Why Your Puppy Will Get More Out of Obedience Classes and Walks Than “Puppy School”

When people bring home a new puppy, the first thing they often hear is: “Take them to puppy school!”

And while the idea sounds great, the reality isn’t always what you’d hope for.

A room full of puppies might seem like the best way to socialise your youngster, but in practice it can be chaotic, overwhelming, and often the opposite of what your puppy actually needs to grow into a calm, confident dog.

So, what’s the alternative? Structured obedience classes and group walks with balanced dogs.

Here’s why your puppy will get far more out of those than traditional “puppy-only” classes.

Chaos vs Calm

A class made up only of puppies is, by nature, chaotic.

They’re all excitable, curious, full of energy and with no adult dogs around to balance things out, that energy just keeps bouncing off the walls.

In contrast, a mixed-age class lowers the arousal. Being around calm adult dogs helps your puppy learn to settle, watch, and copy appropriate behaviour and skills that chaotic play sessions just don’t teach.

Learning Together, Not Falling Behind

In an obedience class, most owners are there for the same reason as you: to teach the basics. Sit, down, recall, loose-lead walking, focus.

You’re not at a disadvantage just because your dog is young. In fact, puppies often thrive when they’re learning alongside older dogs, because they pick up the calm atmosphere and structure around them.

Even if your puppy just sits quietly and observes, they’re learning how to be in that environment. And that’s incredibly valuable.

Walks That Teach Real Skills

Puppies don’t just need to learn how to play with other puppies. They need to learn how to be around other dogs in everyday life.

That’s where structured walks come in.

Walking alongside a group of steady, balanced dogs teaches your puppy to regulate their excitement, to move as part of a group, and to relax in the presence of other dogs without needing to play.

That kind of socialisation is worth far more long-term than a few minutes of chaotic puppy wrestling.

Structure Without Pressure

In a well-run class or group walk, the focus isn’t on whether your puppy performs every exercise perfectly. It’s about giving them exposure, learning opportunities, and the right kind of experiences.

Your puppy will get to practice short bursts of obedience and play throughout the session, learning focus, recall, and engagement with you even when other dogs are around. But just as importantly, they’ll also spend time watching, absorbing, and learning how to settle.

Because in those quieter moments, they’re still taking in so much:

• How to focus with distractions around

• How to settle calmly near other dogs

• How to take cues from you in a group environment

• How to play and connect with you even when other dogs are present

  
  

The difference is structure. With a trainer guiding the group, you have the chance to practise these skills in a safe, supported environment not in the chaos of a dog park, where bad habits and over-arousal can easily take over.

Sometimes progress happens when your puppy is actively training, and sometimes it happens when they’re quietly watching and processing. Both are equally valuable parts of the learning process.

Setting Them Up for Real Life

The goal isn’t just to have a puppy who can play nicely with other puppies. The goal is to have a dog who can cope with real life: walks, cafés, busy paths, other dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Obedience classes and structured walks build those real-life skills from day one. They help your puppy grow into a calm, confident dog who knows how to handle themselves, not just in a puppy pen, but everywhere.

The Bottom Line

Puppy-only classes can sound appealing, but they don’t always prepare your pup for the real world.

Structured obedience sessions and group walks with balanced dogs will teach your puppy far more about calmness, focus, and social skills than chaotic play ever could.

At Paws n Claws, we make sure your puppy gets the experiences they truly need, in ways that will pay off for years to come.