Puppy Enrichment & Socialization

We offer two age groups of Level 1 training classes, plus Puppy Enrichment!

Early Puppy Enrichment & Socialization!
Instructors: Michelle Brady, CPDT-KA & Ali Blakney

MONDAYS - 6:30-7:30PM
Rolling Admission - for puppies under 4 months of age.

Fearless & Friendly: Raising Resilient Puppies

Early positive exposure to new experiences. Footing, sights, sounds, smells. In, over, under, around and through. Handling & grooming. Social time with pups and people.

(Yes, you may attend the Enrichment sessions and Puppy Kindergarten training classes within the same month.)

Pay with cash or check at the door or via PayPal here:

$175 for 4 sessions

or $45 each (enter amount)

If you also plan to attend the Puppy K training class
you may use the 2-class session discount package
8 weeks / $325
(attend the same month or consecutive months)

Extra disinfecting for our youngest students. In addition to always making sure that all dogs on the premises have been seen by a veterinarian to ensure they are healthy and vaccinated, because of the young age of pups starting in this class, the floors will be disinfected immediately before the puppies arrive each week, so there will have been no other class traffic prior to their arrival. We also provide an indoor area where people may bring potty pads for their pups to relieve themselves if they so wish.

Early positive experiences shape the great dog they will become.

A different topic each week!

DOWNLOAD YOUR HANDOUTS HERE:

How to Socialize a Puppy With Other Dogs, Humans, Sounds and Places

https://www.thedogclinic.com/socialize-puppy

KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM
We love to have children in Puppy Enrichment because they are a great socialization opportunity for all the puppies. The instructor's primary job is the puppies' safety and well-being, so read these instructions carefully and keep one eye on the kids at all times so you can keep them on track.

Children must stay in their assigned seats and remember to wait for the teacher to give them directions for when, where and who they may pet, and follow specific instructions for HOW to greet puppies. (See below!) They should always ask permission from their parents, the teacher, and the puppy's owner, before saying hello to any puppy!

We hope this will be as much a learning and practice experience for the children as it will for the puppies!

"May I pet your puppy?"
Meeting new people for the first time can be a wonderful, positive learning experience. It can also be terrifying and leave a lasting bad impression if it goes poorly. Especially if they are cautious pups who haven't met very many new sizes, shapes, and ages of people. If your puppy doesn't want to approach or is becoming too excited, it's okay to say, "not right now."

There are specific rules of engagement:

If a puppy approaches, greeters should keep their hands in their laps with palms up, so if the puppy wants to explore and sniff them, they can, but it is always the puppy's idea. If it's a small puppy, dangle your hand close to the side of your leg.

DO's & DON'Ts for Saying "Hello"

Make your hand available, but don't stick it into the puppy's face.
Turn sideways. Lean away, not toward - no looming. Don't stick your face in a puppy's face.
Just because they wanted to smell you, doesn't mean they want to be petted. They are gathering information, not inviting you to touch them.
Avoid reaching over the top of the puppy's head. You may scratch under the puppy's chin and stroke his shoulder or scratch his chest but never dive for the top of his head. Pay attention to what the puppy likes and doesn't like.
If what you are doing is making a puppy mouthy or over-excited, stop doing that! If he's too wound up, simply fold your arms so your hands are out of reach, look away, and go still.
Do not pick up any puppy. Want to know the best way to pick up your puppy?
Remain seated. Don't follow puppies, let them come to you and let them leave if they prefer.
One person petting a puppy at a time! Take turns. Don't crowd around a puppy.
If you want to invite a puppy onto your lap, lean back and pat your lap. Don't grab or pull.

What is the puppy telling you with his body language?
Watch this video as a family: Petting Consent Test - should you pet this dog?

For safety: Don't walk backwards, there could be a puppy behind you! When puppies are moving, stand still. Walking through a sea of puppies? Shuffle slowly to avoid accidentally stepping on tiny toes.

“The primary and most important time for puppy socialization is the first three months of life… For this reason, the AVSAB believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated… While puppies’ immune systems are still developing during these early months… appropriate care makes the risk of infection relatively small compared to the chance of death from a behavior problem.” - The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior"

FREE E-BOOK FROM AVIDOG: "97 WAYS TO CREATE GREAT PUPPIES"

Without a doubt, Lili Chin creates the very best posters for some of the world's best dog trainers. Click below to download this great poster from Doggie Drawings.com !