Puppy Socialisation in Hailsham
Puppy Training & Socialisation
Giving your puppy the best start in life is about more than teaching basic cues — it’s about helping them feel confident, calm, and comfortable in the world around them.
At Bark & Stride, our puppy training and socialisation focuses on ethical, reward-based learning and real-world experiences, supporting both puppy and owner through those important early months. Sessions are calm, structured, and tailored to puppies aged 12–24 weeks, helping build strong foundations for happy, well-adjusted dogs.
What Is Puppy Socialisation?
Puppy socialisation is the process of teaching your puppy how to safely and calmly interact with the world they live in.
This includes learning how to respond to:
- Humans (men, women, children)
- Other dogs
- Different animals and species they may encounter
- New environments, sounds, surfaces, and objects
Puppies don’t automatically know what’s safe, what’s normal, or what to avoid — they learn this through gentle exposure and positive experiences. Socialisation allows them to build confidence, curiosity, and resilience, helping prevent fear or anxiety later in life.
It also includes habituation — getting puppies used to everyday sights, sounds, textures, and smells that might otherwise feel overwhelming. Things that seem ordinary to us can be surprisingly intimidating to a young puppy, so gradual exposure at their pace is key.
Why Early Socialisation Matters
The early weeks and months of a puppy’s life are a critical learning window.
Ideally, a breeder will begin this discovery journey from around three weeks old — introducing puppies to people, household sounds, and gentle handling. Some puppies experience this ideal start, but others may have had limited exposure before coming to their new home.
Early socialisation helps to:
- Build confidence and emotional resilience
- Reduce fear, reactivity, and stress later in life
- Support calm behaviour on walks and in public spaces
- Help puppies adapt smoothly to living in a human household
- Encourage thoughtful, relaxed responses to new situations
Puppy socialisation is not about meeting every dog or being constantly overstimulated. It’s about positive, appropriate interactions — and learning when it’s okay to observe from a distance instead of engaging.
Our Approach to Puppy Training
At Bark & Stride, we believe dog training should be kind, ethical, and rooted in understanding how dogs learn. Our approach is:
- Reward-based and ethical
- Calm, structured, and supportive
- Focused on building trust and confidence
- Tailored to each puppy’s age, temperament, and experience
- Designed to educate owners as well as puppies
We place a strong emphasis on helping you understand your puppy’s body language, so you can recognise when they feel relaxed and happy — and when they may need space or support.
There’s no pressure, no force, and no expectation for puppies to “perform.” Learning happens naturally when puppies feel safe and supported.
Puppy Training Services & Pricing
We offer two simple ways to support your puppy’s early development, depending on whether you’d prefer structured group learning or one-to-one guidance.
All puppy training and socialisation sessions take place in and around Hailsham, using carefully selected outdoor locations.
Puppy Consultation
1-to-1 Support · £30 per session
Personalised support for you and your puppy
Who this is for
IIdeal for owners who would prefer personalised guidance or need calm, supportive advice tailored specifically to their puppy.
Perfect if you:
- Are a first-time puppy owner
- Want help with early training foundations
- Have questions about socialisation, routine, or behaviour
These sessions are also useful if you’re feeling unsure about next steps or want reassurance early on.
Consultations are practical and supportive, helping you feel more confident guiding your puppy calmly at home and outdoors.
Suitable for puppies of all ages
Available year-round · By appointment
Puppy Socialisation
6-Week Course · £80 per puppy
Structured outdoor learning for confident puppies
What’s Included
- Controlled exposure to other puppies and people
- New scents, sights, and environments
- Calm, supervised interactions
- Introduction to simple, age-appropriate behaviours
You’ll learn how to:
- Read your puppy’s body language
- Support them through new experiences
- Encourage calm, confident behaviour outdoors
Sessions are relaxed and enjoyable, allowing puppies to explore safely at their own pace while building strong foundations for future training and walks.
Suitable for puppies aged 12–24 weeks
Seasonal availability · Limited spaces
Puppy Training FAQs
Kind Words From Happy Humans
SOCS Puppy Programme Course
Although we only joined half way through the class Benji our 4 month puppy learned a great deal from the experience and so did I and Benji overcame his nervousness and all under the excellent instruction from Sammi and it was so much fun and we both loved it. I would highly recommend. We’re looking forward to taking part in another course soon.
Sammi’s approach is wonderful, at our initial consultation, she listened deeply and came back with a tailored proposal to help. She is positive, caring and enthusiastic, bringing games and fun to training, which have instant results and has helped me hugely with all aspects of being a dog parent, including home environment, food and behaviour. Sammi shares her experience and knowledge of dogs in a way that resonates and encourages. I feel so much more confident thanks to working with Sammi and I can’t recommend her enough!
Let’s Talk About Your Puppy
Every puppy is different. A quick conversation can help you decide what support will suit your puppy best.