Puppies
Puppy class or board and train first?
This is a fair question, and we are not neutral on paper: we run one-on-one programs and no group classes. So we will try to be straight about what a class does well, where a live-in program earns its cost, and a middle option that often gets overlooked. The right order depends on the puppy in front of you.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Class versus live-in
What each option actually gives a young dog.
A good puppy class offers things that are hard to replicate alone: a room full of new dogs, new people and new floors, a regular rhythm, and a gentle start on sit, down and coming when called. The price per hour is usually modest. The catch is that the real training happens in the days between classes, and that part is on you.
A board and train works the other way round. Puppy Fundamentals gives three weeks of daily one-on-one training inside a structured routine, with crate comfort, leash manners, place and calm exposure to new sights and sounds built in. Then comes the owner handover lesson, where we teach you the cues and habits so they have a fair shot at surviving the drive home. It costs more, at $2,775 plus GST, and it asks less of your evenings.
- Class: group exposure, modest price
- Class: owner practises between sessions
- Board and train: daily one-on-one work
- Board and train: handover lesson included
Choosing your route
Who should start where, and the day training middle path.
A class tends to suit an owner with time for daily practice, a puppy who is curious rather than overwhelmed in a busy room, and a budget that needs to stretch. A live-in program tends to suit a household where work hours leave little room for repetition, or a pup who is already rehearsing habits like mouthy greetings or crate protests that a weekly hour may not reach.
Day training sits between the two. For $650 plus GST a week, your puppy gets one-on-one training Monday to Friday, with drop-off between 8 and 10 am and pick-up between 5 and 7 pm, plus a one-hour go-home lesson each week. Your pup sleeps at home every night. The consultation is where we weigh your options, and we will say so when the lighter route is enough.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Should I do puppy classes before board and train?
You can, and some puppies do well with that order. A class gives early exposure and basics, while a board and train adds daily structured work and a handover lesson. The consultation helps decide whether a live-in program, day training or private lessons suit your pup.
Does Northline K9 offer puppy classes?
No. Everything we do is one-on-one, so we do not run group classes of any kind.
Is board and train better than puppy class?
Neither is better across the board. They do different jobs: a class leans on your practice at home, while a live-in program does the daily repetition and then teaches you to keep it going.
Do puppies need vaccinations before training?
Vaccination timing is a question for your veterinarian, whatever kind of training you choose. Bring your vet's guidance to the consultation and we can talk through timing from there.
Keep reading
Weigh your puppy's options
Book a consultation to compare a live-in program, day training and private lessons against what your puppy actually needs.
From real owners
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Real Northline dogs