Puppy Training in Waterford, MI — Serving Metro Detroit
Puppies Don’t Come
With Instructions.
We’re the Next Best Thing.
For dogs 6 months & younger — Oakland & Macomb Counties
Whether this is your first puppy, your first in years, or you’ve always adopted adults — the overwhelm is real and completely normal. The good news: the right foundation in the first few months makes everything easier for the next 10 years.
Who Puppy Training Is For
You don’t need experience. You don’t need to know what you’re doing yet. That’s exactly why we’re here.
“I’ve Never Had a Puppy Before”
You’ve had adult dogs, or no dogs at all. Puppies are a completely different experience and nobody warned you. We’ll meet you exactly where you are — no judgment, no assumptions.
“It’s Been Years Since My Last Puppy”
You forgot how relentless this stage is. The biting, the accidents, the boundless energy at 11pm. You’re not imagining it — and you’re not alone. Let’s build good habits before bad ones set in.
“I Want to Start Right”
You got this puppy knowing you’d need help — and you’re smart for acting on it now. The first 6 months shape the next 10 years. A great foundation now means a great dog for life.
No experience needed. No judgment. If you have a puppy under 6 months and want to do right by them — you’re in the right place.
The First 6 Months Shape the Next 10 Years
Puppies have a critical socialization and learning window that closes around 6 months. Behaviors that form during this period — good and bad — become deeply ingrained habits that are much harder to change later.
Starting training now isn’t about drilling commands. It’s about building a relationship, establishing communication, and creating the foundation your dog will stand on for the rest of their life.
Prevention beats correction every time. It’s far easier to build good habits from the start than to break bad ones later.
Socialization is a skill, not an accident. Proper exposure to people, dogs, sounds, and environments during this window shapes a confident, calm adult dog.
Your puppy is ready to learn right now. Young dogs absorb training remarkably quickly when it’s done right.
What You’ll Work On
We don’t just teach your puppy tricks. We build the foundation they need to become the dog you imagined when you got them.
Basic Obedience
Sit, down, stay, come — the everyday commands that make daily life work. Built with positive reinforcement and clarity, not force.
Socialization
Controlled, positive exposure to people, dogs, sounds, and environments during the critical developmental window. Confident puppies become confident adult dogs.
Impulse Control
Teaching your puppy to pause and think before reacting — the foundation for everything else. A puppy with impulse control is a puppy you can actually live with.
Leash Manners
Starting good leash habits before pulling becomes the default. Walks should be enjoyable from day one — not something you dread.
Reliable Recall
A "come" command your puppy actually responds to — even with distractions. Building this now, before competing habits form, is much easier than fixing it later.
Household Manners
Jumping on guests, biting and mouthing, stealing food, calm greetings — the everyday behaviors that determine whether your dog enhances your life or complicates it.
Puppy Training Options & Programs
Not sure which is right for your puppy? That’s exactly what the free discovery call is for. We’ll help you find the best fit based on your puppy, your schedule, and your goals.
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Class
Our most popular option for puppy owners. Small group setting — max 6–8 puppies — with two certified trainers every session. Your puppy learns alongside other dogs while you learn alongside other owners. Puppies can start as young as 10 weeks (with proof of second vaccination).
👥 Max 6–8 puppies per class
🏅 Leads to AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certification
One-on-One Puppy Training
A fully customized program built around your specific puppy, your home environment, and your goals. Private lessons move at your pace, address your exact challenges, and give you direct one-on-one coaching from a certified trainer. Ideal for puppies with specific behavioral concerns or owners who want accelerated results.
📋 Custom training plan for your puppy
✅ Most clients see change after session one
Puppy Board & Train Program
Drop your puppy off and let us do the heavy lifting. Your puppy stays with us and receives structured training throughout the day using our Canine Connection Compass system. When they come home, we teach you exactly how to maintain everything they’ve learned. Fastest results, most comprehensive foundation.
🕐 Daily structured training sessions
👥 Includes owner coaching at pickup
What’s Included & How It Works
Every puppy program at Clever Canine is built on our proprietary Canine Connection Compass system — four pillars that create lasting results, not just temporary compliance.
Results & What Makes Clever Canine Different
“I HIGHLY RECOMMEND using Clever Canine for puppy training. Mandy and her team are amazing. Their training and experience has been so helpful with our ‘active’ puppy. He is a handful and we have seen real progress with his behavior. Very knowledgeable, experienced, great sense of humor and a real love for dogs.”
“Clever Canine is absolutely amazing! The team has been so helpful working with our German Shepherd pup Shakka. She loves going there and they really do treat her like she is part of their family. We are so very grateful for everything they do and would highly recommend their services!”
How to Enroll in Puppy Training
Start with a free 15-minute discovery call. A certified trainer will listen to your situation, answer your questions, and help you find the right program for your puppy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Puppy Training Near You — Metro Detroit & Oakland County
Based at 4396 Dixie Hwy #3 in Waterford, MI — serving Oakland County, Macomb County, and all of Metro Detroit. We have clients from Waterford, Clarkston, White Lake, Commerce, West Bloomfield, Lake Orion, Auburn Hills, Pontiac, Troy, Rochester Hills, Milford, Birmingham, Farmington Hills, Novi, and beyond.
Book Your Free, No-Obligation Discovery Call
It’s free. It’s 15 minutes. A certified trainer will listen, answer your puppy questions, and help you find the right program. No pressure, no obligation.
Book Your Free Discovery Call →