Beginner Level Young Puppy Head-start and Socializing start under 5 months
This 4 week, crucial to development, course for pups under 6 months will teach your pup to "think," play and follow you with confidence! Listening skills and social skills with dogs and people of all ages, shapes and sizes, families are welcome!
Young Puppy Head-Start and Play Group
11 weeks to 5.5 months -
Pre-register for requirements or scroll to bottom of page
$139 for 4 weeks - one hour each Sunday at 2 pm
This 4 week, crucial to development, course for pups under 6 months will teach your pup to "think," play and follow you with confidence! Listening skills and social skills with dogs and people of all ages, shapes and sizes, families are welcome! Jumping, biting and crate/potty training help, relax in public, wear a collar and leash, grooming/handling! Expose your pup to new sights, sounds, and surfaces so they don't become fearful. Sit and wait for a food bowl, petting or play until released. Listen when you say their name This is the best way to set your puppy up for success in the future! Confidence building exercises using a tunnel and other apparatus! Owner can learn dog behavior through puppy play. Don’t wait! All the stuff an educated pup and their owner need before Beginning level group class!
Open to HEALTHY PUPS 11 weeks to 5.5 months, All you need is two sets of vaccines (three recommended for OUTDOOR) Distemper/Parvo combo, Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine, and clear fecal test! Canine flu vaccine and Leptospirosis are recommended, as well as heartworm prevention. When possible, pups are divided into play groups based on size, age and energy level.
Lessons cycle through four weeks of material that is NOT progressive, like our other classes, so you DON’T have to begin week 1. Start as soon as there is an opening or your pup is ready! Class fills up quickly, PLAN AHEAD FOR START WHEN YOUR PUP HAS 2 sets (3 outdoor) DHLPP, Bordetella, and Clear fecal test!
• No pups older than 4.5 months at 1st class. By the time your pup is 5.5 months you should be finished with the 4 week group and ready to move onto Beginner obedience Level one foundation! Older pups play different than youngsters.
Groups are held weekly, same day/time/location for the duration of the course (off major holidays and holiday weekends).
Please click on the Red Class Name to register and have a copy of current vaccines and clear fecal test ready to enroll your pup
Scroll through the Option box to locate the class you want. Not all classes may appear until you scroll down
If you do not see a class listed above please Contact Us for future class schedules
Note: There are no refunds, credits, transfers or prorates for group class sessions, unless otherwise prearranged, once a series has begun. We require 48 hours notice, before class begins, to transfer to another class or refund a class fee!
ONCE YOU ARE REGISTERED YOU WILL HAVE TO ATTEND ALL 4 CLASSES IN A ROW OR FORFEIT MISSED LESSONS, PLEASE CALL IF YOU need special arrangements!!! You will not be allowed to start a week later than your scheduled course, or extend a week, unless there happens to be space! If you must miss a class, CALL THE OFFICE AS SOON AS YOU KNOW, we will try (space permitting) to make arrangements for a make-up later, or privately for a fee.
AFTER PUPPY CLASS, move up to Beginner Obedience foundation one, followed by Intermediate level two! Sorry, no refunds or transfers of credit for unused sessions puppy sessions, no we cannot apply it to private.
We specialize in behavior problems! The most frequent request is to help solve dog aggression issues! Why do we talk about this when you are looking for a pup class? Because, by taking this class, you help your pup not to become that dog! This class will prepare you for AKC STAR PUPPY at the end of the Beginner 6 week course.
Puppy Curriculum Outline
It will not always be exactly this format but generally :-D
Week 1
-Intro to puppy class; socialization to new people, dogs, sights, sounds, textures, etc.
Find your puppy doing something good! In class and at home, praise and or treat puppy for any behavior that you like (ex: sitting politely when they want attention, laying at your feet, licking instead of biting, being quiet, playing with appropriate toys, etc.)
In class reward with praise and sometimes treats when your puppy is not pulling, not barking, when they are sitting, or in a down.
If your puppy looks at you, say "yes!" in a happy voice and give a treat!
Name Game; say puppy's name and give a treat.
Sit; how to utilize the treat as a lure, then transfer to reward.
On leash greetings; casual: getting to know each other, sniffing, etc. Owners should encourage their puppies with happy voices to say hello to the other puppies. No pulling! Get puppies close enough so that they can say hello on loose leashes.
Collar Grab.
Explain potty training, containment, and meals. (Set up xpen)
**If there is time, short off leash play session.
Week 2
Review Sit
Release word; utilize a specific release whenever you are ready for the pup to be finished with a behavior. **From now on, puppy must sit, then be released, for playtime.
“Say hello"; -formal on leash greetings with other dogs. Ask permission. Sit, release to go say hello (3 seconds), call puppy back (call name) and give a treat.
Talk about why we do short play sessions
Short off-leash play session. (5 mins)
Nipping & chewing; talking about appropriate toys and chews; appropriate play (toys not hands); working for meals; puppy should always be on leash or contained.
Dealing with puppy nipping; utilize the marker and treats. Introduce your hand, say "yes!" and give a treat if your puppy doesn't bite.
Greetings; no jumping as trainer greets each pup. Have each person go around one at a time and do this as well (trainer will hold the puppy of any single handlers).
Review name game; name + treat.
Build distance with name game; walk away from pup, say name in a happy voice, then when pup comes towards you, give a treat.
Short off-leash play session
Cradle and massage; keep it brief, just hold the puppy, then release.
Week 3
Review Sit.
Short play session.
Desensitizing to touch; **Sensitive dogs should have lots of cookies and praise, and TAKE IT SLOW!! **add nail clippers
Be sure to touch ears, paws, belly, and mouth.
**Bring in a brush to use as well.
Pass the puppy
Review name game
Playtime; controlled name game: calling puppies out of play while others are restrained. Utilize lots of treats and praise!!
Sit and wait for food bowl.
New items; interact with skateboard, textures, strange toys?
**Have short tunnel, ramp, and hoop out during playtime.
Week 4
Review Name Game.
Review Sit.
Review Say Hello.
Review touching/handling (grab collar, touch paws, ears, mouth, etc. saying yes and giving treats each time).
Review no jumping/greetings (with trainer), and have trainer touch paws, ears, and brush puppy.
Call Puppy individually across room with name game.
Practice obstacles individually; up and over ramp, through tunnel.
Playtime; one at a time Name game: restrain puppies who are not being called, use puppy's name in a happy voice.
Drop it
target (greetings)
Click here are a few good articles on the importance of puppy socialization
http://www.akc.org/content/dog-training/articles/puppy-socialization/
https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/socializing-new-puppy#3-7
Critical periods in puppy development:
https://www.paws.org/resources/developmental-stages-of-puppy-behavior/
