Before your puppy arrives
Preparation sessions help you set up your home, choose equipment and understand what to expect before your puppy arrives.
Home visits1-to-1 support where your puppy lives
Early habitsPrevent problems before they stick
Kind methodsReward-based, clear and practical
Local trainerBrighton, Hove and nearby areas
Getting started
Give your puppy the best start
Everyone loves puppies, but bringing one home can be a daunting task. Puppies bite, chew, make a mess on your floors and can be incredibly labour-intensive. That can quickly lead to frustration and tears, especially for first-time puppy owners.
If you are thinking about buying a puppy or have recently bought one, I can help you avoid common pitfalls, offer advice on choosing a breeder and show you how to nurture your pet into happy adulthood. It is always better to prevent unwanted behaviour before it happens than to fix it afterwards.
Once your puppy is home
Training can begin as soon as your puppy joins the family, including routines, first-night help, house training and early skills.
Kind, practical training
Positive reinforcement builds attentiveness, confidence and enjoyable communication without fear or intimidation.
Naughty adolescent puppies
Support for selective hearing, overexcitement, frustration, lead chaos, forgotten training and boundary testing.
What we can work on
Puppy problems and foundation skills
1-to-1 puppy training can cover the everyday issues that matter most in the first few months.
The first night home
Help your puppy settle into the house, reduce stress and build calm routines from the start.
House training
Clear toilet-training routines to reduce accidents and help your puppy understand where and when to go.
Crate training
If you want to use a crate, introduce it calmly and positively rather than using it as punishment.
Biting and teething
Redirect biting and teach appropriate behaviour without punishment.
Chewing
Reduce destructive chewing by understanding why puppies chew and teaching better outlets.
Whining and barking at night
Build calm night-time routines without accidentally creating long-term attention-seeking habits.
Excellent recall
Build a recall your puppy wants to respond to, even when the world is distracting.
Great lead walking
Teach loose lead walking before pulling becomes a fixed habit.
No jumping up
Teach polite greetings around family, visitors and people outside.
Don't touch and let go
Teach your puppy to leave unsafe items and release objects calmly.
Socialisation
Safe exposure to people, dogs, traffic, sounds, surfaces and everyday environments.
Sit, down and stay
Useful foundation behaviours that make everyday life easier and safer.
Confidence
Help nervous puppies build confidence gradually.
Healthy play
Reduce over-excitement and help your puppy learn when to switch off.
Resource guarding prevention
Build trust and safe exchanges around food, toys and stolen items.
Separation anxiety prevention
Help your puppy learn to relax alone gradually.
Prevention matters
Stop puppy problems becoming adult dog problems
Many adult behaviour problems begin in puppyhood. It is much easier to prevent problems such as poor recall, lead pulling, jumping up, anxiety, separation issues and guarding than to undo them later.
If you are worried or struggling to cope, call as soon as you can. Problems usually become harder to change the longer they are left.
Related pages
Useful puppy advice
Should I get a puppy?
A practical guide before you commit to a puppy.
Read moreHouse training
Why punishment does not help toilet training.
Read moreNo need for “no”
Why clear instruction works better than simply telling a puppy off.
Read moreFoods poisonous to dogs
Keep your puppy safe around common human foods.
Read moreContact Matt
Book dog training in Brighton & Hove
Call Matt to discuss your dog or puppy and arrange a 1-to-1 training session at home or in your local area.
Call 07774 780515 Contact FormServing Brighton, Hove, Lewes, Shoreham, Peacehaven, Saltdean, Woodingdean, Portslade and nearby areas.