Positive, vet-backed puppy school, dog training and behaviour support in Pymble and Killara.
At The Village Vet, we believe good training is about more than obedience. It helps your dog feel calmer, safer, more confident and more connected to your family.
We offer trusted puppy school and dog training through two highly experienced trainers: Mali the Dog Trainer at The Village Vet Killara and John Vella from Canine Wise at The Village Vet Pymble.
Whether you have a brand-new puppy, an excitable adolescent, or an adult dog who needs help with manners, confidence or behaviour, our training options are positive, practical and tailored to your dog’s needs.
Puppy school in Pymble and Killara
The Village Vet offers puppy training options at both of our North Shore clinics.
Puppy School at Killara with Mali the Dog Trainer
Mali runs puppy classes at The Village Vet Killara and is internationally certified in dog training and behaviour. Her approach is gentle, evidence-based and ideal for puppies who need calm, positive early learning.
Puppy Preschool at Pymble with John Vella from Canine Wise
John runs puppy preschool at The Village Vet Pymble and has more than 25 years of experience in dog training and behaviour. His classes help puppies build confidence, manners and early life skills in a structured, supportive environment.
If you are unsure which program is best for your puppy, our team can help point you in the right direction.
What age should my puppy start puppy school?
Most puppies can start puppy school from around 8 weeks of age, once they have had their first vaccination and your vet confirms it is safe.
The early puppy period is one of the most important learning windows in your dog’s life. Puppy school helps your puppy build confidence, learn safe socialisation, practise calm handling and develop positive habits before common behaviour problems become harder to change.
Starting early can help with:
- Puppy biting and mouthing
- Toilet training foundations
- Socialisation with people and other dogs
- Confidence in new environments
- Handling for vet visits
- Basic cues like sit, stay and recall
- Settling and calm behaviour
- Preventing future behaviour problems
Why puppy school matters
Puppy school gives your puppy a safe, structured way to learn about the world.
Good puppy training helps your dog become:
- More confident
- Easier to handle
- Safer around people and other dogs
- More settled at home
- Less fearful of new experiences
- More comfortable at the vet
- Better prepared for adolescence
It also gives owners practical guidance during the stage where puppies can feel most overwhelming.
Puppy school is not just about teaching “sit.” It is about setting your puppy up for a calmer, happier life.
Dog training for adolescent and adult dogs
Training is not only for puppies. Many dogs need extra support during adolescence or adulthood, especially when behaviour changes, confidence drops or distractions become harder to manage.
Adolescent and adult dog training may help with:
- Pulling on the lead
- Jumping up
- Poor recall
- Barking
- Over-excitement
- Difficulty settling
- Not listening around distractions
- Nervousness or fear
- Reactivity on walks
- Household manners
The right training plan can help your dog learn calmly and clearly, without fear, pressure or confusion.
Behaviour support for anxious or reactive dogs
Some dogs need more than basic training. If your dog is fearful, reactive, anxious, aggressive, guarding resources or struggling with separation, a behaviour consultation may be more appropriate.
Behaviour support can help with:
- Reactivity to dogs or people
- Fearful behaviour
- Separation-related distress
- Aggression concerns
- Resource guarding
- Excessive barking
- Over-arousal
- Multi-layered behaviour problems
In some cases, trainer support and veterinary care work best together. This is especially important when pain, anxiety, medication, health issues or previous experiences may be contributing to behaviour.
Positive, Fear Free training methods
The Village Vet only supports positive, reward-based training approaches.
Our trainers focus on helping dogs learn in a way that builds confidence and trust. This aligns with our Fear Free approach to veterinary care, where the goal is to reduce fear, stress and anxiety rather than force dogs through situations they find overwhelming.
Positive training helps create dogs who are not only better behaved, but also more emotionally secure.
Meet our dog trainers
Mali the Dog Trainer at Killara
Mali is internationally certified and highly experienced in puppy development, manners and behaviour support. She runs puppy preschool at The Village Vet Killara and is known for her calm, gentle and supportive teaching style.
