Puppy School, Preschool & Dog Training

Greencross Vets Puppy School is a safe, fun and interactive training programme run by qualified trainers at selected Greencross Vets clinics, Petbarn and City Farmers stores nationwide. The course helps your puppy gain confidence along with puppies of similar age, learn basic training techniques, and help you understand your pup’s behaviours. Whether your puppy is starting Puppy Preschool for the very first time or your older dog missed out on early training, our vet-led courses build good manners, confidence and a lifelong bond between you and your pet.

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Our Puppy School and Dog Training Programs

We currently run two courses, built for different stages of your dog’s life. Read more about our courses below to work out which one is the best fit for you and your dog or puppy.

Who is it for	Puppy School (Puppy Preschool) Puppies in their critical socialisation window, new to training and learning new skills for the first time.	Beginner Classes Beginner classes are designed for dogs who may have missed out on puppy pre-school during their critical socialisation period, or may be lacking in manners.
Age	8-16 weeks on day one of class	4-14 months
Duration	One hour per week over 4 weeks.	One hour per week over 4 weeks.
Cost	$129	$129
What’s covered	– Toilet training– Calming and handling techniques – Crate training and sleeping techniques – Settling into a new home – Settling your puppy for sleep – Safety, welfare and health essentials – Introduction to good manners – Walking on lead – Basic obedience cues – sit, wait, come, drop, stay, recall – Preparing for life in the family and building trust – Understanding dog behaviour and how to communicate effectively with your puppy – Troubleshooting challenging behaviours like jumping and biting	– Basic cues for lifelong handling (sit, look, down, recall, wait, walking on a loose lead and heel)- Listening to handlers in distracting situations– How to remain calm and focused around other dogs and new environments – Troubleshooting `terrible teens’ type behaviour – Understanding how to train for lifelong learning – Learning good manners for home and when out-and-about – Understanding dog behaviour and how to communicate effectively with your dog – Shaping a current cue to improve performance

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Puppy School Details at a Glance

• Eligible age: 8-16 weeks at the start of the course, the critical window for socialisation
• Course length: 4 weeks, one hour per session
• Class size: Small classes of 3-10 puppies for individual attention
• Course cost: $129
• Vaccination requirement: First vaccination at least 2 weeks before the first class
• Health requirement: Puppies must be free of fleas, ticks and worms, to protect their health and the health of the other puppies in class
• Homework: A short weekly task to reinforce that week’s lesson will be assigned after each class – but don’t worry it will be fun! Two 5-10 minute sessions a day at home is the sweet spot for puppies.

Why Choose a Vet-Led Puppy School?

Greencross Vets Puppy School is run in conjunction with Petbarn and City Farmers by qualified trainers, backed by our network of veterinarians, vet nurses, veterinary behaviourists, groomers and retail experts. Every trainer completes theory and practical assessment before they run a class, and our curriculum is built on positive, reward-based techniques, not correction-based ones. Our program benefits from:

• A safe, clean environment. The training area is fully disinfected before and after every session.
• Health-focused training. Get expert advice on nutrition, parasite prevention and preparing your puppy for positive vet visits later in life, not just obedience cues.
• Backed by the wider Greencross network. Our methods stay current with veterinary behavioural research, not just dog-training trends.
• Force-free specifics. No check chains, no corrections, max 5m lead for recall work, no off-lead work in class.

Socialisation in the first few months of a puppy’s life shapes their mental health and physical wellbeing for years afterwards. Dogs who miss that window are more likely to develop fear of other pets, people or unfamiliar environments, which can show up later as separation anxiety or aggression. That’s part of why we built a second course, Beginner Classes, for dogs who missed the socialisation window the first time round.

What Greencross Puppy School Teaches:

Basic manners and cues

• Sit, come, drop and stay
• Polite lead walking
• Calming and handling techniques

Behaviour and home life

• Toilet training strategies
• Managing crying at night and separation anxiety
• Settling your puppy into a new home
• Managing hyperactivity

Troubleshooting and socialisation

• How to handle biting and jumping
• Understanding how your puppy learns and views the world
• Building confidence and positive associations with other puppies and people

Every puppy learns at their own pace. Puppy School sets the foundation, but how quickly they build on it is up to them and you. Looking for more puppy training tips? Learn the basics with our Top Tips for Puppy Training.

Do you offer private sessions?

Not every dog thrives in a group class. Our One-on-One sessions pair you with one of our most experienced trainers for a fully personalised hour, built entirely around what your dog needs, whether that’s working through a specific behaviour, building confidence at their own pace, or just wanting a faster-moving session than a group class allows.

• Who it’s for: Puppies and dogs of any age, particularly those who feel unsettled in a group environment
• Duration: One hour, one-off session
• Cost: $85
• What’s covered: Tailored to your dog. Covers manners at home and out and about, managing specific unwanted behaviours, relationship-building exercises, and everyday enrichment

One-on-one Session

 

FAQs

How long is Puppy School?

Puppy School runs for 4 weeks, with one session lasting one hour per week.

What age can my puppy start Puppy School?

Puppies can start Puppy School between 8 and 16 weeks old. This is the critical window for socialisation, so we recommend enrolling as soon as your puppy is eligible rather than waiting.

How much does Puppy School cost?

Puppy School costs $129 for the full course. Beginner Classes for older dogs are also $129.

What’s the difference between Puppy School and Beginner Classes?

Puppy School is for puppies aged 8-16 weeks who are new to training. Beginner Classes are for dogs aged 4-14 months who missed puppy preschool the first time round, or who need a refresher on manners and lead walking.

What’s the difference between Puppy Preschool and a puppy training camp?

Puppy Preschool teaches you, the owner, how to train and bond with your puppy across weekly sessions. A puppy training camp is usually an intensive, live-in program where your puppy stays with a trainer instead. We believe in giving you the skills for a lifetime of training, not outsourcing it for a week.

What do I need to bring to class?

Bring a flat collar and lead, plus some high-value treats such as cooked chicken, Prime100 dog roll, or chicken and liver treats. Your trainer will send a full list before your first session.

Is Greencross Vets Puppy School the same as Petbarn Puppy School?

Greencross Vets Puppy School is run in conjunction with Petbarn and City Farmers, and classes are held at selected Greencross Vets clinics as well as Petbarn and City Farmers stores. It’s the same vet-led program, just delivered from multiple locations.

Are there Puppy School classes near me?

Yes! Greencross Vets Puppy School runs at selected clinics and Petbarn and City Farmers stores across Australia. Check out our booking link to find your nearest class.

What happens if I miss a class?
Get in touch with your trainer or clinic for advice and any homework you’ve missed. We can’t offer refunds or catch-up sessions for missed classes, since our groups are matched by age and stage of development, though we’ll always consider exceptional circumstances case by case.

What if my puppy is unwell and can’t attend?
You’re welcome to come to class without your puppy. Your trainer will talk you through what was covered and set homework so you’re not behind for the following week.

Can puppies of different breeds and sizes train together?
Yes, and we encourage it. Exposing your puppy to different breeds and sizes early on helps them build confident, well-rounded social skills for life.

What training methods do you use?

We use force-free, reward-based training only. That means no check chains, no corrections, and no off-lead work during class, recall and distance cues are practised on lead so every dog stays safe. If a trainer spots something beyond basic manners, like anxiety or aggression, we’ll refer you to one of our vets or veterinary behaviourists rather than train around it.