Puppies
Puppy Fundamentals vs raising the puppy yourself
This is not a test of how good an owner you are. Plenty of families raise lovely dogs on their own, and plenty of committed people run out of hours in a week. The real comparison is time, consistency and timing: who can show up for a puppy every single day while its habits are still forming, and what that is worth to you.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Time against structure
What three weeks of daily practice actually buys.
With Puppy Fundamentals, the repetitions you would otherwise squeeze into mornings and evenings happen with us, every day for three weeks. The work covers name recognition, leash manners, sit and down with a stay, the place command and crate comfort, plus structured socialization to new sights and sounds. The predictable routine is part of the lesson too, and that kind of rhythm is hard to copy around school runs and shift work.
Doing it yourself is a real option, and it costs little beyond time and treats. The catch is consistency across the whole household. A puppy learns from every repetition, including the ones where one person allows jumping and another does not. If your family can agree on the rules, keep sessions short and daily, and stick with it through the teething stretch, raising the puppy yourself is a reasonable plan.
- Daily one-on-one training sessions
- Routine the puppy can predict
- Owner handover lesson included
- Follow-up session within 60 days
Choosing your lane
Who should hire it out and who should not.
Raising the puppy yourself tends to suit homes where someone is around most days, the household agrees on rules, and you enjoy the training itself. Private Training, $150 + GST per one-hour session with a written plan for the week, suits owners who want to do the work with a professional checking their timing. Puppy Fundamentals is built for puppies in their key learning window, including families whose schedule cannot hold daily practice.
Even with the program, the family still raises the puppy. The handover lesson teaches you the same markers and routines your pup has been practising, and the follow-up session within 60 days checks how they are holding at home. At the consultation we look at your puppy and your calendar and say which option fits. If coaching or doing it yourself is enough, that is the answer you will hear.
The programs
Programs and prices
W · One-hour session
Private Training
One-on-one coaching with you on the other end of the leash.
Includes a written weekly plan to work from
N · 3-week board & train
Puppy Fundamentals
Your puppy's first months decide the habits of a lifetime.
Includes handover lesson, follow-up session, slip lead + collar
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Is it better to train a puppy yourself or send it away?
Neither is better for every family. Training yourself suits a household with daily time and agreed rules. Puppy Fundamentals suits families whose schedule cannot hold daily practice during the learning window.
How much does Puppy Fundamentals cost compared with private lessons?
Puppy Fundamentals is $2,775 + GST for a three-week board and train. Private Training is $150 + GST per one-hour session, with a written plan you practise all week. The consultation helps you decide which fits.
Will my puppy still bond with us after board and train?
The bond is built at home, every day after pickup. The handover lesson shows you how to carry on the routines your pup has been practising, so you become the one who runs them.
Can we start on our own and switch later?
Yes. You can start on your own and book a consultation if a habit sticks. Puppy Fundamentals is built for puppies in their key learning window, and in our experience a habit is often easier to work with before it has had months of practice.
Keep reading
Talk it through first
Book a consultation and we will compare Puppy Fundamentals, coaching and doing it yourself against your puppy and your week.
From real owners
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Real Northline dogs