We are a FORCE-FREE, Science based puppy socialization, behaviour and training establishment. Find us on Facebook under Canine Africa
We are internationally qualified animal behaviourists, puppy and adult dog trainers through renowned COAPE International.
09/07/2025
2025-07-05 Puppy school fun at Hout Bay Puppy School!
What a joy watching our pups thrive in class today! From proprioception games to tunnels, platforms, and play — these activities aren’t just fun, they build confidence, frustration tolerance, and impulse control in a safe and supportive environment.
We’re all about creating positive associations with learning, people, other dogs, and novel experiences. Using force-free, science-based training, we help puppies build trust and resilience!
FORCE-FREE, Science based training ROCKS in raising happy, well-adjusted pups through kindness, structure, and play! 💖🐶🥰🥳💥
09/07/2025
2025-07-05 Meet and greets & Puppy at Hout Bay Puppy School
Appropriate "meet and greets" are essential for puppies to build positive social experiences and avoid fear or trauma. When a large dog is involved, safety and consent become even more important due to the size and strength difference.
Leashing the larger dog helps prevent overwhelming or accidental harm, while allowing the smaller or younger dog space and choice to leave ensures the interaction remains positive and respectful.
These early experiences shape a puppy’s confidence and social skills, so it’s critical they feel safe and in control.FORCE-FREE, Science based training ROCKS! 💖🐶🥰🥳💥
09/07/2025
2025-07-05 Teaching a down cue Hout Bay Puppy School!
Teaching your puppy the "down" cue helps promote calm, relaxed behavior in busy or distracting situations—like when guests visit or at the park.
It encourages self-control and sets the stage for more advanced training, making it a key skill for a well-mannered dog. All our puppies managed to go down, some quicker than others!
SETTING OUR PUPPIES UP FOR SUCCESS! FORCE-FREE, Science based training ROCKS! 💖🐶🥰🥳💥
09/07/2025
2025-07-05 Yoda’s Graduation Hout Bay Puppy School!
Congratulations Yoda! Yoda earned an honorary certificate for making herself available at puppy school to help desensitise and teach the puppies, teach them “leave it” and how to interact with a cat! Cats are AWESOME teachers! 💖🥰🥳💥
FORCE-FREE, Science based training ROCKS! 💖🐶🥰🥳💥
📱 WhatsApp Lucille: 083 527 3446
09/07/2025
PUPPY SOCIALIZATION classes
ENROLMENT NOW OPEN!
Register your puppy at Hout Bay Puppy School and come join us for 5 fun-filled Saturday mornings teaching your puppy how to dog and learning how to read their body language as well as other dogs and humans!
We train from a behavioural perspective, focusing on creating confident, well-balanced puppies and savvy dog guardians! Our classes are small in order to give personalized attention and most importantly keep all puppies safe and ensure positive interactions. Puppies play both on and off leash, teaching them to self-regulate!
Our emphasis is on a whole-dog approach, considering physical, emotional, and behavioural well-being, aiming for positive and stress-free relationships between puppies and their guardians through building trust, respect, and effective communication.
Our trainers are fully qualified and experienced COAPE International FORCE-FREE, science based Animal Behaviourists and trainers.
📱 WhatsApp Lucille: 083 527 3446
FORCE-FREE, Science based training ROCKS! Setting our puppies up for SUCCESS! 💖🐶🥰🥳💥
09/07/2025
2025-07-05 Harry’s Graduation Hout Bay Puppy School!
Harry is just the most sweetest German Shepherd! He reads body language, self-handicaps and matches play styles! Congratulations Harry! His guardians have really put the work in and it has resulted in Harry being a rock-solid adolescent doggo! Onwards and upwards to you and your family! 💖🐶🥰🥳💥
SETTING OUR PUPPIES UP FOR SUCCESS! 🥳💥
FORCE-FREE, Science based training ROCKS! 💖🐶🥰
📱 WhatsApp Lucille: 083 527 3446
09/07/2025
2025-07-05 Kaos’s Graduation Hout Bay Puppy School!
Kaos is a stunning Cane Corso pup! He’s come leap and bounds at puppy school, learning how to dog! He’s a nightmare for his ever suffering sister Pluto as she’s incredibly tolerant of him harassing her to play! Kaos has learnt to play so nicely with the other puppies and we are delighted that he’s going to join our teen class! Congratulations! Mom and dad have really put the work in and it shows! 💖🐶🥰🥳💥
SETTING OUR PUPPIES UP FOR SUCCESS! FORCE-FREE, Science based training ROCKS! 💖🐶🥰🥳💥
📱 WhatsApp Lucille: 083 527 3446
04/07/2025
2025-05-31 Hout Bay Puppy School
Yoda, the resident cat joined puppy school today! Her excuse was she was there to inspect our enrichment box but in reality, she just wanted to enjoy puppy school and all the goodies in the box!
