Puppy School - Shirley Vet | Christchurch Vet Service

Training Your New Puppy

Just like children, puppies learn much of their behaviour and social skills when they are growing. It is important for puppies to start their training early so that they can become wonderful adult dogs. Training also helps the owner learn how to interact with their dog and improves the bond. If you are wanting to take your dog out in public without having to be concerned about your dog acting out or being aggressive, early puppy training is a good starting point.

If you would like to join the Shirley Vet Puppy Classes give us a call on (03) 385 6156

When To Start Training?

You can start training from 3 to 6 months when puppies are learning and have not developed bad habits as yet. The earlier you start puppy school after your pup reaches the 3-month mark, the better. Puppy schools teach acceptable behaviour without breaking your dogs’ spirit. A good puppy school leaves dogs and owners feeling more confident and enjoying their time together.

Puppy training uses positive reinforcement to reward good behaviour while ignoring behaviour that is not wanted. Lessons will teach basic obedience and commands but also respect. Consistency is important so if possible, the puppy should come each week for training and be brought by the same person. This helps the owner and the puppy develop an understanding.

Training will also help your dog learn social behaviours and how to interact with other dogs and humans. Good manners make for a well-behaved dog that gets on with people and other pets.

Some Basic Skills Covered in Puppy School

Basis skills will cover:

Sitting
Staying
Waiting
Coming when called
Not snatching or taking treats without permission
Socialising with people, dogs and cats
Respect
Good behaviour
Owners will learn to positively reinforce wanted behaviours
Having a good time together as puppy and owner

Once your puppy has learned the basics at puppy school, you can look at taking them to more advanced training in the future. Puppy school is the foundation of their behavioural training and will give them a good start.

We run puppy preschool classes here at the clinic, generally on a Sunday afternoon. The course runs for 3 weeks.

We take puppies between the ages of 6 and 14 weeks with at least one vaccine.
Our puppy school courses are a mixture of social interaction, theory and practical work.

We cover the basics on:
– socialisation
– dealing with different behaviours
– discuss feeding your puppy
– travelling in the car
– play time
– sleeping arrangements
– first aid
– toilet training
– parts of the body

We will also cover training for:
– walking on the lead
– sit
– stay
– come when called
– sit and wait
– sit and wait with the food bowl
– lying down

and other fun tricks

If you would like more information or to enroll your puppy, please email natasha@shirleyvet.co.nz

Is your puppy aged between 6-14 weeks? Are you wanting to learn skills to teach your puppy? Are you wanting your puppy to learn good valuable social skills in a safe environment? If you have answered yes to any of these questions then Puppy Preschool School is a must for your puppy!

The class will cover basic do’s and don’ts, feeding, grooming, how to deal with undesirable behaviours, vet advice, toys, travelling in the car, toilet training, teaching puppies to sit, come when called, stay and wait, walking on the lead, lie down and many other useful tricks and commands.

Puppy Preschool classes are held at the Shirley Vet Centre on Sunday afternoons/evenings. The class is run over Three weeks and the classes have a mixture of both theory and practical information. The cost of the course is $150.00 for the 3 classes and puppies that graduate will receive a puppy pack and certificate. When your puppy attends the classes please bring puppy with a collar on and on a lead, their favourite toy, and treats for training

To enrol your puppy in a class please contact the Shirley Vet Centre. Or email Natasha – natasha@shirleyvet.co.nz