The Forrest School for Dogs Co-op

Parent-facilitated. Coach-supported. Community-owned. The Co-op is a model that you build, you run, and your Pack Coach provides the framework, skills training, and the support to make it work.

How it works

The Co-op flips the traditional model. Instead of a professional running every session, your Pack Coach coaches you to run them. The goal is a self-sustaining Pack, not one that depends on a professional to function long-term. A good Co-op group knows to call in their Coach sooner rather than later when questions come up.

A note on the word Pack: you may associate it with outdated dominance-based training models. That’s not what we mean. We use it the way a close-knit group of hikers or a tight neighborhood might: a circle of people and dogs who know each other, look out for each other, and show up consistently for one another.

Pack Coach. The framework, philosophy, and skills training. Guides dog introductions and Pack formation. Present for every session while you’re getting started, then stepping back as the Pack finds its own rhythm. Available for mentor sessions when things get hard.

Pack Facilitator. The organizer, the connector, the person who keeps things moving. Coordinates logistics, keeps the group on track, and leads debriefs. No special dog training required. The Coach handles the expertise. The Facilitator coordinates between Pack members and helps determine when the Coach needs to be called back in.

Pack Sessions. Decompression hikes where dogs move freely in nature with their group. Skills practice on specific challenges. Discussion sessions where the hike becomes the setting for deeper conversation. Most sessions blend all three. There is no single template. Your Pack is a living group with its own rhythms.

The path in

Getting into a Pack is a process, not a single event. Each step builds on the last.

1. Informational Webinar. A live overview of the Co-op model, the mission behind Forrest School for Dogs, and how to find the right entry point.

2. Virtual Guidebook Session. You read the guidebook ahead of time. Then you come ready to work through the self-assessment, reflect on your own situation, and ask questions. This is not a lecture. You will leave understanding where you and your dog stand in terms of readiness, and what your next step looks like. Required before in-person programs or individual coaching.

3. Hands-On Coaching. There are multiple ways to get here: an in-person workshop, a private virtual consult, or small group coaching. The exact format depends on your needs, your skill level, and who else is ready at the same time. Guardians learn how to be part of a Pack and, if it fits, how to facilitate one. Professionals learn how to become a Pack Coach. Currently offered in person in New England. Not in the area? Virtual coaching and matching with Pack Coaches outside New England is available. You can still get help starting a Pack.

4. Pack Formation. By this stage you have a Coach, and you have been guided toward your people. With your Coach’s support, form your Pack and start hiking together. The Coach stays actively involved until the Pack demonstrates genuine readiness to operate independently. After that, they shift to an on-call role: available when things get hard, but no longer a regular presence.

Who this is for

If you’ve heard the philosophy through Sarah Stremming’s podcast, the LEGS conference talk, or the professional webinar, you’re ready. If not, start here:

Any one of these gives you enough context to get started.

You don’t need a trained dog. You don’t need experience with off-leash work. You need the willingness to get outside regularly, invest in community, and think counter-culturally about what your dog’s life could look like.

If you’re a professional: the first step is the informational webinar, same as everyone. From there, attend the guardian-facing virtual guidebook session (April 29). You are a guardian too, and that perspective matters. Then there is a professional-only guidebook session (May 20, 6:00 PM EDT) that covers the same material through the lens of coaching: how would you teach this, structure it, and deliver it? If you want to become a Pack Coach using the Co-op model, in-person workshop attendance is required. Professionals and guardians attend the same in-person workshops. You’ll be learning to coach the guardians who are learning to become Pack members. Already running a Forrest School or Forrest School-aligned program? Email Tara directly. We’re making room for professionals coming in at different levels of experience, and the entry point may look different for you.

Cost: Program pricing for workshops and virtual sessions is shared during the informational webinar.

Ready?

The informational webinar is where everyone starts.