Puppy School and Dog Training in Waverley

We run puppy school about eleven minutes from Waverley in Paddington, and we train older dogs one to one in your own home across Waverley, Bondi Junction and Bronte.

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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 kindergarten and dog training in Waverley, the short version

Quick Facts

Where We Work: In your own home, across Waverley, Bondi Junction, Charing Cross and Bronte

What We Offer

Council Area

Waverley

Nearest Puppy School Location

Dogs in Town, 308 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021

Distance

About 4 km, roughly eleven 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 Waverley

Venue Name

Venue Name

Dogs in Town, Paddington

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Venue Address

Venue Address

308 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021

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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 in Paddington, about 4 km from Waverley and a straight run along Oxford Street. 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.

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Where we work around Waverley

What it is like owning a dog in Waverley

What It Is like

Waverley sits behind the beaches rather than on them, and that turns out to be an advantage for a dog. You are not competing for space on a coastal path, and you have two of the better all day off lead areas in the council on your doorstep.

The trade off is Bondi Junction. Westfield, the bus interchange and Oxford Street put a lot of traffic, noise and crowding into a small area, and for a dog who is uneasy about any of that it is a lot to walk through.

Housing here is mixed. Semis and small houses on the Charing Cross side, and a lot of apartments toward the Junction, so the job changes street by street more than it does in most suburbs.

Popular Landmarks
  • Waverley Park
  • Varna Park
  • Bondi Junction Westfield
  • Charing Cross
  • Bronte Road
  • Waverley Cemetery
  • Queens Park
Main Housing Style

Semis and small houses toward Charing Cross, and a lot of apartments toward Bondi Junction. Outdoor space varies enormously street to street.

What goes wrong for puppies and dogs in Waverley

Local Challenges

  • Bondi Junction. Westfield, the bus interchange and the crowds put a dog through more in ten minutes than a whole walk elsewhere
  • Off lead that is only part of the park. Varna Park is the east end only and Waverley Park is the western middle section, not the whole thing
  • Recall near roads. Waverley Park is bounded by Bondi Road, Birrell Street, Paul Street and Park Parade, and none of it is fenced
  • Separation anxiety in the apartments toward the Junction, where neighbours are close on every side
  • Dogs prohibited in the Waverley Park Memorial Gardens and on all the sportsfields, which surprises people
  • Queens Park is managed by Centennial Parklands rather than the council, so it runs on different rules from everything else nearby

Common Breeds

  • Cavoodle
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • French Bulldog
  • Labrador
  • Border Collie

Off Lead Spots

  • Varna Park, corner Varna and Leichhardt Streets, east end only, all day
  • Waverley Park, western and middle section, all day
  • Bronte Park, the Bronte Gully area, 3pm to 10am
  • Dickson Park, Bondi, south end, all day
  • Queens Park, designated areas set by Centennial Parklands, off lead except when the sports fields are in use

Busy Streets

  • Bondi Road
  • Bronte Road
  • Oxford Street, Bondi Junction
  • Birrell Street

What we get called about in Waverley, by age

Puppies up to 16 weeks in Waverley

Bondi Junction too early

Owners think of it as good socialisation, and for a confident puppy at the right age it can be. For most twelve week olds, Westfield and the bus interchange is the deep end, and a puppy who is frightened there does not simply get used to it.

We stage it properly, starting on the edges at quiet hours, so the Junction becomes normal rather than becoming the thing your dog braces for.

Toileting where housing varies street to street

Some Waverley homes have a courtyard, plenty have nothing at all. If you are in a flat, 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 routine around the home you actually have rather than a generic one.

Biting, and neighbours close by

Every puppy bites. The usual advice, redirect and walk away, is harder in a semi or a small flat where there is nowhere to walk away to and the yelping carries.

We work on the settling side rather than the biting side, because a puppy who can switch off in a small space stops needing to be managed out of it.

Teenage dogs, 17 to 32 weeks, in Waverley

Recall going in the parks with roads on every side

Waverley Park is bounded by four roads and none of it is fenced. Varna Park is a small east end on a street corner. An adolescent who has decided recall is optional has very little margin in either.

We rebuild it on a long line at the distance it actually breaks, in the park you actually use.

Off lead in the wrong part of the right park

Both local parks are off lead in one section only, and the boundaries are not obvious on the ground. Teenagers do not respect boundaries, which is how owners end up with a dog on a sportsfield or near a playground.

We work the boundary as a training exercise, because it is a real skill and it saves you a fine.

Lunging on Bondi Road

Narrow footpaths, heavy traffic and buses. An adolescent who is only just coping is put over threshold repeatedly, and each time makes the next one harder.

We change your route and your timing first, then close the distance deliberately once they can cope with it.

Dogs 32 weeks and older in Waverley

Barking when you leave

Common across the whole suburb and particularly toward the Junction. It usually arrives with a note from a neighbour or from strata, and owners have almost always tried a camera, a longer walk and the radio before they ring.

