Puppy School and Dog Training in Vaucluse

We run puppy school about fifteen minutes from Vaucluse in Paddington, and we train older dogs one to one in your own home across Vaucluse, Rose Bay and Dover Heights.

See What We Do
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 in Vaucluse, the quick answers

Quick Facts

Where We Work: In your own home, across Vaucluse, Rose Bay, Dover Heights and Watsons Bay

What We Offer

Council Area

Woollahra on the harbour side, Waverley at the Diamond Bay end

Nearest Puppy School Location

Dogs in Town, 308 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021

Distance

About 7 km, roughly fifteen 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 Vaucluse

Venue Name

Venue Name

Dogs in Town, Paddington

Learn more
Venue Address

Venue Address

308 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021

Learn more
Days & Times

Days & Times

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

Learn more
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 in Paddington, about 7 km from Vaucluse. It is a purpose built 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.

Learn More

Where we work around Vaucluse

What it is like owning a dog in Vaucluse

What It Is like

Vaucluse looks like it should be the easiest place in Sydney to own a dog. Big blocks, big gardens, water on two sides. In practice it is one of the trickier ones, and for reasons most people do not see coming.

Almost all the beautiful bits are closed to dogs. Nielsen Park, Parsley Bay, Kutti Beach and the Hermitage Foreshore track are either national park or council prohibited, so the harbour that surrounds the suburb is mostly off limits.

What is left is a set of clifftop reserves on Old South Head Road. They are open, they are off lead, and they sit on the edge of a cliff beside an arterial road. Recall is not a nice extra in Vaucluse, it is the whole thing.

Popular Landmarks
  • Old South Head Road
  • Nielsen Park
  • Parsley Bay
  • Christison Park
  • Diamond Bay Reserve
  • Vaucluse House
  • Watsons Bay
Main Housing Style

Large houses on generous blocks with private gardens, and steep streets between them. Very little apartment stock.

Puppy and adult dog behaviour problems in Vaucluse

Local Challenges

  • Recall on clifftop reserves. Lighthouse, Signal Hill, Christison and Diamond Bay are all unfenced, on the cliff edge, and beside Old South Head Road
  • A suburb where most of the good spots are closed to dogs, so owners drive rather than walk and the dog gets less world than the postcode suggests
  • Fence line and gate barking on long private boundaries with a lot of passing traffic
  • Dogs who are fine at home and unmanageable outside it, because a big garden lets you skip the walk for months
  • Steep streets that make lead work harder than a map suggests, and harder again for an older dog
  • Christison Park loses its off lead status during organised sport, which catches people out on weekends

Common Breeds

  • Labrador
  • Cavoodle
  • Golden Retriever
  • Groodle
  • Miniature Schnauzer

Off Lead Spots

  • Lighthouse Reserve, Old South Head Road, at all times
  • Signal Hill Reserve, Old South Head Road, at all times
  • Christison Park, Old South Head Road, 3.30pm to 10.30am, except during organised sport
  • Diamond Bay Reserve, Craig Avenue, designated area only, at all times
  • Rose Bay Foreshore between Dumaresq Reserve and Percival Park, at all times, including in the water

Busy Streets

  • Old South Head Road
  • New South Head Road
  • Hopetoun Avenue
  • Wentworth Road

What we get called about in Vaucluse, by age

Puppies up to 16 weeks in Vaucluse

Socialisation that never really starts

Vaucluse is quiet, the blocks are big, and most of the nearby foreshore is closed to dogs. So a puppy here can easily reach four months having met almost nothing, without anyone doing anything wrong. The socialisation window closes anyway.

We set out exactly what the first weeks outside the house should look like, and puppy school in Paddington does the controlled dog to dog part.

Car sickness, because everything is a drive

When the good spots are all a drive away, a puppy who dislikes the car has a much smaller world. Most owners push on and the puppy gets worse, because every trip confirms it.

We fix this early, in short pieces, before the association hardens. It is far easier at ten weeks than at ten months.

Toilet training that has not really happened

A puppy with garden access will go outside, so owners assume it is done. What has not been learned is asking, because nobody ever needed to be asked.

We build the asking deliberately, so the garden is a convenience rather than the whole system.

Teenage dogs, 17 to 32 weeks, in Vaucluse

Recall failing on a clifftop

This is the one that matters here. Lighthouse, Signal Hill, Christison and Diamond Bay Reserves are all unfenced, all on the cliff edge, and all sit beside Old South Head Road. Council states the cliff edge at Diamond Bay is unstable and off limits.

An adolescent who has decided recall is optional should be on a long line in these places, and we build it back to the point where they do not need one.

Guarding the gate and the driveway

Long private boundaries, a lot of deliveries and a lot of passing cars. Adolescence is when a dog decides what their job is, and around here they usually decide it is the perimeter.

We take the job off them and change what the garden is for.

Meeting other dogs badly, because they have met so few

A dog whose first six months were mostly garden and car has no practice reading other dogs. It does not look like fear at first, it looks like rudeness, and other dogs correct it hard.

We work the greetings deliberately, with dogs we can predict, before the park does it for us.

Dogs 32 weeks and older in Vaucluse

A dog who cannot be taken anywhere

The most common adult call in Vaucluse. Perfect at home, impossible outside it. That is not two dogs, it is one dog with a very small world, and the answer is not more discipline.

We start on your own street at its quietest hour and build outward, slowly and deliberately, rather than throwing the dog at the thing they cannot cope with.