It was a wonderful experience for the puppies to have a cat around while training. It was also the perfect opportunity to teach them a "leave it"! Yoda is not scared of doggos, she has Pluto a HUGE 8 month old Cane Corso as a sibling as well as KAOS, also a Cane Corso pup to entertain herself with and keep in line on a daily basis!
We take every opportunity to desensitize the pups when they present themselves! FORCE-FREE, Science based behaviour and training ROCKS! 💖🐶🥰🥳💥
04/07/2025
2025-05-31 Hout Bay Puppy School
Why On and Off Leash Play at Puppy School? 🐶
On-leash play teaches puppies self-control, polite greetings, and boundaries, ensuring safe interactions without overwhelming them. Off-leash play lets pups express natural behaviors, build confidence, and practice social cues in a supervised, fun environment.
Frequent Breaks for a Positive Experience 🥳
To prevent bullying or fear-based behaviors, we incorporate frequent breaks during play sessions. These pauses:
- Allow puppies to calm down and regulate arousal.
- Prevent overstimulation, which can lead to nipping or reactivity.
- Give shy pups a chance to relax and build confidence.
- Ensure every puppy feels safe and included.
Together, these approaches create a balanced, positive setting where puppies learn, thrive, and enjoy playtime while staying safe and happy! 💕
FORCE-FREE, Science based behaviour and training ROCKS! 💖🐶😍🥳💥
DARG Nugget & Leia had a blast at puppy school! 🥰🐶😍
04/07/2025
2025-05-31 Hout Bay Puppy School
🐶 Why Body Handling Matters for Puppies! 🐾
Gentle, force-free body handling is key to raising a confident, happy pup! By respectfully touching their paws, ears, mouth, and more, we build trust and prepare them for grooming, vet visits, and cuddles.
Using science-based, consent-driven methods, we boost their emotional resilience, reduce fear, and strengthen our bond. Let’s set our puppies up for a lifetime of positive experiences!
FORCE-FREE, Science based behaviour and training ROCKS! 💖🐶😍🥳
13/06/2025
2025-05-10 Hout Bay Puppy School
Winter is upon us and it's been wet and cold lately. The puppies still need to be socialized and potty trained despite the bad weather.
It's crucial to acclimate puppies to winter rainy weather without instilling fear or discomfort because early positive exposure builds resilience and prevents future behavioural issues. We always ensure that everyone is feeling comfortable and safe, even in the wet weather!
Puppies that learn to associate rain with positive experiences, such as treats, praise, or short, enjoyable play sessions, are less likely to develop anxiety or reluctance towards wet conditions as adults.
This proactive approach ensures they can comfortably and safely participate in outdoor activities year-round, promoting their physical and mental well-being even during inclement weather.
A well-adjusted dog that isn't afraid of the rain will make walks and potty breaks less stressful for both the puppy and their guardian throughout the winter months.
Fun was had all around despite the weather! FORCE-FREE, Science based behaviour and training ROCKS! 🥰🐶💖🥳
13/06/2025
We absolutely adore Nugget! Please share and let's find him a forever home! 💖🐶🥰
All marble swirls...No recipe needed 🩵
Nugget is a real head-turner with his unusual markings. This gorgeous boy loves forest walks with doggy pals and is a star student at Hout Bay Puppy School’s teen class. Nugget's playful, smart, and affectionate – the perfect little sidekick. He will be on the small side of medium when fully grown.
🐶 Approximately 19 weeks old
🐕 Will be small-medium size when grown
🌳 Loves playing in the forest with other dogs
🎓 Attends Hout Bay Puppy School – teen class star
🧠 Smart, social, and eager to learn
🏡 Ready for his forever home!
For more info on Nugget:📞 021 790 0383 📧 [email protected]
📍 DARG | Hout Bay, Western Cape
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Canine Africa is a FORCE-FREE, Scientifically Based Puppy and Adult Dog Socialization Training Academy. Our aim is to create a happy, enriched and emotionally well-balanced relationship between you and your special canine companion.
Dogs are social animals and emotional beings that have a strong love for their humans and require social contact in order to bond. Different breeds of dogs have their own breed specific traits and have their own specific requirements to fulfill their lives. Ultimately you are dealing with the INDIVIDUAL dog in front of you, despite breed. Learning to understand your dog, their body language and emotional state is crucial to predict their behaviour. These are all tools to be able to fulfill their daily needs.
If a dogs emotional, mental and physical needs are not met on a daily basis, there is a good chance that they will “Act Out” in an effort to fulfil their “hard-wired” and internal/external requirements.
At Canine Africa, we work within your dogs specific requirements so you can get the best out of them and have a relationship of understand, bonding and love. We educate and train our owners how to handle their dogs and situations so that they can effectively deal with and avoid stressful situations and fulfill their canine companions needs.
We operate holistically to ensure that both dog and owner understand each other and can live a happy, symbiotic life within their household.
We operate in the Hout Bay, Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town City and Surrounding Areas.
