Puppy Pre School Classes
Congratulations on the new addition to your family. Having a new puppy arrive in the house can bring much fun and good times, but also brings great responsibility. As a new member of your family your puppy needs to be taught the household rules from day one. Puppies need to know what is expected of them and what is going to be acceptable behaviour from the beginning. Puppy School is designed to teach owners how to teach good manners. In puppy class we are going to socialise the puppies and learn effective training methods as well as some other bits and pieces for you the puppy owner. We will discuss normal dog behaviour. It is important to understand that puppies have an important developmental time called the socialisation period . This period is between the ages of approximately 3 to 20 weeks of age. During this period your puppy should be exposed to as many different experiences as possible in a non threatening way. We know from experience that dogs that are isolated during this period are more likely to be hyperactive, aggressive, difficult to train, antisocial and fearful.
Your puppy needs to play with other dogs and have contact with other people other than your family. They need to interact with lot's of other dog's and cats and people to fit in as well behaved members of your local community. Please remember that your puppy must be fully vaccinated before you take them into a public place to prevent disease such as distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus.
Puppy Classes are a safe way to ensure your puppy is well socialised and to start them on some basic training. You are able to socialise you puppy with other dogs that are vaccinated every year so long as it is done in an environment where only vaccinated dogs have been, for example your back yard or your friends.
Puppy Classes aim to help prevent behavioural problems, educate owners on all aspects of raising a puppy and then living with a dog in the family, and establish a close bond between the dog and the owner.
The topics that we cover in classes are:
- Important Socialisation with other puppies of a similar age and developmental stage.
- Your puppy and your family
- Positive reward based methods encouraged
- Reprimanding
- Toilet Training
- Play Biting, Mouthing and chewing
- Nutrition
- Destructive Behaviours
- Training Commands, the Basics
Where:
Puppy Classes are held at the Port Phillip Animal Hospital in the evening once the hospital is closed.
When:
Classes run for 4 weeks, please contact the hospital for when the next class is starting.
Time:
Classes are held between 7.30 and 8.30pm.
Requirements for all Puppies
All puppies attending classes must be as vaccinated as they can be for their age. Classes are open to puppies between the ages of 6-16 weeks. Your puppy should also be wormed and treated for fleas prior to joining the first class.
Booking In
Please contact the Port Phillip Animal Hospital and speak to our healpful nurses who will inform you of when the next class is starting and book your puppy in.