Puppy Preschool: Training Your Pup for Life
Puppy preschool is a structured training and socialisation program aimed to help pups grow into well-behaved, sociable dogs. Designed for puppies between 8 to 15 weeks old, these classes teach basic manners, simple cues (such as sit, come, drop) and appropriate social interaction. Puppy training also helps owners learn how to teach behaviours such as toilet training, lead walking, and hyperactivity (like biting and jumping). With a range of friendly classes and experienced training methods, puppy preschool can help your puppy grow into a confident, sociable dog for you and your family.
Our Puppy Classes in Perth
Puppyhood is a critical life stage for dogs. Aside from growing so quickly, they are rapidly learning about their environment, various behaviours and living in modern society. During their early stages of development, one of the best things you can do is sign them up to a friendly puppy preschool with an experienced trainer.
Our puppy classes here in Perth are done in a friendly environment coordinated by Simone Tuten, a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant (and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed), with over 35 years of experience. Simone has run and been involved with puppy classes across Perth continuously since 2007 and has trained/helped several thousand puppies over that time.
Why Choose a Vet Approved Puppy Preschool?
Choosing a vet-led puppy preschool gives your puppy the right start during their most important learning stage. Our puppy preschool focuses on early training, confidence building and healthy development. Here’s how our puppy preschool can help give your pup a great start to life:
- Clean and Controlled Learning Space: Puppy classes are held in a carefully cleaned and sanitised environment, helping create a safe setting for young puppies to learn and interact.
- Veterinary Guidance You Can Trust: Our puppy preschool program is led an experienced trainer. We use modern, positive and reward-based training methods that encourage good behaviour and confidence.
- Training with Health in Mind: Alongside basic training and puppy socialisation, we provide practical advice on nutrition, parasite prevention and helping puppies feel relaxed during future vet visits.
Puppy Preschool Details
- Age Suitability: Designed for puppies aged 8 to 16 weeks at the start of the course, a key window for learning and socialisation.
- Course Structure: Runs over 4–5 weeks, with one 1-hour session each week.
- Small Group Classes: Puppy classes are kept small (around 4–8 puppies) to allow individual attention and positive interactions.
- Vaccination Requirements: Puppies must have had their first vaccination at least one weeks before attending the first class.
- Health Requirements: All puppies must be free from fleas, ticks and worms to protect the wellbeing of every puppy in the group.
- Homework: Simple weekly activities are provided to practise at home. Short, fun training sessions of 5–10 minutes, once or twice a day, help reinforce learning.
Perth Puppy Preschool – Class Overview
Our puppy classes in Perth will cover the following:
- Appropriate interaction with other puppies
- Basic training like sit, down, settle, recall
- Handling and basic husbandry
- Exposure to novel items and situations
- How to respond and handle puppy behaviours and issues like mouthing and toilet training
During the class, our puppy trainer will be monitoring your puppy’s behaviour over the weeks and will discuss any concerns with you. However, if you have any concerns about your puppy’s behaviour at home that we may not see during class, please mention your concerns to us.
Puppy Socialisation
If you wish to have your puppy grow up resilient and strong in any environment, then puppy socialisation is an essential component to their training and development. At Forrestdale Veterinary Hospital, we pride ourselves of creating a positive socialisation experience for your puppy.
Our Perth puppy trainer – Simone, will direct her attention to your puppy and their specific behavioural responses to various environmental cues such as other dogs, kids, machinery noises and anything else that they may encounter throughout their life with you. These puppy socialisation classes are an integral component to our Perth puppy training and will lay down the foundation to an independent, well-adapted and well-behaved dog.
For more information get in contact with Simone via email, text or Facebook Messenger.
Our Puppy Trainer in Perth – Simone Tuten
Simone Tuten is a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant, certified by the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants. She has over 35 years’ experience training dogs and horses, specialising in pet problem behaviours.
Early identification of potential problem behaviours and intervention during puppyhood is something Simone is passionate about. Simone has been running puppy classes since 2007 and has helped over 3150 puppies and their humans.
Learn how to train your puppy with our expert puppy trainers and classes in Perth
Simone shares her life with a low percentage dingo hybrid (Arnie), a kelpie (Henry), a very old Standardbred horse (Mark) and a very large Thoroughbred horse (Kobi).
When she is not focusing on training, she enjoys hiking, gardening and taking photos of the interesting plants, fungi, insects, birds and scenery she discovers.
Join Our Puppy Preschool Today!
Give your puppy the best possible start with expert-led training and socialisation. To learn more, please get in contact with Simone via email, text or Facebook Messenger
Frequently Asked Questions
If you need information before signing your pup up for preschool, browse our frequently asked questions below.
Where are puppy training classes held?
Forrestdale Veterinary Hospital puppy classes are held in the waiting room at night.
How long does puppy preschool run?
Our puppy preschool course in Perth runs for 4 weeks, with one class a week.
How much does a puppy training course cost?
For more information on the costs of our puppy training course in Perth, please get in touch with Simone via email, text or Facebook Messenger.
When are puppy training classes held?
Classes for puppy training are generally held in the evenings after Forrestdale Veterinary Hospital closes.
What is the best age to start puppy training classes
The best time to start puppy training classes is under 12 weeks of age, soon after the first vaccination has been given.
What are common dog training mistakes?
Dog training requires patience, consistency, and time. Many pet owners make the mistake of giving up on training too soon, especially when faced with challenging behaviors. Remember that progress takes time, and setbacks are normal.
How old does my puppy need to be to enrol in puppy training?
Our puppy preschool in Perth is open to puppies aged 8-16 weeks.
My puppy is too old or advanced. Are there other puppy preschool classes in Perth?
If your puppy is too old or advanced for basic puppy training, please contact Simone who can direct you to more advance puppy training in Perth. Simone can be contacted via email, text or Facebook Messenger.
Do I need to prepare anything before arriving to class?
Before attending puppy preschool with your pup, they must have had their first vaccination (we require a vaccination card to be sighted) and be well. Please do not feed them before coming to the class as the training is a positive reward-based training.
Please bring with you:
- Your puppy on its lead and collar or harness
- Some water from home for your puppy
- A water bowl
- Yummy food for training rewards e.g. Ziwi Peak, cooked chicken, chopped up Prime 100 Roll (if that is part of your puppy’s diet)
- Treat pouches are a handy accessory for you
My puppy is not responding to puppy training, what do I do?
If you feel your pet is not responding to puppy training classes, one-on-one sessions for more individualised training may be more suitable. Get in touch with Simone to learn more. Simone can be contacted via email, text or Facebook Messenger.