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Discover the Right Start for Your Puppy

Adorable golden retriever puppy wearing a pink bandana sitting on grass, reaching for a treat from a human hand.

Cute puppy on grass, receiving gentle petting from a person. Heartwarming outdoor scene.

Charming puppy extends paw in a lush forest scene, exuding warmth and connection.

Who Am I

Puppy School: A Caring Environment for Your Puppy

Hi! I’m Nicola and I’m your Puppy School Orpington tutor.

I’ve always loved animals and was lucky enough to grow up in the Peak District alongside dogs and cats and all manner of other pets.

Dog behavior is a fascinating subject and with training techniques constantly developing, studying is a full-time hobby. I regularly attend seminars held by some of the world’s leading authorities on behavior and training, and if you’d like recommendations on the best books to read, just ask!

My Journey

I started puppy training classes in 2009 and soon after that I started volunteering at Foal Farm Animal Sanctuary training and socializing young pups as well as walking and buddying the older canine residents.

The bond between a person and their dog can be incredibly strong. I know I’ve taken great comfort and companionship from four-legged friends over the years. So it breaks my heart to see people having to give up their dogs to the rescue centre because their relationship has reached breaking point. And that’s why I got into puppy training…

My Mission

My mission is to help owners and their dogs build great relationships with each other. I hope that by attending my classes, you will learn to understand how to communicate with your dog and have a long and happy life together.

My Vision

Dogs don’t end up at the rescue centre because the owner wasn’t committed to getting a dog. It happens because a puppy who was under-socialised, mentally unstimulated and without clear boundaries has grown up to be fearful or bored. Nobody means for it to happen, but that’s why Puppy School and other positive puppy training classes are so important and have such a positive effect.

By starting off on the right foot and socialising your puppy early, you help your puppy become a confident, well-mannered dog that is a pleasure to be around. With the trust and companionship that builds between you, you’ll want to spend time with your dog.

FAQs

When should my puppy start training classes?

The younger a puppy is, the quicker and easier you’ll find training.
Puppy School accepts puppies from the time they’ve had their full set of vaccinations.

The maximum age for starting classes is 20 weeks. This ensures that all puppies are of a similar age and can enjoy socializing together.

Do I have to use food to train my puppy?

There are plenty of ways to train your puppy without using food, but our collective years of experience at Puppy School have shown that reward-based training is the fastest and easiest way to train your puppy. The rewards we use in puppy training are food, play and praise.

Many people worry that if they train their dogs using food that they’ll always have to carry food on them to get their dog to listen to them. This isn’t the case at all. We use food to show the dog what we want it to do. Once he’s mastered the behavior we fade out the food so that the occasional reward will keep him motivated.

What should I bring to class?

Please bring the following items to each class:

Flat collar – puppies will not be allowed to participate in class in choke, half choke collars or slip leads
Standard 5′ lead – please don’t bring extendible leads
Water bowl
Toys for your puppy
Treats – bring plenty of small treats for training, something your puppy really likes

Get Started

Take the First Step Towards Training Success

Join Puppy School today and create a lifelong bond with your well-trained puppy. Don’t wait, enroll now!