Puppy School and Dog Training in Lane Cove

We run puppy school about thirteen minutes from Lane Cove on Military Road in Neutral Bay, and we train older dogs one to one in your own home across Lane Cove, Lane Cove North and Greenwich.

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No pain. No fear. No force. Training in your own home · Free meet and greet, no obligation
No pain. No fear. No force. Training in your own home · Free meet and greet, no obligation

Puppy school and dog training in Lane Cove, the short answers

Quick Facts

Where We Work: In your own home, across Lane Cove, Lane Cove North, Lane Cove West, Greenwich and Riverview

What We Offer

Council Area

Lane Cove

Nearest Puppy School Location

DoggieLove, 71 Military Road, Neutral Bay NSW 2089

Distance

About 6 km, roughly thirteen minutes by car

What We Cover

Puppies from eight weeks, teenage dogs, and adult behaviour

Who Does The Training?

Luke Buchanan. Dog Trainer Academy accredited, Red Cross pet first aid, AFP background checked

Puppy school and puppy preschool near Lane Cove

Venue Name

Venue Name

DoggieLove, Neutral Bay

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Venue Address

Venue Address

71 Military Road, Neutral Bay NSW 2089

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Days & Times

Days & Times

Four weeks, one hour a week. Rolling start, no fixed intake dates

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About The School

About The School

Puppy school, puppy preschool and puppy kindergarten all mean the same thing. Vets tend to say preschool, we say puppy school, and it is the same four weeks either way.

Your nearest one is DoggieLove on Military Road in Neutral Bay, about 6 km from Lane Cove. It is a professional dog facility rather than a hired hall, fully enclosed and properly cleaned, which matters when puppies are meeting each other for the first time.

Classes are capped at ten puppies and we match them by size, so your puppy is never learning next to a dog four times their weight.

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Where we work around Lane Cove

What it is like owning a dog in Lane Cove

What It Is like

Lane Cove has something almost nowhere else we work has, which is genuinely fenced dog parks. Council describes both Turrumburra Park and Blackman Park as fully fenced off leash dog parks, and there are around eighteen off lead areas across the area in total.

It also has more apartments than people expect. At the last census over sixty per cent of Lane Cove homes were flats or apartments, and in Lane Cove North it was over seventy. So most dogs here have no backyard and rely entirely on those parks.

The thing that trips people up is bushland. Every bushland reserve in Lane Cove is a Wildlife Protection Area, which does not ban dogs, but does mean they must be on a lead and on established tracks. Several off lead reserves have bushland right beside the grass with no fence in between.

Popular Landmarks
  • Blackman Park
  • Turrumburra Park
  • Lane Cove Plaza
  • The Canopy
  • Lane Cove National Park
  • Burns Bay Reserve
  • Pottery Green
Main Housing Style

More apartments than most people expect. At the 2021 census over sixty per cent of Lane Cove homes were flats, rising to over seventy per cent in Lane Cove North.

Puppy and dog behaviour problems in Lane Cove

Local Challenges

  • Bushland beside off lead grass, with no fence between them. Dogs must be on lead and on established tracks in every Lane Cove bushland reserve
  • Sports fixtures. Six of the off lead ovals are hireable sportsgrounds, so winter Saturdays remove most of the unfenced off lead capacity
  • Separation anxiety. Over sixty per cent of homes here are flats, so most dogs have no backyard and close neighbours
  • Lane Cove National Park is not a dog walk. Dogs are not permitted in NSW national parks at all
  • Blackman Park is busy. Skate park, flying fox, cricket nets and night training under lights all in one reserve
  • Wet weather and short notice closures, which take out the unfenced ovals with no warning

Common Breeds

  • Cavoodle
  • Labrador
  • Groodle
  • Border Collie
  • Miniature Schnauzer

Off Lead Spots

  • Turrumburra Park, corner Centennial Avenue and Epping Road, fully fenced off leash dog park
  • Blackman Park, Lloyd Rees Drive, fully fenced off leash dog park, plus the open fields when organised games are not on
  • Stringybark Reserve and Tambourine Bay Reserve, off lead except bushland areas and the playground
  • Helen Street Reserve, Lloyd Rees Reserve and Newlands Park, off lead, not including the playground areas
  • Pottery Green, Tantallon Oval and Burns Bay Reserve, off lead on the open playing fields when organised games are not in progress

