Puppy Training and Socialization at Jenn’s Dogs

Level 0: Puppy Life Skills is a structured puppy training and socialization program designed for puppies during their earliest developmental stage. This course focuses on building foundational life skills, early socialization, and emotional development using positive reinforcement and force-free training methods. It is designed specifically for the family dog, helping puppies learn how to safely interact with people, dogs, and the world around them. 

Your puppy will learn essential life skills that support long-term behavior and emotional well-being. This includes safe social play, bite inhibition, potty and crate training foundations, early socialization, and introduction to basic cues. We also focus on handling and husbandry skills to prepare your puppy for grooming and veterinary care, along with teaching you how to communicate clearly and effectively with your dog. 

Puppies should be between 8 and 16 weeks old at the start of class. This is a critical socialization window where puppies are most open to learning about their environment. Starting training early helps prevent fear, anxiety, and behavior challenges later in life. 

No, your puppy does not need to be fully vaccinated to begin training. We follow safe socialization guidelines, requiring puppies to be on track with their age-appropriate vaccinations. Our controlled, sanitized environment allows puppies to safely begin training and socialization before their vaccine series is complete. 

(We follow the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s position on early socialization, which states that the benefits outweigh the minimal risks.)

Many puppy classes today tend to focus on just one piece of development, often unstructured play or a limited introduction to basic skills. While play is important, puppies need more than just time together to truly learn how to navigate the world.

Our Puppy Life Skills program is designed to support the full scope of your puppy’s development during this critical stage. That includes guided socialization, structured play with professional oversight, early life skills like potty and crate training, handling and care routines, and foundational communication between you and your puppy.

Rather than focusing on just one area, we bring all of these elements together in a thoughtful, structured program. This ensures your puppy is not only social, but also confident, supported, and learning the skills they need to succeed in everyday life.

That is exactly why early training and socialization matter. Shy or nervous puppies benefit from safe, guided exposure to new experiences at their own pace. We do not force interactions. Instead, we support confidence building through choice, positive experiences, and thoughtful introductions to help your puppy feel safe and successful. 

Classes are kept small, with up to 6 puppies per group. This allows for a safe, controlled environment where each puppy can learn without becoming overwhelmed, and each guardian receives individualized guidance and support. 

Yes. We encourage family involvement so everyone learns how to communicate and work with your puppy consistently. The first session is a human-only orientation to set you up for success, and after that, family members are welcome to attend as long as it remains a positive and supportive learning environment for the puppies. 

We understand that things come up. While classes are designed to build on each other, we provide guidance and support to help you stay on track if you miss a session. We encourage consistency whenever possible to get the most out of your puppy’s early learning experience. 

All classes are held at the Jenn’s Dogs Training Studio in Cornelius, Oregon. We serve puppies and families in Cornelius, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, and surrounding Washington County areas.