About Us
Puppy Training
FREE Phone Consultation
FREE Phone Consultation
My Puppy Obedience Training Program consists of private lessons at your home in Huntsville and Madison. I teach basic commands, leash training, and socialization skills. I use reward-based training, positive reinforcement, and clicker training. My goal is to help make living with your dog easy and stress-free.
FREE Phone Consultation
FREE Phone Consultation
FREE Phone Consultation
Click below for a FREE 15-minute phone consultation to discuss obedience training for your new puppy. During this call, I will gather information about your puppy and discuss ways that I can help you, rates, program details, and more. There is no obligation to purchase anything, just a chance for us to chat about dog training. Dog Trainer, Puppy Training, Huntsville.
Puppy Talk Podcast
FREE Phone Consultation
Puppy Talk Podcast
Puppy Talk Podcast offers advice and training tips on raising a healthy, happy, and obedient puppy. I provide real-life experiences for raising a puppy of my own and the hundreds of puppies I have trained over the years. Puppy Talk can be heard on Apple Podcast, iTunes, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and many other directories. Dog Training, Dog Trainer, Puppy Training, Huntsville.
Welcome Video
Welcome to Top Gun Dog Training. My name is Dale Buchanan, and I will be your dog trainer. I specialize in Puppy Training and helping adult dogs with behavior modification. I use positive reinforcement and reward-based training methods. Click here to learn more about me.
Reviews
The Importance of Puppy Socialization
The critical period for socializing a puppy is between 4-16 weeks old. The breeder starts socializing them with various people, animals, sights, and sounds from 4-8 weeks old. The new puppy owner continues the socialization from 8-16 weeks old and beyond. If these 12 weeks of socialization are missed, the puppy may develop fear and anxiety towards people and other dogs.
Your vet will likely tell you not to bring your puppy outside until they have all their roster shots and rabies vaccine, usually around 16 weeks old. If you wait until then and never have your puppy around any dogs, it could result in a behavior problem. You must find a balance between keeping your puppy safe from disease and viruses and getting them socialized early in life.
Here is the link to a resource on the importance of puppy socialization from Robert K Anderson, DVM http://trainyourdogmonth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/APDT_TYDMRKLetter.pdf
When I got Dixie on May 5, 2020, it was the beginning of the Covid Pandemic. She was 10 weeks old and already highly socialized by the breeder. I continued the process by immediately getting her around many different people and dogs that were fully vaccinated. Today, at 2 years old, she is the most social dog I have ever known. She loves all people, dogs, and other animals and has no reactivity to different sights, sounds, or stimuli.
Here are some great places to take your dog for socializing, enrichment, and practicing obedience commands with distractions. These stores require your dog to be on a leash, but also consider parks and other outdoor places to socialize off-leash.
- Home Depot
- Lowes
- Ace Hardware
- Bass Pro Shops
- TJ Max
- Michael's
- Hobby Lobby
- Dicks Sporting Goods
- Petco
- Petsmart
- Pet Supermarket
This is just a short list of indoor socialization stores where you can bring your dog or puppy. Be sure to contact the store in your area before going, as individual locations may have specific dog rules.
Dog Training, Dog Trainer, Puppy Training, Huntsville, Madison, AL
Puppy Talk Podcast
FREE Phone Consultation
The first step to providing dog training services for your puppy in the Huntsville and Madison, AL, area is with our FREE Phone Consultation. During this conversation, we will gather information and discuss the next steps to training your dog, including an in-home consultation, training plan, and rates. Fill out the form by clicking "Learn More" below.
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We serve these Huntsville, AL areas
MADISON COUNTY
Huntsville, Madison, Hazel Green, New Market, Meridianville
LMESTONE COUNTY
Athens, Madison, Harvest, Decatur
CONTACT US
Email: dale@topgundogtraining.com
Phone: 256-801-2722
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256-801-3722 | Huntsville, AL
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