Why I Don’t Run Traditional Puppy Training Classes
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
By Sarah Groves Dog Training - puppy training specialist in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot
One of the most common questions I get asked is:“Do you run puppy training classes?”
The short answer? No, I don’t.And there’s a very good reason for that.
Think about it this way - you wouldn’t take your very first driving lesson on the M4, would you? You’d start somewhere quiet and safe, like an empty car park or a calm residential street, where you could focus on learning the basics without too many distractions.
It’s exactly the same for puppies.
Expecting a young puppy to learn brand new skills from scratch in a hall full of up to eight other puppies (and their owners), with a slippy floor, echoing walls, and a brand-new environment, is like sending a learner driver straight onto a busy motorway.
Is that really fair on anyone?
To me, it sounds like a recipe for chaos, frustration, and stress — for both you and your puppy.
The Problem with Traditional Puppy Classes
Traditional puppy training classes have been around for years, and while they used to be the go-to option, we now know that they don’t suit every puppy.
When you put several puppies together in one room, you’re creating an environment that’s bursting with distractions — new smells, new people, other dogs, and exciting noises. For most young puppies, it’s simply too much.
Instead of calmly learning to focus on you, your puppy is far more likely to:
Bark or pull towards the other dogs
Struggle to listen or settle
Get overexcited and start jumping or mouthing
Or, at the other extreme, shut down completely if they find it all too overwhelming
That’s not a great first learning experience. Puppies don’t come away from that situation understanding how to behave - they come away frazzled and confused.
And once that happens, training becomes harder for everyone involved.
“But What About Puppy Socialisation?”
I can already hear you asking,“But Sarah, what about socialisation? Don’t puppies need to play with other dogs?”
Absolutely! BUT socialisation doesn’t mean endless puppy play sessions.
Socialisation is about introducing your puppy to the big wide world in a calm and positive way — people, dogs, sounds, vehicles, and everyday experiences - all at a pace that helps them feel safe and confident.
If we throw too much at them too soon, or let them learn that other dogs are the most exciting thing in the world, we risk creating a puppy who can’t focus when others are around.
So rather than setting up chaotic puppy playgroups, I prefer to show you how to teach your puppy to stay calm, look to you for guidance, and handle real-life situations with confidence.
My Approach: The Puppy Solutions Program
That’s why I created my Puppy Solutions Program — a tailored, one-to-one puppy training experience designed to give you and your puppy the very best start.
I offer one-to-one puppy training across Swansea, Neath, and Port Talbot, helping families get things right from day one with expert, reward-based guidance.
We begin training in the place your puppy feels most secure - your home. That’s where your puppy can focus, relax, and begin learning important foundation skills like focus, settling, and recall without the pressure of distractions.
Once your puppy has mastered the basics, we gradually move training out into the real world, layering up their skills at a pace that suits their individual needs.
You’ll also get ongoing phone support between sessions - because puppies don’t always wait for your next lesson to test your patience! Whether you need quick advice, reassurance, or help with a specific behaviour, I’ll be there to guide you.
Setting You and Your Puppy Up for Success
Your puppy’s early learning experiences shape their behaviour for life.
Choosing the right training approach from the very beginning makes all the difference -helping you build calm, consistent communication and a happy, confident dog who loves to learn with you.
If you’ve just brought home a new puppy (or are preparing for one), and want to start off on the right paw with professional, one-to-one support, my Puppy Solutions Program could be perfect for you.
Let’s make sure your puppy’s first learning experiences are positive, effective, and built for long-term success — not chaos in a church hall!