most welcoming most sociable friendliest most supportive most comprehensive most tailored

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions we get about our services

Common Questions

How do I sign up for the program?

Getting enrolled in the program is simple. Go to our puppy page and decide your level of support. Once you have decided this choose your puppy school date, and then you will be asked to book in for your 1:1 sessions (the number based on your level of support). Everything will be sent automatically to your calendar

Are there age limits for puppy school?

You can start our puppy program at any age. We recommend starting as early as possible and have online and one to one support to help you through 8 - 12 weeks old. Your puppy must be 11 - 13 weeks old to start puppy school and have received their second vaccination.

What are your puppy school locations?

Our puppy schools are run across multiple different venues to ensure that you have a convenient place location to attend during the puppy program. We currently offer: Paddington, Marrickville, Neutral Bay, Zetland and Alexandria.

Are there any dog breeds you do not work with?

No. Whether you have: a Chihuahua or a Mastiff, an unhinged lunatic of a Spaniel or a goofball of a Rottie. Big, small, angry, lazy, cute, ugly, cuddly or just straight up weird, we love them all.

Many dogs are stereotyped against because some idiot decided to treat them badly and make them into something they are not.

I have worked with Groodles that were dangerous to the point I couldn't enter the room and a 90kg Rottweiler who had to have his cuddly "Lilo and Stitch" toy whenever we went for a walk.

What are the different levels of support you offer for puppy school?

We offer 3 levels of support for our puppy program:

  • Silver: Our most popular program, this comes as standard with all programs and includes a one to one home sessions and support
  • Gold: Comes with everything in Silver plus 2 additional home training sessions to support with any other behavioural issues you are facing
  • Platinum: Only 2 - 5 clients accepted at any time. This is are most extensive program and is built for owners looking to take full control of their puppy's development. We provide additional one to one sessions, dedicated phone support and lifetime access to our programs.

How is your method different to other trainers?

You've tried everything with your dog. The endless treats, brain games and a range of random youtube videos with trainers saying they have some magic bullet but Nothing sticks. You're not doing it wrong, you are just trying to fix the wrong thing. Your dog isn't broken.

Whether you’ve got a barking dog or a dog who pulls on the leash or a dog who jumps up or is becoming a little bit aggressive, the chances are they are getting far too excited, reactive and far too emotional at that point in time. The real trick I found is to get those dogs to turn to you, to listen to you when it really matters. Because if you get that bit in place and they’re not all scattered-brain and over excited and over emotional you’re halfway there. If they’re calm and they turn and look to you, then you have the opportunity to show them how you want them to behave.

So in a nutshell, before you start to “train the dog” you need to know how to “win their mind” The problem is that most trainers jump straight into commands and training your dog when they are overstimulated. The problem isn’t that you dog doesn’t know what to do, it’s that they are choosing not to listen.

Think of it like having a terrible fear of flying and being dragged towards of plane. Someone telling you how safe planes are isn’t going to make you calm down

At The Toe Beans Co, we don't start by training your dog. We start by understanding the why — through the dog's eyes. Once your dog actually chooses to come alongside you, everything else becomes easy.

We come to your home in Sydney. We spend two and a half hours with you and your dog — in your space, with your specific issues. No generic advice. We look at the cause, we show you exactly how to change it, and you leave with a plan you can start that same day.

This is completely force-free. No shouting, no punishment, no pain. We work with your dog's natural instincts — not against them.

What support do I get for the adult dog training?

All of our at home dog training clients get access to the following:

  • At home dog training consultation (2 - 2.5hours). You can choose between 1 and 2 sessions.
  • Lifetime access to the dog calming code video tutorials
  • 3 months of phone, email and chat support
  • Access to our clients only community section
  • Access to our online dog training community with courses of behaviours and breed specific issues
  • Owners can also choose to access a video tutorial database covering different behavioural issues
  • During sessions, if required, we will also provide equipment such as front pull harnesses and long lines

How do we match puppies for puppy school?

It is really important that your dog meets lots of other types of dog's when they are you. I do see some specific "cavoodle" schools cropping up but I cannot stress how bad an idea this is. Now, it is important that if you have a large breed (eg Bernese Mountain dog) who starts a course at 13 weeks old and a Pomeranian (who starts the course at 12 weeks old) this can make things unfeasible. We will match dogs based on their relative size and age, but we also want to maintain a good mix of breeds in all of our classes

Why don't you offer puppy school only?

