Puppies chew on everything. It’s a normal part of being a puppy, just like a human baby puts things in their mouth. Puppies use their nose and mouth to explore the world. Of course, chewing on everything isn’t something we want to keep happening. Helping the puppy discover what they should chew on instead of whatever is at hand is a great way to get through this phase. As they get older, the urge to chew on everything goes down but doesn’t go away entirely. Chewing is normal and important, and learning how to encourage chewing on appropriate items is a core part of puppy training.

Absolutely. The sooner we start building structure and teaching your puppy, the stronger their behaviors and skills will be later in life. With our exclusive in-home training packages, we don’t have to worry as much about transmitting diseases the puppy isn’t yet protected against. By the time we finish the package and start public training, your puppy will have plenty of time to get all of their shots while still building important life skills.

There are many ways to train a dog, and some work much better than others. Often, it comes down to consistency. It doesn’t take much to teach a young puppy skills. The important thing is that they start to learn the benefits of doing what we ask. Teaching them why it’s good for them to make the right choices makes training faster and easier. Just five good choices a day, and learning that good choices pay off, is an important part of our training program

This isn’t a typical puppy class. This is a strong support system. With two sessions each week plus a weekly Office Hour, we help you and your puppy learn in ways that fit into your life while building a community support system. You can support other owners with challenges you’ve faced and get help with challenges you’re still working through.

That can depend on the package you choose. In both packages, we meet for 45 minutes per session, but the time you need to put in at home is slightly different. The most important thing is that you spend more time interacting with your dog than you might think. We don’t need a full “training session” during the week, meaning it doesn’t take 20 minutes of hard training in one go. A lot of the “training” happens passively. Any time you see your puppy do something you like, give them a treat—you’ll be surprised how quickly they start to catch on. While playing, you can ask for skills and let them play with a toy, which makes the skills even stronger while you get things done.

The sooner you get started, the better. The later people start training, the longer it can take to build skills. I’ve had many past clients ask themselves, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” Starting early sets your puppy up for success for life. Socialization is most effective during the early stages of life. The “socialization period” only lasts a short time, and without it, some things will be harder for your puppy as they grow.

Some things are harder than others. Everyone learns differently, and that goes for dogs too. Maybe math was hard for you but easy for someone else. The key is spending a short, consistent amount of time teaching your puppy. If they don’t get everything right away, that’s okay, as long as progress is being made. We can always try again through our “Teenage Trail” packages or move into more specific skills group classes to help everything click.

That’s okay. Puppies have good days and bad days. We don’t start public outings until your puppy has a strong start on the skills. This allows them to be successful and have something familiar to fall back on if things go sideways. We begin in familiar settings and only go out in public when both you and your puppy are ready. We focus on places you’re likely to encounter in everyday life, making it easier for your puppy to succeed in real-world situations.