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

A dog who cannot handle the Junction

For a lot of Waverley households the Junction is unavoidable, because it is where the shops, the buses and the vet are. A dog who cannot cope there limits the whole family.

We build it back in stages from the edges rather than asking the dog to tolerate the worst of it on day one.

Reactivity that started at the park

Both local off lead areas are small and busy, so a dog who has had one bad experience will meet the same dogs again. That is how one incident becomes a fixed opinion.

We stop the rehearsal first and rebuild tolerance at a distance your dog can actually handle.

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 Waverley call out, start to finish

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

The call

An eight month old Staffordshire Bull Terrier in a semi near Charing Cross. He could not walk past the bus interchange at Bondi Junction without going flat to the ground and refusing to move, and the family needed to get through it to reach the vet and the shops.

What we found

Not stubbornness. Buses hiss when they kneel and the interchange is loud, enclosed and full of feet. He had been taken through it at four months at rush hour, once, and had made a decision about it. Every trip since had confirmed it, because they had kept going through at the same time of day.

What changed

We started at a distance where he could still eat, on the far side of Oxford Street on a Sunday morning, and worked in. No pushing through, and no forcing. Around four weeks before he walked through the interchange on a weekday, and he did it on a loose lead rather than dragged.

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 kindergarten and dog training in Waverley, up close

Puppy kindergarten and puppy school are the same four weeks, and for a Waverley puppy the classes are a single bus along Oxford Street to Paddington. Dog training for teenagers and adults happens at your address.

Waverley sits behind the beaches rather than on them, and for a dog that turns out to be an advantage. You are not competing for footpath on a coastal walk, and you have two of the better all day off lead areas in the council on your doorstep. What you do have is Bondi Junction, and for a dog who is uneasy in crowds the interchange and Westfield are a lot to get through.

Both local off lead areas are part of the park rather than the park. Varna Park is the east end only. Waverley Park is the western middle section. Neither is fenced, and Waverley Park has roads on four sides. Dogs are prohibited in the Memorial Gardens, on all sportsfields and courts, and within ten metres of the playgrounds and barbecues.

Queens Park is next door and does not run on council rules at all. It is managed by Centennial Parklands, and the signage reads that it is off lead except when the sports fields are in use, which is a condition rather than a clock.

  • Puppy preschool and puppy obedience from eight weeks, staged so the Junction becomes normal rather than frightening.
  • Adolescent training for recall in parks with roads on every side.
  • Dog behaviourism for adults who cannot cope with crowds or traffic.

Puppy school is at Paddington, a single bus along Oxford Street. See adolescent training and in-home behaviour training. We also work in Bondi and Bronte.

Frequently Asked Questions

Puppy school and dog training questions we get asked in Waverley

Common questions we get about our puppy program.

Puppy school and dog training questions we get asked in Waverley

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.

What's the first stress signal a dog shows, before growling?

Stiffening and freezing. It comes before the growl, which comes before a snap. Watching only for the growl means missing the first two warnings.

What if my dog gets spooked by a car and bolts?

Keep the lead short near roads until your dog is reliable. Practise in quieter streets first, then build up to busier roads. Never rely on recall alone near traffic.

What is the best way to teach a dog to wait at the kerb?

Ask for a sit or a stop at every kerb before crossing. Reward the pause, then give a clear release word to cross. Repeat this at every crossing until it is automatic.

Are Staffies banned in Sydney?

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are not prohibited in New South Wales. American Staffordshire Terriers are on the restricted breed list, which is a different dog. It's worth knowing the difference. Staffies are smaller, with a distinct look. Check your local council for any specific rules that apply.

How long can I leave my dog alone while we are working on this?

Only as long as they can currently manage calmly, which early on may be under a minute. Arrange a walker, a sitter or family cover for the gap between what your dog can handle and what your day requires. Repeatedly pushing past their threshold reinforces the anxiety rather than building tolerance.

What is the Energy Meter and how does it help read a dog's stress?

A simple 1 to 10 arousal scale we use with clients. Never ask for anything above a 5, since a dog past that point can't process training or a calm greeting, it needs to come back down first.

How do I sign up for the program?

Getting enrolled is simple. Go to the puppy page and choose your level of support. Then pick your puppy school date, and you will be asked to book your one to one sessions, the number depending on the tier you chose. Everything is sent straight to your calendar.

What's included in the price of The Toe Beans Co's programme?

Puppy school includes a 4-week group class with Luke Buchanan personally running each session, one to one training at your own home where Luke works with the puppy in its actual environment, access to the full online course covering everything from the 5 Golden Rules through to behaviour management, and access to the private SKOOL community for questions and support.

How many home sessions you get, and how long your course access and support run for, depends on the level you choose. Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum are set out with what each one includes on the booking page: https://thetoebeansco.com.au/pages/local-sydney-puppy-trainer-puppy-school-and-puppy-program

Dog Training In Nearby Suburbs

Not sure where to start with your Waverley 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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