Rescue Dog Training

Your new dog is unsure, overwhelmed, or not listening.

You want to do everything right — but nothing feels clear yet.

At Pup’s & Paws Dog Training, we help newly adopted dogs adjust, build trust, and learn how to live calmly in their new home.

Ready to begin your journey to a well-mannered dog?

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What We Help You Fix

Most rescue dog behaviors come from stress, confusion, and lack of structure — not bad behavior.

✔ Anxiety in a new environment
✔ Not listening or ignoring commands
✔ Lack of structure and routine

✔ Reactivity to dogs, people, or movement
✔ Barking, whining, or attention-seeking behavior
✔ Fearful or shut-down behavior

✔ Leash pulling or panic on walks
✔ Accidents in the house or no potty routine
✔ Destructive behavior when left alone

✔ Jumping, nipping, or overexcitement
✔ Difficulty settling or relaxing in the home

We create clarity so your dog can finally relax and understand what’s expected.

How Our Rescue Dog Training Works

We start in your home — where your dog feels safest and can begin to understand their new environment.

From there, we build structure, routine, and communication step by step.

Pup’s & Paws Dog Training provides in-home sessions across Suwanee, Buford, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Duluth, Sugar Hill, and Gwinnett County.

✔ Calm introduction to structure and routine
✔ Clear communication your dog can understand
✔ Building trust without pressure
✔ Teaching your dog how to relax and settle

✔ Gradual exposure to real-life environments
✔ Walks with structure and guidance
✔ Confidence building step-by-step
✔ Practicing behavior in real situations

Every dog is different — training is tailored to your dog’s history, behavior, and your goals.

What to Expect from Rescue Dog Training

✔ One-on-one training in your home
✔ Clear, simple steps you can follow
✔ Structured plan based on your dog’s behavior
✔ Support through the adjustment phase
✔ Training that works in real-life situations

Your dog will become more confident, calmer, and easier to handle as they start to understand their new life.

Build Trust, Structure, and Clear Behavior

This training focuses on helping your dog adjust — not overwhelm them.

We build structure first, then layer in obedience and real-world exposure.

You’re not just training your dog — you’re helping them feel safe, confident, and understood.

Adjustment & Decompression

Help your dog settle into their new home with a calm routine so they can relax and start learning without overwhelm.

Building Trust & Confidence

Create a strong bond so your dog feels safe, follows your guidance, and becomes more confident in everyday situations.

House Training & Routine

Establish clear potty habits and daily structure to prevent accidents and confusion inside the home.

Leash Training & Walk Behavior

Teach your dog to walk calmly without pulling, freezing, or reacting to everything around them.

Car Training & Travel Stress

Help your dog get into the car, stay calm during rides, and reduce anxiety around traveling.

Reactivity & Overstimulation

Reduce barking, lunging, and overreactions to dogs, people, sounds, and movement.

Basic Obedience & Listening

Build reliable commands like sit, down, place, and recall so your dog understands what’s expected.

Separation Anxiety & Alone Training

Teach your dog to stay calm when left alone instead of panicking, barking, or destroying things.

Impulse Control & Calm Behavior

Teach your dog to stay calm, wait, and make better choices instead of reacting to every trigger.

