How do I know if group puppy training classes are right for my dog?

Group classes are great for puppies who can benefit from socialization and learning around new people and dogs. If your puppy is very fearful or reactive, private training may be a better starting point.

What should I expect at the first puppy training class?

Your puppy will be introduced to foundational skills, confidence-building exercises, and structured socialization. You'll receive guidance on homework and how to support your puppy at home.

How much are puppy classes in Chicago?

Puppy pricing varies based on the class or program you choose. We offer group classes, drop-off training, and private training options to fit different needs and budgets.

What’s the difference between puppy 'socialization' and 'obedience' training?

Socialization helps puppies feel safe and confident in new environments, while obedience teaches foundational manners. Our classes integrate both to support well-rounded development.

What happens in a puppy socialization class?

Puppies practice positive interactions, explore new textures and sounds, and participate in trainer-guided exercises that build confidence and resilience.

Puppy Socialization Classes in Chicago

Help your puppy build confidence and calm behavior with structured socialization designed for Chicago life.

View Puppy Classes

Help your puppy feel calm and confident in Chicago

Early months are when puppies are constantly deciding what feels safe, strange, easy, and hard. Thoughtful socialization gives them more good experiences to pull from later instead of leaving it up to chance.

Our puppy classes are built to include socialization as part of the work: seeing other dogs, moving through new environments, meeting people, and practicing settling in shared spaces. You get coaching on what to watch for and how to support your puppy as they learn.

01

Build confidence

Gentle exposure to new people, sounds, and spaces.

02

Grow resilience

Learn to recover more smoothly from new experiences.

03

Prepare for city life

Support calmer walks, outings, and daily routines.

Group classes that build social skills

Our puppy classes weave socialization into every session, while still giving you clear training goals each week. Choose the option that fits your puppy’s age and where you’d like more support.

Trainer holding a puppy during a puppy training class in Chicago.

BUNDLE & SAVE

The Puppy Package

$405

Includes:

3 Private Lessons
10% off Puppy 1 & Puppy 2

Start with private lessons for potty training, crate training, mouthiness, and life at home, while you build socialization and obedience skills in Puppy 1 and Puppy 2.

Bundle & Save

PUPPY FOUNDATIONS

Puppy 1

Age: 8–20 weeks
Cost: $250 / 5 Classes

Requires one round of core vaccines

Focus Areas:

Socialization
Confidence Building
Obedience Basics

Build confidence during the critical socialization period through exposure to new people, sounds, surfaces, and real-world experiences.

Sign Up — Puppy 1

TEEN EDITION

Puppy 2

Age: 5–12 months
Cost: $200 / 4 Classes

For Puppy 1 graduates

Focus Areas:

Focus Around Distractions
Impulse Control
Relaxation

Designed for adolescent puppies, Puppy 2 focuses on building attention, impulse control, and listening skills around distractions.

Sign Up — Puppy 2

Why early socialization matters

Good socialization is more than letting puppies play.

It means giving them practice being around people, dogs, sounds, and novel objects in ways they can handle, then helping them recover when something feels big or new.

Done well, this work can make it easier for your puppy to walk through the neighborhood, settle with visitors in your home, ride in the car, and handle the surprises that come with city life.

Puppy working with trainers during an early socialization exercise in Chicago.

What puppies practice in socialization class

Each class includes thoughtful exposure, training, and coaching designed to help puppies feel more comfortable in everyday life.

Puppies practicing calm socialization with other dogs in class.

Puppy practicing calm interaction with a new person during class

Puppy practicing confidence around new objects in a training class

Meeting new people calmly

Puppy socialization with other dogs

Settling around distractions

Confidence around new things

What you’ll learn as a new puppy owner

A girl kneeling on the floor holding a certificate of completion and a dog, inside a room with a painted white brick wall background.

How to read your puppy’s body language

When to give space and when to practice

How to use food, praise and toys during socialization

What to work on at home between classes

Extra help through puppy day training

If you’d like your puppy to get more repetitions during the week, day training can add structured practice with supervised socialization, rest, and calm handling.

Plus, get 3 private knowledge transfer lessons so you know what to do at home.

Free Consult

About Day Training

FAQs

Many families start once their puppy has had initial vet visits and their veterinarian clears them for appropriate, supervised group settings. Earlier is often better, as long as the setup is thoughtful and not overwhelming.
Nope! Some puppies benefit more from calm time around other dogs than from direct play.
We prioritize what will help your puppy most, whether that’s watching, moving nearby, or short rounds of appropriate play.
Shy puppies often do better with space, pacing, and clear support. We’ll help you read your puppy’s signals and make adjustments so they can participate without being flooded.
Social puppies still need skills!
Classes give them a chance to practice greeting calmly, working through frustration when they can’t say hi, and settling around other dogs.
You can start with age and schedule, then reach out if you’re not sure. We’re happy to point you toward the class that best fits your puppy and your goals. Reach out to us for questions.