Young Dogs & Rescue

Our IMDT Partnership Grades (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers) and Life Skills sessions are designed for dogs over six months old who can focus and settle around other dogs. If your dog finds this challenging, we recommend our one-on-one sessions for young dogs.
The IMDT Partnership Grades range from Level 1 to Level 6, allowing you to progress through each stage upon successful completion. These sessions are booked in 8-week blocks, with the flexibility to rebook as needed. Training covers essential skills such as loose lead walking, recall, emergency stops, and conducting health checks on your dog. More importantly, we teach you how to apply these skills in everyday situations beyond our training facility.

Are you thinking about or have just adopted a Rescue Dog? 
The Rule of 3 in rescue dogs is a general guideline that helps adopters understand a dog's adjustment period in their new home. It’s often broken down into three stages: three days, three weeks, and three months.

• Three Days: In the first few days, a rescue dog is likely feeling overwhelmed and unsure. They may be withdrawn, overly cautious, or even shut down as they process their new environment. Some may refuse food, sleep excessively, or exhibit nervous behaviours.
• Three Weeks: By this time, the dog is starting to settle in and become more comfortable. Their true personality begins to emerge as they learn the household routine. Some behavioural challenges, like anxiety or reactivity, may start to show as they test boundaries and adapt to their new life.
• Three Months: At this point, the dog has usually formed a bond with their family and feels secure. Trust is established, and training becomes more effective as they fully adjust to their surroundings. They start to understand expectations and show confidence in their new home. While every dog is unique and may take more or less time to adjust, the Rule of 3 serves as a helpful framework for adopters to be patient and supportive during this important transition period. 

This is why Positive Paws Dog Training believe that each case needs to be considered on an individual basis, as our core mission is the dog’s emotional and physical wellbeing. 

Young dogs (teenagers), typically between six months and two years old, are in a challenging but exciting stage of development. Much like human teenagers, they experience hormonal changes, bursts of energy, and moments of rebellion. They may test boundaries, forget training they once mastered, and develop strong independent streaks.
A secondary fear period can happen around the same age, therefore appropriate socialisation remains crucial during this period, as they continue to learn how to interact with people, other dogs, and their environment.
Initially our Young Dog Sessions are offered on a 121 basis. Once we are confident that your young dog can learn in a group session this will be offered to you.