What Our Clients Are Saying

Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We absolutely loved working with Vanessa! She was so patient and understanding with our dog, Somi, and there was already such a huge improvement in 1 session! Not only did we have helpful tips to work on, but we felt more confident on what to do! We highly recommend!!!! ❤️
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Jane Yi profile picture
Jane Yi
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Vanessa is definitely the best at dog training. She is always on time, in contact & super focused. She gave great advice about training my dog & followed through with demonstration. She did not rush through the sessions & took her time showing me what I should be doing, including picking out items that would improve training. If you want a trainer that you can depend on every time, you can’t go wrong choosing Vanessa.
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Cheryl Bryant profile picture
Cheryl Bryant
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Our dog is so much responsible. Walking with him is a blessing. Thanks!
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Javier Zon profile picture
Javier Zon
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My adult son and I both adopted rescues and decided to work on obedience training together in joint private lessons. It was so much fun to do this as a family. The trainer, Vanessa, was outstanding training both the dogs and their humans. I was impressed the dogs listened to her immediately and she taught us the proper commands, positions, and habits to continue their training. We met once/week for five weeks. Homework was effective and included reference videos. Vanessa was highly accessible and responsive to questions. My 18 month husky/golden enjoyed working with the long leash for both recall and off-leash work. After just two lessons, she’s able to sit/stay with many distractions, including at a busy park. My son’s 7 month old border collie absolutely loved the enrichment. He thrived with the lessons and slept well those nights! Vanessa was so kind to come to our home and help with interactions with older dogs as well. We will absolutely use her again. Highly recommend.
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Jennifer Dunbar profile picture
Jennifer Dunbar
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Vanessa was amazing. She helped us resolve our top 5 concerns with our almost 4 mo puppy in one session! She also worked with our kids to help them handle puppy playful biting and jumping. No nonsense approach, very practical, no clicker needed (the sound drives me nuts!). She came to our house -which means puppies don't even need all their shots yet. Definitely recommend!
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Vicky Boshoff profile picture
Vicky Boshoff
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Vanessa is brilliant and highly skilled. She is sweet but also professionally firm with our puppy.And our puppy is making so much progress. More importantly, she is very patient and clear and thorough training me and my wife and son on how to reinforce the training sessions. She responds to questions and communications promptly. We could not recommend her more highly.
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David J Bradford profile picture
David J Bradford
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Vanessa is such an awesome trainer. Despite having previous dog ownership experience we needed help with our mini poodle rescue who struggled with house training, leash reactivity, bolting out the door and poor recall. Vanessa not only gave us hands on training but really equipped us with the skills and confidence for ongoing training at home. She was also excellent with teaching my kids how to participate and train our dog.
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Joanne Lee profile picture
Joanne Lee
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Vanessa was really great with my staffie pit bull terrier. Needed help with leash training, recall and socializing. She was great! Would recommend.🙂
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J W profile picture
J W
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Our sessions with Vanessa were really great. Behavior training for my puppy with her techniques has been wonderful. Training in different environments and situations has been so helpful with obedience and overall behavior and has been remarkable. Thanks again Vanessa.
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David Conaway profile picture
David Conaway
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This is my first time ever working with a Dog Trainer. Vanessa is honest, knowledgeable, friendly, encouraging, and very open to communication. She treats Leo like he’s Special. And as his mommy, I appreciate that. She trained my husband and I as much as she trained our pup. The lessons were effective, flexible, and never rushed. Vanessa always told us what she wanted us to use, and checked with us so that we were always on the same page. If we didn’t have what we needed, we used hers until we did ,because she wants to make sure that everyone has the tools for success. She made the experience personal and yet remained professional. I highly recommend her and we are signing up for a second set of lessons to continue helping our baby grow and mature responsibly. We trust Vanessa with Leo and that is the highest recommendation we can provide.
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Payge Thomas profile picture
Payge Thomas

Dog Behaviour Training FAQ

Where does training take place?

Training starts in your home to help your dog feel safe and learn without pressure.

Once your dog is ready, we gradually introduce real-life environments like parks, stores, and busy areas.

When should I start training after adopting?

As soon as possible. Starting early prevents unwanted behaviors from becoming habits.

What if my rescue dog is scared?

That’s completely normal. We work step-by-step to build confidence without overwhelming your dog.

Do rescue dogs need different training?

Yes. We adjust the training based on your dog’s background, behavior, and comfort level.

How long does it take to see progress?

Many dogs improve quickly once structure and clear communication are in place. Consistency is key.

Can older rescue dogs be trained?

Yes. Dogs of any age can learn and improve with the right guidance.

Do you work with all breeds?

Yes. We work with all breeds, sizes, and ages.

What areas do you serve?

We provide dog training in Suwanee, Buford, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill, and Gwinnett County.

What do I need for training?

Please have treats ready, a leash, and a collar or harness. We will guide you on anything else you may need.

Will I be part of the training?

Yes. You will learn how to guide your dog so results carry over into daily life.

What if my dog has behavior problems?

We address behavior issues like reactivity, anxiety, and lack of structure as part of the training process.

Ready to Get Started?

Our Service Area

We work with puppy owners across the Atlanta area:
Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, DuluthJohns Creek, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Peachtree Corners, Sugar Hill, and Suwanee

Training takes place where your dog lives and learns every day—inside your home, out on walks, and in your local environment—so the behavior you build stays consistent in real life.

Business Hours
Mon — Open 24 Hours
Tue — Open 24 Hours
Wed — Open 24 Hours
Thu — Open 24 Hours
Fri — Open 24 Hours
Sat — Open 24 Hours
Sun — Open 24 Hours

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