puppy training

Puppy Training in Columbus:
The Right Training at the Right Time

While many trainers rush into formal programs, at Off Leash K9 Training Columbus, we focus on education and development during your puppy’s critical first six months with Columbus, OH, puppy training. Our approach begins with expert guidance and consultation, transitions to positive reinforcement techniques, and only moves to formal training once your puppy reaches six months, ensuring lasting results instead of quick fixes. Our comprehensive program addresses everything from socialization to anxiety prevention, creating a foundation for a well-behaved dog.

Why Puppy Training Is Essential (Not Optional)

Prevent Future Behavioral Problems: Puppy training prevents anxiety and aggression issues that can develop later. Without proper foundation work, these problems often become management issues rather than training problems.
Easier Training Later: Puppy training is like kindergarten and preschool–the foundational building blocks crucial for a well-rounded dog. The formal obedience training we do later is like high school or college, but without the early foundation, dogs struggle to reach their full potential and may struggle with training later.
Critical Timing Window: Puppies go through fear periods around 12-14 weeks, 4 months, and 6 months. Missing proper socialization during these windows can lead to lifelong anxiety and behavioral issues that are difficult or impossible to fully correct later.

Pricing for Columbus Puppy Training

Puppy Consultation: $95 (credited toward future board and train program)

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While a puppy consultation is our cheapest offering, it is also by far the most important because development periods in a puppy, just like development periods in a human being, if you miss those windows, you are going to be band-aiding problems for the rest of that dog’s life.

–Daniel Carter, Owner, Off-Leash K-9

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What You'll Learn in Your 60-Minute Private Consultation

Unlike group classes that cover generic topics, your private consultation addresses the specific challenges you’re facing with YOUR puppy. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Prevent Future Problems Before They Start

Socialization roadmap: We provide a roadmap for properly socializing your dog to prevent future anxiety and aggression around other people and animals.
Potty training that actually works: Get a proven schedule and troubleshooting guide (no more bell-on-the-door methods that create confusion).
Confidence-building strategies: Navigate fear periods so your puppy doesn’t develop anxiety around things they were once comfortable with.

Build the Foundation for Advanced Training

Basic commands using positive reinforcement: Start with the building blocks that make formal training easier later.
Proper play techniques: Learn how to engage your puppy in ways that build your relationship and their focus.
Personalized development plan: Get a roadmap specific to your puppy’s breed, age, and personality.

Ongoing Support & Guidance

Direct trainer access: Call with questions as you implement what you’ve learned.
Professional validation: Even if you think you’re doing well, get confirmation you’re on the right track from someone who’s seen it all.

Private, Focused Environment

Private consultation: One-on-one attention means we address YOUR specific concerns, not generic puppy issues.
Child-free environment: No children allowed to ensure maximum learning and attention.
Positive training atmosphere: No stressed, barking dogs creating negative associations for your puppy.

We recommend bringing a notepad to take notes during your session–this ensures you’re fully engaged and responsible for implementing what you learn.

Note: The puppy training consultation is private and one-on-one, allowing us to address your specific concerns and challenges. The best part? The $95 fee is credited toward any future training programs you choose!

5-Step Process for Getting Started With Puppy Training in Columbus

Schedule initial phone consultation (20-30 minutes)
Complete the preliminary information form
Book a private puppy consultation (60 minutes)
Receive customized training plan
Schedule follow-up training as needed

5-Step Process for a Successful Outcome

1.

Complete puppy consultation with a dedicated trainer

2.

Implement the recommended training schedule at home

3.

Utilize unlimited support resources as needed

4.

Consider the Marker Mastery Program for continued development

5.

Graduate to formal training programs at 6+ months if desired

What People Say About Our Puppy Consultation

“Marty is very professional and knows dogs. We had a great experience and our pup demonstrated that he can listen with the right cues. He gave us a lot of helpful advice and skills to help our puppy assimilate. We will be back for the obedience class once our pooch turns 6 months!”

“Off Leash did an amazing job with my puppy! It was absolutely incredible how quickly they had him following commands! That was a year ago now and he still follows the commands, he does excellent off leash when we go to a busy store, like Home Depot or Walmart. I would highly recommend Off Leash if you have a dog.”

