Puppy School

Puppy socialization classes are the equivalent of a human nursery school. It's here that your puppy will be able to carry on mixing with other puppies, as he would with his siblings in the litter, and learning how to meet, greet and play with them in a controlled environment.

People Skills

Your puppy will also get the chance to meet lots of other people at puppy classes, and learn how to interact with them, and this is another vital element of his social upbringing.

Respect for their elders

Contact with adult dogs is needed, too. Some trainers take along their own dogs to teach puppies respect for their elders but who will not become aggressive.

Where and when

Weekly classes are often held at veterinary clinics, run by vet nurses, and many dog trainers hold ’nursery’ classes, too. Ask puppy-owning friends if they can recommend somewhere they’ve been to. Avoid places that have slippery floors to prevent accidents.

How often?

Take your puppy as many times as you are able, the more the better, and ensure that you attend regularly, Aim to go at least once a week, preferably more, until your puppy is judged ready by you and the trainer to begin training classes, and then aim to go to these at least once a week on a permanent basis to maintain obedience and sociability, and help keep bad habits from developing in both you and your pet.

What should I look for?

Check that all youngsters are of a similar size, age and temperament, to avoid scaring small or timid puppies. Ensure the class is properly supervised, and that all introductions are done on lead.

Hierarchy

Puppies soon find an acceptable level of play and chase and sort out the pecking order among themselves. However, ensure it doesn’t become a rambunctious free-for-all with behavior that becomes too rough or bullying.

Warm Reminder and Advice

To lead-train a puppy, simply pop the collar on your puppy for short spells initially, praise, reward and play with him to distract him and he’ll soon get used to it. Attach a lead but don’t drag him on it - just crouch down, gently draw on it, call puppy to you and reward him for doing so. He'll soon catch on.

More Puppy Care