Puppy Preschool

[Peanut]

Hi everyone

I just signed up Peanut for puppy preschool this Sat. The classes are 1 hr long, 6 sessions, and we meet every weekend. I did my research and emailed multiple CPDT trainers until I found one I was happy with. The puppy preschool takes pups from 2 -5 month of age. Peanut is currently 16 weeks old (little more than 4 months). If I had know earlier, I would have enrolled him sooner. I just didn’t want him to miss out on building his socializations, interaction, and other skills at this age.
Any words of advise or experiences with preschool? I am very interested to know

Thank you!

[Michael Romanos]

We have puppy pre-school in New Zealand too. What are they charging you? Ours don't start until a puppy is three months old and completed full innoculation.

[pmavrich]

We took both Miller and Molsen to puppy class. I like the ones that accept dogs under 6 months. Molsen's class had a few older dogs that we 8 months and they bullied the little guys.

Whereas in Miller's class all the dogs were under 6 months and they played nicely together. Miller's class also introduced obsticals such as tunnels, chutes, and balance beams (2" from the ground). I thought it was great, because it made Miller more confident when walking through the woods. Molsen is much more cautious.

[fogebotom]

My biggest word of advise is if the instructor allows for an off leash socialization period with all the dogs at once, walk out! Puppy socialization should be done in a controlled situation which includes keeping all the dogs on leashes. If the trainer later on has the ability to seperate out like tempered dogs along with the sizes, and can after a few sessions let them loose in a controlled area, then it's okay. But not in the beginning-you are just asking for trouble.

I teach a 4 week short course of puppy kindergarten-only 4 weeks so that we can have small classes and then repeat them as needed. Most people will do 2 sessions then graduate to our Good Dog Prep School. I also always bring along my nanny dog-aka Claire the rough collie. She's helped raise many a litter of puppies in my house. Some one nicknamed her the Mary Poppins dog - pleasantly perfect in every way. She is great at working with the timid and then also getting the over the top dogs in a position where either she puts them in their place or allows the owners to do so.

Lots of praise, lots of treats(small, soft and tastey), flat buckle collar or martingale, leather leash and always end the class on a positive note.

Good luck!
Cindy and the crew at Foggy Bottom

[Peanut]

Thanks everyone for your input! Peanut’s class was $100 for 6 sessions. Here’s the website if anyone is interested: http://www.braveheartdogtraining.net/index.html
This seems like a decent price for a certified CPDT. (Considering the local petstore charges +$100 for 6 session without any type of certification.) Peanut has already learned so many things since we first brought him home, and I'm sure he'll be able to pick up some good habits from this class.
The class requires all puppies to wear a flat collar, a 6 ft leash and treats for the puppies.

fogebotom- thanks for the advice, I’ll make sure I ask the instructor.

Thanks again everyone! I'll keep you guys posted

[pmavrich]

Cindy -

I love that they call her Mary Poppin's dog ... That is super cool especially for a collie.

[Michael Romanos]

The local dog training school in Upper Hutt (New Zealand) charges $50 for eight puppy pre-school 45 minutes-one hour lessons for fully vaccinated pups aged 3-6 months.

[fogebotom]

Depends on where you go in my area, but the kennel club charged $35 for four weeks of one hour sessions. The local community college charges $100 for 8 weeks, 1 week without puppy and the rest with you puppy. And they have 15-20 people in a class-eeek!

Petsmart charges $125 around here also.

Cindy and the crew

[Peanut]

puppy class #1

Hi everyone

I was a little nervous going to puppy preschool this last Saturday, mainly because I didn’t know what to expect. The class consisted of 4 med/large breed puppies (including Peanut) and 5 toy breeds. Right when we got there, I immediately noticed a puppy that might be trouble for Peanut, she was some sort of fighting breed named Jessica. (and my maternal instincts were right!) Jessica barked non-stop during class which caused Peanut and some other puppies to randomly bark as well. Already not off to a good start.

The instructor told us the break down of the puppy class: first 15 min was off leash socialization, next 15 min discussion of topic and issues, and last 30min was training.

First, the instructor allowed the large breed dogs off their leash, next Peanut (the only med size dog) and finally the toy dogs. Since Jessica was more aggressive the trainer suggested she stay on the leash. Once the trainer gave the OK, Jessica was released off the leash and immediately trampled Peanut. (This was my puppy’s first time socializing with any dog). Peanut stood frozen and once the trainer took Jessica off, Peanut immediately took cover near us. For the reminder of the socialization time, Peanut was doing his own thing and didn’t seem interested.

Then the instructor talked about puppy feeding, way to avoid alpha puppies, and a few other things I can remember off the top of my head.

Finally the last portion of class, the trainer introduced us to use the “clicker” method. I read about it in books, but never used this method before. The clicker is used to mark the exact instance the puppy does something correct, and reward with the treat. The first exercise was getting the puppy use to the sound. Next to use the clicker to “sit”. Since Peanut can “sit” without a clicker, I’d rather not confuse him. I’ll train Peanut to recognize the clicker, and only use it for new commands.

When we brought Peanut home from puppy school he didn’t seem as active or enthused (even during feeding time!). Do you think its from that instance with Jessica? Or maybe im just over reacting. What are people’s experience with the clicker method?

Thanks again everyone!

ps: class is canceled next week because the trainer is showing her dog at a local show. I’ll give everyone an update after 10/27's class

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by fogebotom

Petsmart charges $125 around here also.

i dont know how petsmart can get away charging so much! im not sure if they are even certified

[Michael Romanos]

See I have told you that Corgis are small dogs - definitely not medium size. If Peanut was put in with the toy dogs/other small dogs, then I doubt a similar problem would have existed - a small wayward puppy is not going to be as frightening. Organised puppy schools can be a reverse of what you want your dogs to get out of them because of adverse behaviour of other dogs and their owners/handlers. Better in these circumstances to take in methodology, and socialise your pup in an environment you have some control over.
If you want to return to the classes, you could ask the instructor if you could place Peanut among the other small dogs.

[fogebotom]

I had the same thing happen at a puppy class that I was not teaching and I picked up my dog and left right after the off leash incident. To this day the particular dog has issues when another dog gets in her face or rushes her. In a first class especially I never let dogs off leash just because that can happen. All introductions and socializing is done on lead so that it can be controlled and I then can really get a feel for how each dog reacts as well as how the handlers deal with their own dog.

Clicker--good way to teach but again, I am concerned that the class is moving too quickly and not really following the correct procedure for training the behavior. I never in the first session of clickers ask the dog for anything. First off the dog has to be reliable to understand the bridging between the click and the reward. Otherwise, it can fail horribly. Also the as the handler you need to be comfortable with the clicker and the way to use it before you ask your dog for anything. Took me a week to perfect the timing before I asked the dog for something.

I will be honest--I would look elsewhere for another class. At this point your poor puppy has had a traumtic experience and it will be a long term project to reverse the effects of it. Ask for your money back and find a private trainer or ask to sit through a few classes with another trainer. All my perspective puppy owners are required to find a good trainer in advance of getting a puppy from me. I ask about the techniques used and if they have ever taken another dog through those classes. Yes my dogs are tired after classes but they are still happy when leaving and can't wait till the next week when the obedience bag comes out along with the leash-they know it's a fun time.

Cindy and the crew at Foggy Bottom