About: At-Home LIVE classes

Goodog teaches humans and guides them to
train their puppies and dogs in all classes

At-Home LIVE is the same training as in-person classes
+ we add extra in-person socialisation later on


  • Goodog conducts At-Home and LIVE online classes during stay-at-home orders and at other times for clients not based in Sydney.
  • Puppy classes are At-Home LIVE until the health order allows indoor classes. Puppies are unable to train outdoors until they complete their puppy vaccination course.
  • Teenage classes are a mixture of in-person outdoors or At-Home LIVE.
  • For the latest health order info visit our updates page: Goodog is COVID Safe.

Jump to common questions about At-Home LIVE classes online


Common questions and answers about At-Home LIVE classes online

What is socialisation and why do puppies and dogs need it?

Socialisation is not what you think it is. Many believe dog socialisation is just puppies or dogs forming social interaction with other puppies and dogs. And so, humans push for all classes to be in-person. However, this is only one part of puppy and dog socialisation.

Socialisation actually means the process of when a pup is gradually exposed to a situation and starts to form positive associations with that new environment. This could be a hairdryer noise, the car, parks, the coffee shop, bikes, skateboards and also other puppies and dogs. Therefore, most socialisation can be achieved at-home with our guidance. Pups and their humans only need to be in-person for one part of puppy-to-puppy or dog-to-dog socialisation. For this reason, if you attend At-Home LIVE classes, in-person socialisation is added to your booking at no extra cost. Here is more info:

  • If you attend 2 or more At-Home LIVE online classes Goodog offers additional in-person socialisation once the health order eases and at no extra cost. These in-person sessions could be at a different time to your class.
  • More info on puppy and dog socialisation: Why is it important to socialise puppies and dogs?

How do At-Home LIVE and in-person classes work?
  • Firstly, 90% of training – even when classes are in-person – occurs in your home between classes. Consequently, there is not much of a change when moving to At-Home LIVE online classes. 
  • Goodog shows you what to do in class whether online or in-person and relays best practices to help you see results. 
  • Goodog teaches humans in the hour-long session each week and asks you to show us your progress by performing the homework we set.
  • Then, we ask you to continue with the lessons we’ve shown in class and the new homework we’ve set. This occurs at-home over the 7 days between classes. 
  • Controlled puppy-to-puppy or dog-to-dog socialisation is an important element in our classes and we want you and the pups to experience this. We therefore offer At-Home LIVE attendees in-person socialisation when the health order lifts or when you are able to do so, at no extra cost.
  • Also, the health order allows two people to meet for outdoor exercise i.e. walking your pup. There are different rules for each LGA so please check the current rules below.
  • Goodog also arranges Puppy Playdates between pups in the same local area. Playdates assist pups with puppy-to-puppy socialisation with other pups their own age. Playdates are arranged once you book into a class.
  • See the feedback from our clients and pups who have attended At-Home LIVE classes online. This is located to the right of your page (on desktop) and towards the end of this page (on mobile).
  • Online Platform:
    • We use a secure platform over Zoom. You do not need to sign-up to Zoom to use our service and we send full instructions on how to login once you’re booked in.
    • We also have extra staff available at the start of each class to make sure you get extra technical assistance when needed i.e. so the class is not disrupted.
    • Additionally, we are available prior to class to perform any test runs if needed or help you with technical questions.

Everyday is a puppy and dog training day


Are At-Home LIVE classes the same as in-person classes?

Yes. Barbara is a professional and accredited trainer for both dogs and humans. Barbara delivers the same valuable lessons and also adjusts them to suit either in-person delivery or online platforms. Read the What are the benefits of At-Home LIVE? below.


What are the benefits of At-Home LIVE?

Apart from keeping us all safe and working towards ending stay-at-home orders, the benefits of At-Home LIVE online classes are:

  • Less distractions: At-Home LIVE allows dogs to train in their own environment without class distractions. This is a huge benefit in the first weeks of training as pups/dogs can gradually find their confidence. Then they can move onto training with everyday distractions. 
  • Puppies:
    • Need to start classes between 8–14 weeks. However, we understand some may not have been aware that we are open and so if they are attending At-Home LIVE classes we can extend this period to 8–20 weeks. This is because they are at-home and older puppies are not mingling with the younger puppies. If your puppy is older, book into a Teenage class.
  • Teenagers or older dogs:
    • with training hurdles should start as early as possible to combat the problem too, so delaying only solidifies the issue.
  • Home environment: We also get to see how you work together in your home without being in the class environment, which helps trainers assess your individual situation.
  • More people can attend: The whole family/household can attend At-Home LIVE. Whereas in-person class limits are 1 or 2 people per pup depending on the order at the time.
  • Presentation slides: There are easy presentation slides to follow which are not part of the in-person classes. Clients find these really helpful.
  • Bonus in-person socialisation: You receive bonus training/in-person socialisation when health orders ease at no extra cost. That means your package extends past 5 classes to include in-person socialisation and extra phone/email/online assistance.
  • Puppy Playdates: Also, when in health order, they have allowed two people or 5 vaccinated people to meet for outdoor exercise/recreation depending on your LGA. Goodog arranges Puppy Playdates for pups near you which assists with puppy-to-puppy socialisation with other pups their own age. Playdates are arranged once you book into a class.