Busy Streets

  • Epping Road
  • Longueville Road
  • Burns Bay Road
  • Pacific Highway at St Leonards

What we get called about in Lane Cove, by age

Puppies up to 16 weeks in Lane Cove

The fenced dog park too early

Having a fenced dog park is a real advantage and it is also a trap for a young puppy. A twelve week old inside a fence with a group of adult dogs cannot leave, and cannot be rescued quickly, which is the exact situation you want to avoid at that age.

We tell you when to start using it and how, and puppy school in Neutral Bay does the controlled version in the meantime.

Toileting from a flat

Most Lane Cove homes are apartments, which surprises people who think of it as a leafy suburb of houses. Every toilet break is a lift, a lobby and a street, and a puppy who cannot hold it that long learns to go indoors instead.

We build the route before the puppy needs it, so it is boring by the time it is urgent.

Bushland at the edge of everything

Lane Cove has over fourteen kilometres of bush track and most of the reserves back onto it. A puppy who learns early that the tree line is where the fun is will be much harder to recall at eight months.

We teach the edge of the bushland as a boundary from the start, which is far easier than fixing it later.

Teenage dogs, 17 to 32 weeks, in Lane Cove

Recall going, and bushland right there

Five of the off lead reserves have an explicit bushland carve out, and the off lead grass sits metres from the on lead bush with nothing between them. An adolescent who has decided recall is optional is into the trees before you finish the sentence.

We rebuild the recall on a long line at the distance it actually breaks, and treat the tree line as a boundary to be trained rather than hoped for.

Losing the ovals every winter Saturday

Six of the off lead ovals are hireable sportsgrounds, and council can close grounds at short notice. So on a wet winter Saturday most of the unfenced off lead capacity in Lane Cove disappears at once.

The two fenced parks are the reliable fallback, and we build a routine that does not collapse when the fixture list does.

Overwhelm at Blackman Park

Blackman Park is not a quiet dog park. It has a skate park, a flying fox, cricket nets, floodlit fields and a playground, all in one reserve. For a sensitive adolescent that is a lot happening at once.

Turrumburra is usually the calmer of the two fenced parks, and we work out which one suits your dog rather than assuming both are the same.

Dogs 32 weeks and older in Lane Cove

Barking when you leave

With over sixty per cent of homes here being flats, this is the most common call we take in Lane Cove. It usually arrives with a letter, and owners have almost always tried a camera, a longer walk and the radio first.

We start inside the flat rather than at the front door, because being left is only unbearable when being together was never neutral.

A dog who cannot handle the fenced park

A fenced dog park is brilliant for the right dog and difficult for the wrong one, because a dog who wants to leave cannot. Owners often keep going because it is the only fenced option, and the dog gets worse each time.

We work out honestly whether the fenced park suits your dog, and build an alternative routine if it does not.

A dog who pulls toward the bush

Lane Cove has more accessible bushland than anywhere else we cover, and a lot of dogs here have worked out that the interesting smells are all in the direction they are not allowed to go on a loose lead.

We fix the lead work on the tracks you actually use, and give the dog structured sniffing so the bush is not something they have to fight you for.

A man crouching in a studio while holding a Dalmatian puppy. The man is wearing a dark navy polo shirt and blue jeans, and the puppy is white with black spots.

A Lane Cove call out, start to finish

A composite of the calls we take here. Details changed, the pattern is real.

The call

A three year old Groodle in an apartment in Lane Cove North. He had started growling at other dogs inside the fenced park at Blackman Park, and the owners were worried he was turning aggressive. It was the only off lead option they used, because they had no backyard.

What we found

A fence is wonderful for a confident dog and hard on a worried one, because a dog who wants to leave cannot. He was not becoming aggressive, he was asking for space in a place where there was no way to get any, and going four times a week was making it worse every time.

