Puppy Training in Charlottesville, VA
Start your puppy off right: socialization, foundational obedience, potty and crate training, and bite inhibition during the critical early months. Prevent problems before they start.
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Tell us about your puppy and we'll call you back, usually same day.
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Prevent problems before they start
Puppies can start training early, and the critical early months are exactly when socialization, foundation work, and good habits take root. We offer training programs for dogs of all ages, but starting your puppy off right is the single best way to prevent the jumping, pulling, and anxiety issues owners call us about later. Our trainers build confident, well-mannered puppies through structured socialization, foundational obedience, and the day-to-day skills every household needs. You can see where that foundation leads in our clients' success stories.
What our puppy program covers
Socialization
Positive, structured exposure to people, dogs, sights, and sounds during the critical early months.
Potty training
A consistent routine that gets your puppy reliably house-trained.
Crate training
Making the crate a calm, safe place your puppy settles into willingly.
Bite inhibition
Teaching gentle mouth habits now, before puppy nipping becomes an adult problem.
Foundational obedience
Sit, come, place, and loose-leash walking... the manners that make everyday life easy.
Training programs for every stage
Basic Marker Mastery is the puppy-friendly program you can start right away. Formal obedience lessons and board & train programs begin once your puppy is five months old.
Basic Marker Mastery™
4-week positive-reinforcement foundation. No e-collars or prong collars. Puppy-friendly from day one.
In-Home Basic Obedience
4 private lessons on the core commands, in your home. For dogs five months and older.
2-Week Board & Train
Our signature immersive stay, obedience locked in. For dogs five months and older.
Watch a real Charlottesville puppy session
Teddy, a 7-month-old Heeler/Collie mix — a real Off Leash K9 Charlottesville session. More puppy videos on YouTube →
What puppy owners say
"Lauren was absolutely amazing! My puppy, Blake, has had tremendous improvements since his board and train."
"We were able to send our lab Mack to Off Leash training a few weeks ago. Mack is a 6 month old pup that is wild and full of energy! He spent two weeks with Ginny from off leash and the results have just been tremendous."
"Landon did an awesome job with our wild, crazy, very energetic, fun dog Winston. He sent us updates every night on how well Winston did along with pictures and videos."
Puppy training questions
How old does my puppy need to be to start training?
Puppies can start early with socialization and foundation work through our Basic Marker Mastery program. Formal obedience lessons and board-and-train programs start once your puppy is at least five months old. We will recommend the right starting point at your free consultation.
Can you help with puppy potty training and crate training?
Yes. Our puppy program covers socialization, potty training, crate training, bite inhibition, and foundational obedience during those critical early months.
Do you offer positive-reinforcement-only training?
Yes. Our Basic Marker Mastery program is a 4-week, positive-reinforcement program that builds confidence and foundational obedience using marker and clicker training, with no e-collars or prong collars.
How long does puppy training take?
It depends on the program. Our board-and-train programs run about two weeks; in-home programs run 4 to 8 lessons. We will map out a realistic timeline at your free consultation.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. Payment plans are available. Call us today to learn more about payment options.
Puppy training across Central Virginia
Ready to start your puppy off right?
Book your free consultation and we'll recommend the right program for your puppy and your goals, wherever you are in the areas we serve.