For pups 3 to 9 months of age

Please note: Dogs must be dog- and people-friendly to attend classes. If your dog is uncomfortable around unfamiliar dogs or strangers, private training will provide a more suitable and effective platform for training success.

Puppy College

Raising a puppy can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be a challenging time for both new and experienced dog owners. Puppy College has been specifically designed for pups aged between 3 and 9 months to help owners navigate the challenges associated with raising a juvenile pup.

Through positive reinforcement training techniques, you will be empowered to effectively communicate with your pup and address common behavioural issues. We work on building strong foundations including walking nicely on lead, coming when called, no jumping on family or visitors, settling on the mat, sit/drop/stay, leaving things that don’t belong to your pup, and so much more.

However, Puppy College is not just about training your dog; it's about educating you as a responsible pet owner. You will be provided with valuable insights and guidance on topics such as barking, resource guarding, separation distress, proper nutrition, and more.

There is a limit of max 6 participants in each class, which ensures personalised attention for every dog and their family. This intimate setting allows us to address specific challenges and provide individualised coaching to help you and your dog succeed. We train in a spacious indoor venue that provides a controlled environment, ensuring minimal distractions and eliminating weather-related interruptions. This setting allows for more effective and focused learning.

By enrolling your puppy in Puppy College, you are investing in their future success. Not only will your dog learn valuable skills, but they will also forge lasting positive associations with training and learning.

So, what are you waiting for? Enroll your puppy in Puppy College today and watch them flourish into a well-behaved canine companion!

What’s included?

  1. 40-Minute Video & Workbook: Receive a comprehensive 40-minute video and e-workbook designed to help you understand your puppy, manage tricky situations, obtain practical skills for everyday puppy raising . Valued at $75, this resource is sent to you within 48 hours of signing up, so you can start your training journey right away!

  2. Comprehensive Training Notes: After each lesson, you'll receive detailed training notes to help you continue your pup's progress at home.

  3. Bandana and Adaptil: Each puppy gets a bandana, and Adaptil is available for use if needed to help ease any anxiety.

  4. Ongoing Support: Receive support throughout the weeks as needed to ensure you and your pup are on the right track.

  5. Enrichment Tools: Access to chews, toys, lickimats, and snufflemats during class to help keep your pup settled and focused.

  6. Graduation Package: Celebrate your pup's achievements with a graduation bag, a photo, and a certificate.

Course Details

Duration: Puppy College is a five-week program, with one-hour lessons each week. The first lesson is an online theory class where we discuss important topics such as body language, how dogs learn, setting your puppy up for success, toilet training, puppy nipping, and so much more!

Location:
Week 1: Online at home. You will receive a link when you book.
Week 2-5: In person at Blackwood Uniting Church

Requirements:
1. Dogs must be between 3 and 9 months old in Week 1.
2. You must show proof of up-to-date vaccinations.
3. All dogs must be friendly towards dogs and people.

Tuition: $225 for the video, workbook, and five one hour lessons made up of one online theory lesson plus four practical lessons.

Upcoming Course Dates 

Saturday 14 September at 8.30am OR 10am (there will be a break on the 5th of November due to venue unavailability. The last class will be held on the 19th of October)

Saturday 2 November at 10am (there will be a break on the 9th of November and the 30th of November due to family commitments. The last class will be held on the 14th of December)

Wednesday 20 November at 6pm

Terms and Conditions

What Dog Owners are Saying.

  • "Lena was an awesome trainer! We initially tried puppy training with another local company that lacked personalised attention to ours and our puppies needs. Lena addressed all the concerns we had and more with some very realistic training methods that appear to have worked. Thanks Lena."

    -James Knight

  • "Lena is fantastic. She knows her stuff when it comes to puppy training and is a great instructor. Her follow up and care for her class members is tremendous - love the emailed handouts. We brought our two pups (at the same) to her classes in Blackwood and have no issues recommending her as a trainer at all. One of our pups had 'additional challenges' and Lena absolutely took this in her stride. We now have the understanding and skills to move forward easily, and the pups loved her style. She covered all the essential behaviours in her class and a lot more besides. Five stars for Lena (twice over). Thank you."

    -Rachel Francis

  • "Our little pup just graduated from Puppy College and we would recommend Paws and Reward to everyone. Lena (trainer) was so accommodating and patient with all the pups and covered off everything we needed to know. We were also provided with a lot of resources, and weekly class notes, so we can easily continue training into the future. Thanks Lena, Annie is already missing your treats 😄"

    -David Burgan

  • "We've really enjoyed the classes and found them extremely beneficial, giving us the tools and insight we need to understand our puppy and his needs. Lena teaches with great understanding and compassion, couldn't recommend her highly enough!"

    -Jeremy Kool

  • "I have just finished Lena's puppy college with my 6 month old pup Nina. Lena's advice and training was incredibly helpful. She was organised, patient and kind, answering all of our questions and still managing to get through a wealth of information. Each session we were provided with extensive notes that I have used to keep my husband up-to-date with the training, and can go back to to remind myself of the tips & tricks. Lena's positive training approach worked so well that even my 15-year-old reactive terrier has benefitted. Nina is now walking with a loose lead, has awesome recall at the park, and doesn't jump up on guests when they arrive (all things I wanted to improve on before I started the course). I have no hesitation in recommending Lena with five stars. Thank you so much."

    -Lara

  • "When you think about it, a puppy school is more for teaching you how to communicate with your puppy so that you can teach it the things you want. I had no idea how to tell our groodle Remy not to jump, not to pull, not steal food if I didn't approve it, and the list goes on. No more. Thanks to Lena, the training process is significantly less stressful for both the dog and us. I feel she definitely set us up for success over the few sessions we spent with her. Thank you!"

    -Jan Klan

  • "We loved training with Lena. She is patient, kind and her lessons are well structured and explicit. She communicates clearly and explains the reasons behind dog behaviour, making it easy to understand. We gained a lot from her wealth of knowledge and experience. We would highly recommend."

    -Sarah Pendrey

  • "Lena was great! The class that she provided was filled with high quality information, and she was quick to respond out of hours to any questions regarding the notes. Perfect introduction to my pup for training! 5/5"

    -Harrison Inglis

  • "I loved this class. It is very informative and useful. I got some very helpful tips on training our dogs. The teacher is very knowledgeable and engaging. Highly recommend!"

    -Nynke van der Burg

  • "A big shoutout to Lena for the fun, practical and educational puppy training course we attended in Blackwood. We benefited hugely from it . She is a great teacher. Kevin Lindsey and Ollie"

    -Kevin Morgan

  • "We have just completed the 5 week training with our 13 week old bichon frise. I can't speak highly enough of Lena. Every lesson was well prepared, based on science and her extensive and intuitive experience. She covered all the important basics for training in logical simple way with opportunities to practise each new skill. With each new skill she she enabled us to vividly experience the world through the eyes of the dog. She managed each of the dogs (and us) and our individual needs, answered questions and showed us how much fun we can have with our dog. The follow up email with the transcript of each session is invaluable. I used it to remind myself after each lesson and will continue each day to practise with Maisy. I would have had no hope of remembering everything without these notes. Thanks Lena."

    -Ruth Murray and Maisy

  • "Amazing trainer and training supported the dogs and owners with great tips, professional attitude and a sense of care. Thanks Lena"

    -Angela Hunt