fall 2026 cohort :    14 september 2026 -    2 November 2026

The first months shape a lifetime.

Building confident puppies and confident humans through communication, understanding and trust. 

A BEASTLY APPROACH
🐾 prevention over correction

By cultivating confidence, communication, and life skills from the very beginning, we help puppies become resilient learners, prepared to investigate new experiences with curiosity rather than fear.

🐾 SMALL CLASS SIZES

Learning isn't one-size-fits-all. We create a safe, supportive learning environment where every puppy and family has the time, space, and individualized guidance to build confidence together.

🐾 SCIENCE-BASED LEARNING

Our methods are grounded in modern behavioral science, using clear communication and positive reinforcement to create lasting learning without fear or intimidation.

🐾 animals always have a choice

We create learning opportunities that encourage puppies to choose engagement rather than forcing compliance, building confidence and trust that lasts far beyond the classroom.

🐾 REAL-LIFE SKILLS

We prepare puppies for the moments that matter most in everyday life—from walking politely on leash and leaving the pizza on the counter to developing the confidence to know when to investigate, when to disengage, and how to navigate the world successfully

Skills your puppy will learn:

Recall

Loose leash walking

Handling

Body awareness

Settling

Impulse control

Relationship

Engagement

Confidence

Skills YOU will learn:

How dogs actually learn

Timing

Markers

Reading body language

Managing arousal

Preventing problems before they happen

Meet Your Trainer

Animals have been at the heart of Lisa's life for as long as she can remember. More than 27 years ago, she began her career in zoos and aquariums, where she discovered a passion for understanding how animals learn, communicate, and experience the world around them.

Over the past two decades, Lisa has worked with sea lions, dolphins, and a wide variety of exotic species while also building a career in veterinary medicine as a veterinary technician in both small animal practices and the marine mammal field. These experiences reinforced one simple truth: every behavior has meaning, and every animal deserves to be understood.

When Lisa began working with domestic dogs more than six years ago, she noticed that much of the industry focused on solving problems after they appeared. She envisioned something different.

Beastly Animal Behavior was created to help families build strong relationships from the very beginning—relationships rooted in communication, trust, and a deeper understanding of behavior. Through Puppy Foundations, Lisa helps puppies grow into resilient learners while giving families the knowledge and confidence to navigate life together.

Her favorite moments aren't when a puppy performs a cue perfectly—they're when a puppy chooses to investigate something new with confidence, communicates clearly, and shows the world exactly who they are.

🐾🐾PUPPY CLASS ROADMAP 🐾 

🐾 week 1 - building the foundation

Every great relationship starts with communication. You’ll learn how puppies think, how learning occurs, and begin building the trust and communication that every future skill depends on. 

🐾 week  2 - engagement & focus

Before puppies can learn from us, they need to choose us! We will strengthen engagement, introduce marker timing, and begin teaching your puppy that paying attention is rewarding

🐾 week  3 - confidence through exploration

Confident puppies aren’t fearless - they are prepared. We will help your puppy investigate new people, objects and environments while learning how to process the world with curiosity rather than uncertainty. 

🐾 week 4- life skills in motion

Real life doesn’t happen in a training space. We will begin to apply practical skills like polite leash walking, recall foundations, handling, and everyday manners in real-world situations. 

🐾 week 5 - practice week

Learning takes repetition. This week is dedicated to practicing at home, reviewing your progress, and joining our virtual Q&A to celebrate wins, troubleshoot challenges, and keep building momentum. This is the week; we start to take the humans’ leash off!!

🐾 week 6 - Thoughtful decision making

As puppies gain confidence, we begin asking for more thoughtful choices. We will continue strengthening impulse control, emotional regulation, and the ability to know when to investigate and when to disengage. 

🐾 week 7 - bringing it all together

Skills become habits through practice. We will combine everything you have learned into real-life scenarios that prepare your puppy to confidently navigate the world alongside you.

🐾 week 8 - the next adventure...together

The true beginning of your life together. We will celebrate your puppy’s progress, recognize how far you have come together, and give you the tools to continue growing long after class ends. Once a Beastly Animal, always a Beastly Animal!

  • Do puppies need vaccinations before attending class?

    Yes. The health and safety of every puppy in class is important to us.

    Puppies should have started a veterinarian-recommended vaccination series appropriate for their age and be healthy, free of signs of contagious illness, and current on parasite prevention or testing as recommended by their veterinarian.

    We also recognize that every puppy's medical needs are unique. Documented protective vaccine titers may be accepted in place of routine boosters when appropriate. If you have questions about your puppy's vaccination status, we're happy to discuss it before class begins.

    Our goal is to balance disease prevention with the equally important need for early socialization and confidence-building during puppyhood.

    Can children attend puppy class?

    For the best learning experience, we ask that only the puppy's adult handlers attend class.

    Our classes are designed to teach people just as much as puppies. Each session includes discussion, coaching, and hands-on practice that requires your full attention to ensure both safety and learning.

    Older teenagers who will be actively involved in the puppy's training are welcome to attend with an adult. If you have unique family circumstances, please reach out—we're always happy to discuss accommodations.

    What if I miss a class?

    Life happens—we understand!

    If you miss a class, we'll provide the lesson summary and homework so you can continue progressing at home. Much of your puppy's success comes from the consistency of practice between classes, so staying on track with the homework is often more important than attending every session.

    If you'd like additional support, private make-up sessions may be available for an additional fee. As Beastly grows and additional puppy classes are offered, make-up opportunities may also be available in a future class when appropriate.

    If you know you'll be absent, please let us know as soon as possible so we can help you choose the best path forward.

    My puppy seems aggressive. Can we still join puppy class?

    Maybe—and we'd love to help you figure that out.

    Many behaviors that owners describe as "aggression" are actually rooted in fear, frustration, over-arousal, uncertainty, or normal puppy development. The earlier we understand what's happening, the better we can support your puppy's learning.

    Before class begins, we'll ask a few questions about your puppy's behavior to determine whether our group class is the best fit. If we believe your puppy would benefit from private coaching first, we'll explain our reasoning and create a plan to help them succeed.

    Our goal isn't simply to fill a class—it's to place every puppy in the environment where they can learn safely, build confidence, and develop healthy social skills.

    What if it’s raining?

    We will not cancel class for a little rain. We will, however, cancel class for more inclement weather. Your trainer will reach out via email and let you know when class is rescheduled.

  • Age range: 8 weeks - 6 months

    Started on veterinary recommended vaccination course

    Curious humans ready to learn with their puppy!

  • $495 includes:

    Training plans

    Homework plans

    Weekly support

    Trainer with over 25+ years of professional experience

    Puppy friends and behavioral enrichment plans

    Small class size guaranteed

SIGN UP TODAY FOR PUPPY FOUNDATIONS!