This was based on feedback from our clients in both our puppy school and adult dog behavioural programs. We would work with plenty of clients who had received a "gold star" during puppy school but 4 months later couldn't walk their dog without barking. That isn't right. Helping your puppy to develop is far more than puppy school. Is it important for helping with commands and socialisation, absolutely but it is just a piece of the puzzle.

What topics are covered in the online course?

  1. Welcome & Getting Started
    Before module one even begins, you'll get a full course orientation so you know exactly how to use the program and get the most out of it.
  2. Module 1: Am I Ready For A Puppy?
    An honest look at lifestyle, finances, and the four common mistakes people make before bringing a puppy home.
  3. Module 2: Choosing The Right Puppy
    Breed profiles, rescue vs. breeder considerations, understanding breed groups, and how to find a responsible source.
  4. Module 3: Preparing Your Home & Family
    Equipment, setup, dangerous and poisonous hazards, and how to prepare every member of your household — including kids.
  5. Module 4: 8–24 Week Quick Reference Guide
    A at-a-glance summary of socialisation fundamentals, common myths, and the complete 8–24 week schedule so you always know what to focus on.
  6. Module 5: Gotcha Day & The First 24 Hours
    Surviving the first night, the first day routine, introducing your puppy to your home and family, and a daily routine planner.
  7. Module 6: Raising a Calm, Confident Puppy (The 5 Golden Rules)
    The core philosophy of the program. The 5 Golden Rules, key techniques including the Calm Freeze, Figure 8, Timeout, Gesture Eating, and correct use of short and long lines.
  8. Module 7: Working With Your Vet
    Vet visits, vaccinations, preventative care, insurance, and how to think about common puppy health concerns from a vet's perspective.
  9. Module 8: Weeks 8–11 (The First Month)
    Week-by-week training focus, building foundations, expanding comfort zones, pre-puppy school prep, and a socialisation recap.
  10. Module 9: Husbandry & Cooperative Care
    Why husbandry training matters, handling exercises, teeth cleaning, nail trimming, ear and eye care, grooming acceptance, medication administration, and restraint handling.
  11. Module 10: Command Training Foundations
    Core commands overview — Sit, Down, Stay, Wait, Walk (structured), Release Command, Recall, and an updated "This Way" technique.
  12. Module 11: Common Puppy Problems
    Destructive chewing, excessive greeting, excessive barking, attention-seeking, food stealing and counter surfing, digging, crying when left alone, and more.
  13. Modules 12–15: Week 12–15 Puppy School
    Week-by-week puppy school routines aligned to developmental milestones, with age-specific routines for 12, 13, 14, and 15-week-old puppies.
  14. Module 16: The 16-Week Critical Transition
    The 16-week milestone, the mouthing transition, and how to maintain puppy training M through this important developmental window.
  15. Module 17: 17–24 Weeks — Early Adolescence
    Managing the shift into early adolescence and maintaining training gains through this commonly misunderstood phase.
  16. Module 18: Months 6–9 (Middle Adolescence)
    What to expect and how to stay consistent through the hardest behavioural period most puppy owners face.
  17. Module 19: Months 9–12 (in development)
    Rounding out the first year — coming soon.
  18. Module 20: Breed-Specific Behaviour
    In-depth behavioural profiles across breeds so you understand what's normal for your dog and how to work with their instincts, not against them.
  19. Module 21: Common Dog Problems
    Separation anxiety, calm walking, poor recall, resource guarding, excessive barking, jumping on people, destructive behaviour, aggression handling, and issues between dogs in the home.
  20. Module 22: Adolescent Workshops
    Targeted deep-dives into the most common adolescent challenges owners encounter between 6–18 months.
  21. Module 23: Recall Training Mastery
    Why recall is so difficult, and a step-by-step system to build a reliable recall in any environment.
  22. Module 24: Practical Life Living With Your Dog
    Real-world skills for life beyond the training session — manners, reliability, and raising a dog you can take anywhere.
  23. Module 25: Health & First Aid
    First aid basics, recognising illness, breed-specific health concerns, emergency preparedness, common injuries, and preventative care planning.
  24. Congratulations — You Made It
    A wrap-up and celebration of everything you and your dog have built together
8 Weeks+

Puppy Program and School

16 Weeks +

Adolescent Puppy Training

Adult Dog Training

Person walking a dog on a sidewalk with palm trees and cars in the background

Solo Dog Walking

Dog & Cat Sitting