Puppies have a critical window for early socialisation between 3 and 16 weeks of age, when experiences shape how they’ll respond to people, other dogs, and new environments as adults. Providing positive socialisation and early puppy training during this time is essential for developing confident, well-adjusted dogs.

Our Puppy Skills classes in Croydon are ideal for puppies aged 8 to 16 weeks at the start of their training. As long as your puppy’s vaccinations are up to date, they can join a safe, supportive group environment, building social confidence and learning essential skills that set the foundation for a happy, well-behaved adult dog.

All dogs attending programs at Smart Choice Dog Training must be up to date with their vaccinations.

While some puppies may not yet have completed their full vaccination schedule, this early stage is when they’re most receptive to learning about their environment and forming lasting impressions. For this reason, early socialisation is often more beneficial than waiting. Our Puppy Skills classes are held in a safe, controlled environment, and the training area is disinfected before training to support your puppy’s health and wellbeing.

If you have any concerns, the American Veterinary Society offers helpful guidance on socialising puppies before they’re fully vaccinated.

At Smart Choice Dog Training, we keep our classes small, with a maximum of 6 dogs per group. This ensures your dog receives personalised attention and tailored guidance, helping them learn faster and more confidently. Small class sizes also allow for a safe and controlled environment, so each dog can thrive at their own pace. Whether you're attending a puppy class or an adult dog training program in Croydon, our expert trainers focus on quality interaction, positive reinforcement, and effective learning outcomes.

At Smart Choice Dog Training in Croydon, we use force-free, reward-based training methods that focus on positive reinforcement. This means we encourage desirable behaviours using treats, praise, and play, rather than using fear, intimidation, or physical punishment.

Our approach is tailored to each dog, recognising that every puppy or adult dog learns differently. These methods help dogs learn more effectively, build confidence, and develop a strong, trusting bond with their guardian.

The cost of dog training can vary depending on the program or private training option you choose. At Smart Choice Dog Training in Croydon, we offer a range of puppy classes, adult dog classes, and private sessions, each tailored to your dog’s needs. For full details on fees and pricing, please visit the specific program or private training page to ensure you have the most up-to-date information.

We specialise in supporting mindDog teams – people who are applying for or already partnered with a psychiatric assistance dog through the mindDog program. If you’re looking for help with training your mindDog, we provide force-free, personalised training to guide you and your dog through the program requirements.

Yes! Our team specialises in helping dogs with anxiety, fear, or reactive behaviours. We use force-free, reward-based training methods to help dogs feel confident and safe, while teaching guardians practical strategies to manage and reduce these behaviours. Each plan is personalised to your dog’s unique needs, supporting them to build confidence, emotional resilience, and positive interactions with their environment.

For more detailed guidance and tailored support, please visit our Behaviour Consultations page of this website.

For the safety and well-being of all dogs and participants, dogs that are unwell or in heat may not attend training.

Although your puppy or dog may be unable to attend training, we welcome guardians to attend the session to observe, take notes, and learn techniques they can practise at home. This way, you can still make progress with your training and be ready to re-join the class when your dog is well.

Our refund policy is outlined in our Terms & Conditions. At Smart Choice Dog Training, we provide refunds in accordance with the Australian Consumer Law, ensuring that our policies are fair and transparent.

Dogs do not need to be desexed to participate in our classes.