 Puppy
Training Classes
Our four-week Training course will demonstrate how daily interactions with your puppy can become fun and effective training. A ratio of one instructor for every four to six students ensures individual attention for you and your unique canine partner. The course caters to puppies (and owners) of all ages, with emphasis on:
- Understanding and having fun with your pet
Obedience skills: sit, come, settle, walk on lead
Responsible pet ownership
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When: Tuesday
and Thursday 6.30pm - 7.30pm
Where: Belmont
Veterinary Hospital
Cost: $80 (must be fully paid for on the 2nd class). If you have two puppies, the second puppy will get a $20 discount on this fee.
Early booking is essential. Free samples in every class. 1st Class is FREE!! Open to puppies from 8-12 weeks old. All puppies must have had their 1st vaccination!
Why
is socialisation important?
Well adjusted adult dogs have been there, done that as puppies. Dogs who have positive experiences with a broad variety of sight ,sounds, smells, surfaces people and other animals prior to four months of age are less fearful and less over stimulated as adults. They grow into calm, easy to control dogs that are able to listen to and follow instructions in distracting situations. Most fearful and aggressive problem behaviours are due to lack of socialisation. i.e. lack of experience or a bad experience. Your puppy’s critical socialisation period is actually between 4 and 16 weeks. Early imprinting and social skills start before his eyes open, before he is old enough to leave his litter and everyday in his new life with you.
Invite your dog loving friends and gentle children to meet your new baby. This socialisation period extends up to 18 months, so make his puppy hood and adolescence enriched! Everything you want your puppy to be comfortable with as an adult, he should have positive experiences with as a puppy.
Play is very important for puppies – as well as a lot of fun to watch. The puppy preschool classes devote a lot of time to play. Through play, your pup will learn how to socialise and communicate with other dogs. This is especially important between 4 and 10 weeks of age. He will learn acceptable behaviours around other dogs of all breeds, sizes and ages. Some puppies play very roughly and make lots of noise. The play sessions are designed to be fun for you and for your puppy. So enjoy!
What are puppy classes
so important?
There are sensitive periods of growth and mental development in all animals’ lives, including humans. The sensitive period in a dogs life, in which they need to be introduced to as many need and stimulating things as possible is in the first 4 – 14 weeks of their lives. This is referred to as the socialisation period. The more situations you expose your dog to that are unfamiliar and varied, the more they will be able to manage the unfamiliar when they are older.
Many behavioural and social problems can occur if you puppy is not properly socialised, including hyperactivity, aggression, anti- social behaviours, stress and fear related behaviours. In turn it can prove difficult to train an un-socialised dog because of these reactive behaviours.
Just like kids, puppies come in lots of different personalities. Some are shy, some are very boisterous. The common factor is that they all need to learn how to get on with other dogs and new people.
Pups should learn about other dogs, new people and become as accustomed to as many new experiences as possible in a happy and safe environment. This minimizes fears and anxieties that may develop into behavioural problems later.
The aim of the puppy preschool is to educate both the puppy and the owner. The desired outcome is a sociable and socially accepted puppy.
The classes are designed to:
- Socialise the puppy and make the puppy a good and enjoyable pet to own. They learn to cope with lots of people, loud noises, other dogs, cats, children and novel stimuli such as aerosol sprays, vacuum cleaners, telephones etc.
- Train the puppy in basic obedience work such as sit, stay, heel and come using the principle of positive re-enforcement.
- Teach the owner about the normal behaviours of dogs, how to recognize early behavioural problems and how to prevent them, how to house train, how to prevent barking and biting.
- Provide an opportunity for the puppy to enjoy coming to the veterinary hospital
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To Enrol Contact: (02) 4945 9044
Enrolments are accepted on a first come first served
basis as spaces are strictly limited. Your place will
be confirmed by telephone.
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