Beginning Classes
Begin with the basics for better habits, smoother days, and a stronger bond.
Every dog benefits from a strong start. Our Beginning Classes give puppies, newly adopted dogs, and long-time companions the foundation they need to thrive at home. With dog-friendly, science-based, positive reinforcement training, you’ll tackle common challenges, introduce core skills, and build routines that make daily life smoother for both you and your dog. It’s a supportive first step toward confidence, connection, and great behavior.
Class Descriptions
Beginning Puppy Training is the perfect starting point for your new pup. Using science-based, positive reinforcement methods, we help you build a calm, confident foundation through socialization, clear communication, and real-life skills. Puppies learn essential behaviors like sit, down, stay, recall, polite greetings, and loose-leash walking, along with handling for vet and grooming visits.
We also cover common puppy challenges such as mouthing, chewing, housetraining, and helping your pup feel safe when left alone. Classes include positive exposure to new experiences to support healthy social development.
Course details:
• Puppies 8 weeks–8 months
• Must be 10 days past initial DHPP vaccination with proof
• Six weeks; One 50-minute session per week
Class options:
• In-person class includes human-only first class on Zoom, then in person for 5 weeks
• All-online option available (great for shy pups or families farther away)
Pricing:
• $200 for general registration. HSSV puppy adopters receive complimentary training.
Puppy Socialization is a fun, focused three-week class that helps your young pup learn positive play, confidence, and healthy coping skills. Through guided activities, you’ll help your puppy practice polite greetings, build bite inhibition, play safely with other dogs, explore new sights and sounds, and learn how to come away from play when asked. This class strengthens your bond while building habits that make daily life easier.
This class is a supplement to Beginning Puppy Training and does not cover basic obedience cues.
Course details:
• Puppies 8–18 weeks
• Must be 10 days past initial DHPP vaccination with proof
• Three weeks; fun, fast-paced social learning
• Not a replacement for Beginning Puppy Training
• Children under 12 require instructor approval
Pricing:
• $100 for 3-week Puppy Socialization course
Beginning Manners is a great first step for newly adopted dogs, canine “teenagers,” or any dog ready to learn with you. Using science-based, positive reinforcement training, we teach dogs to focus, settle, and respond to essential cues like sit, down, stay, recall, polite greetings, and loose-leash walking. You’ll also learn how to teach new skills and work through common home behaviors such as chewing, mouthing, and housetraining.
We start in a structured classroom environment and gradually introduce real-life challenges, so your dog learns to succeed in many settings. This is the first stop in our Manners training track.
Course details:
• Dogs 5 months and older (seniors welcome!)
• Proof of age-appropriate vaccinations required
• Six weeks; one 50-minute session per week
• First class is human-only on Zoom, then weeks 2–6 with your dog in person
Pricing:
• $200 for general registration.
Location:
Humane Society Silicon Valley
901 Ames Avenue, Milpitas CA 95035
Have questions? Contact us.