Everything to Know about Puppy School

You’ve just welcomed an adorable puppy into your life, the excitement is palpable, but you’re wrestling with some unexpected uncertainty.

How are you going to train this playful bundle of joy?

It's no secret that puppies can be a handful. From chewing shoes to night-time whining, a new puppy often tests our patience and sanity.

That's where puppy school comes into play, offering you and your furry friend an education that sets you up for a lifetime of fun and companionship.

Puppy school, sometimes referred to as puppy preschool, plays a pivotal role in fostering positive practices and social skills in your puppy. With a curriculum of puppy training courses covering a wealth of topics, you, as an owner, will feel adequately equipped to guide your pup through its formative months.

Benefits of Puppy School and Does My Puppy Need It?

You might wonder if enrolling your furry friend in puppy school is really necessary. Even if you already have techniques to train your puppy, enrolment in puppy school provides your dog with an environment for supervised puppy play, promoting crucial socialisation experiences to give them rounded, enjoyable development.

Benefits of puppy school include:

Behaviour Training: Puppy obedience training teaches your pup basic commands like sit, stay, come, down, and more. The training is fundamental to raising a well-behaved dog and a harmonious household.

Toilet Training: These courses may cover puppy toilet training, which can save you weeks or even months of struggle.

Socialisation: Puppies are exposed to different breeds, sizes, and personalities of dogs in a safe and controlled environment, helping them to learn proper behaviours around other dogs.

Exposure to Various Stimuli: Puppy school introduces pups to a myriad of sounds, smells, and sights in a safe way, encouraging them to grow into confident dogs less likely to be fearful of new experiences.

Human-Dog Bonding: Attending puppy school together can strengthen the bond between you and your puppy. Participating in shared activities and overcoming challenges together fosters trust and mutual understanding.

Early Identification of Behavioural Issues: Every dog is different, and professional trainers can identify and address potential behavioural problems early on. By doing so, they provide targeted strategies and training to manage these issues before they escalate.

Puppy Health: Classes often cover puppy health topics, including nutrition and grooming, which is crucial for new puppy parents.
Support and Guidance for Owners: Puppy training provides much-needed support for new puppy parents. It offers a platform to ask questions, seek advice, and share experiences, making puppy-rearing more manageable.

What Will My Puppy and I Learn at Puppy School?

The curriculum at a puppy school is not just about the basic 'sit', 'down', 'drop', 'look', 'stay', and 'come'. It covers a wide range of practical topics such as puppy toilet training, diets and nutrition, preventative health topics like vaccination and parasite control, grooming, and walking on a loose leash.

The idea is to equip you and your puppy with all the tools you need to navigate the joys and challenges of puppyhood. Specific sessions on puppy obedience training, ending behaviours like biting, crying at night, and hyperactivity, are crafted to make the process less daunting for both you and your furry companion.

What Training is Used in Puppy School?

The cornerstone of puppy school training is reward-based dog training. This method encourages puppies to repeat good behaviour through positive reinforcement like treats, praise, or play. It's a proven technique reinforcing the bond between you and your puppy, fostering mutual respect and agreement.

The instructors may also cover crate training, encouraging responses to verbal cues, clicker training, and more.

What to Bring When Joining a Puppy School?

Alongside your expected excitement and a great deal of patience, there are a few things you will need to bring to puppy school, including:

Your puppy’s collar, harness and a short, light lead
A bed or mat for them to sit on during the training
A stash of their favourite puppy treats as a reward (especially important if they have unique dietary needs)
Vaccination records to ensure all attendees have been vaccinated to protect them from important infectious diseases

When Can My Dog Start Puppy School?

So, what is the ‘ideal’ puppy school age? The recommended starting age may vary depending on the individual puppy school, and so it's always best to consult with your vet or the puppy school itself for advice.

CAN-0039-2023

FAQs

Why consider puppy school?

Puppy schools shape your puppy's behaviour and build a solid foundation for their future. They focus on early socialisation, basic training, and problem-solving to ensure they live a happy, rewarding life as a member of your family.
How much does puppy school cost?

It's difficult to put a price on peace of mind and a well-behaved puppy. But rest assured, puppy school prices are designed with the average pet parent in mind. The cost can vary depending on the length of the course and the specific curriculum.

Is puppy school worth it?

Absolutely. Puppy school is a worthwhile investment that pays off in helping to form a well-behaved, socialised, and confident dog.

Everything to Know about Puppy School

Benefits of Puppy School and Does My Puppy Need It?

What Will My Puppy and I Learn at Puppy School?

When Can My Dog Start Puppy School?

FAQs

Have reminders sent directly to your phone