The Puppy Academy

The Puppy Academy Puppyhood made easy. Puppy Boutique & Drop-off Training School The Puppy Academy is the only elite drop-off training school and boutique exclusively for puppies!

We help take the stress of puppyhood away by training your puppy FOR YOU and providing fantastic support and help for new owners. Puppies join us for a semester at our Academy, and graduate as fully trained pups in household etiquette, proper leash walking, potty training, learn useful commands like Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Heel, and SO MUCH MORE! Schedule your FREE consultation with us to find out

more about our program, or stop by the Academy to check out our specialized puppy products, treats, toys and tools to make puppyhood easier in our Campus Boutique.

06/03/2026

Ep. 246: How to Manage Jumping, Barking & Nipping!

If you have a new puppy you are probably dealing with at least one (but most likely all three!) of these issues: jumping, barking and nipping.

It’s what puppies do, so it’s “normal” but that doesn’t mean you have to just let it go and hope it passes and they grow out of it. (Newsflash: they usually get worse when not addressed vs better!)

In our latest Ask A Puppy Trainer Show, Episode 246, Bethany and Sparky give their tips on what you can start doing right now to manage and improve this behavior!

Check out the time stamps to find what other puppyhood help you’d like answers on and join us every Wed at 1pm PT on IG to ask your questions live! (Or submit them early via DM ☺️)

Full episodes can be viewed on our YouTube channel every Monday and listened to in our new official AAPTS Podcast! To get notified when it’s ready, sign up for our VIP (Very Important Puppy) list through the link in our bio and we’ll email it to you directly!

Looking for even more puppy training help but don’t live near us? Join our Online Puppy School! 💻 (link in bio)

Episode timestamps:

*0:36 - How to manage jumping, barking, and nipping with a 14-week-old Maltipoo?
7:42 - What to do if a puppy confuses “sit” and “down”
10:50 - What are good low-cost, healthy training treats for multiple dogs?
13:22 - Is it okay to teach the potty bell method?
15:25 - Is it okay for a newly adopted 2-year-old dog with a wiggly tooth to avoid eating at first?
16:56 - What to do to a 16-week-old Sweetheart Aussie Shepherd who gets too distracted or overstimulated during treat-based training?
20:58 - How to improve potty training for a Beagle puppy having frequent indoor accidents?
28:48 - How to teach a 17-week-old English Bulldog to properly chew treats?
30:56 - How long should a Beagle puppy stay in the crate during the day while the owner works from home?
32:07 - How to potty train a puppy that p*e only when they get excited?
34:39 - How to help an 11-month-old Jack Russell that gets overstimulated easily?

06/02/2026

There’s A LOT of prep work that comes with teaching your puppy how to walk on leash without pulling.

Don’t slap a leash on them, take them outside and expect them NOT to pull.

Instead:

Start indoors (controlled environment, minimal distractions)

Teach them “Let’s Go”

Get them to used to focusing on you and checking in with you — if they can’t do this inside, they won’t be able to do this outside!

Build your relationship and their muscle memory with this, then start adding in more distractions and moving outdoors.

Then transition “Let’s Go” into Heel.

Lots of steps, but there’s no shortcut to a loose-leash walk, if that’s what your goal is.

Be patient, take you time, and I your puppy isn’t quite ready yet, don’t pressure them. Keep practicing and they’ll get there soon. 🐶

📸LAST CHANCE: Imagine this… but with YOUR pup. 🤩Today is the final day to lock in this special offer with Charlie Nunn P...
05/31/2026

📸LAST CHANCE: Imagine this… but with YOUR pup. 🤩

Today is the final day to lock in this special offer with Charlie Nunn Photography before their May offer goes:

➡️ $100 studio portrait session (normally $200)
➡️ + $100 print credit
➡️ all pups, pets and people welcome to be part of it!

Whether your dog is still a puppy, all grown up, or somewhere in between, these are the kinds of photos you’ll treasure forever.

The best part? You only need to book by tonight—you can schedule your session for a later date.

If you’ve been thinking about it, consider this your sign. 🙌

Comment PHOTO or send us a DM and we’ll send you the details before the offer disappears tonight!

05/25/2026

Ep. 245: Does Your Puppy Bite You When You Pet Them?

Ahhh the dream of relaxing on your couch with your puppy and petting them as you chill out together…

Be honest: it doesn’t QUITE work out that well does it?!

Oh the idea is SO good, but there’s some problems here — puppies are excitable, they often don’t want to rest long (and haven’t learned to settle on command yet) and they get overstimulated very quickly. So when you pet them (and perhaps for a tiny bit too long) they usually start biting — and HARD!

If this is happening to you, you’ll want to tune into this week’s Ask A Puppy Trainer Show, Episode 245, where Bethany and Sparky go over why this happens and what you can do about it.

