Puppies
Puppy board and train at 4, 5 or 6 months
Four, five and six months sound close together on a calendar. In a puppy's head they can feel like different chapters. One pup is still soaking up the world with an open mind; another has started testing every rule in the house. Here is how we think about age when an owner asks about board and train, and why the consultation, not the birthday, settles the fit.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Age and fit
What changes between four and six months.
At four months, many puppies are still in what trainers call the learning window: new sights and sounds tend to land as information rather than threats, and habits are still soft. Puppy Fundamentals is built for exactly that stage. Crate comfort, name recognition, sit, down and place, and calm exposure to everyday noise are taught while the puppy is still forming opinions about the world.
By five and six months, the picture often shifts. Adolescence is on the way, and with it comes selective hearing, more confidence on the leash and a pup who has had more time to rehearse jumping, pulling or ignoring a recall. None of that rules out a puppy program. It simply means the consultation looks harder at what your pup already practises at home, not just the number on the vet record.
- Four months: open learning window
- Five months: habits starting to set
- Six months: adolescence approaching
- Consultation confirms the fit
The six-month question
Puppy Fundamentals or On-Leash Foundations for an older pup.
For a six-month-old, two programs often come up. Puppy Fundamentals runs three weeks at $2,775 plus GST and covers the broad base: crate comfort, socialization, name, sit, down, place and leash manners, with a follow-up session within 60 days. On-Leash Foundations runs two weeks at $1,865 plus GST and narrows in on loose-leash walking, heel, stay and working around everyday distractions, with lifetime phone and email support afterward.
Which one fits depends on the gaps. A six-month-old who still finds the crate stressful or gets rattled by traffic noise may need the wider puppy foundation. One who settles well at home but drags you down the sidewalk may be better served by the shorter leash-focused program. We make that call together at the consultation, and if the lighter option covers it, that is what we recommend.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Is 6 months too old for puppy board and train?
Not necessarily. Six months is often the edge of adolescence, so the consultation looks at what your pup is already practising before recommending Puppy Fundamentals or a different program.
Can a 4 month old puppy do board and train?
Four months sits squarely in the stage Puppy Fundamentals is built for. Vaccination timing is a question for your vet, and the consultation confirms whether the program suits your individual puppy.
What is the best age to send a puppy to board and train?
There is no single best birthday. If your pup is already practising habits you would rather not keep, sooner tends to be easier than later, and the consultation helps you weigh the timing.
Is On-Leash Foundations suitable for a 6 month old puppy?
It can be, especially for a pup whose main struggle is pulling or tuning you out on walks. It is two weeks at $1,865 plus GST and focuses on leash work rather than the broader puppy basics.
Keep reading
Not sure which age fits?
Book a consultation and tell us your puppy's age and habits. We will point you to the program that fits, lighter options included.
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