Bringing home a new puppy is a heartwarming experience, but along with all the cuddles and playful moments comes the responsibility of teaching your puppy how to behave. 

Proper training is key to ensuring that your puppy grows into a well-behaved, confident, and happy dog. If you’re unable to attend in-person classes or simply prefer the flexibility of learning from home, online puppy training classes are an excellent option.

But what exactly can you expect from these classes? Here are four essential things your puppy will learn in an online puppy training course.
Let’s get started!

1. Basic Obedience Commands: Sit, Stay, and Come

The foundation of any puppy training course is teaching your puppy basic commands that will help them understand and respond to your instructions. These basic obedience commands include:

• Sit: This command helps establish a connection between you and your puppy while encouraging them to listen to you. It’s often the first step in teaching impulse control.
• Stay: Learning how to stay put is crucial, especially in situations where your puppy’s safety depends on it (e.g. when you’re near traffic or crowded spaces).
• Come: The “come” command is invaluable for off-leash play and ensuring your puppy returns to you even in distracting environments.

These commands aren’t just about control—they also build your puppy’s focus and trust in you. Online courses break down these commands into easy-to-follow steps with video demonstrations, making it simple for you to practice at home.

2. House Training and Crate Training

One of the biggest challenges for new puppy owners is housebreaking their pups. In online puppy training, you’ll learn effective methods for both house training and crate training.

• House Training: Puppies don’t naturally know where they should do their business, so these classes will guide you through establishing a schedule for bathroom breaks and creating positive reinforcement systems to help your puppy learn where and when it’s appropriate to go.
• Crate Training: Crate training helps your puppy view the crate as a safe space, not a punishment. When done correctly, your puppy will come to associate the crate with security and rest, making it an effective tool for house training and managing separation anxiety.

Through structured lessons, trainers will guide you on how to make this transition smooth and stress-free for both you and your puppy.

3. Socialization Skills

One of the most important aspects of puppy training is socialization—the process of exposing your puppy to a variety of people, places, sounds, and experiences. 

Well-socialized puppies are less likely to develop anxiety or behavioural issues later in life. Even in an online setting, your puppy can still gain valuable socialization skills.

In these courses, you’ll learn how to:

• Introduce your puppy to different environments safely.
• Expose them to various sounds, such as traffic, household appliances, or even other animals, in controlled environments.
• Arrange virtual or in-person meetups with other puppies or friendly, vaccinated dogs once your vet gives the green light.

Online courses also provide tips on using desensitization techniques—where your puppy is gradually exposed to potentially overwhelming stimuli at their own pace.

4. Leash Training and Walking Etiquette

Walking on a leash may seem simple, but for puppies, it’s a skill that requires patience and consistency to master. A virtual puppy training course will teach you the best methods for leash training, covering:

• Loose-Leash Walking: The goal is for your puppy to walk beside you without pulling or tugging. A step-by-step process will be outlined in the course, starting indoors and gradually moving to outdoor walks with more distractions.
• Heel Command: This command is often taught during leash training to ensure your puppy stays at your side rather than wandering ahead.
• Correcting Unwanted Behaviors: Online training will help you address common walking problems such as lunging at other dogs, excessive barking, or stopping frequently.

With consistent practice and the guidance of an online course, your puppy will learn to enjoy walks as a positive and structured experience, making walks safer and more enjoyable for you both.

Final Thoughts

Online puppy training classes offer a wealth of benefits, providing flexibility, expert guidance, and the ability to train your dog in a comfortable, familiar environment. 

Through these courses, your puppy will master essential commands, develop good social skills, learn how to behave on walks, and understand which behaviours are inappropriate. 

You, as an owner, will feel empowered with knowledge and techniques to guide your puppy’s growth into a happy, well-adjusted dog.