Puppy Starter Program
"Start Strong. Build for Life."
A 3-week immersive training experience that gives your puppy the best possible foundation for life. Your pup stays with us for 2 weeks of intensive training, then comes home for 1 week of hands-on handler coaching—ensuring both you and your puppy succeed together.
Perfect for Puppies 5-9 Months Old • Serving Bassett & Southwest Virginia • (276) 229-2625
The Goal
Your puppy leaves with a calm default state, basic obedience, and an unshakeable foundation.
You leave knowing exactly how to continue building.
This isn't just puppy training. It's building the relationship that will last a lifetime.
What's Included in Your 3-Week Program
2 Weeks Live-In Board & Train
Your puppy stays with us, trains daily, and learns structure in a real-world environment with proper nervous system regulation.
Daily Video Lessons
10-15 minute educational videos sent each morning so you're learning alongside your pup throughout the program.
Homework Assignments
2x daily practice exercises (10-15 minutes each) so you're ready for the handoff in week 3.
6+ Hands-On Sessions
3 sessions during weeks 1-2 (trainer + owner transfer) and 3-5 sessions in week 3 (at-home coaching).
Custom Training Plan
Detailed written guide and take-home resources specific to YOUR puppy for continuing training after graduation.
Ongoing Support
Text, email, and phone support throughout the program and one month of follow-up support after graduation.
Plus: Weekly Progress Updates
You'll receive photos, videos, and detailed progress reports throughout the 2-week board & train so you're never left wondering how your puppy is doing.
How the Program Works
Weeks 1-2
Intensive Board & Train
Your puppy stays with us for full immersion training. We build foundation, structure, and calm behavior through science-based methods.
Week 3
Home Transition & Handler Coaching
Your puppy comes home! We shift focus to YOU with 3-5 hands-on coaching sessions teaching you to lead with confidence.
After Graduation
Continued Success
One month of follow-up support plus lifetime access to guidance. You're never left alone after the program ends.
The 3-Week Journey
Here's exactly what happens each week. Remember: every puppy learns at their own pace, so we adjust based on temperament, age, and developmental stage.
Week 1 — Foundations & Trust
Building the foundation for everything that follows: trust, communication, and confidence.
What Your Puppy Learns:
- ✓ Name recognition & eye contact
- ✓ Sit, Down, and Place (mat work)
- ✓ Intro to recall (coming when called)
- ✓ Loose leash walking basics
- ✓ Engagement games
- ✓ Reward timing fundamentals
- ✓ Confidence building
- ✓ Calm default state foundation
What You'll Do:
- 📹 Watch daily 10-15 minute video lessons — Topics: "How Puppies Learn," "Leash Handling Basics," "Building Focus in Distractions"
- 📝 Complete homework assignments (10-15 min, 2x/day) — Sit/Down practice, engagement games, structured walks
- 🎓 Attend 3 hands-on training sessions — Work directly with your pup and trainer, learn reward timing and leash handling
Week 1 Goal: Build trust, establish clear communication, and teach your puppy (and you!) the basics of the training game.
Week 2 — Structure & Early Reliability
Building duration, adding distractions, and proofing skills in real-world environments.
What Your Puppy Learns:
- ✓ Increased duration in Sit, Down, Place
- ✓ Heel position and structured walking
- ✓ Long-line recall outdoors
- ✓ Distraction proofing (toys, people, noise)
- ✓ Real-world practice in parks and neighborhoods
- ✓ Calm decision-making under pressure
- ✓ Confidence in new environments
- ✓ Nervous system regulation
What You'll Do:
- 📹 Watch daily video lessons — Topics: "Recall Games," "Proofing Cues at Home," "Strategic Use of Rewards," "Confidence Building"
- 📝 Continue homework practice — Place + recall indoors, heel games, outdoor recall, confidence exercises
- 🎓 Attend 3 more hands-on sessions — Learn strategic reward use and refine your handling technique
Week 2 Goal: Build reliability and duration in all commands. Proof skills under real-world distractions.
End of Week 2: Full graduation review with owner covering Sit, Down, Place, Recall, and Leash Manners. You'll receive your custom training plan and video: "Maintaining Progress."
