Puppy Training FAQs

Puppy training FAQs

Bringing home a puppy raises a lot of questions, and with so much conflicting advice online, it's easy to feel pulled in different directions. Here are the questions we're asked most often about puppy training and our residential programmes.

When's the best time to start?

As early as possible, ideally before your puppy even comes home. Before vaccinations are complete, the focus is often on guiding you as the owner: building good habits, avoiding common mistakes, and preparing your home properly. We offer pre-arrival online consultations tailored to your home, lifestyle and puppy's breed to help with exactly this.

Is my puppy too young to start?

Almost certainly not. Puppies are constantly learning from their environment and from how you respond to them from day one, whether you realise it or not. Our support is age-related: kindergarten first, then puppy school, then adolescence training where needed, each stage suited to what a puppy can actually manage at that point.

Residential or non-residential?

This depends on your dog and your circumstances. Our residential programme gives a dog focused, distraction-free time to learn new behaviours, typically over three weeks, with real, visible change and owner training afterwards to build on it. It's not right for every dog though, more anxious dogs often do better with a gentler, non-residential approach with the owner involved throughout, and we can offer a stepped approach for dogs who might struggle with a full residential stay straight away.

What age can a puppy start residential training?

We generally recommend the full three-week residential programme from around six to nine months. For younger puppies, a shorter one or two-week stay, or an earlier-stage option focused on building your bond at home first, is often more suitable, it depends on age, personality and confidence, so it's worth getting in touch to talk it through.

How do I choose a trainer?

If you have someone in mind, you can request them at booking. Otherwise we'll match your dog with the trainer we feel suits their temperament and goals best. Darren, Royvon's owner and head trainer, also offers one-to-one private sessions across London and Surrey, working directly in the home using our modern, positive methods.

Why the Royvon method specifically?

Our approach is force-free, positive and built around enrichment, we want puppies to enjoy learning, not just comply with it, and play is central to how we build that engagement and motivation.

Getting the right support

See also our guide on our puppy training philosophy. Call 0208 818 7374 or email [email protected] if you'd like to talk through your options before booking. Learn more about our puppy training programme and our cognitive enrichment hub and How Should I Train My Puppy? Building One Strong Relationship First and What to Expect From 1-2-1 Dog Training.