What changed

We moved him to the open reserves for a month, where he could take himself away when he wanted to, and rebuilt his recall so off lead outside a fence was actually safe. The growling stopped within a fortnight. He still goes to the fenced park occasionally, at quiet times, by choice rather than by default.

What owners say, at every age

Absolutely fantastic, we had a 10 week old demanding Labrador puppy, 3 days later he barely lets out a yelp. It seemed expensive to get 1 on 1 help at first, but having him here meant we could remove any doubt about whether we were on the right track. Plus his online course and ongoing support have been a god send.

Mattice, 10 week old Labrador

I'm in Bellevue Hill and I'm struggling with recall and defiance with my 9 month old puppy. He thinks he's the boss. Luke at Toe Beans showed me a series of easy corrections and behavioural skills that my pup responded to almost immediately. He filled in my missing knowledge.

Lesley, 9 month old puppy, Bellevue Hill

I couldn't believe anyone could really have a big impact on a 7-year-old pet but within just one session, I could see a big difference in both of my dogs. They were calmer, more responsive, and Rosie was completely de-stressed around strange dogs.

Adrienne, 7 year old Bordoodle, Mosman

How we train

How We Train

How We Train

Force free, all of it. No shouting, no punishment, no pain, and nothing that works by hurting your dog.

We call it Relational Leadership. It is less a set of commands than a way of behaving around your dog, so that you become the obvious thing to look at when they do not know what to do. A dog that complies because it is worried about what comes next has not calmed down, it has gone quiet, and that comes back later somewhere less convenient.

Luke's Credentials

Luke Buchanan is the owner of The Toe Beans Co and Sydney's Puppy Trainer. He works as a dog trainer and a dog behaviourist, which in practice means the puppy obedience side and the behaviourism side are handled by the same person rather than referred on. He is accredited through the Dog Trainer Academy, Red Cross certified in pet first aid, and AFP background checked. Every session is run by Luke.

Force Free & Ethical. Always.

No pain. No fear. No force. No aggression. That is the whole philosophy in plain terms, and it does not bend for a difficult week or a stubborn dog.

Guarantee

Puppy school and dog training in Lane Cove, the longer version

Puppy school is the first step for a Lane Cove puppy, with classes at our Neutral Bay venue. Dog training for adolescent and adult dogs happens one to one in your own home, fenced parks or not.

Lane Cove has something almost nowhere else we work has, which is genuinely fenced dog parks. Council describes both Turrumburra Park and Blackman Park as fully fenced off leash dog parks, and there are around eighteen off lead areas across the council in total. None of them have published time restrictions.

It also has far more apartments than people expect. At the 2021 census over sixty per cent of Lane Cove homes were flats, rising to over seventy per cent in Lane Cove North. So most dogs here have no backyard and rely entirely on those parks.

Two things trip people up. The first is bushland. Every bushland reserve in Lane Cove is a Wildlife Protection Area, which does not ban dogs but does mean they must be on a lead and stay on established tracks. Cats are banned outright. Several off lead reserves have that bush sitting right beside the grass with no fence between them.

The second is sport. Six of the off lead ovals are hireable sportsgrounds and council can close grounds at short notice, so on a wet winter Saturday most of the unfenced capacity disappears at once. The two fenced parks are the reliable fallback, though Blackman Park is a busy multi use reserve with a skate park, a flying fox and floodlit fields rather than a quiet one.

Lane Cove National Park is not a dog walk. Dogs are not permitted in NSW national parks, and NPWS runs 1080 baiting programs there, which is fatal to dogs.

  • Puppy preschool plus advice on when a fenced dog park is appropriate for a young puppy.
  • Adolescent training for recall where off lead grass meets on lead bush.
  • Dog behaviourism for adults, including dogs who cannot cope inside a fence.

Puppy school is at Neutral Bay. See adolescent training and in-home behaviour training. We also cover Neutral Bay and Kirribilli.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about puppy preschool and dog training in Lane Cove

Common questions we get about our puppy program.

Common questions about puppy preschool and dog training in Lane Cove

What are the main services you offer?

