Puppy training & socialization in San Diego

If you're like most puppy parents, you probably have a couple of goals:

  1. Help your puppy reach their full potential

  2. Survive puppyhood! 

Welcome to Woof! San Diego. We can help you with both.

Puppy looking up at his person during training class

Common puppy training goals

Come when called

Attention around distractions

Relaxation

Leave It & Drop It

Wait until released

Walk on a leash

Socialization

Positive experiences with other dogs, people, and things

Cooperative handling

Allow nail trims, baths, vet care, and more

Manage unwanted behavior

Potty outside and decrease nipping, jumping, and chewing peoples’ things

Puppy behavior problem prevention

In addition to teaching your puppy new skills, training your puppy from an early age can help to prevent these types of challenging behaviors.

Separation anxiety

Teaching your puppy to be comfortable when left alone or physically separated from you can help prevent or aid in the treatment of separation anxiety.

Aggressive or fear-based behavior

Early, positive exposure to people and other dogs helps puppies learn how to properly interpret body language of other dogs and interactions with people. It also helps people to support their puppies in various social settings as they learn and grow.

Resource guarding

When your puppy begins to guard their prized possessions (food, treats, bones, toys, etc.) from people or dogs using behaviors such as growling, snapping, or biting. Puppies learn good things happen when their high-value resources are taken away, so they are not threatened when someone approaches their resources.

Destruction

Chewing and biting are normal puppy behaviors. As they grow up, puppies will learn household manners. Puppy guardians need to learn to manage the home environment so puppy biting and chewing behaviors don't become habits in the future. 

Potty training problems

Setting your puppy up to be successful from the beginning is the best way to build strong habits of going potty in the right places.

Excessive excitability

Teaching puppies how to relax and focus helps them learn to control their bodies when things get exciting. Early exposure to novelty and opportunities to engage in enriching activities also helps puppies avoid overstimulation.

Puppy training can help.

The most important period for socialization and exposure to new experiences is during the first three months of a dog's life. This is also the perfect time to teach your puppy new behaviors and proactively prevent bad habits.

Our group puppy classes are open enrollment classes, so you can start as soon as you're ready. Review the Group Class information page for more details about puppy class schedule, pricing, and class requirements. Our puppy classes are held at a pet supply store in San Diego in the Normal Heights neighborhood. 

(If your puppy is older, don't worry! There are still plenty of things you can do to train and socialize your puppy. We also have a group class for adolescent and adult dogs.)

Some people or puppies learn best in their home environments and have opportunities to socialize their puppies with new people and friendly dogs that they already know. And others need help with behaviors they’re seeing at home and want to work on those in a way that’s specific to their puppy and their household.

We also offer puppy training lessons to give you the support you need at home, as well as our “best of both” package, where you can join a group class and also get help with specific issues at home along the way.