Puppy Foundation
Foundation sessions for puppies 8 weeks and up — socialization, manners, and the habits that prevent problems later.
Outcome guarantee on this program.We don't stop until your dog reaches the goals we agree on at the start. Plus lifetime trainer chat access for the life of your dog.
Starting at $350 (4 lessons)
4 Lessons or Board & Train
Mullica Hill, NJ HQ
Puppy Foundationis the right fit if…
- Puppies between 8 weeks and 5 months whose owners want to start them right.
- First-time puppy owners who don't know what to do in the critical socialization window.
- Puppies of working or guarding breeds where early structure is the difference between a great adult dog and a difficult one.
- Owners who want to prevent the common reactivity, anxiety, and biting problems that we see in 1–2 year-old dogs that missed early work.
It's not the right fit if…
- Your puppy is already over 6 months — they may need Foundational or Transformational instead of Puppy Foundation.
What to expect
Four lessons over about two months — that is the cadence that actually fits a puppy's developmental window. We work crate confidence, early obedience, polite leash manners, and structured socialization. You go home with specific homework between sessions. The goal is a puppy you can live with now and an adult dog that does not need an emergency Custom Training program later.
What's included
- House training
- Crate training
- Bite inhibition
- Socialization with dogs & people
- Basic commands
- Puppy manners
Questions we hear about Puppy Foundation
Why only 4 lessons?+
Puppies' attention spans and the speed at which they consolidate skills mean a few well-structured sessions plus consistent homework beats a marathon class series. Most puppies get more out of the 4-lesson cadence than they would out of an 8-week group class.
Do you do group puppy classes?+
We run private puppy sessions, not group puppy classes. Group classes can be valuable in the right setting but they often produce dogs that are over-excited around other dogs — the opposite of what most owners want long-term. We do controlled socialization differently.
What if my puppy is biting hard?+
Mouthing is normal puppy behavior and we address it head-on. If the biting is unusually intense or appears stress-related, we evaluate whether the puppy needs the standard puppy program or whether a behavior-aware approach (closer to Custom) is more appropriate.
Should I do this before or after vaccines?+
There's a critical socialization window between 8 and 16 weeks that closes before the full vaccine course is complete. We structure exposure carefully — controlled environments, vaccinated dogs only — to do the right kind of socialization without exposing your puppy to risk. That balance is one of the biggest values of the program.
Other programs
Foundational Training
Starting at $2,500
Build a strong foundation with essential commands and manners for everyday life.
Transformational Training
Starting at $6,000
Advanced obedience with the 3 D's of dog training, on and off leash.
Custom Training Package
Starting at $8,000
Tailored programs for anxiety, behavioral issues, and aggression cases.
Talk to a trainer about your specific dog
Tell us about your dog and what you want to fix. A senior trainer will call within 24 hours and we'll lay out a plan and a price on the call — no pressure, no scripts.
Outcome guarantee on every program. Board & train includes in-person refresher sessions (3 / 5 / 5 / 7–8 by length). Lifetime trainer chat access for every client.
Ready to transform your dog?
First 30-minute phone call is free — tell us what's going on and we'll recommend the right program.