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A. Our puppy play school is intended for puppies between nine and
sixteen weeks at the start of their course. We find the best time to start classes is generally
nine weeks old, but puppies must have had at least one vaccination before coming to classes. Prospective customers
are advised to speak to their veterinary surgeon about the earliest time their puppy can start classes, as different vets
can have different vaccination programs.
A. The major aim of our puppy classes is to enable correct
socializing of your puppy with both people and other dogs. This includes being handled by lots of different people, and the
puppy learning the best way to approach people, i.e. not jumping-up. Puppies also learn how to greet other dogs in a friendly
but calm manner and to pay attention to their owners when asked.
Classes also cover sit & down, stays, coming to call,
food snatching and play biting.
A.
Free play, off lead, is generally not part of the course, as we have found that this can often cause puppies to become over-boisterous
and larger puppies can learn to bully the smaller puppies. Also during free play small and timid puppies can become more frightened
of other dogs. We do however run regular outdoor play and training sessions every few weeks where carefully matched groups
of puppies get to play together. These sessions also include very small-scale agility, carefully controlled to protect the
puppy and intended to broaden the puppy's horizons and improve their coordination. They also have a lot of fun! For information
see our page on agility. | | A. Puppy play school is an essential part of a puppy's socializing.
The earlier a puppy attends classes the easier they settle into a learning environment. Early attendance at classes can greatly
reduce the chance of behavioural problems occurring in the dog in later life. A nine-week-old puppy is also able to learn
things such as sit, down, stay and come far quicker than a boisterous adolescent or adult dog. | | A.
Owing to the importance of early socializing we run a rolling course with new puppies starting almost every week. We
try to keep waiting times to a minimum, but during busy times there may be a wait of several weeks, so it is advisable to
provisionally book as early as possible to ensure we can fit your puppy in. Classes are as small as reasonably
possible with approximately eight puppies at any time. |
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