About Nashville Puppy Academy

Nashville Puppy Academy does one thing, which is rarer than it sounds: puppies and adolescent dogs. It was founded by Julie Farris, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, specifically to focus on the first months of a dog's life rather than to serve every dog in the city.

What you can book here

Board and train camps run at a farm-based facility on 10 acres in North Nashville, with intake deliberately limited to keep the ratio low. In-home private lessons come in two shapes the site separates carefully: Private Lessons teach the owner to train the dog, while Home School Tutoring has the trainer do the training sessions in your home and then hand the skills over to you. Advanced Training – "Out on the town" – practices in real-world Nashville environments, and requires completion of the tutoring package for leash walking skills first. Virtual training and behavior packages are available for owners who cannot meet in person. Saturday Socials at the facility were announced for autumn 2026 for puppies six months and under, covering guided play, foundational training, enrichment and socialization. Ask about prices when you get in touch.

Method

Explicitly reward-based, and the site says so twice: "No harsh corrections here – only rewarding, puppy-friendly techniques", grounded in "established principles of learning science". The stated emphasis is proper, safe socialization at the right developmental stage rather than command drilling, with breed-specific genetics and realistic stage-by-stage expectations built into the coaching. The site describes the practice as veterinarian recommended.

Who runs it

Julie Farris is described as a behavior consultant and dog trainer with over 27 years of experience, offering training, board and train and behavior consulting across Middle Tennessee since 2007. She served as a behavior technician for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist at a specialty and emergency pet hospital and at a veterinary behavior practice, is the former co-owner of Instinct Dog Behavior and Training, and has provided behavior support to Nashville-area rescues for decades.

What is included after

Every program includes lifetime email support, which the site frames as a commitment beyond the last lesson.

Who this suits

New puppy owners who want a specialist rather than a generalist, and who are comfortable with a limited-intake facility and booking by enquiry.