Puppy Training
for a Better Best Friend
Why Work With Bark to Basics?
Expert guidance from the start. Support as your puppy grows.
Congratulations on your new addition! Puppies are adorable and endearing. They can also be exhausting little tornadoes complete with sharp teeth, puddles on the floor, chewed up furniture and sleepless nights.
Between socialization, potty training, biting, jumping, sleep schedules and endless advice from friends and the internet, it can be difficult to know what actually matters. But raising a puppy doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Why Starting Early Matters
The first few months shape your puppies confidence, real-life manners, social skills, and lifelong habits. Every new experience is an opportunity to build a well-adjusted adult dog – but those opportunities don’t last forever.
My puppy programs focus on real-life manners, creating successful schedules, and socialization, help you avoid common mistakes and trade the moments of “What did I do?!” with a clear plan for raising a confident puppy.
Puppy Training can help with:
Not sure where to start?
Questions about the training process? Not sure which package is right for you?
Schedule a Free 15-Minute Discovery Call
Pricing & Packages
Polished Puppy
$1100
What You’ll Gain:
- A Comprehensive Puppy Package With Maximum Coaching and Support
Dreaming of a puppy who grows into your brewery buddy? Polished Puppy is for you.
Building on a solid foundation, this package provides extended coaching and support through the “What now?!” moments to help you raise the envy of the neighborhood.
Package Includes:
- Pro guidance for raising a happy, well-behaved, and well-adjusted puppy
- 5.5 hours of comprehensive, in-home coaching
- Two guided, 30-minute socialization outings
- Extended Support For Problem Solving Between Sessions
- 30-minute virtual support session
- 10 weeks text and email support
- Access to twice-monthly virtual Office Hours during program PLUS 1 month after
- Notes and homework after each session
Polished Puppy fully virtual package - $900
Prepared Puppy
$700
What You’ll Gain:
- A Solid Foundation
Build the skills that make daily life easier while giving your puppy the confidence to navigate the world. The program combines private coaching, real-world socialization, and support to help you stay on track so instead of wondering what comes next, you’ll always have a plan.
Package Includes:
- Puppy foundation skills
- 3.5 hours of in-home coaching
- 30-minute socialization outing
- 6 weeks text and email support
- Notes and homework after every session
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Access to twice-monthly virtual Office Hours during program
Prepared Puppy fully virtual package - $500
Puppy Jumpstart
$350
What You’ll Gain:
- Getting Started Right
Puppyhood can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to sort through conflicting advice. In this one-on-one session, you’ll get clear answers, practical strategies, and a personalized plan so you can start your puppy off on the right paw.
Package Includes:
- Personalized puppy plan to get you started
- 90-minute in-home, coaching session
- 30-minute virtual support session
*If you choose to move forward with a puppy package within 30 days $150 will be credited towards the package of your choice.
Puppy Jumpstart fully virtual package - $300
Additional Dog(s) add $75 per session – each session is 30 minutes longer when working with an additional dog.
Better than board and train
$2200
What You’ll Gain:
- Letting Me Train For You
Ditch the long-workday guilt and let me take puppy training off your to-do list!
Better Than Board and Train is a different kind of comprehensive puppy training package that allows you to see faster results with pro training and expert-guided socialization, all while receiving support during moments of puppy uncertainty.
Unlike traditional board-and-train programs, your puppy develops skills in the environment where they’ll actually live (at home!) and you don’t miss the critical bonding period.
3-week package Includes:
- Comprehensive stay at home & train experience
- 90-minute in home, private consultation
- Two 30-minute training sessions in your home/week. (I train your pup!)
- One 60-minute socialization outing per week. (I take your pup out around town!)
- One 60-minute transfer session per week to teach you what your pup has learned. (I train you!)
- Two 30-minute virtual follow up sessions
- 6 weeks text and email support
- Access to twice-monthly virtual Office Hours during program PLUS 1 month after
- Notes after each session
See what people are saying about Bark to Basics
We have a 12-month-old Labrador puppy who does NOT have the typical Lab’s eagerness to please. He developed two very nasty habits of play biting/nipping (hard!) and biting and tugging at the leash. We did not want to use punishment, aversion training or pinch collars, but we were at the point of considering them. Then in only two hour-long training sessions Melissa turned the whole situation completely around. She patiently trained us to use two easy, kind, effective techniques and since her first visit all of the problems are gone! We love walking our dog and being around him now. Other trainers I consulted (who charge WAY more) estimated it would take 6-8 90-minute private sessions–well over $1800. Melissa’s techniques were so successful after the first visit, we just had her come for a second visit to train some fun tricks. She is very professional, punctual and extremely reasonably priced. If you have a dog with problem behaviors, a group class isn’t customized enough to help. Melissa writes out her plan for you to train your individual dog, and IT WORKS!!!! My only regret is that she is so good at her job we only got to see her twice!
Melissa at Bark to Basics is great! We hired her initially to work with our new Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy, but she ended up also working with us with our 10-year-old JRT as well. We love her approach to training, she is very positive, and knowledgeable about dog behavior. She is a good listener and works with us based on our individual dog's needs and goals. We highly recommend her! She has made a tremendous difference to our household!
My experience with Melissa as a trainer for my newly adopted pound puppy was a wonderful one. Melissa’s greatest strength is her patience and true love for dogs. My dog, Butters, is very stubborn and has some fears (ceiling fans!) and Melissa was so kind and did not hurry him but worked with him until progress was made. She is also very good with dog owners who usually need more training than the dogs. She really works with you until you know how to get your dog to respond and become a great, well-behaved citizen. I can’t wait to enroll Butters in more training with Melissa.
Virtual Sessions
Virtual Sessions are fully customized, one-on-one video sessions so you can get the help you need no matter where you are!
The support you need
Ongoing support doesn't have to end when your training package does. Office Hours are included with select Bark to Basics programs and available afterward through our client-only monthly memberships.
Payment
Credit cards, checks, Venmo and cash are accepted. Packages are paid in full at the first session.
Cancellation/Refund Policy
48-hour notice is required for cancellations to reschedule the appointment. There are no refunds on packages as your commitment to working consistently with your dog is key to reaching your training goals!