Barking at the boundary all day

A dog with all day garden access and a long fence line does not relax in it, they work in it. More exercise makes them fitter and no calmer, which is why the longer walk never fixed it.

We change what the dog does with the whole day rather than trying to interrupt the barking itself.

An older dog and steep streets

Vaucluse is hills. As a dog ages, the walk that was fine at five becomes the reason they are stiff at nine, and owners often reduce the walk rather than change it.

We rebuild the routine around what an older dog actually needs, which is usually more mental work and less hill.

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 Vaucluse call out, start to finish

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

The call

A fourteen month old Labrador in a house off Hopetoun Avenue. No recall at all on the clifftop reserves, so he had not been off lead since about eight months. The owners had been told he would grow out of it.

What we found

He had a recall in the garden and nowhere else, which is not a recall. He had also worked out that coming back meant the lead going on and the outing ending, so from his side ignoring the whistle was the obvious choice. On a clifftop next to Old South Head Road, that is not a habit anyone can live with.

What changed

Long line from the start, and we changed what coming back meant, so it stopped predicting the end of everything. We built it in the garden, then quiet streets, then Christison Park in the morning window. About seven weeks before the line came off, and it came off on the flat park rather than the cliff.

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 in Vaucluse, and the clifftop work that comes after

Puppy school in Paddington is the first step for most Vaucluse owners, and the clifftop recall work comes after it. We also train adolescent and adult dogs one to one in your own home here.

Vaucluse looks like it should be the easiest place in Sydney to own a dog and is one of the trickier ones. Big blocks, big gardens, water on two sides, and almost none of the water available to you.

Nielsen Park, Parsley Bay, Kutti Beach and the Hermitage Foreshore track are all either national park or council prohibited. Dogs are not permitted in NSW national parks at all, which rules out the whole harbour walk. That is not unusual for Sydney, where genuinely dog friendly beaches are rare, but it is a shock if you have just moved to a suburb surrounded by water.

What is left is a set of clifftop reserves on Old South Head Road. Lighthouse Reserve and Signal Hill Reserve are off lead at all times, Christison Park runs 3.30pm to 10.30am except during organised sport, and Diamond Bay Reserve has a designated off lead area. All of them are unfenced, all of them sit beside a busy arterial road, and all of them are on a cliff. Council states the cliff edge at Diamond Bay is unstable and access is prohibited.

  • Puppy preschool from eight weeks, because a quiet suburb does not socialise a puppy on its own.
  • Adolescent training for clifftop recall, on a long line until it genuinely holds.
  • Dog behaviourism for adults who are faultless at home and cannot cope anywhere else.

Puppy school is at Paddington. See adolescent training and in-home behaviour training. We also cover Rose Bay and Dover Heights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about puppy preschool and dog training in Vaucluse

Common questions we get about our puppy program.

Common questions about puppy preschool and dog training in Vaucluse

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.

How long does it take to stop problem barking?

Attention-seeking barking can reduce within 1 to 2 weeks if everyone in the household is on the same page. Fear or anxiety-based barking takes longer and usually needs a full behaviour plan.

Should I always use the same recall word?

Yes, and protect it. Use one consistent cue, most trainers use the dog's name followed by 'come', and never use it in situations where you know the dog won't respond. If the word gets poisoned, start fresh with a completely new word and build that one carefully from scratch.

How long does it take to stop lead pulling?

Most dogs show a clear difference within 2 to 3 weeks of daily practice. Puppies often learn faster. Older dogs with years of pulling as a habit take longer. Expect 4 to 8 weeks.

How long does adolescence last in a dog?

In medium breeds, the worst window is six to fourteen months. In large and giant breeds, full cognitive maturation can run to eighteen or twenty-four months. The first wave at six to eight months is usually the most intense.

Why does my Golden Retriever jump on everyone?

Because it works. Jumping gets attention. Even pushing them off counts as a reward in a dog's mind. The fix is to teach your dog that four paws on the floor gets the greeting, not jumping. It takes the whole household to follow through.

How much exercise does a Groodle need?

A decent amount. Groodles have the working instincts of both the Golden Retriever and the Poodle, which means they're active and enjoy having something to do. An hour of exercise a day suits most adults. They also do well with swimming, fetch, and off-lead time in a safe area.

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.

What happens after I enrol?

We confirm your place, then send you a link to book your one to one sessions. Your online course access and Ask Luke open immediately, so you can start the same day even if your first group class is a few weeks off.

Dog Training In Nearby Suburbs

Not sure where to start with your Vaucluse 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

From the blog

Boston Terrier Training: Heat, Housetraining and Session Pacing
10 min read
Boston Terrier Training: Heat, Housetraining and Session Pacing

The Boston Terrier question Luke gets most isn't about behaviour at all. It's some version of "why does my dog...

Read more
Doberman Training: Watchfulness, Focus and Force-Free Handling
10 min read
Doberman Training: Watchfulness, Focus and Force-Free Handling

Most of the Doberman calls Luke takes aren't about a dog that's out of control. They're from someone who's been...

Read more
Siberian Husky training Sydney - calm alert Husky portrait
8 min read
Siberian Husky Training: Managing Energy, Escape Behaviour and Howling

Most calls Luke gets about Siberian Huskies aren't about aggression. They're from owners standing in a garden looking at a...

Read more
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Training: Nipping, Boredom and Back Health
7 min read
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Training: Nipping, Boredom and Back Health

Luke's most common Corgi call isn't about aggression, it's an owner describing a small dog that keeps nipping at ankles,...

Read more