Puppy Classes vs 1-to-1 Training: Which Really Works Best?
So, you’ve got a new puppy — congratulations! 🎉 You’ve survived the first few nights of crying, you’ve lost at least one slipper to those razor-sharp teeth, and you’re starting to wonder if you’ll ever drink a hot cup of tea again.
Now comes the big question every new puppy parent asks:
“Should I take my puppy to classes, or go for 1-to-1 training?”
Let’s be honest — both sound good on paper. But the reality? They’re very different experiences.
The Puppy Class Reality
Imagine walking into a big hall full of other puppies. One is zooming in circles, another is barking its head off, and there’s always that one pup doing a dramatic belly flop in the middle of the floor.
Your puppy? They’re either bouncing like a kangaroo or looking at you like: “Mum/Dad, what fresh chaos is this?!”
The trainer’s lovely, but with ten other owners all waving treats around, you get about two minutes of personal help. Meanwhile, your puppy has just learnt:
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Barking and pulling = attention
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Every dog = playtime
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Listening to you = boring
Not exactly the foundations you wanted, right?
Sure, classes can be cheap and sociable for owners, but for puppies? They can be overwhelming, over-exciting, or just plain confusing.
The Magic of 1-to-1 Training
Now let’s flip the script.
You’re in the park with your puppy. It’s calm. The trainer is right next to you, showing you exactly how to get that perfect recall. Your pup comes bounding back to you like a little superstar (instead of running off to photobomb someone’s picnic).
Next week, you’re in town, practising loose-lead walking. Your puppy learns how to stay calm when buses zoom past or people stop to say hello. Later, we might be at your house, sorting out biting, jumping, or helping you actually drink that hot cup of tea in peace. ☕🐾
This is what 1-to-1 training offers:
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Tailored sessions for your puppy and your lifestyle
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Training in the real world — not just in a hall
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Teaching neutrality around other dogs and people (so no over-the-top excitement or future reactivity)
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100% of the trainer’s attention on you
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A calm learning environment where your pup can actually focus
And the best part? Nervous pups don’t get overwhelmed, and excitable pups learn calmness instead of chaos.
The Honest Truth
Group classes often create party animals. Puppies either think every dog is their new best friend or decide the world is just too much. Neither makes life easy down the road.
1-to-1 training, on the other hand, builds life skills that last: focus, calmness, and confidence. It sets you up for the dog you’ve always dreamed of — the one you can take anywhere, who lies under the table at the pub, comes back when you call, and doesn’t drag you down the street like a sled dog.
✨ Group classes teach the basics. 1-to-1 training gives you a dog you can enjoy everywhere.
👉 Ready to turn your little whirlwind into a calm, confident companion? Let’s chat about your puppy and get started with 1-to-1 training.