PUPPY PROGRAMS
Puppy Training in Scottsdale and Cave Creek
Start your puppy off right. Socialization, manners, and confidence from the team that has raised more than 70,000 dogs since 1997.
8 weeks start as early as8-16 wks key socialization window70,000+ dogs trained4.8 stars 2,000+ reviews
What Is the Best Way to Train a Puppy?
The best time to start is now. Early socialization and manners are far easier to build than bad habits are to undo. Partners Dogs offers puppy classes, private lessons, daily DaySchool, and an immersive Foundation Camp, so you can pick the level of help that fits your family and set your puppy up for a calm, confident life.
Family-owned since 1997. 70,000+ dogs trained. 4.8 stars across roughly 2,000 reviews. Start your puppy as early as 8 weeks at our Scottsdale and Cave Creek campuses.
Take the 2-minute puppy quiz See pricing Talk to a trainer, free
THE FIRST MONTHS MATTER MOST
The Window That Shapes Your Dog for Life
The habits your puppy builds before they turn one are the habits you live with for the next decade. Between 8 and 16 weeks, a puppy is neurologically primed to accept new dogs, people, sounds, and places, and the right experiences now dramatically lower the odds of fear, anxiety, and reactivity later.
The good news: you do not have to figure it out alone. Small classes, certified puppy specialists, and a clear plan take the guesswork out of those first months, so you raise the calm, confident dog you pictured when you brought them home.
EVERY STAGE NEEDS A DIFFERENT APPROACH
Where Is Your Puppy Right Now?
8 to 16 weeks: the socialization window. The most important period in your puppy life. Positive, guided exposure to other dogs, people, surfaces, and sounds now prevents fear and reactivity later. Best fit: Pre-School Puppy Classes for gentle, structured socialization.
4 to 8 months: the adolescent phase. Your cute puppy just discovered they have opinions. They test boundaries, lose focus, and pick up habits like counter-surfing and jumping. This is where structure makes the biggest difference. Best fit: Foundation Camp or early Group Classes for impulse control and obedience.
8 to 12 months: building the foundation. Full size, full energy, full personality. Time to proof skills in the real world: loose-leash walking past distractions, reliable recall, calm around guests. Best fit: DaySchool for daily reinforcement plus Private Lessons for targeted work.
FOUR WAYS TO START
Four Paths to the Same Confident Dog
- Pre-School Puppy Classes, $65 a session. Our most popular entry point. Small groups (max 6 puppies) for socialization, basic commands, bite inhibition, and handling skills, with you learning right alongside your puppy. Best for 8 weeks to 5 months. View the schedule
- Private Puppy Lessons, from $129. One-on-one coaching tailored to your puppy and your goals. Ideal for shy or fearful puppies, accelerated results, or training in your own home where the real challenges happen. In-school $179, in-home $279, online $129. Learn more
- Foundation Camp, from $3,509. Our 14-night immersive board-and-train. Your puppy lives with our trainers and comes home with reliable Heel, Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Place, and Watch, plus transition lessons and classes to maintain it. Best for adolescents 4 to 12 months. Explore camp
- DaySchool, memberships from $199 a month. Daily training and socialization through our 8 grade levels. The best long-term solution for puppies who need consistent socialization and owners who want ongoing support. See DaySchool
WHY START WITH US
Puppy Training Run by Specialists, Not Sitters
We have trained more than 70,000 dogs since 1997, and we have helped thousands of families through exactly the stage you are in now. Our trainers are certified puppy specialists who know how to build confidence at your puppy pace, never flooding a nervous puppy or rushing a bold one.
Class sizes stay small, the methods are positive and structured, and everything your puppy learns is tracked so progress is real and repeatable. Whether you want to be hands-on in class or hand off to an immersive camp, there is a path that fits your puppy, your schedule, and your budget.
GETTING STARTED IS EASY
Three Simple Steps to Begin
- 1. Take the 2-minute quiz. Answer a few quick questions about your puppy age, breed, and what you are working on. You get a personalized program recommendation, no account required, no strings attached. Start the quiz
- 2. Talk to a real trainer. Not a salesperson. We walk you through your options, answer every question, and help you pick the right program. Consultations are free with zero pressure to enroll. Schedule a call
- 3. Start training. Whether it is your first Pre-School Puppy class, a private lesson, or dropping off for Foundation Camp, your puppy journey starts here. Most families see noticeable changes within the first week.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Vaccinations and What to Expect
When to start. Puppies can begin structured socialization and basic training as young as 8 weeks. Because the socialization window closes around 16 weeks, earlier is better.
For Pre-School Puppy classes. Your puppy needs at least their first round of DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus) and Bordetella. We follow the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior position that the benefits of early socialization outweigh the small risk of incomplete vaccination.
For Foundation Camp and DaySchool. Full vaccination including Rabies is required, so these usually start around 6 months. We review your records at enrollment.
WHAT PUPPY PARENTS SAY
Real Families, Real Puppies
Verified reviews from families who started their puppies with us at our Scottsdale and Cave Creek campuses.
Cave Creek
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Puppy Training FAQs
When should I start training my puppy?
As early as possible. Puppies can begin structured socialization and basic training at 8 weeks. The critical socialization window closes around 16 weeks, and experiences during this period have an outsized impact on your dog adult temperament. Our Pre-School Puppy classes are built for this window.
Is my puppy too young?
If your puppy is at least 8 weeks old with their first vaccinations, they are ready for Pre-School Puppy. For board-and-train like Foundation Camp we usually recommend waiting until about 6 months for full vaccination, but you do not have to wait to start: classes, private lessons, and at-home guidance can begin right away.
What is the difference between Pre-School Puppy and Foundation Camp?
Pre-School Puppy is a weekly group class where you and your puppy learn together, ideal for puppies under 5 months. Foundation Camp is a 14-night immersive board-and-train for adolescent puppies who need intensive structure, or families who want accelerated results. Many families do both, in sequence.
How do I house train my puppy?
It comes down to management, consistency, and timing. Crate training is the foundation, since puppies avoid soiling their sleeping area. Take your puppy out after waking, eating, drinking, and playing, reward outside successes, and never punish accidents. Our trainers cover house training in both classes and private lessons.
What if my puppy is scared or shy?
Shy puppies need socialization most, but it has to be done carefully. We build confidence gradually with positive exposure at your puppy pace. Private lessons are often the best start for very shy puppies, followed by small group classes once they are ready.
Do you offer puppy socialization?
Yes, it is at the core of everything we do with puppies. Pre-School Puppy classes and DaySchool both provide guided, supervised socialization that teaches your puppy to be calm and confident, not just to play.
Have a different question? Ask our team.
Your Puppy Best Life Starts With the Right Foundation
Whether your puppy is 8 weeks or 8 months old, the best time to start is now. Take the quiz, talk to a trainer, or just give us a call. We will help you figure out the right next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start training my puppy?
As early as 8 weeks. The early weeks are the easiest time to build socialization, handling, and manners. Our Pre-School Puppy classes and DaySchool welcome young puppies.
What puppy programs do you offer?
Pre-School Puppy group classes, private puppy lessons, DaySchool for daily socialization and manners with memberships from $199 a month, and Foundation Camp for an immersive start from $3,509 with a private luxury suite.
Is it socialization or just play?
Both, with structure. DaySchool gives puppies supervised social time plus daily obedience and manners at the lowest trainer-to-dog ratios in Arizona, so play builds good habits instead of bad ones.