If you attend 2 or more At-Home LIVE online classes Goodog offers additional in-person socialisation once the health order eases and at no extra cost.


Should I delay training my puppy or dog?

The short answer is no. We explain why below for both puppies and dogs.

Puppies (8–14 weeks)

Pups need to start training as early as possible and by 14 weeks as there is a shift in the way puppies learn very early on (by approx. 16-18 weeks). At-Home LIVE classes can extend this period to 18 weeks as the pups are not in a class setting and can build their confidence from home, also older pups are not mixing with younger pups. Either way, training early assists with their growth and a better training relationship. It can be much harder to train important learning hurdles after this time, and an early start in their training can help alleviate detrimental behaviours. Hence, we continue to train throughout health order requirements to tackle this important stage of their life (and yours).

Socialisation to different scenarios is also important. Read more here: Why is it important to socialise puppies and dogs?

Dogs/Teenagers (16 weeks, to much older)

Most clients entering a teenage class do so as they are experiencing difficulties or need improvements with their dogs, or it’s the perfect age to start the next stage of training and their development. Some reasons to start now can be:

  • When dogs pull like a freight train and make walks distressing for humans and dogs.
  • When there are problems meeting other dogs especially at the dog park.
  • Not coming when called (Recall). Which can be dangerous.
  • Excessive barking, i.e. when the doorbell rings or someone passes the house.
  • Jumping on people, kids and other dogs.
  • Unable to enter new environments i.e. cars or the vet.
  • They have completely forgotten their training and are stressed and stressing out the household.
  • They are ready for the next stage of training and it is the right time to start.
  • Or, call us if you have a specific issue and we can advise what action to take.
  • Socialisation to different scenarios is also important. Read more here: Why is it important to socialise puppies and dogs?

The challenges with dogs are real and can put your relationship and their behavioural health at risk, and should be worked through ASAP. Hence, we continue to train throughout health order requirements to see improvements with dogs and your home life.


I have tried online dog training elsewhere and didn’t like it, is Goodog the same as other schools?

We feel our At-Home LIVE classes are different to other schools because we still deliver the same training as offered in the in-person classes with bonus classes. Barbara is also a professional and accredited trainer for both dogs and humans and delivers the same valuable lessons as our in-person classes. See the feedback from our clients and pups who have attended At-Home LIVE classes online.

Also, see Barbara’s accreditations: Barbara’s Bio


Why does Goodog offer bonus classes for At-Home LIVE attendees?

We do so because one element of socialisation is puppy-to-puppy or dog-to-dog interaction in a controlled environment. Just like human kids, we want our puppies to learn to interact with others well, to know their boundaries and to make them comfortable. If good puppy-to-puppy or dog-to-dog socialisation was not part of a training program at another school then we hear from humans later on about how their pups don’t like other pups or humans, or become aggressive or reactive.

Goodog aims to avoid detrimental outcomes by training you, the pups and dogs to include in-person socialisation where possible. We can also advise how to achieve puppy-to-puppy or dog-to-dog socialisation while under stay-at-home orders and can connect you with other local pups through our Puppy Playdates program. If you’d like to try puppy-to-puppy socialisation at-home while in a stay-at-home order, give us a call to see if your situation allows this (all pups require different approaches). Or, email renee@goodog.com.au to register for a playdate.

Call Barbara for socialisation advice: 0424 740 234

More info on puppy and dog socialisation: Why is it important to socialise puppies and dogs?


Does Goodog arrange Puppy Playdates during stay-at-home orders?

Yes. Even when there are health orders they allow 2, or 5 vaccinated people to meet for outdoor exercise/recreation i.e. walking your pup.

Therefore, Goodog matches local clients for outdoor Puppy Playdates during stay-at-home orders. Goodog Puppy Playdates assist pups to receive puppy-to-puppy socialisation with other pups their own age. This is arranged once you book into a class.

At-Home LIVE online class, July 2021

Feedback: At-Home LIVE classes

Positive feedback about Goodog online At-Home LIVE classes
At-Home LIVE online classes feedback from Bonnie
At-Home LIVE online classes positive feedback
Great feedback about At-Home LIVE classes
Barbara with Shellbe
Barbara Hodel with She’llbe
Goodog owner and trainer

Return to top

Bookings: Our Next Classes
Enquiries: renee@goodog.com.au
Puppy Preschool: Puppy Preschool
Dog classes: Teenage classes


If you have a different question, ask us here.









    Type the word NO if you are not a robot