“So impressed with Off Leash K9–my experience start to finish was nothing short of great. Dylan was abundantly helpful in my phone consult where he patiently spent more time than I would have expected someone to spend with a not-yet-customer providing tips and tricks to manage my new rescue dog's habits and behaviors. I signed up for a private training package as soon as I hung up with him!”

Get the Best Results:
Our Complete Training Process

While puppy consultation delivers excellent results on its own, we see the most dramatic transformations when dogs follow our complete training progression. Dogs who start with our Puppy Consultation, progress through Marker Mastery, and then complete Board and Train consistently outperform dogs who skip the foundational steps.

Dogs with proper foundations are calmer during training, learn faster, and owners find the process much easier because they already understand their dog better.

The Complete Process & Pricing:

Puppy Consultation (at 8-10 weeks)
Foundation and socialization training when your puppy first arrives home. This crucial first step is credited toward any future training programs.
Marker Mastery Program (at 4-5 months)
Build on your puppy’s foundation with weekly hands-on training sessions. This program includes equipment and teaches owners our proven marker-based techniques to continue development at home.
Board & Train (at 6+ months)
Unlike traditional kenneling programs, your dog lives with a dedicated trainer who integrates training into real-world environments like neighborhoods, stores, and various locations with different distractions. Each dog stays with one of our trainers, who works with them daily while keeping you updated.
Obedience Lessons (at 6+ months)
For owners who want to be more hands-on with their dog’s training, we offer formal obedience lessons in place of our Board & Train program. These are private, one-on-one sessions that coach you to become your dog’s trainer.

Why Choose Off Leash K9 Training for Puppy Training:

10+ years of experience with puppy training in Columbus

Expert guidance during critical developmental periods

Private, one-on-one personalized instruction

Rigorous 17-day certification program for all trainers

Diverse staff background, including military K9 handlers

Focus on prevention rather than correction

Comprehensive approach beyond basic commands

Education on socialization, anxiety prevention, and fear periods

Comprehensive video documentation of progress

Unlimited lifetime refreshers and support

Hundreds of 5-star review from happy clients (and pups!)

Frequently Asked Questions About Columbus Puppy Training

Do you use positive reinforcement training?

Yes! For puppy training specifically, our approach is very much positive reinforcement-oriented. All basic command introduction is done through positive reinforcement training. While our trainers may explain certain gentle corrections appropriate for puppies (similar to how mother dogs naturally correct their puppies), we don’t use training tools with young puppies.

Why train my puppy now instead of waiting for formal training?

Most people experience a “honeymoon” with their puppies–everything seems fine in the beginning. But then they hit a period where problems develop, and many owners wait until issues become unbearable to seek help. Puppy training provides a professional game plan to prevent problems before they start. Even if you think everything is going well, you’ll learn brand new information that sets you up for success in the long-term.

When should I start puppy training?

As soon as you get your puppy–ideally within the first week. We can usually schedule puppy consultations within a week of your contacting us. The sooner you start implementing a professional plan, the better your results will be.

Do I have to do formal training programs after the puppy consultation?

Nope! The puppy consultation stands alone as a valuable service and many clients find it provides everything they need for a well-behaved dog. However, we see the most dramatic transformations when dogs follow our complete training progression. If you use us as a resource after your consultation–calling with questions and implementing what you learned–you’ll likely have great success. The choice to continue with additional training depends on your goals and how your puppy progresses.

Why choose you over PetSmart or Petco?

Several reasons:

Cost and Time: You learn everything in one private session instead of multiple group classes.
Private Sessions: Our sessions are completely private and personalized for your specific puppy. Group sessions can actually be harmful to your puppy, creating negative associations if your pup is around barking, stressed dogs.
Safety: Young puppies often aren’t fully vaccinated, so private sessions are much safer than group ones.
Continued Support: We’re a true one-stop shop–you learn the information, go home and apply it, and can call us with questions rather than attending repetitive sessions.

Take the First Step Towards a Well-Behaved Puppy

Don’t wait until it’s too late to address behavioral issues. Our Puppy Training Consultation program gives your puppy a head start to becoming a happy, obedient adult dog. Contact us today to book your consultation!

Ready to start your puppy’s training journey? Contact us today or call (740) 400-0236 for a free consultation.

Interested in more advanced training? Check out our Board and Train program for intensive, personalized training.

For those dealing with more challenging behaviors, we also offer Aggressive Dog Training services.

Learn more about our training philosophy and methods to understand why we consistently achieve outstanding results with our canine clients.