Raising a Puppy Doesn’t Have to Feel So Overwhelming

The first few weeks with a puppy can be exciting, exhausting, frustrating, and sometimes completely overwhelming.

Potty accidents seem to be never ending despite taking them out all the time

Sleepless nights due to crying and trying to potty train

Puppy biting and testing their teeth on everything including you

Crate training to keep them safe when you can’t watch or hold them

Wondering if you’re doing anything right.

The good news?

Most of what you’re experiencing is completely normal. Our goal is to help you understand what’s normal, build realistic expectations, and teach both you and your puppy the skills needed for long-term success.

The Foundation First Method

Families often expect a lot from their puppies.

Many families find it’s been years since they’ve had a puppy in the home—if they’ve ever raised one at all—and are quickly overwhelmed by the realities of puppyhood. The constant supervision, interrupted sleep, potty training, puppy biting, and endless energy can leave even experienced dog owners feeling exhausted and like they’ve tried everything.

Sometimes they didn’t realize an eight-week-old puppy couldn’t be expected to sleep through the night, hold their bladder for hours, or immediately understand how to live in a human world.

The Foundation First Method helps families understand how puppies learn, what is developmentally appropriate, and how to build the habits and skills that support a long and happy life together.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “We reached out to Rachelle at LAPS prior to acquiring our puppy and before we’d even gotten our little pup, she shared a wealth of knowledge with us. We both have had a lot of experience with larger grown dogs but hadn’t dealt with a chihuahua puppy. We chose the 15-session package and while we haven’t finished all the sessions yet, we absolutely could not be more pleased. Rachelle was wonderful with our pooch Nico and taught him, along with my wife and myself, what we needed to make our newly expanded little family a success. We can’t recommend LAPS highly enough—it’s been a fantastic experience!” Ken via Google review

Meet Your Trainer

Raising a puppy can be exciting, exhausting, frustrating, and rewarding—sometimes all in the same day. I’ve spent more than 25 years helping dogs and families succeed together through rescue, shelter work, pet sitting, and private training. I’ve also experienced the sleepless nights, puppy biting, potty accidents, and chaos that come with raising a puppy of my own.

My goal is to help you navigate puppyhood with realistic expectations, practical guidance, and support that helps both you and your puppy succeed.

Puppy Foundations

Start Your Puppy on the Right Path

Designed for families raising puppies under 6 months old.

Puppy Foundations provides guidance, support, and realistic expectations during the critical first 4–6 weeks after bringing your puppy home so you can build good habits from the start, avoid common mistakes, and feel more confident navigating the challenges of puppyhood.

This program includes in-person coaching, resources, messaging support, and practical guidance to help your puppy successfully adjust to life with your family while helping you build confidence as a puppy owner. We’ll help you navigate potty training, crate training, sleep routines, puppy biting, early socialization, and the everyday challenges that come with bringing home a new puppy.

Cost $895

Schedule a Discovery Call

Raising Your Puppy Right

Build the Skills That Last a Lifetime

Puppyhood doesn’t end after the first few weeks.

As puppies grow, families often face new challenges including adolescence, increased independence, distractions, leash manners, greetings, impulse control, becoming fearful of things they didn’t used to be, and learning how to navigate the real world together.

Raising Your Puppy Right helps families understand how their puppy learns, build trust and strengthen the bond they share, and develop the habits and skills that support a long and happy life together as a family.

This program includes in-person training, coaching, resources, and ongoing support throughout the first year of your puppy’s life to help your puppy successfully navigate adolescence and develop the skills needed for long-term success.

Cost $2,495

Schedule a Discovery Call

*travel fees may be applied based on distance

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”We loved working with LAPS to train our brand new puppy. We especially appreciated the relevance of the training for the very first weeks and months. It has set our puppy on the right course and we are grateful for LAPS’s resources, detail, and careful attention to molding behaviors that will serve us all well going forward!” Laura via Google Review