Puppy Foundations — Private In-Home Coaching
You’re not raising a dog. You’re building a relationship.
How You Know…
You’ve Got a New Puppy!
You don’t need to set your alarm clock any more because a new furry friend helps with that! Only problem is… sometimes your new “alarm” also goes off in the middle of the night.
Your once tidy home now looks more like the aftermath of a tornado
Shoes, socks, and remotes… what are those? Anything detachable is now relegated to a new purpose, chew toy!
Work and your new puppy is like walking a tightrope while juggling flaming pineapples… It’s not happening. Thank goodness for “work from home,” for now…
You’ve had to run to CVS for more laundry detergent because your previous subscribe-and-save schedule just doesn’t cut it with the amount of laundry your new friend helps to create!
A life. What is that? Everything “pre” is now a fuzzy memory. You’re now in a time loop with a puppy - feeding, training, walking, cleaning, repeat over and over until you collapse into bed at the end of the day.
Everyone else sees a fluffy angel, but you know better… It’s a baby piranha with fur.
The honeymoon phase is officially over and “puppy blues” are descending quickly!
Puppy Power! How We Can Help
Are you feeling like your new puppy is taking over your life? Don't worry, we've got you covered! Our team of expert dog trainers are here to help you and your little one learn the ropes and develop a lifelong bond. From potty training to basic obedience, we've got the puppy power to get the job done!
Here are some of the top benefits of working with us:
Personalized training plans tailored to your puppy's unique needs
Expert guidance on behavior and socialization to ensure a happy, healthy pup
Peace of mind knowing that you're setting your puppy up for success in the long run
Fun and interactive training sessions that will keep you and your pup engaged and entertained
Don't let puppyhood overwhelm you - let us help you and your pup unlock your full puppy power potential!
Pawsome Puppy Training
Welcome to our puppy training program!
We’re all about making training fun and effective for your pup. With our positive-reinforcement based approach, we’ll make sure your new puppy is enjoying their education!
Each training session is tailor-made to your puppy's unique personality and needs.
We know that training can sometimes be overwhelming, but that’s why we’re here! Our team of experts will guide you every step of the way, so you can kick back, relax, and enjoy the process knowing that you’re in good hands.
Puppy Foundations — Private In-Home Coaching
What’s Included?
Onboarding Call (45 minutes)
We’ll start with a pre-training call to review your puppy, home setup, routines, goals, and early challenges so you can begin with a clear plan and realistic expectations.
Four In-Home Training Sessions (60 minutes each)
Hands-on coaching tailored to your puppy, household, and daily life.
Common topics include:
potty training
crate training and sleep routines
puppy biting and jumping
leash walking foundations
socialization and confidence building
handling, boundaries, and calmness skills
Session Summaries + Homework
After each session, you’ll receive clear notes, practical next steps, and customized homework designed to help training fit into everyday life.
Support Between Sessions
You’ll have access to email support throughout your program for questions, troubleshooting, and guidance as new challenges come up between sessions.
What Clients Say
“Hiring Michelle was the best decision we made with our new puppy. Every session gave us tools we actually used, and her calm, clear approach helped us feel like we knew what we were doing.”
— Laura P., Tenleytown
“I thought I needed training for my puppy. Turns out, I needed it for me. This program made city puppy life doable and even enjoyable.”
— Jessica H., AU Park
Why Early Puppy Training Matters
The first few months of puppyhood shape more than basic obedience.
This is when puppies begin learning how to handle frustration, recover from stress, navigate new environments, and live successfully inside everyday life.
Thoughtful early training helps prevent many common struggles before they become long-term patterns, including reactivity, overstimulation, leash frustration, and household chaos.
Our goal is not perfection.
It’s to help you raise a calm, confident dog you genuinely enjoy living with for years to come.
Details & Pricing
Price: $950
Includes: 1 virtual kick-off session, plus 4 in-home sessions
Location: In-home training available in Chevy Chase and Bethesda. Proudly also serving Kensington, Forest Hills, Van Ness, Cleveland Park, Spring Valley, and Tenleytown. For all other locations, please reach out to info@savvycitydog.com.
Schedule: Sessions are typically spaced over 5-6 weeks with a week between each session.
Still have questions?
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You can add a follow-up session at any time for $225.
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Yes, we can shift any of your lessons to virtual as needed.
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Before you get your puppy or asap is ideal. The earlier we begin, the easier everything becomes.
Puppyhood is a crucial time for your new family member, and investing in their training is one of the most important things you can do for their future. Here’s why:
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure: Puppy training helps prevent problem behaviors like chewing, barking, biting, and jumping up on people. With a little effort now, you’ll avoid having to invest tons of time and money to fix preventable behavior problems in the future!
Builds trust and strengthens the bond: Training helps to create a common language between you and your puppy. This builds trust and strengthens the bond between you and your puppy.
Natural leadership: Once your puppy sees that you “get” them, they’ll naturally want to follow you. This makes things like loose leash walking, recalls, and obedience easy.
Socialization done right: Puppy training provides a framework for socialization done correctly. Using a systematic approach and exposing your puppy at a level they can handle is critical for developing a well-adjust adult dog.
Skills: By teaching your puppy basic obedience skills, you'll be able to help them navigate challenging situations. For example, visitor at the door? You can help your puppy to “place.” A few basic skills, like place, makes it much easier to keep everyone safe and happy.
Improves quality of life: A well-trained puppy is a happier and healthier pup. We teach you how to set up the optimal schedule and environment for your little one. This will ensure your puppy can thrive! And a content puppy means your life is easier too!
Makes future training easier: Starting early with puppy training sets the stage for future training, making it easier to teach new skills and reinforce good behavior.
It’s just fun! Training provides a positive and rewarding experience for both you and your puppy. This makes your puppy look forward to training sessions and spending time with you!