Chapter One Dog Training

Q: How long is each puppy class?

Each class runs for 45 minutes 🐾

And honestly… even that is pushing it for most puppies 😅

Puppies have very short attention spans, which is why my classes aren’t about drilling your puppy for 45 minutes straight.

They’re about YOU (the humans!) learning how to train your puppy. Each week, you’ll come along and get hands-on practice so you feel confident knowing what to do at home.

Here’s how the class is structured:

We start with around 20 minutes together as a group, working on key skills.

Then we break into a circuit of individual activities, where you and your puppy rotate through different stations. We’ll move between different rooms and setups to keep things fresh and interesting. Some stations are set up for you to work through independently, and some are one-on-one with me so I can coach you directly.

This might include:
- jumping in and out of a crate at the vet
- exploring a confidence-building room
- learning loose leash walking with me

Changing the environment and the activity helps keeps your puppy engaged (instead of getting tired, bitey, or frustrated).

We finish with a quick recap so you can make notes, ask questions, and leave knowing exactly what to practice at home 💜

FAQ: What age can my puppy start classes? Do they need to be fully vaccinated?

Puppies can start from 8 weeks, and they do not need to be fully vaccinated to begin.

You can safely join with one vaccination, usually given by your breeder when your puppy is 6–8 weeks old.

Classes are held indoors at a fully cleaned, sterilised vet clinic, so you can safely start training, socialisation, and confidence building early — when it matters most.

The most important socialisation and learning period happens between 8–16 weeks old, so waiting until your puppy is fully vaccinated can mean missing this critical window.

The ideal age to start is around 9 weeks, when they’ve had a few days to a week to settle in at home and get to know you.

I actually don’t accept puppies over 12 weeks for my signature puppy school program. While many puppy schools allow enrolment up to 16 weeks, by that age the early critical period has usually passed by the time you start classes 😅

My focus is on getting things right from the very beginning! This is also why my classes run as an 8-week program — so I can guide you through the entire critical window.

Early training makes a huge difference. It’s much easier to prevent problems than fix them later.

�That’s why most people join as soon as they bring their puppy home 🐶

Have a puppy who will be under 12 weeks old in May? Enquire via the contact form for classes resuming Wednesday evening, May 6, or Sunday morning, May 10: https://chapteronedogtraining.com.au/contact-us/