Instinct Puppy Camp + Coaching | Professional Puppy Training

Puppy Raising Camp + Coaching

An Extraordinary Puppyhood Experience

Got a a busy schedule, a hectic household, or a trickier-than-normal pup? Let us make the puppyhood experience more pleasant for you and your puppy, with a fully customized Instinct Puppy Raising program.

LEARNING THAT LASTS A LIFETIME

The experiences your puppy has between 8-20 weeks of age will shape how they view the world for the rest of their life. When you enroll in a Puppy Raising program with Instinct, your puppy will live full time with a professional Instinct puppy raiser who will nurture your pup’s confidence, resilience and responsiveness through safe, positive socialization & learning experiences, while providing support for any current puppyhood behavior challenges.

Puppy Camp + Coaching programs are perfect for:

  • Comfort with being left alone
  • Intro to potty training schedule
  • Intro to a crate/confinement area
  • Intro to leash walking & wearing a harness/collar
  • Puppy nipping & mouthing
  • Comfort with handling, petting & grooming
  • Intro to puppy life skills(settling, coming when called, impulse control)
  • Confidence building around people & other dogs
  • Socialization to different environments, objects & sounds
  • ...and more!

Remember: Puppies are still BABIES! They have so much to learn about the human world in which they live. Puppy Camps allow us to lay a fantastic foundation for skills, manners, & daily routines, but puppies will not return from puppy camp fully potty trained or perfectly ‘obedient’.

Note: Puppy camps are not suitable for pups displaying extreme levels of separation-related distress and vocalization lasting longer than 30-40 minutes when left alone. In such cases, we work together via Private Coaching sessions instead. If you are uncertain whether your pup falls into this category, a trainer can help assess your pup’s behavior further during your kickoff consultation.

“Instinct Dog Training came to my rescue [with puppy camp] when I had a fall inside my house, pulling more muscles than I knew I had, and found myself unable to care for my new puppy. My puppy not only benefited from the excellent training, she also learned to be part of a happy family of kids, a pet dog three times as big as she was, and a whole neighborhood of dogs who came for training and playtime. It was just what my puppy and I both needed.”

Carolyn W.

Here's How It Works:

Before Puppy Camp

You and your coach will:

  • Set fair, positive goals for you and your puppy, based on your pup’s Nature
  • Determine the learning experiences, environmental changes, wellness routines, and relationship dynamics exercises you & your pup will need to achieve your goals and provide your pup with optimal, Nature-Driven Nurture
  • Get started with pre-camp training missions that prep your puppy to get the most out of their camp experience

During Puppy Camp

Your coach will:

  • Provide your pup with daily positive training, structure/routine, and socialization experiences designed to move you and your puppy closer to your goals
  • Implement your puppy’s canine behavioral health support plan to meet their developmental needs
  • Track and log behavior & training progress, adjusting as needed
  • Communicate frequently to share new insights about your puppy, their learning style and their behavioral needs; to share successes; and to collaborate on potential program or mission adjustments as needed
  • Include you in the learning process via at-home learning materials and coaching sessions with your pup

After Puppy Camp

You will:

  • Continue where camp left off, completing the private coaching sessions included with your program
  • Continue to track and log progress, and communicate frequently with your coach via your Collaborative Coaching Trello board
  • Become part of our alumni family, and have the option to attend our free and/or low-cost alumni classes, participate in bi-weekly Nature-Driven Nurture Q&A’s, and get support in our alumni-only Facebook group

Puppy Camp + Coaching programs are specially designed for puppies ages 9-20 weeks (certain locations accept pups up to 6 months of age). Programs start at $1,475/week plus applicable state taxes; prices vary depending on location and trainer. Programs last between 1-4 weeks and include private coaching sessions for you, plus lifetime access to free and/or low-cost alumni classes.

Ready to get started?

The first step is booking a 60-minute kickoff consultation to start working toward your puppyhood goals!

Still Deciding?

