Beyond Puppy Schools
A comprehensive puppy development program that teaches you how to raise and live with your dog — not just train a puppy.
It’s about developing the skills and relationship that support the kind of adult dog you actually want to live with.
COMES WHEN CALLED
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CALM WHEN LEFT ALONE
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CHILLS AT CAFÉS
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DOESN’T PULL ON LEAD
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DOESN’T JUMP
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STAYS STILL WHEN I NEED IT TO
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SAFE AROUND KIDS
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SOCIAL WITH OTHER DOGS
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SAFE AROUND ROADS
COMES WHEN CALLED ✳︎ CALM WHEN LEFT ALONE ✳︎ CHILLS AT CAFÉS ✳︎ DOESN’T PULL ON LEAD ✳︎ DOESN’T JUMP ✳︎ STAYS STILL WHEN I NEED IT TO ✳︎ SAFE AROUND KIDS ✳︎ SOCIAL WITH OTHER DOGS ✳︎ SAFE AROUND ROADS
Why not puppy school?
Many puppy schools focus on teaching behaviours early — sit, drop, stay — usually in controlled class environments. While this can look productive, it doesn’t always translate to real life.
What matters isn’t whether your puppy can perform in class. It’s whether those skills hold up once everyday distractions, pressure, and real-world situations are added.
Most people want the same thing.
They want a dog who understands them, who can move through the world calmly, and who fits into everyday life without constant management or stress.
A dog who:
comes when called
is calm when left alone
settles at cafés and in public
walks without pulling
doesn’t jump on people
stays still when needed
is safe around kids and roads
can be social with other dogs — or neutral when required
This isn’t about perfection, constant control, or suppressing who your dog is.
It’s about clear communication, fair boundaries, and a relationship that allows your dog to feel secure, guided, and capable — so you can enjoy real freedom together.
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Puppy classes often start with obedience because it’s what people expect and what looks good early on. It’s also engaging and fun — especially when paired with lots of puppy play.
The problem isn’t obedience itself. It’s that obedience alone doesn’t prepare dogs to cope, settle, and stay connected once instinct, distraction, and real life start to compete.
Confidence, social awareness, clear communication, and fair boundaries are the foundations that allow skills to become reliable. Without those foundations, dogs may perform well in class but struggle to respond or regulate themselves in everyday situations.
This program is designed to bridge that gap — focusing on development before performance, and preparation over shortcuts.
Some people win the dog lottery and end up with an easy dog without trying. Most don’t. Planning for that reality leads to far better outcomes than hoping you’ll be the exception.
The Dream Dog
Instead of focusing on obedience alone, this program prioritises the foundations that shape a well-adjusted adult dog — foundations that support calmness, reliability, and meaningful freedom.
What We Focus On
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A strong cooperative relationship where your dog wants to stay connected to you, looks to you for guidance, and understands that you matter — even when life gets distracting.
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Helping your dog learn how to exist calmly in the world — able to interact appropriately when needed, and equally able to ignore what isn’t relevant.
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Teaching you how to communicate clearly and consistently, so your dog understands what’s expected and can respond without confusion or conflict.
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Fair, predictable boundaries that create safety, reduce stress, and help your dog make good choices without constant management.
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Developing a dog who can settle, pause, and regulate themselves — at home and in public (cafes, beaches, parks, friend’s houses)— rather than living in a constant state of over-arousal.
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Every dog is different. Training is adapted to suit your dog’s personality, sensitivities, motivation, and stage of development — not forced into a one-size-fits-all model.
How I Work
I’m not here to tell you where your dog should sleep, whether they’re allowed on the couch, or what your home should look like.
My role is to help you build the skills, structure, and understanding needed to support the lifestyle you want with your dog — as long as those choices aren’t in conflict with your goals.
Some people want a dog on the bed. Others don’t. Some want an adventure dog. Others want a calm companion.
There’s no single “right” way to live with a dog.
What matters is clarity, consistency, and making choices that support the life you’re trying to create together.
Structure & Support
Raising a puppy well isn’t about collecting sessions — it’s about having the right support while you build skills, make decisions, and apply what you’re learning in real life.
This program is structured, intentional, and tailored to you and your dog. We don’t rush ahead, and we don’t keep moving forward until foundations are in place.
You’re supported throughout the process so questions don’t pile up, uncertainty doesn’t stall progress, and challenges are addressed as they arise — not weeks later.
The goal isn’t an endless training cycle.
The goal is clarity, confidence, and lasting change.
As part of the program, you’ll also have access to my Calm Puppy Club class — a structured environment designed to support neutrality, settling, and calm behaviour around other dogs and people.
Want to meet me?
You don’t need to know exactly what you need yet.
The free assessment is where we figure that out together.