Puppy Starter

This class begins September 9th and runs every Monday at 6:30pm for 6 weeks.

Trainer: Meghan Oesch

What is it?

The puppy starter class is for puppies specifically under 6 months of age, NOT for older dogs. We recognize the growing need for puppy training for well socialized, calm and balanced temperaments for pet owners. This class works towards preventing behaviour problems before they start! By focusing more on developmental skills such as confidence boosting, socialization in many different forms, body awareness skills, and life skills that will make the dog successful as a companion later in life. This class does include some simple, basic obedience skills, with the primary focus being attention to the handler sit, lay down, coming when called and boundary introductions. Social time with people, other dogs and teaching dog owners how to navigate the first few months of puppy ownership, while ensuring that their dog matures into the type of dog that can go anywhere and do anything with their owner and is welcomed as a member of the community. Puppy starter class is a “building block” class to start young puppies out on the right path while focusing on their developmental needs.

Topics covered:

• luring and marking behaviours
• introduction to shaping
• socialization in the form of weekly homework checklist goals for owners
• confidence building with novel objects and how to overcome fear reactions
• crate and boundary training
• basic obedience skills limited to: sit, lay down, recalls, loose leash walking, focus on handler
• impulse control w/ intro to leave it
• preventing jumping up (auto sit when greeting people)
• problem solving skills (puppy puzzles)
• supervised play sessions with other puppies (social development)
• preventing resource guarding
• body handling