The Puppy Academy

The Puppy Academy Puppyhood made easy. Puppy Boutique & Drop-off Training School The Puppy Academy is the only elite drop-off training school and boutique exclusively for puppies!

We help take the stress of puppyhood away by training your puppy FOR YOU and providing fantastic support and help for new owners. Puppies join us for a semester at our Academy, and graduate as fully trained pups in household etiquette, proper leash walking, potty training, learn useful commands like Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Heel, and SO MUCH MORE! Schedule your FREE consultation with us to find out

more about our program, or stop by the Academy to check out our specialized puppy products, treats, toys and tools to make puppyhood easier in our Campus Boutique.

09/06/2026

Ep. 257: How Much Time Should Your Puppy Spend Out Of Crate?

We talk about puppies going in and out of crate throughout the day to help with potty training and much needed rest. But when your puppy is out of the crate, how long should they be out for? Is there too much out of crate time? And what should they be doing when they are out?

In this week’s Ask A Puppy Trainer Show, Episode 257, Sparky goes over this along with how to know when your pup is ready for more out time!

Check out the time stamps to find what other puppyhood help you’d like answers on and join us every Wed at 1pm PT on IG to ask your questions live! (Or submit them early via DM ☺️)

Full episodes can be viewed on our YouTube channel every Monday and listened to in our new official AAPTS Podcast! To get notified when it’s ready, sign up for our VIP (Very Important Puppy) list through the link in our bio and we’ll email it to you directly!

Looking for even more puppy training help but don’t live near us? Join our Online Puppy School! 💻 (link in bio)

Episode timestamps:

*0:43 - How much time should a puppy spend out of the crate at a time?
6:42 - How to know when to increase the out of crate time?
9:05 - Why can’t your puppy hold his potty longer out fo crate when he holds it for 7 hours in the crate?
10:03 - How to teach fetch on a 2-year-old dog?
16:07 - How to stop an 8-month-old Lab from jumping and counter surfing?
17:34 - How to teach a 4-month-old Poodle to stay home alone?

09/04/2026

Puppies playing with puppies vs puppies playing with adult pups — what is “good” play, when should you interfere? Should you let your pups “work it out” themselves? How do you know when play isn’t really play anymore?

Oooo these are such good questions and really puppy common for pup parents — many DON’T know what good play looks like and what they should do….

Good play should be a balance between pups. Give and take. One shouldn’t be dominating or “beating up” on another pup, and the other shouldn’t constantly be getting pummeled, trying to get away, etc.

When there’s a balance, you know it’s a good play match.

But even with good play matches — you must monitor and step in to help pause play, create some space, and momentarily settle the pups when things start to escalate. For puppies especially, when they know someone is there watching and leading and intervening when necessary, it takes the pressure off them needing to take control of play. 🐶

09/02/2026

Grad student ✨LOLA✨

We don’t know who enjoyed the bedazzling more — her or us! 😅

09/01/2026

If your puppy hates the bath:

First you want to make it fun and easy with them. Practice some fun games with them in the tub (no water) and couple times a day for a few minutes.

🚿 Actual bathing tips:
- Don’t run the water with them in it
- Use lukewarm water
- Don’t use the fancy shower head (use a cup or pitcher to pour water over them instead)
- Wetting the head last can keep them calmer
- Keeping the leash/collar on can help if you have a super wiggly/jumpy pup
- Use a lick mat to keep them busy and distracted while you get them all clean!

Have a question for our trainers? Join us LIVE every Wed at 1pm PT here on IG to get your puppy Qs answered! 🐶

08/30/2026

If your puppy hates to leave your side here’s some things to start implementing:

➡️ A structured daily schedule of crate time vs out-of-crate aka activity time

➡️ Activity time is intention activities that work your puppy physically and mentally to help tire them out

➡️ Supervised separation after activity time helps them to learn to exist around you, but not with your constant attention

➡️ Avoid heavy affection before they go back into crate. If you are giving affection, do some matter-of-fact training routines before they go back into crate to take the emotion out of it

➡️ Cover the crate, play some noise, and have it in a part of the house away from you to help them settle

Let us know how it goes! 🐶

08/28/2026

Lots of puppies don’t enjoy the playpen. But is it true separation anxiety? Here’s some things to try to test if it is! 🐶

08/27/2026

Happy National Dog Day! 🐶🎉

Taking a long back today over some of the 2000+ pups we’ve gotten to work with over the last decade! 🥰

Love our pups and love our community! Give your pup an extra kiss from us today! 😘

08/26/2026

Does your puppy bite for attention?

There may be more behind it…

Are they getting enough mental and physical exercise? Have you taught them how to settle and be calm yet? Are they overstimulated? Are they getting enough rest?

When you set up your puppy’s day for success with good structure, everything becomes easier and good habits start to shape quickly. ☺️

Have a questions for our trainers? Join us live every Wed at 1pm PT right here on TikTok to get your puppy q’s answered! 🐶

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528 Pacific Coast Highway
Hermosa Beach, CA
90254

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