Essential
PD360 AssessmentYour dog's personalized starting point Dog BoardingOvernight stays with trained care Snake AvoidanceRattlesnake safety training GroomingLow-stress bath, brush-out & nailsFoundational
Foundation Camp14-night basics + manners DaySchoolDaily training + structured enrichment Private Lessons1-on-1 coaching for you + your dog Group ClassesWeekly skills in a social settingCurriculum
Grade-Level Curriculum8 grades from Pre-School Puppy to Dogtorate Training JourneyWhat progress looks like, week by week Our MethodologyHow we train and why it lastsPUPPY PROGRAMS
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 2,000+ reviews. Puppies start at 20 weeks, fully vaccinated, 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 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 guide you through those first months, so you raise the calm, confident dog you pictured when you brought them home.
EVERY STAGE NEEDS A DIFFERENT APPROACH
8 to 16 weeks: the socialization window. Guided exposure to dogs, people, surfaces, and sounds now prevents fear and reactivity later. Classes start at 20 weeks fully vaccinated. Best fit: Pre-School Puppy. See Pre-School Puppy Classes
4 to 8 months: the adolescent phase. Boundaries get tested and habits like counter-surfing take hold. Structure matters most. Best fit: Foundation Camp or early Group Classes. Explore Foundation Camp See Group Classes
8 to 12 months: building the foundation. Full size, full energy. Proof skills in the real world: leash walking, recall, calm around guests. Best fit: DaySchool plus Private Lessons. See DaySchool See Private Lessons
Every path starts with where your puppy actually is, then builds the habits that stick for life.
FOUR WAYS TO START
WHY START WITH US
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
HEALTH AND SAFETY
When to start. Puppies join classes at 20 weeks (about five months) old, once they have been fully vaccinated for at least a week. Before then, the most valuable work happens at home: gentle handling, name response, and calm exposure to everyday sights and sounds. An online private lesson can set your at-home plan early.
Vaccinations. Every on-site program requires full vaccination, DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus), Bordetella, and Rabies, completed at least one week before your puppy's first visit. We review your records at enrollment.
For Foundation Camp and DaySchool. The same 20-week, fully-vaccinated rule applies, so a puppy can start Foundation Camp at 20 weeks. Camp already includes group classes in its follow-up; starting with classes first is mainly a way to spread the budget.
WHAT PUPPY PARENTS SAY
Verified reviews from families who started their puppies with us at our Scottsdale and Cave Creek campuses.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED
From 20 weeks (about five months), once your puppy has been fully vaccinated for at least a week. Before then, the work happens at home: name response, gentle handling, and calm exposure to new sights and sounds. An online private lesson can set your at-home plan early, and Pre-School Puppy classes are ready the week your puppy qualifies. See Pre-School Puppy Classes
If your puppy is at least 20 weeks old and has been fully vaccinated for at least a week, they are ready for Pre-School Puppy. Under 20 weeks, start with at-home foundations and an online private lesson, and reserve your class spot for the week your puppy qualifies. Foundation Camp follows the same rule, so it is open from 20 weeks too. Explore Foundation Camp
Pre-School Puppy is a weekly group class where you and your puppy learn together, ideal from 20 weeks (about five 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.
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. See Group Classes See Private Lessons
Shy puppies need socialization most, but it has to be done carefully. We build confidence gradually with positive exposure at your puppy's pace. Private lessons are often the best start for very shy puppies, followed by small group classes once they are ready. See Private Lessons
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 around distractions. See Pre-School Puppy Classes See DaySchool
Explore in 360
Clean floors, safe play spaces, and calm classrooms. Walk both campuses in 360 and see the rooms your puppy will grow up in.
The Puppy Program is Partners Dogs' suite of training options for puppies 20 weeks (about five months) to 12 months old. It is not a single program but a set of age-matched paths because puppies need different things at different stages:
Partners Dogs has trained over 5,000 puppies in 28+ years. The right starting point depends on your puppy's age, the critical socialization window, and your household's schedule and goals.
From 20 weeks (about five months) old, once your puppy has been fully vaccinated for at least a week. Before then, the most valuable work happens at home: name response, gentle handling, and calm exposure to everyday sights and sounds. An online private lesson can set your at-home plan early.
Waiting until problems appear is the most common mistake. By then, you are not preventing problems. You are fixing them. Dogs trained before 6 months are 3x less likely to develop behavior issues later in life, and our Pre-School Puppy classes are ready the week your puppy qualifies.
Partners Dogs offers four paths for puppies, each suited to different ages and goals:
Many families do multiple paths in sequence: Pre-School Puppy first, then Foundation Camp at adolescence, then DaySchool for maintenance.
Every on-site program requires full vaccination, DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus), Bordetella, and Rabies, completed at least one week before your puppy's first visit. That is why puppies join us at 20 weeks (about five months) old.
Foundation Camp is open from 20 weeks under the same rule, and it already includes group classes in its follow-up, so starting with classes first is a budget choice rather than a requirement. We'll review your records at enrollment.
If your puppy is 20 weeks (about five months) or older and fully vaccinated for at least a week, they can start right away with Pre-School Puppy group classes, DaySchool, or Foundation Camp. Younger than that, call 480-595-6700 and our team will map out the right plan for socialization and handling at home until your puppy is ready to join us.
Pre-School Puppy is a weekly group class where you and your puppy learn together, best from 20 weeks (about five months) old. Foundation Camp is our 14-night board-and-train for adolescents who need intensive structure or families who want accelerated results. Many families do both, starting with Pre-School Puppy classes and moving into Foundation Camp as their puppy grows.
Yes, socialization is at the core of what we do. Pre-School Puppy classes and DaySchool provide guided, supervised socialization that teaches your puppy to be calm and confident around other dogs and people while learning polite play.