Here are answers to common Puppy Raising Camp FAQs:

Where do puppies stay during Puppy Raising programs?

Puppies live in a loving home with a highly trained, professional Instinct Puppy Raiser.

Can I visit my puppy during Puppy Camp?

Yes! All puppy camps include visits/lessons, along with lots of photos and progress reports.

What is my puppy's daily schedule like during Puppy Raising?

Puppies enjoy a predictable, structured daily schedule that includes walks, playtime, training time, socialization experiences, snuggle time, and crate time/quiet time.

What will my puppy learn during Puppy Raising?

This depends on your training goals, length of program, and puppy’s age, but generally, we focus on starting to get your pup on a house training schedule, getting them comfy in a crate or pen, exposing them to sights, sounds, people, and other dogs in a safe, positive manner, and working on basic puppy manners including chew toy training and basic puppy obedience skills.

Isn't it important that my puppy and I bond during this stage of his life?

Humans and their dogs form strong, lasting bonds at all stages of life, whether starting at 8 weeks as a brand-new puppy, or at 5-6 years old as an adult rescue dog. You & your pup will have a lifetime of love and adventures to share together; allowing your pup to learn from experts at this critical stage of development will help ensure they grow into a happy, confident companion.

Can my puppy start a Puppy Raising program before she receives all of her vaccinations?

Yes! We follow the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior guidelines for puppy socialization and training. Pups must have received their first round of vaccinations at least one week prior to starting a Puppy Raising program, and then must follow the booster schedule prescribed by their veterinarian.

How long does a Puppy Raising program last?

From 1-4 weeks, based on your goals and how long you can handle being away from your pup 🙂.

What are your training qualifications & methods?

We use only positive, puppy-friendly training methods that focus on building your pup’s confidence, teaching them that the world is a safe place, and helping them develop a lifelong love for learning and training. All Puppy Raisers undergo extensive training in puppy development and are certified trainers, or have earned a Karen Pryor Academy Puppy StartRight® certificate or Karen Pryor Foundations certificate. All Puppy Raising programs are overseen by certified trainers and behavior consultants with years of experience helping young pups get a great start in life.

Success Stories

Sofrito
Behavior Therapy, Fear + Anxiety, Instinct East Harlem, Private Coaching, Veterinary Behavior Collaboration

Sofrito was having a very hard time settling into life in an urban environment. Noises such as bus breaks, fireworks, motorcycles and revving engines terrified her outside and she had a hard time settling in her apartment if she heard noises from the street. To help Sofrito build a strong, positive relationship with her mom, Natasha, and to use that relationship to help grow Sofrito’s confidence in other areas of her life.
Jacky
Behavior Therapy, Fear + Anxiety, Instinct East Harlem, Private Coaching, Senior Dog Support, Veterinary Behavior Collaboration

Jacky displayed significant fear-based behaviors in a variety of situations, from cowering and baring his teeth if someone reached too quickly to pet him, to freezing in place and urinating in response to simple obedience cues. He also struggled with impulsivity and separation anxiety. Our goal was to help Jacky regain his confidence as he aged.

Other Behavior & Training Options

Private Coaching

We use collaborative coaching and canine behavior science to help you make progress toward your goals while prioritizing your dog’s behavioral health.   

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Camp + Coaching

We use a combination of positive reinforcement board & train camp and collaborative coaching sessions to create lasting behavior change together.

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Home School + Coaching

We work with your dog during the day, then provide collaborative, private coaching sessions with you to bring you up to speed.

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Locations

Instinct is a national team of experienced dog behavior professionals. Learn more about everything your locally owned Instinct location has to offer.

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Our Areas of Expertise

Behavior change science is a process. It can be applied to all breeds, ages, and behavior issues to create positive, life-changing outcomes for humans and their dogs.

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Online School

Instinct offers fun, safe, and free online training and behavior resources developed by our team of trusted, experienced behavior professionals.

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