Mali is a great fit for puppies, sensitive dogs, anxious dogs and families wanting a warm, evidence-based approach.
John Vella from Canine Wise at Pymble
John has more than 25 years of experience in dog training and behaviour. He runs puppy preschool at The Village Vet Pymble, as well as training and behaviour support for older dogs.
John is known for clear guidance, practical advice and helping families build better communication with their dogs.
Which training option is right for my dog?
The best training option depends on your dog’s age, temperament and what you need help with.
As a general guide:
- Puppies aged 8 to 16 weeks: puppy school or puppy preschool
- Adolescent dogs: manners, lead walking, recall and calm behaviour training
- Adult dogs: training support for specific habits or confidence issues
- Anxious or reactive dogs: behaviour consultation
- Dogs with sudden behaviour changes: veterinary check first to rule out pain or illness
If you are unsure, call our team and we can help you decide whether Mali, John or a vet appointment is the best first step.
Why choose The Village Vet for puppy school and dog training?
Training through The Village Vet gives your dog access to experienced trainers who understand the importance of calm, positive, low-stress learning.
You can expect:
- Puppy classes at Pymble and Killara
- Experienced, trusted trainers
- Positive, reward-based methods
- Fear Free aligned handling
- Support for puppies, adolescents and adult dogs
- Behaviour support for more complex issues
- Practical advice for real families
- Connection with our veterinary team if health or anxiety is involved
Our goal is to help your dog feel confident, safe and connected to you.
Book puppy school or dog training
Killara: Puppy School and Training with Mali the Dog Trainer
Book online through Mali’s booking page and select The Village Vet Killara.
Pymble: Puppy Preschool and Training with John Vella from Canine Wise
Contact John directly to book puppy preschool, dog training or behaviour support at The Village Vet Pymble.
If you are unsure where to start, call The Village Vet team:
Pymble: (02) 9499 4010
Killara: (02) 8350 5678
Frequently Asked Questions About Puppy School & Dog Training North Shore
Most puppies can start puppy school from around 8 weeks of age, once they have had their first vaccination and your vet confirms it is safe. Starting early helps with socialisation, confidence, handling, toilet training foundations and preventing future behaviour problems.
Puppy school is designed for young puppies and focuses on early socialisation, confidence, handling and basic manners. Dog training for older puppies, adolescents or adults is usually more targeted and may focus on lead walking, recall, jumping, barking, reactivity or household manners.
Puppy classes are held at The Village Vet Killara with Mali the Dog Trainer and at The Village Vet Pymble with John Vella from Canine Wise. Each trainer manages their own bookings, and our team can help you choose the right option.
Our trainers use positive, reward-based training methods that build confidence and trust. We do not support harsh, fear-based or punishment-focused training. This approach aligns with The Village Vet’s Fear Free philosophy.
Yes. Puppy biting and mouthing are common, but training can help redirect the behaviour, teach calm play, improve impulse control and help owners understand what is normal. Puppy school is a great place to learn how to manage this early.
Yes. Lead pulling is one of the most common reasons owners seek training. A trainer can help teach loose-lead walking, better focus, calmer movement around distractions and more enjoyable walks.
Not always. Dogs who bark, lunge, growl or become overwhelmed around other dogs or people may need a behaviour consultation before joining a group class. This helps keep your dog, other dogs and owners safe while creating a more suitable plan.
If your dog needs help with basic manners, lead walking, recall or settling, training may be enough. If your dog shows fear, aggression, separation distress, resource guarding or reactivity, a behaviour consultation is usually more appropriate.
Yes. Dogs can learn at any age. Adult dog training can help improve manners, confidence, communication and behaviour, even if the habits have been present for a long time.
Yes. Sudden behaviour changes can sometimes be linked to pain, anxiety, hormonal issues, neurological problems or other medical concerns. If your dog’s behaviour has changed suddenly, we recommend a veterinary check before starting training.
Get in touch with us to discuss your appointment
📅 Book online here or call us to secure an appointment:
📍 Pymble Clinic: 9499 4010
📍 Killara Hospital: 8350 5678