Our dog training runs in three stages and you pick the one that matches your dog's age.

  • 8 to 16 weeks: puppy school, which includes four weeks of group class
  • 17 to 32 weeks: puppy training, for the stage where most owners feel they are losing the dog they had. There is no group class at this age
  • 32 weeks and older: behaviour training, one to one in your own home

Puppy school currently takes bookings at our Paddington venue and at Neutral Bay on the Lower North Shore. Zetland, Alexandria and Marrickville are venues in our network with no dates open right now, so check the puppy school dates page for what is taking bookings. Everything else happens in your own home, across Sydney.

Which areas of Sydney do you work in?

One to one training happens in your home, anywhere in Sydney within roughly a forty five minute drive of the Harbour Bridge. That covers the:

  • Inner City and City Centre
  • Eastern Suburbs
  • Inner West
  • Lower North Shore
  • Upper North Shore
  • Northern Beaches
  • Hills District
  • Western Sydney
  • South Sydney and St George

Group puppy school runs at fixed venues within about eight kilometres of the Harbour Bridge. See the puppy school dates page for which venues are currently taking bookings.

Should I get another dog to keep my puppy company while I'm out?

Not as a solution to separation distress. A puppy that's distressed when alone is usually distressed because of the leadership dynamic, not loneliness. Adding a second dog doesn't fix the underlying pattern and can create two dogs with the same issue. Establish the home-alone conditioning with your first dog first. A second dog, if you want one, should come later, once the first is settled.

Can I leave the TV or radio on for my puppy when I go out?

It can help as background noise for a puppy that's already well conditioned to being alone. For a puppy in active distress, it won't make a meaningful difference. A settled puppy is settled because it feels secure, not because there's background noise. Use it as a supplementary tool once the conditioning is working, not as a primary solution before it is.

Do Border Collies suit apartment living?

Generally not. They need space and activity. A Border Collie in a small apartment without adequate exercise will become anxious, vocal, or destructive. They're better suited to homes with outdoor access and owners who have an active lifestyle.

How big do Groodles get?

It depends on the Poodle parent used. Standard Groodles typically reach 25 to 35 kilograms and stand around 55 to 65 centimetres tall. Medium Groodles are smaller, around 15 to 25 kilograms. Mini Groodles are smaller still. Size can vary even within a litter, so ask the breeder about the specific parents.

Can you over-socialise a puppy?

You can overdo individual sessions. A tired or overwhelmed puppy is not learning, they are just surviving. Keep sessions short, watch for stress signals like yawning or turning away, and end on a calm note. But the risk of under-socialisation is far greater than the risk of doing too much.

What age should I start teaching loose lead walking?

We start from 8 weeks, using the same staged, off-lead-first sequence, just scaled down. Progress is dictated by your puppy's calmness at each stage, not a fixed age or timeline.

Do you come to my home, and how far do you go?

Yes, from the second level up. A trainer comes to your address and works on your setup, your routine and the behaviour that is actually happening where you live, which is almost never the same as what happens in a training room.

We cover Sydney within roughly a forty five minute drive of the Harbour Bridge. That takes in the eastern suburbs, inner west, lower and upper north shore, northern beaches, south Sydney and out through the inner west. Only the group class brings you to a venue.

My Puppy is Already 12/14/16 etc weeks old. Can I Still Join?

Yes. You can join at any point. There may be one or two elements you have already passed, but plenty of owners join later and get just as much out of it.

The course is divided into age brackets so you are only ever reading the part that matches the puppy in front of you. If your puppy is already past 16 weeks, our 16 to 32 week adolescent program is usually the better fit and we will tell you that rather than sell you the wrong thing.

The only hard limit is group puppy school. Your puppy needs their second vaccination to join, which usually means from around 11 weeks. That is for safety.

Dog Training In Nearby Suburbs

Not sure where to start with your Lane Cove dog?

Come and speak with us about puppy school, teen puppy training or adult dog behaviourism. Book a 15 minute call, it's free and no obligation

Book a free meet and greet Pick A Puppy School

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