A 6-week online puppy course built around your relationship first

Investment: NZ$180 | 6-week course Format: Online | Video lessons, written exercises, video submission, Zoom add-on ($20/session)

What this course is about

The first few months with a puppy matter more than people realise. The habits, the relationship, the way your pup learns to see the world and see you — all of it is being shaped right now, whether you are consciously shaping it or not.

Happy Pups, Peaceful Homes is a six-week course that gives you a clear, practical framework for those early months. Not a list of commands to drill, but a genuinely useful approach to raising a puppy you can live with and enjoy.

It is built on positive, relationship-first training. No punishment, no dominance, no suppressing behaviour without understanding it. Just real, science-backed work that actually holds up over time.

What we cover across 6 weeks

• How puppies learn and what that means for how you train

• Building a puppy who wants to engage with you

• Socialisation: what it actually is, what the window is, and how to use it well

• Foundation skills: recall, loose lead walking, calmness

• Biting, jumping, and other puppy habits that drive people mad

• Crate training and settling at home

• Building confidence in new environments

• Setting up for the adolescent phase before it arrives

How the course works Each week new video content is released covering that week's topic, with written lesson notes and clear exercises to work through at home. Everything is self-paced within the week: you fit the training around your life, not the other way around.

You can submit a short video of your puppy at any point during the course if you want my eyes on what is happening. If you hit a sticking point or need more direct support, Zoom calls are available as an add-on for $20 per session.

Is this course right for my puppy's age?

This course is designed for puppies from around 8 weeks through to approximately 5-6 months. If your puppy is older and heading into adolescence, the Life Skills course may be a better fit. If you are not sure, send me a message and I will help you decide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What age should my puppy be to start this course?

A: The ideal starting point is as soon as you get your pup but the course is relevant and useful up to about 5-6 months. After that, your puppy is heading into adolescence and the training approach shifts. Send me a message if you are unsure whether this course or Life Skills is the better fit for where your pup is right now.

Q: I have never trained a dog before. Is this course suitable for a complete beginner?

A: Yes, entirely. It is written for people who are new to this as much as for people who have had dogs before. The explanations assume nothing. You do not need any prior knowledge or experience. Questions are encouraged

Q: How much time do I need each week?

A: Short, frequent sessions are better than long, infrequent ones for puppies. Aim for 5-10 minutes of focused training two or three times a day. Watching the weekly video content takes around 15-20 minutes. Most people find it fits easily into a normal week. If needed we can spread over a longer period of time.

Q: What if my puppy has already picked up some bad habits?

A: That is completely normal and very workable. The course covers the most common puppy habits that drive people mad, including biting, jumping, and general chaos, and gives you a positive, practical approach to working through them.

Q: How do I submit a video of my puppy?

A:  A short clip, 1 minutes, is plenty. I will give you written feedback within a few business days.

Q: Are Zoom calls included in the course fee?

A: The course fee covers video content, written materials, and video submission feedback. Zoom calls are available as an add-on at $20 per session if you want direct real-time support. Contact me to arrange one.

Q: What if I can't keep up with the weekly content? 

A: Life with a puppy is unpredictable. You have access to all the material for the full duration of the course, and revisiting weeks is absolutely fine. Work at the pace that suits you and your puppy.

Q: Do you use treats in this course?

A: Yes. Food is a powerful, ethical training tool and it is used throughout as well as toys, praise and pats- depending on the puppy. The course also covers how to build value in play and other rewards so you are not solely reliant on food as your puppy gets older.