Puppy School
Want the very best for your puppy, but short on time or just feeling a little overwhelmed? Let us take the leash!
We offer drop-off day training services in our downtown Durham studio (Monday – Thursday) for puppies up to 12 months old. Your puppy will enjoy customized training sessions, carefully supervised play, and structured socialization opportunities. You’ll pick up a puppy ready for nap time!
STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES
We alternate stimulating and mentally engaging activities such as brain games and carefully supervised puppy play sessions, with quieter activities such as settling on a mat or crate training.
WHY? Puppies don’t come with an off switch preinstalled! We teach them how to settle down after something exciting has happened.
ENRICHMENT & SOCIALIZATION
​Enrichment activities will include games that engage all of your puppy’s senses. Our focus will be on making sure your puppy has a positive association to new sights, sounds, smells, and experiences.
WHY? To build your puppy’s confidence around new things and experiences. This will help prevent problems in the future.
BEHAVIOR TRAINING
Puppies will begin basic lessons to learn new behaviors such as sit, down, leave it, and coming when called. We use positive reinforcement to train all new behaviors.
WHY? The golden rule of positive reinforcement training is “whatever you reward, you get more of”. Let us help you get more of what you want!
PUPPY PRESCHOOL PACKAGES
We recommend that puppies enrolled in Puppy School attend a puppy class so that you can practice the skills your puppy learns at Puppy School at home. We have packages available that bundle services and provide you with exclusive alumni benefits!
Starter Puppy
A great option for laying a solid foundation!- Puppy Preschool: 8 Puppy School sessions
- Private coaching: one-on-one consultation in our facility
- Collaborative learning: Six weeks of group classes
- Alumni benefits: Priority access to all Learning to Dog classes
Complete Puppy Plus
For the busy family or first time puppy owners who need a little extra support.- Puppy School: 16 Puppy School sessions
- Private coaching: a one-on-one consultation to set you up for success
- Collaborative learning: Six weeks of group classes
- Alumni benefits: Priority access and reduced class fees for all Learning to Dog classes (e.g., Learning to Dog, Learning to Leash Walk, Canine Good Citizen, and more!)
- Ongoing support: Three virtual sessions (up to 30 minutes each) to help you navigate the next stage of your puppy’s development – the teenager stage!
Complete Puppy
Training and socialization plus alumni benefits to support behavioral health- Puppy School: 12 Puppy School sessions
- Private coaching: a one-on-one consultation in our facility
- Collaborative learning: Six weeks of group classes
- Alumni benefits: Priority access and reduced class fees for all Learning to Dog classes (e.g., Learning to Dog, Learning to Leash Walk, Canine Good Citizen, and more!)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a Puppy School session?
Sessions are 2.5-3 hours long. Drop off for morning sessions take place between 8:30-9am, and pick up is at 11:30. For the afternoon sessions, drop off is between 1-1:30, and pick up is at 4pm. If you need early drop off or a late pick up, please contact us to discuss options and/or availability.
Why can’t puppies come for a full day?
Puppy brains are rapidly developing, and in order for them to learn and remember, they need about 18-20 hours of sleep a day. Much of that sleep should take place during the day in a quiet and soothing place. Dogs have different circadian rhythms than we do, meaning that their sleep and wake cycles are different than ours. Their deep sleep should occur during the day and at night, and their active periods occur naturally at dawn and dusk. (Do you have a ‘witching hour’ around dinner time? This is why!) Many behavioral issues can be at least partially mitigated by making sure your puppy is getting the restful sleep they really need during the day.
How many puppies are at Puppy School?
One to four. We keep things small to provide an environment that is fun, but never chaotic or overwhelming for the puppies in our care. Every puppy gets loads of individual attention, and if we see anything of concern, we let you know at pick up to help you prevent future problems.
How much time do puppies spend crated?
Your puppy spends the majority of their time playing and training at Puppy School, with short rests in between. We encourage resting on a mat and/or in an exercise pen. If your puppy is not yet comfortable in a crate, they will spend no time in a crate, and if you want us to build crating skills, we can do this as part of your puppy’s training.
What is the trainer-to-puppy ratio?
There is a minimum of one certified dog trainer for every four puppies. A certified professional is present at all times, so you never have to worry when you trust us with your puppy.
Providing professional force-free, positive reinforcement training, including puppy preschool, private puppy training, puppy classes, dog training, canine good citizen, and more in Durham, and surrounding areas including Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Morrisville, Bahama, Northwest Raleigh. Our puppy classes are held in our training studio in central Durham (902 Cleveland Street).
