Puppy Training Darling Point
Last spring, a family on New Beach Road got a golden retriever puppy. Three weeks in, they were overwhelmed. The puppy was destroying furniture, pulling on walks, and wouldn't listen to anything. Does your adorable puppy seem completely untrainable?
Puppy training Darling Point means preparing your pup for a sophisticated harbour-side lifestyle. Your dog will encounter busy streets, waterfront walks, harbour ferries, and plenty of other dogs. They need proper training from the start to handle it all calmly.
The families who start early - during that critical 8-16 week window - have dogs who thrive in Darling Point's upscale environment.
Puppy Preparation (0-8 Weeks)
Before your puppy arrives at your Darling Point home, there's essential preparation to do. Most people underestimate how much work a puppy involves and then spend months fixing mistakes made in those first few days.
Our pre-puppy program covers everything you need before the puppy comes home. You'll learn how to set up your space appropriately, what supplies are genuinely necessary (not just what pet shops push), and how to create a schedule that works with your lifestyle.
We also discuss breed selection. This matters more than people realise. A working breed like a border collie needs completely different exercise and mental stimulation than a companion breed like a cavalier. Choosing wrong for your lifestyle creates problems for everyone.
You'll learn about:
- The critical socialisation window (8-16 weeks)
- Toilet training approaches that actually work
- Setting boundaries and routines from day one
- Puppy development stages
- Preparing for harbour-side living in Darling Point
One thing specific to this area - think about where you'll exercise your puppy. There's Rushcutters Bay Park and the harbour foreshore, both excellent for dogs. But your puppy needs training before they can safely enjoy these spaces off-lead.
Starting puppy training Darling Point with proper preparation means your not making avoidable mistakes during those critical first weeks.
Puppy Program including Puppy School (8-16 Weeks)
This period is absolutely critical for puppy training in Darling Point. Between 8-16 weeks, your puppy's brain is wide open to new experiences. What they learn now about the world will shape their entire adult personality.
Our puppy school runs with 8-10 puppies per class. This number provides excellent socialisation - your puppy learns to play appropriately with different breeds, sizes, and energy levels - while keeping the class manageable for individual attention.
The program focuses on:
- Socialisation with other dogs and various people
- Basic obedience (sit, drop, come, loose lead walking)
- Appropriate play behaviour
- Building confidence around new environments
- Learning to settle in busy areas
- Early recall training
- Harbour-side distractions and sounds
For Darling Point puppies, we make sure they experience urban waterfront environments. Ferry sounds, harbour activity, busy footpaths, outdoor cafes - all the things they'll encounter living in this area.
Last summer, a couple near McKell Park had a doodle puppy who was terrified of water. They wanted a dog who'd enjoy harbour-side walks. Through gradual, positive exposure in our puppy training program, that pup went from scared of puddles to confidently walking along the water within 8 weeks.
The 8-16 week socialisation window doesn't last long. After that period closes, new experiences can trigger fear instead of curiosity. Proper puppy training Darling Point during these weeks is an investment in 10-15 years of a confident, happy dog.
Post Puppy Program (16-52 Weeks)
Around 16 weeks, adolescence kicks in. Your obedient puppy might suddenly become stubborn, easily distracted, and challenging. This phase is when behavioural issues often develop, especially in stimulating environments like Darling Point.
Our post puppy program includes 2 group training sessions with deep dives into behavioural problems, plus months of online support. We teach you to identify potential issues before they fully develop and provide training modules for everything that might crop up.
The program covers:
- Reactivity and aggressive behaviour towards dogs or people
- Off lead walking and better walking practise
- Stopping jumping up on visitors and passers-by
- Dealing with separation anxiety
- Biting and chewing issues
- Poor or no recall (important for harbour-side safety)
- Reducing unnecessary barking
- Managing hyperactive or fearful dogs
- Potty training problems that persist
A family on Greenoaks Avenue had a spaniel who became leash-reactive around 8 months old. Every walk was a battle - lunging, barking, completely stressed. They followed our post puppy program modules on reactivity and within a month, walks around Darling Point were peaceful again.
Adolescence requires proper management and training, especially in an upscale suburb where behaviour really matters. Our post puppy program gives Darling Point families the tools to navigate this challenging phase successfully.
