Puppy program · 6 weeks · 12 private lessons
Puppy Foundations Program: a calm start for a growing dog
Six weeks of private, one-on-one lessons for puppies and adolescent dogs from 5 months to 1 year, run by Anthony in Malvern and across Chester County.
Chapter 01
What goes wrong between five months and a year
A puppy that was easy at ten weeks turns into a teenager at six months. The mouthing gets harder, the door becomes a race, and the leash turns into a game of tug. None of it means you did something wrong. It means your dog is growing up and testing what works.
This program is built for puppies and adolescent dogs from 5 months to 1 year, the stage where habits are being set. What gets rewarded now is what you live with at three years old, so the goal is to shape good habits early instead of undoing bad ones later.
A brindle puppy sits at its owner's boots during a Puppy Foundations lesson at home
How the six weeks run in your home
Anthony meets you and your dog for 12 private lessons over six weeks, one-on-one. It starts with an assessment and marker training, so your dog learns that a clear signal means a reward is coming. From there each week adds a layer: focus, manners in the house, walking, then recall with real distractions.
Everything is force-free and science-based. No prong collars, no e-collars, no choke chains. Your puppy also meets new surfaces, sounds and unfamiliar objects at a pace that builds confidence rather than worry, and the family practices handling together so one person is not the only one who can get results.
Chapter 03
What you keep after graduation
Week six ends with a graduation evaluation, then a written long-term maintenance plan. You leave knowing what to practice, how often, and what to do when your dog hits the next phase.
Training isn't a magic fix. It is a set of habits you and your dog repeat. If a bigger question comes up later, such as reactivity or a dog that needs more structure, Anthony can point you to the right next program.
“He really cared for my new puppy and helped her.” Amy Detwiler, Google review.
The program at a glance
Six weeks, logged week by week
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Sessions
- 12 private lessons, one-on-one
- Age
- 5 Months - 1 Year
- Investment
- $1,197 - $1,225
- Included
- A personalised plan, homework after every lesson, owner and family coaching, access to the training app, and a graduation evaluation with a maintenance plan.
Not sure this is the right fit? Start with a free evaluation and Anthony will match your dog to a program. Questions about timing or what to bring are answered in the FAQ.
Week 1
Building the Relationship
Training assessment, marker training, engagement games, name recognition, sit and down introduced, homework set up.
Week 2
Communication & Focus
Place, focus exercises, wait introduced, impulse control foundations and confidence-building activities.
Week 3
Household Manners
Door manners, crate training, household boundaries, calm greetings and a daily routine that holds.
Week 4
Walking Foundations
Loose leash walking, engagement while moving, heel introduced, and managing distractions outdoors.
Week 5
Recall & Reliability
Come command foundations, leave it, advanced impulse control, more distractions and longer durations.
Week 6, graduation
Real-World Success
Combining behaviors, advanced obedience drills, confidence challenges and family handling practice. Then the graduation evaluation and your long-term maintenance plan.
The same program also covers marker training, reward systems, appropriate play, settling in the home, and exposure to new surfaces, sounds and objects, so a young dog learns that the world is manageable. It suits new puppy owners, adolescent dogs entering their teenage phase, and families who want a strong base before problems start.