Puppy Development
LEARN FUNDAMENTAL CANINE TRAINING TECHNIQUES FOR EFFECTIVE PUPPY TRAINING
Puppy Training Clinic (Puppy Development Clinic)
Samford Village Vet Puppy Series: Puppy Development Clinic
This course is held at Samford Village Vets in collaboration with Dr Daniel Swan.
Aim & intended outcomes
This course is designed to set you and your puppy up for success in various environments, including visits to the vet and groomer. Our goal is to equip new puppy owners with essential knowledge to navigate the crucial early weeks of puppyhood, fostering a strong bond and nurturing a well-rounded, happy, healthy, and sociable pup. By laying the right foundation, this course helps ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey with your new companion.
Intended audience
Ideal for current and soon-to-be puppy owners with pups up to 20 weeks old. We believe in starting strong—having a training plan in place from day one helps prevent unwanted behaviours before they become habits.
How this course is delivered
Our sessions are conducted in a relaxed, friendly environment, where you’re encouraged to ask questions throughout. Dr Daniel Swan will be available to answer any medical-related queries. A detailed clinic booklet covering all course topics is provided.
The course includes live training demonstrations using both adult dogs and puppies to showcase essential skills such as recall and sit using food rewards.
This course is for humans only (please leave your puppy at home for this session).
There is also an online option for those that cannot attend in person.
Course fees
• Group Course 3 hours – $350 per family, maximum of 2-3 participants per family please
(all prices are including GST).
Important: From our experience, you’ll get the most out of this course if young children are not brought to the training, allowing you to focus fully on the information provided.
• One on One Option? $249 per hour for 2 Adults. Please note – you will be the only person or family attending. This suits those who for various reasons are not wanting to attend a group clinic (all prices are including GST).
Location
• This course is held at Samford Village Vets in collaboration with Dr Daniel Swan.
“As first-time dog owners, we are incredibly grateful to have met such professional trainers. Not only did they do an excellent job, but they also genuinely care—both about the dogs and their owners! During the training, they don’t just tell you what to do; they guide you through each step, showing you how to handle different situations effectively.
Highly recommended!”
– Christal Zhang (Google review), February 2025.
Suited to
Puppy owners and
soon-to-be owners
Duration
3 hours intensive
Pricing
$350 incl GST
(per family)
Course presenters
The course is led by Nikki Bignell, who has over three decades of experience in dog training and behaviour. Nikki’s expertise will guide you through everything you need to know from picking up your puppy to 20 weeks of age; including invaluable insights into health, wellbeing, and preparing your puppy to be a well-socialised companion that truly enhances your family’s life.
Dr Daniel Swan will also be available for any medical/veterinary questions.
Nikki Bignell
Therapy and Support Animals Australia Lead Trainer
Dr Erin Swan BVSc (Hons)
Dr Daniel Swan BVSc (Hons)
Independent owners and veterinarians at Samford Village Vets
What the course will cover
Getting Puppy Home:
• Family discussions to ensure everyone is on the same page
• The first steps when bringing your puppy home
• Crate training
• Establishing leadership roles for all family members—including small children
Puppy Lessons:
Featuring live training demonstrations using both adult dogs and puppies to showcase essential skills such as recall and sit using food rewards!
• Encouraging calm behaviour in different environments (including vet visits)
• Vet visit timelines, worming schedules, and essential treatments for a healthy puppy
• Toilet training fundamentals
• Socialisation techniques
• Basic grooming and preparing for vet visits
• Teaching basic obedience commands (sit, down, come)
• Understanding puppy nutrition and feeding guidelines
• Using food effectively as a training tool
“We attended the puppy development course 2 weeks before we brought our pup home. It was so beneficial doing the course prior to getting our pup, we now feel more confident in what we need to do to have a happy, well adjusted pup without making mistakes that need to be corrected later.
We will be back for the obedience course when she is old enough. Highly recommend.”
Participant feedback
Puppy Development Clinic 2022
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Yes! This is THE course that you’ve heard about.
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