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Hout Bay Puppy School is built on force-free, science and consent-based behaviour and training methods. We train from a behavioural perspective, focusing on developing your puppy’s confidence and emotional well-being through positive associations—never punishment or force. Safety, trust, kindness and understanding are at the heart of everything we do.

In class, we emphasize socialization, consent-based play, body language, and play styles. Puppies learn important life skills such as proprioception, problem-solving, impulse control, frustration tolerance, self-regulation and desensitization. These skills lay the foundation for a confident, well-adjusted and resilient adult dog.

We guide you through behaviour topics like house training, puppy biting, digging, destructive chewing, crate training, enrichment, management strategies, and choosing appropriate toys.

1 x 1 Hour Home Visit

As part of our program, we include a home visit to help address any challenges you may be facing in your puppy’s everyday environment. This allows us to offer personalized guidance on integrating your puppy into your household with family members and other animals residing there. We also address any puppy challenges you may be experiencing such as house training, chewing, nipping and biting, appropriate play, and safe interactions with children, ensuring your puppy’s learning continues smoothly at home.

5 x 1 Hour Weekly Socialization Classes

This class is held on a Saturday morning from 8am-9am (September to March) and 9am-10am (April to August).  

These lessons run consecutively over a five week period. 

Our adolescent classes are designed for dogs aged 4–11 months, recognising that each dog matures at their own pace. This programme supports you and your dog through the unique challenges of adolescence, including shifting behaviour, increased independence, selective responsiveness, boundary testing, and changes in social play. Many dogs experience a secondary fear phase during this stage, often showing heightened sensitivity, barking, avoidance, or defensive behaviour. 

The focus of this class is to build confidence and social skills while guiding your dog through this critical developmental stage. We use positive counter-conditioning and desensitisation to help your dog navigate new experiences, build resilience, and confidently handle the world around them. Hormonal changes, evolving play styles, and early competitive behaviours are addressed in a safe, supportive environment.

New participants undergo a short (10-minute) assessment at the beginning of their first class to ensure that they are comfortable in a group setting and are coping emotionally in this setting. Private training is available if your dog is not a suitable candidate for this class or extra support is needed.

6 x 1 Hour Weekly Classes 

We strengthen foundational cues such as reliable recall, loose leash walking, and attention control in distracting settings. Impulse control, frustration tolerance, and self-regulation continue to develop, alongside improved social skills and canine communication. Weekly sessions in varied environments help boost confidence, while we guide safe and appropriate play as your dog’s social interactions become more robust.Fear-based behaviours are managed using gentle, force-free, science-based methods, ensuring a positive learning experience. Our goal is to equip you and your adolescent dog with the skills, structure, and confidence to navigate this stage and grow into a well-adjusted, resilient adult dog.

Private training offers personalised, one-on-one sessions tailored to your dog’s needs, conducted in the comfort of your home and out in real-world environments. This flexible approach is ideal for clients with busy schedules who need training sessions arranged around their availability, while still ensuring their dog learns essential skills in a variety of everyday situations.

Private puppy training is ideal for families who are unable to attend group classes due to medical, personal, or scheduling reasons but still want to ensure their puppy gets the best start in life. Training sessions are tailored to your needs and can take place in the comfort of your home or, once your puppy has had their third vaccination, out and about in real-world environments to address challenges where they naturally occur.

Many common puppy problems, such as biting, jumping, toilet training, or basic manners, can often be resolved quickly with the right guidance. However, some behaviours may require more than one session to fully address, depending on their severity and how consistently training is practiced at home. Private sessions provide personalised support, helping you and your puppy build strong foundations for a happy, well-behaved adult dog.

Adolescent private training supports dogs through the challenging teenage stage, where behaviour can shift rapidly. Many experience a secondary fear period, heightened sensitivity to new environments, and selective hearing, making everyday interactions more difficult. These changes are a normal part of development, and private training offers personalised guidance to navigate this phase positively.

Hormonal changes often lead to rougher, more competitive play, boundary testing, and occasional predatory chasing. Private training builds impulse control, strengthens communication, and provides safe outlets for natural behaviours. By addressing fear responses and over-arousal, these sessions help your dog gain confidence and resilience, laying the groundwork for a well-mannered, balanced adult.

Adult dog private training offers tailored one-on-one sessions designed to address your dog’s individual needs and behavioural challenges. Whether you’ve recently adopted an adult dog, are dealing with long-standing issues, or simply want to improve manners and communication, private training provides focused guidance in a calm, supportive environment.

Sessions can take place in your home or out in real-world settings, depending on the behaviours you’d like to address. From leash reactivity, fear-based responses, and recall struggles to general obedience and confidence-building, we work with you to create practical solutions that fit your lifestyle. Private training allows for a personalised approach, helping you strengthen your bond with your dog while achieving lasting results.

Ad-hoc (Once off) x 1 hour lesson — R950,00.

Training packages available on request.