Puppy training at home, built around your household
Just brought a puppy home? Our private foundation training helps you decide what to teach, how to practise it and where it fits into your day. We work one-to-one in your home or on location; residential board & train is another route. The starting point is your puppy and the household they are learning to live in, not a group-class timetable.
Begin with the life your puppy is living now
You can start during the first week at home, before accidents or excited greetings become familiar routines. No existing commands are needed. Early sessions give adults a shared approach rather than waiting until an unwanted habit becomes a daily struggle.
The 8-to-16-week socialisation window makes these early weeks important. That does not mean rushing into every possible encounter. We plan gradual introductions to people, everyday sounds and dogs, at a level your puppy can manage. Learning to watch calmly can be part of socialisation; meeting everyone is not the aim.
Owners often contact us about teeth on hands, toilet accidents, difficulty settling in a crate, jumping at visitors, or pulling as soon as a lead appears. Others notice a puppy ignoring a recall or guarding the food bowl. Tell us what actually happens, including the awkward moments, so the assessment addresses your concerns rather than a generic checklist.
Foundations that belong in an ordinary day
Toilet training and crate work can begin from day one. We look at how those tasks fit your household, alongside settling for car travel and learning to rest in a crate. The plan connects training to the situations you already face, so owners know what they are practising instead of treating each difficulty as a separate emergency.
Mouthing and biting need an approach the household can repeat, not different reactions from each person. Lead introduction is about building the foundations before pulling becomes the familiar way to move. Recall practice belongs within daily walks, with attention to what you ask and when you ask it. Calm behaviour around the food bowl is also included where needed.
We coach handler timing and marker words as well as the puppy. Every adult needs to recognise the same cues and understand what they mean; otherwise the puppy is asked to interpret competing instructions. Safe, gradual socialisation runs alongside that practical work, with introductions adjusted to the puppy rather than a requirement to approach every person or dog.
From the first conversation to practice between visits
Begin with a free phone consultation. Describe your puppy, your routine and the parts of the day you find difficult. We can discuss the right training route before arranging sessions, including whether you want coaching at home or need to consider a residential programme.
The first session includes a full assessment of both the puppy and household routine. From there, you receive a written plan divided into clear stages. In-home or on-location sessions work through that plan, with phone and message support between visits. You carry out the daily practice: the visits guide that work, rather than replacing the repetition your puppy needs from you.
Private sessions or a residential start?
Choose private puppy sessions if you can build practice into daily life and want help doing it yourself. Home visits keep household routines central; on-location work brings the plan into the settings where you need it. Our 1-2-1 training service covers this owner-led approach.
Board & train is an option when your routine makes daily repetition unrealistic. A puppy can return with foundations built and an owner handover, but residential training does not remove the household's responsibility afterwards. You still need to maintain the work. We do not run group puppy classes: the choices here are private coaching and residential training.
Puppy training from our Harlow base
We are based in Harlow, Essex, with local 1-2-1 sessions across Essex, Hertfordshire and London. Board & train is available nationwide. Call to check arrangements for your address; location alone does not decide which training route suits your household.
Experience, without a one-size-fits-all plan
My dad and grandad were both in the dog training business. That family background spans three generations, with 35+ years' experience and over 8,000 dogs trained. We are fully insured & DBS and work with every breed, from family pets to working breeds. Your puppy still gets a bespoke plan, because family experience is not a reason to treat every household alike.
The free phone consultation offers honest advice, even when the right route is not the most expensive option. Tell us how much practice your household can manage; choosing a programme should start there, without pressure.
Questions before you book
What age can my puppy start training with you?
Start in the first week after bringing your puppy home. We can work on foundations while your household is finding its routine; beginning then is easier than having to unpick established habits later.
Will my puppy get to meet other dogs?
Dog encounters are introduced gradually, with enough distance for your puppy to cope. As we do not hold group classes, socialisation is planned in real-life settings rather than through a roomful of puppies meeting at once.
Can a young puppy go on a board & train programme?
Yes. Residential training can suit owners unable to provide daily repetition. Your puppy returns with foundations and an owner handover; the household must carry those lessons into everyday life for the work to continue.
What happens on the first visit?
We assess your puppy and how the household's day works, including the difficulties you want help with. That assessment leads to a written, staged plan for the sessions and your practice at home.
Do you come to my area?
Our base is Harlow. Local private training covers Essex, Hertfordshire and London, while residential board & train is nationwide. Give us a call to check your address and discuss which arrangement fits.
How much does puppy training cost?
The cost depends on the training route and your puppy's needs, so there is no single price to quote here. A free phone consultation lets us discuss the options before you decide.
Read the puppy training cost guide →Further reading for puppy owners
Find the right starting point.
Tell us what home life looks like so we can discuss a practical route for your puppy.