Week 3 — Home Transition & Handler Coaching
Your puppy comes home! This is where the real work happens for YOU.
⚠️ Important Truth
A perfectly trained puppy with an unprepared owner will regress. Your puppy's success depends on you understanding what we taught them and maintaining consistency. That's why handler coaching isn't optional—it's essential.
What Happens This Week:
Days 1-2: Intensive Training
- • Live demonstrations of every command your puppy knows
- • YOU practice while we coach (not watching—doing)
- • Video reviews of your technique
- • Real-world walks and exposure work (park, neighborhood, car)
- • House routine setup — feeding structure, crate management, potty breaks
Days 3-5: Real-World Application
- • You take your puppy home (we're still coaching)
- • We observe your home setup and provide recommendations
- • Troubleshooting real issues as they come up
- • We identify YOUR personal challenges and solve them together
- • Final walk, final questions, final confidence building
What You'll Leave With:
- ✓ Detailed written guide specific to YOUR puppy
- ✓ Videos of you handling your puppy correctly
- ✓ Daily routine calendar ready to print and use
- ✓ Emergency troubleshooting plan for common issues
- ✓ One month of follow-up phone support (included)
Week 3 Goal: You leave with confidence, a clear plan, and the ability to maintain and build on what your puppy learned. You're never alone after this.
Throughout All 3 Weeks
Daily Video Lessons
Educational content sent each morning
Progress Updates
Photos, videos, and detailed reports
Direct Support
Text/email for questions anytime
What Your Puppy Actually Learns
Foundation Behaviors
- • Sit, Down, Stay — Impulse control on command
- • Loose Leash Walking — Real-world walking without pulling
- • Recall Foundation — Coming when called (even with distractions)
- • Crate Comfort — Safe den behavior, independent rest
- • Calm Feeding — No begging, no resource guarding, structure
- • Bite Inhibition — Soft mouth, appropriate play
- • Confidence Building — Calm response to new environments
Nervous System Work
- • Calm default state (not hyper-vigilant)
- • Self-regulation ability without constant stimulation
- • Reduced anxiety in new situations
- • Foundation for preventing separation anxiety
- • Emotional control and impulse management
- • Proper rest cycles and sleep patterns
- • Neutral exposure to the world (observing before engaging)
The Secret: Daily Structure
Your puppy's day is carefully designed to balance learning, rest, play, and nervous system regulation. This structure is what creates rapid foundation building without overwhelm.
Our Training Philosophy
"Calm is trained, not expected."
Puppyhood is a critical window. What your puppy learns now—both good and bad—will shape their behavior for years to come.
We reject dominance myths, intimidation tactics, and any approach that creates fear or learned helplessness.
We Believe:
- • Nervous system regulation before obedience demands
- • Structure creates confidence—chaos creates anxiety
- • Neutral exposure (observing calmly before engaging)
- • Real-world practice beats sterile obedience drills
- • Building handlers is as important as training puppies
- • Game-based learning, not endless drills
How We Train:
- • Science-based methods aligned with how puppy brains develop
- • Positive reinforcement only — no punishment, no aversive methods
- • Clear communication and calm leadership
- • Short, focused sessions to avoid burnout
- • Puppies are guided, not overwhelmed
- • Teaching how to learn, not just what to do
About E-Collar Use with Puppies
Not all puppies in the Puppy Starter Program will use an e-collar. E-collar conditioning is introduced only if your puppy is ready—meaning they're developmentally mature enough, emotionally stable, and showing readiness for this level of training.
How We Introduce E-Collars:
- • Only if puppy is developmentally ready (never forced)
- • Started at absolute lowest level—barely perceptible
- • Always paired with treats, play, and praise
- • Used to build understanding—NEVER as punishment
- • Handler fully coached on proper use and timing
- • Can be delayed or skipped entirely if not appropriate
The Goal:
The e-collar is never used as a correction tool during puppy training. It's paired with positive reinforcement so your puppy learns to associate the sensation with good things.
Your comfort and your puppy's well-being always come first.
