Harlow Dog Trainer
Over 8,000 dogs trained

Dog training for first time owners

First time owners rarely have a difficult dog. They have a normal dog and no reference point, so every ordinary bit of puppy behaviour feels like a warning sign.

Over 8,000 dogs trained means we can usually tell you within a minute whether what you are seeing is a problem or just a Tuesday.

Call 07471 862689Send an enquiry
First time owners: dog training for first time owners with Harlow Dog Trainer

What we get called about most

●Not knowing what is normal and what needs fixing
●Conflicting advice from the internet, the vet, the neighbour and the breeder
●Household rules that differ from person to person
●Over exercising a young dog, or under stimulating it and blaming the breed
●Reacting to the dog rather than planning the day around it

The five things that decide how the next ten years go

None of them are complicated, and all of them are decided in the first month.

  • ●One set of rules everyone in the house sticks to.
  • ●A predictable daily routine, including proper sleep for a young dog.
  • ●Calm handling of arrivals, departures and the front door.
  • ●Recall practised before the dog ever needs it.
  • ●Short training sessions daily rather than a long one weekly.

Sleep is the most underrated part of training

A puppy needs somewhere between sixteen and eighteen hours of sleep a day. Half the biting, whirling, garden zoomie problems we get called about are simply an overtired dog that nobody has sent to bed.

When to ask rather than google

Anything involving teeth on skin beyond puppy mouthing, anything that is getting worse week on week, and anything you have already tried three different approaches for. Early advice is short and cheap, late advice is neither.

How the programme runs

Step 1
Free phone consultation

Tell us the breed, the age and the household, and we will tell you what to expect.

Step 2
Home visit

We set the routine up in your actual house, around your actual working hours.

Step 3
Foundation sessions

Lead work, recall, settle, and the front door, in that order.

Step 4
Adolescence check in

The seven to fourteen month window is where most first dogs go wrong, so we plan for it in advance.

First time owners training in Harlow and Essex, assessment workFirst time owners training in Harlow and Essex, structured obedienceFirst time owners training in Harlow and Essex, real world proofing

First dog, and want to get it right?

One home session in the first month saves most owners a course later on.

Three generations of the same family, over 8,000 dogs trained.

1-2-1 TrainingCall 07471 862689

Common questions

What is the best first dog?

Match the dog to your week, not your ideal weekend. A working breed on an eight hour working day is the most common mismatch we see.

When should a first time owner start training?

The day the dog comes home. It is routine and management at first, not formal obedience.

Do I need one to one training or a class?

Most first time owners do best with one or two home sessions to set the routine, then a class for the socialisation.

How much time does training take each day?

Ten to fifteen focused minutes, twice a day, beats an hour at the weekend every time.

Worth reading next

What age should dog training start?
Read the guide
Toilet training a puppy, the routine that actually works
Read the guide
Puppy biting and mouthing
Read the guide
Families with young childrenSmall dogs

Training near you: dog training areas, protection dog areas, or all services.

Send an enquiry

Prefer to talk? Call 07471 862689.

Ready to talk about your dog?

Free phone consultation — call directly or send an enquiry.

Call 07471 862689Send an Enquiry