing to repeat Circus 1, email us which class to hold or call 415-779-6550.

Are you ready for the next step?

Circus 1.5 Class:

In the Circus 1.5 Class our drills get faster and more complicated. The dog works with more independence from the handler and with more control. Graduates of Circus 1 and Small Dog Circus 1 who are ready for the next level of training can sign up for Circus 1.5.

Class times and dates for Circus 1.5

Wednesday afternoon class, 12:30 – 1:30 PM, starts September 30, meets weekly through November 4;
Sunday afternoon class, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM, starts October 4, meets weekly through November 8.

This class is for students who have completed Circus 1 and first time your dog is taking Circus 1.5. The classes above are for both first time students and students who want to repeat Circus 1.5. The class costs $260 for new students/first time in the 1.5 Class; and $195 for repeating students of 1.5 level, 6-week course.

Click here to sign up NOW!Once you’ve completed the sign-up form, we will e-mail you a check/or PayPal invoice to complete your registration.

E-mail us if you have any questions.Once you’ve completed the sign-up form, we will e-mail you a check/or PayPal invoice to complete your registration.

~Scroll down for Circus 2 Classes~

BIG or small any dog can join Canine Circus School!

Advanced Class

Circus 2.0 Class:

Circus 2 students must be approved by Instructor. Circus 2 Class is our advanced class. We begin to get our drills and team work to be performance ready. Dogs work in close proximity on advanced tricks.

Class times and dates for Circus 2

Tuesday morning class, 11 AM-12 PM, starts September 29, meets weekly through November 3;
Sunday morning class, 11 AM – 12 PM, starts October 4, meets weekly through November 8.

*This class is for both returning and new students. Repeating Circus 2 students pay $195; New students to Circus 2/first time in Circus 2 pay $260; 6-week course.

Click here to sign up NOW.Once you’ve completed the sign-up form, we will e-mail you a check/or PayPal invoice to complete your registration.

E-mail us if you have any questions or give us a call at 415-779-6550.

We pride ourselves on being able to train a wide variety of dogs. The Canine Circus School pedagogy is designed to work with a wide variety of learning types.

Your dog, big or small, rambunctious or shy, is in safe hands with Francis as your teacher. Read more on our press page

Below: Schwartz holding a vodka bottle in his front paws, which goes to show that you can take a dog off the street, but you can’t take the street outta the dog…. you gotta put it to good use at Canine Circus School!

Below: Some photos from the last few sessions:

We would like to say thank you to all of our amazing students, from the people we meet for one class, to the people who come back year after year. We are so lucky that you found us and it’s been a true pleasure sharing these hours with you.