Perfect For
Puppies 5-9 Months Old
The critical window for foundation building and nervous system development
New Puppy Owners
First-time owners who want to do this right from the beginning
High-Energy Puppies
Puppies who need structure and nervous system regulation to calm down
Preventing Behavior Problems
Building foundation before issues like separation anxiety, reactivity, or aggression develop
Serious Owners
People ready to invest time in building a real partnership that lasts a lifetime
Families
Households wanting a calm, well-mannered family member who can handle daily life
Not Recommended For:
- • Puppies younger than 5 months — They may not be developmentally ready for this level of training
- • Puppies older than 9 months — May benefit more from our standard Kickstarter or 4 Week Board & Train program
- • Owners not ready for daily practice — This program requires consistent follow-through at home
What to Expect After the Program
When Your Puppy Comes Home
✅ Real Expectations
- • Your puppy will be noticeably different—calmer, more confident, responsive
- • They may be quieter/withdrawn for 24-48 hours (normal adjustment—this will pass)
- • Occasional accidents are normal (nerves, new home—return to routine and it stops)
- • They will test boundaries in weeks 2-3 (normal adolescent behavior)
- • But they're still a puppy—expect progress, not perfection
📅 The First Month Timeline
- Week 1: Adjustment + your foundation building. They're learning YOUR rules now.
- Weeks 2-3: Testing phase. They'll push boundaries. Consistency matters most.
- Week 4: Integration. New behaviors solidify. Regression is rare if you've been consistent.
Success Looks Like:
Calm default state
(not hyper, not anxious)
Responding to commands
(reliably in your home)
Loose leash walking
(on familiar routes)
Sleeping through the night
(comfortable in crate)
Seeking your attention
(not constant stimulation)
Calm decision-making
(thoughtful, not reactive)
Your Role (This Is Important)
Your puppy's success is 50% our training + 50% your consistency.
What We Need From You:
- ✓ Consistency — If we taught sit = reward, then sit = reward at your house too
- ✓ Daily Structure — Feeding, potties, training, rest—same times, same order
- ✓ Patience with Regression — Around 6-8 months, temporary regression is normal (fear periods, adolescence)
- ✓ Communication — Questions? Issues? Call or email. Use your month of follow-up support.
How to Keep Building:
- 📅 Practice daily (even just 10-15 minutes)
- 📈 Gradually add real-world challenges (backyard → neighborhood → park)
- 🔄 Stay connected for support (text, call, or email anytime)
- 🎓 Consider advanced training if needed (6-Week Board & Train, Off-Leash Freedom)
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is best for this program?
5-9 months old is ideal. This is the critical window for foundation building. Puppies younger than 5 months may not be developmentally ready. Puppies older than 9 months may benefit more from our standard programs.
What should I bring?
Bring your puppy's food (enough for 2 weeks), medications/supplements, vaccination records, and optionally a favorite toy or blanket. We provide crates, bowls, training equipment, and everything else needed during their stay.
Can I visit during the 2-week board & train?
No visits during weeks 1-2. This allows your puppy to fully immerse in training without confusion. You'll receive regular updates and attend 3 hands-on sessions during this time. Week 3 is when you're fully involved.
Is crate training included?
Yes. Crate training is a core part of the program. Your puppy will learn to see their crate as a safe den, sleep comfortably at night, and develop independence without separation anxiety.
Will my puppy use an e-collar?
Only if developmentally appropriate. Not all puppies use an e-collar. If introduced, it's done gently with positive association—never as punishment. We discuss this during your consultation.
What if I need help after the program?
You get one month of follow-up support included (text, email, phone). After that, we offer ongoing coaching sessions for additional support. We don't disappear after graduation.
What makes this different from puppy classes?
Immersion + individual attention + nervous system work. Group classes teach tricks. We build calm, confident puppies through science-based methods, structured routines, and real-world practice—then teach YOU to lead.
Is this program guaranteed to work?
Success requires partnership. We build the foundation—you maintain it. With consistent follow-through, puppies show clear, lasting progress. But training is a lifelong commitment, not a one-time fix.
Give Your Puppy the Best Start in Life
The Puppy Starter Program is one of the best investments you can make in your dog's future. Build trust, structure, and calm leadership that lasts a lifetime.
Leash Legacy K9 Training • Bassett, Virginia • Serving Southwest VA