Episode timestamps:

*1:18 - How to stop a 4-month-old Retriever from biting during petting?
9:48 - When do puppies usually start sleeping later in the morning?
14:07 - What to do if a 2-year-old Frenchie is calm one moment and aggressive the next?
16:32 - Is there a probiotic that helps with itchy skin, bloody bumps and paw licking?
21:17 - Can you help a 6-month-old puppy wake up at 6am instead of 5am?
22:06 - How to potty train an 8-week-old Yorkiepoo while working full-time away from home?
24:00 - What’s the best way to build engagement with a 5-month-old Schnauzer that isn’t interested in treats?
26:30 - Should water be left in the crate for a six-month-old Newfie?
30:32 - Why would a 10-week-old female Lab sleep well in the crate at night but hate it during the day?
31:01 - How can car anxiety be managed with a Cockapoo that can’t settle while driving?
31:29 - Should a 1-year-old Cavapoo transition from sleeping in a crate to sleeping outside of it?
31:44 - What recovery tips are helpful after a Cavalier is spayed?
32:27 - How to help a puppy that is terrified of your husband and has accidents around him?
33:00 - Is it okay to bring a 9-week-old puppy to work?

PUPPIES…they’re soft, fluffy, adorable and they grow up SO fast!!😭Our LA friends: if you have a pup and have NOT experie...
05/24/2026

PUPPIES…they’re soft, fluffy, adorable and they grow up SO fast!!😭

Our LA friends: if you have a pup and have NOT experienced a profesh photoshoot with them yet…let us tell you that this is one thing you’ll NEVER regret doing!

The incredible in West Hollywood has a super generous offer just for our community:

📸 A full studio session showcasing your puppy (and you, and your fam, and your other pets!) for just $100!

🖼️ Oh AND $100 print credit!

The only “catch” is you have to book before MAY ends. Book now, shoot later, but we promise you, you won’t want to miss this deal (or the ADORABLE pics)!!

Comment PHOTO or send us a DM and we’ll reply with the booking details!

05/24/2026

HOW to wean off using food/treat rewards:

1) increase pauses before giving

2) mix up when you give the food

3) use the same luring motions with your hands, but WITHOUT food in them

The goal is to deliver food in ways they can’t anticipate it, so they never know what to expect.

WHEN to do this:

When things are EASY!

Don’t try this when things are really hard for your pup.

Add food back in when you are teaching something new, or are working on something difficult, and reward every time.🐶

05/20/2026

Most puppies DON’T tell you when they need to potty! Using a crate “potty” schedule or having them tethered to you on leash is the way to have them learn when and where to go through repetition. Then you may start picking up on your pup’s natural cues, and associating a word with it.

Does your puppy “tell” you when you need to go? Let us know what they do in the comments! We always like hearing about your puppy’s little quirks. 🐶

05/19/2026

The 3 best times/ways we like to give puppies their breakfast (in order of favorite to least favorite):

1) As part of their first training session or walk in the morning (ie. They’re working for their food and you’re hand-feeding them)

2) After their morning walk or morning activity

3) Before their morning walk — if you need to because of your schedule and/or you need a quick p**p

Have a question for our trainers? Join us live every Wed at 1pm PT here on Instagram!

05/18/2026

Ep. 244: Why NOT To Redirect When Your Puppy Bites

One of the parts of puppyhood new puppy parents seem to be the most unprepared for is: puppy biting. Ouch. And that’s because you usually don’t know what you’re in for (or just how bad your puppy might be) until you’re in the thick of things.

Sure redirecting your puppy to a toy can temporarily distract them…but it won’t be long until they’re at it again! So what can you do to actually get your puppy to STOP biting? In this week’s Ask A Puppy Trainer Show, Episode 244, Bethany and Sparky share their techniques you can try right now to teach your puppy not to bite you.

Check out the time stamps to find what other puppyhood help you’d like answers on and join us every Wed at 1pm PT on IG to ask your questions live! (Or submit them early via DM ☺️)

Full episodes can be viewed on our YouTube channel every Monday and listened to in our new official AAPTS Podcast! To get notified when it’s ready, sign up for our VIP (Very Important Puppy) list through the link in our bio and we’ll email it to you directly!

Looking for even more puppy training help but don’t live near us? Join our Online Puppy School! 💻 (link in bio)

Episode timestamps:

*0:29 - What’s the best way to teach a 12-week-old Golden not to bite without redirecting to toys
6:00 - How long should walks and training be for a 12-week-old Golden Retriever?
7:00 - When should a prong collar be introduced for a 9-month-old American Bully already using positive reinforcement?
8:58 - How to stop a 5-month-old Bernedoodle from getting overly excited and nippy after potty breaks?
10:53 - How to stop a puppy from pulling on the leash?
17:21 - How to stop a 1 1/2-half-year-old Yorkie from marking on curtains and furniture?
19:28 - Is 6-months too young to introduce a training tool like prong collar to a German Shepherd?
21:56 - How to teach name recognition to a puppy that dislikes the leash?
23:44 - How to stop a 4.5-month-old Golden Retriever from barking for attention?
30:39 - Are there training certifications to find a qualified balanced trainer?

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