|
Puppy Kindergarten Information
If you only do one training class with your dog, this is THE CLASS.
We specialize in Puppy Kindergarten classes and have been teaching them for 17 years. It is vitally important to have an experienced instructor for your dog's puppy kindergarten class as experiences during this time period will affect your dog for the rest of his life.
This important (and FUN!) class consists of eight lessons and is for puppies from 9 weeks to 6 months of age.
This period is the most critical time in the life of your dog!
Training at this age will PREVENT many future problems. If proper training and socialization occur now, you will have a happy and obedient dog in the future.
Our goal is to teach you to be a smart and savvy dog owner and trainer so that you will be able to handle any issue that comes up during the life of your puppy.
We encourage the whole family to attend so that everyone will learn how to train your new puppy. Children are welcome as long as they are supervised by a parent.
Our training methods used the latest, most advanced methods of animal training. We specialize in "clicker" training which is fast, effective, and fun for both dogs and people. We will also teach you smarter ways to stop unwanted behaviors so you don't need to use much, if any, punishment on your best friend.
Highlights:
1. During this class we will allow plenty of time for your puppy to socialize with the other puppies and people under the supervision of a professional.
2. The class covers basic obedience including sit, down, stay, come when called, walk on a leash without pulling, and how to stop jumping up on people.
3. Simple, effective methods to stop unwanted behaviors (i.e. chewing, nipping, jumping, housebreaking, and barking) will also be covered.
4. We also introduce the puppies to agility equipment as a way to build confidence and have fun.
5. Classes are taught indoors, with outdoor work as weather permits.
6.THE FIRST CLASS IS ORIENTATION WITHOUT PUPPIES.
- Age Requirement: Puppies 9 weeks to 6 months of age. Puppies must have had a minimum of 2 parvo-distemper vaccines, and one kennel cough vaccine.
- Duration: 8 weeks-60 minute classes.
- Location: Puppy Love Dog Training, America Country Store, 2 miles south of Rock Prairie Rd. on Wellborn Road
- Price: $170.00. This price includes training book and basic clicker training equipment (a $ 40 value).
- Class size: limited to no more than 8 puppies per class-lots of individual attention for you and your puppy.
We guarantee that we have the best puppy kindergarten classes in the Brazos Valley or your money back. We pack more information and training time into 8 weeks than most classes put in a 10 week class. Puppy Love has been doing puppy kindergarten classes since 1992 and trained thousands of dogs of all breeds.
See the Class Schedule page for upcoming classes.
AVSAB Position Statement On Puppy Socialization
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
www.AVSABonline.org
The primary and most important time for puppy socialization is the first three months of life.1, 2 During this time puppies should be exposed to as many new people, animals, stimuli and environments as can be achieved safely and without causing overstimulation manifested as excessive fear, withdrawal or avoidance behavior. For this reason, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated.
Because the first three months are the period when sociability outweighs fear, this is the primary window of opportunity for puppies to adapt to new people, animals, and experiences. Incomplete or improper socialization during this important time can increase the risk of behavioral problems later in life including fear, avoidance, and/or aggression. Behavioral problems are the greatest threat to the owner-dog bond. In fact, behavioral problems are the number one cause of relinquishment to shelters.3 Behavioral issues, not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years of age.
While puppies’ immune systems are still developing during these early months, the combination of maternal immunity, primary vaccination, and appropriate care makes the risk of infection relatively small compared to the chance of death from a behavior problem.
Veterinarians specializing in behavior recommend that owners take advantage of every safe opportunity to expose young puppies to the great variety of stimuli that they will experience in their lives. Enrolling in puppy classes prior to three months of age can be an excellent means of improving training, strengthening the human-animal bond, and socializing puppies in an environment where risk of illness can be minimized.
For this reason, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated.
In general, puppies can start puppy socialization classes as early as 7-8 weeks of age. Puppies should receive a minimum of one set of vaccines at least 7 days prior to the first class and a first deworming. They should be kept up-to-date on vaccines throughout the class. 2
References
1. Serpell J, Jagoe JA. Early experience and the development of behaviour. In Serpell J (ed). The Domestic Dog, p.82-102, Cambridge
University Press 1995
2. Freedman DG, King JA, Elliot O. 1961. Critical periods in the social development of the dog. Science, 133, 1016-1017
3. Miller DM, Stats SR, Partlo BS, et al. Factors associated with the decision to surrender a pet to an animal shelter. J Am Vet Med
Assoc 1996;209:738- 742
4. Duxbury MM, Jackson JA, Line SW, Anderson RK. Evaluation of association between retention in the home and attendance at puppy
socialization classes. JAVMA, 223 (1), 2003, 61-66
5. Eskeland GE, Tillung RH, Bakken M. The effect of punishment, rewards, control and attitude in obedience and problem behaviors in
dogs. Proceedings IVBM 2007;103-104.
6. Hilby EF, Rooney NJ, Bradshaw JWS. Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare.
Animal Welfare 2004;13: 63-69.
7. Bradshaw JW, McPherson JA, Casey RA, Larter LS. Aetiology of separation-related behavior in domestic dogs. Vet Record 2002;191:43-
46..
© 2008 AVSAB American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
|
Puppy Kindergarten Class