Please note: 121 in-person training is currently on hold for health reasons – I hope to be back soon. In the meantime, why not consider some remote support? Online puppy packages available now! Online Training Packages

Puppy Package 1: Settling In

Puppies are so much fun – but they’re exhausting!

You’ve made the exciting decision to add a puppy to your family – are you ready? I mean, completely ready? The Good Foundations Settling-In Puppy Package will help to ensure that you’re fully prepared to make the most of this wonderful and hectic time. What we cover will be tailored to your specific family and home arrangements and your puppy, but will normally include:

Safety and security – you’ll want to build a strong connection with your pup so that they feel secure and grow into a confident dog. You also want to know that both puppy and any children in the family are safe at all times, and the best ways for young family members to interact with the new arrival.
Sleeping arrangements – make the best choices about where your pup is going to sleep, during the day and overnight.
Exercise and rest – did you know that many puppies need around 18 hours of sleep a day? One of your considerations is going to be how you can encourage sufficient rest alongside appropriate exercise and enrichment.

Toilet-training – starting off the right way can help avoid dealing with the frustration of puddles and poop where you don’t want them.
Feeding and treats – your puppy may arrive with sound advice from the breeder or rescue centre, but this doesn’t always happen. Know where to look for information about nutrition and how to feed the best food for your new addition.
Biting and chewing – they don’t call puppies ‘land-sharks’ for nothing! You’ll need to understand the different reasons puppies bite, and what you can do about it.
Attention and focus – alongside building a lasting bond with your new puppy, you’ll want to lay the foundations for training in the early weeks to help them navigate this complicated human world we’re expecting them to live in.

Good Foundations Puppy Package 1: Settling In – £180

What’s included:

An initial visit of an hour, either before your puppy arrives or soon after, to help get your puppy-prep as near perfect as possible!

Two follow-up one-hour sessions to work on whatever needs a bit of fine-tuning.

Written notes emailed to you after each session to keep you on track.
Phone or email assistance for the duration of the package to cover any concerns that arise and ensure that you’re fully supported.

Interested? Here’s how to book:

Get in touch to enquire about a Good Foundations Settling In Puppy Package

Puppy Package 2: Next Steps

You’ve settled your puppy into your home and he’s rapidly become a member of the family – you probably can’t even imagine life without him by now!

BUT – you’d like to get ahead of things and nail that loose lead walking before the pulling becomes a problem! Maybe your pup has discovered the allure of the garden and ignores you when you call him, so you’re dreading the first off-lead adventure! The Good Foundations Next Steps Puppy Package can support you through the early stages of training your puppy with a personalised programme covering the behaviours you and your pup need to succeed. As with the Settling In Package, the sessions will be personalised to your requirements, but are likely to include:

Lead Walking – pulling on the lead is one of the most frequent problems that trainers encounter, and with big strong dogs it can be a major issue. Teaching your puppy that walking calmly with you benefits them more than dragging you along will make everyone’s life safer and more comfortable!
Recall – most tiny pups are super-easy to teach to come when called, because their human is their safe place; but when they get a little older and gain confidence, other things suddenly become so exciting! The more we show them that we are the source of the very best rewards, the more chance we have to combat this.
Jumping Up and Settling – it’s so hard to resist that cute puppy jumping up to greet you when you walk into the room; but two months later when they have muddy paws and you’ve just got ready for work, it’s not quite as endearing! The sooner we teach them to say hello with all four paws on the floor, the easier it will be.

Separation – when you have spent as much time as possible with your pup in the first few weeks, they should have formed a secure attachment and feel safe in their home environment; but, much as some of us might like to, we can’t be with our dogs all the time. Teaching them to cope with short absences when they’re young will help prevent the development of separation distress later on.
Grooming and Handling – having a pup that hates being handled, groomed or examined by the vet is hugely stressful for both human and dog. It’s so much easier to start as you mean to go on, teaching pup that being touched is positively enjoyable!
Trick -Training – perhaps most important, training needs to be fun! Fun for you, fun for pup. Teaching tricks gets puppies using their brains as well as their bodies and helps to build a real bond between you – and all tricks have a practical application as well!

Good Foundations Puppy Package 2: Next Steps – £180

What’s included:

An initial visit of an hour to assess what your priorities are and put a plan together.

Two follow-up one-hour sessions to develop skills further and add new exercises.

Written notes emailed to you after each session to keep you on track.
Phone or email assistance for the duration of the package to cover any concerns that arise and ensure that you’re fully supported.

Interested? Here’s how to book:

Get in touch to enquire about a Good Foundations Next Steps Puppy Package

Good Foundations Puppy Training Single Session – £70

Not sure? Just looking for a one-off visit? However many puppies you’ve welcomed into your life over the years, it always comes as a bit of a shock! I often feel like I’ve forgotten everything since the last one arrived – and, let’s face it, for lots of us, it’s around a decade between small furry arrivals, so it’s hardly surprising.

If you’re just looking for a single 121 session to make sure you’re on the right track with your new pup, we can chat through arrangements and suggest any adjustments that are needed.

What’s Included:

Visit of around 60 – 90 minutes to talk through settling in and foundation training for your puppy.
Written notes emailed to you after the session as a reminder.

FAQ

Q: I’d like to book both packages, to give my puppy a really sound head-start – do I have to pay the full price for both?

A: If you book both packages, either at the same time or separately, the discounted price will be £330, saving you £30.

Q: We’ve had our puppy for two months now so he’s already settled in – can we do the Next Steps Package without the first one?

A: Yes, absolutely – either package can be booked without the other.

Q: I’ve enjoyed the Next Steps package – what shall I do next to continue training?

A: If you like the idea of small group classes, I run Improvers and Improvers Plus courses on Portland, ideal if you’d like to develop your puppy’s skills further. Alternatively, if groups don’t appeal to you, there’s always the Progress Package for older pups – individual sessions to focus on whatever aspects of training you would like to improve.

Q: I booked the single session, now I wished I’d bought the package instead – can I upgrade?

A: Yes, if you decide you’d like to switch to one of the packages, you’ll only pay the difference between the two.

Get in touch to enquire about a Good Foundations Puppy Package or visit