The first few months of a puppy’s life are critical. At Alpha Paws, our puppy preschool program helps you and your puppy build a respectful, lasting relationship through early training that includes crate training, socialization, housebreaking, and foundational obedience.
During this important stage (up to 16 weeks of age), your puppy is forming long-term behaviours and responses to people, animals, and new environments. Our in-home sessions, available throughout York Region, including Aurora, Newmarket, and East Gwillimbury, are designed to guide your puppy during this key developmental window while giving you the tools to lead with confidence.
Our puppy preschool training program sets the foundation for a well-behaved, confident dog. Unlike typical group puppy training classes, we offer private, in-home sessions that are customized to your dog’s personality and your household’s needs.
You can choose a single session or a three-session package. Each session is conducted by a professional dog trainer who assesses your puppy’s temperament and teaches you how to guide and reinforce the behaviours you want.
Puppies are introduced to positive interactions through gentle exposure to people, sounds, and environments. Structured play builds confidence, helps prevent fear-based behaviour, and supports social development.
We guide you through establishing a consistent crate training and puppy potty training routine. With a clear daily structure, your puppy learns when and where to eliminate, how to settle in their crate, and how to develop self-control without relying on food-based rewards.
Your puppy is introduced to essential obedience cues such as “sit,” “stay,” and “come.” These form the groundwork for more advanced dog training later on. We also cover:
You can start as early as eight weeks old. We recommend enrolling before 16 weeks, as this is when puppies are most open to new experiences and routines. Younger puppies adapt more quickly to crate training, social rules, and obedience basics.
Puppies older than 16 weeks can continue in one of our structured obedience training programs. If you’re unsure about the right fit, we can help you choose the best starting point for your dog’s age and development.
Many people search for group puppy training classes, but at Alpha Paws, we believe that puppies and their owners learn best through private sessions. Group environments can be overwhelming or distracting for young puppies, especially during the critical socialization stage.
Our one-on-one training allows us to tailor every session to your puppy’s unique needs, personality, and your home environment. This approach gives you faster results, more focused instruction, and a stronger foundation for long-term success.
While group classes may seem like the norm, we’ve found that personal instruction builds better communication, fewer behavioural problems, and stronger leadership from day one.
Alpha Paws uses natural training methods based on how dogs instinctively learn. Our philosophy focuses on leadership, structure, and mutual respect, rather than food- or clicker-based methods.
What sets us apart:
Learn more about our trainer.
We do not currently offer a traditional board and train program for puppies, where the dog is sent away for training. While these programs can produce short-term results, they often lack the owner’s involvement, which is critical for lasting behaviour change.
That’s completely normal. Our puppy training classes are designed to help gently expose your puppy to new experiences at a comfortable pace. Social confidence is something we build together through trust and consistent leadership.
Each training session is typically 60 to 90 minutes long, depending on your puppy’s energy level, focus, and your goals. Multiple sessions allow for more structured progress and follow-up on specific concerns.
Yes, we offer a full range of dog training programs that follow your puppy’s development. Many clients continue with basic obedience or off-leash training as their puppy grows. We’ll help you transition smoothly into the next stage.
Training during the first few months of life helps prevent issues like anxiety, barking, leash reactivity, and poor impulse control. By teaching routines, boundaries, and structure early on, you’re setting your puppy up for success as a calm, well-adjusted adult dog.
Early exposure to new experiences, coupled with clear communication, reduces the chance of behavioural problems later.
Don’t wait until bad habits form. The early weeks of a puppy’s life are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to set the tone for a calm, respectful relationship. At Alpha Paws, our program gives you the tools to become the leader your puppy naturally wants to follow.
Book a puppy training session now or call us at 905-830-9500 to get started.
Contact Alpha Paws Today
for Dog Obedience Training
Call 1-877-868-7297
