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Some dog owners secure a place in puppy school for themselves and their new four-legged family member even before its arrival. This article highlights what a puppy school can offer and how to find one that suits you and your furry companion.
Puppy school offers more than basic training – it’s a place where young dogs build social skills, owners share knowledge, and lasting friendships begin
What does attending puppy school bring? The weekly training sessions, often held at a dog school, can be an enriching experience in many ways. Young four-legged friends learn a lot here, and owners can also expand their horizons by exchanging ideas with trainers and other dog enthusiasts.
Friendships often form on the dog training ground. In puppy school, the focus is on relaxed play with other dogs and learning: young dogs come together, learn basic commands, and experience puppy-appropriate training for everyday life.
A significant advantage of this training is socialisation: many dogs of different breeds and sizes get to sniff each other, enhancing their social skills sustainably and ensuring harmonious interactions.
Moreover, the training strengthens the bond between dog and owner.
Starting puppy school by eleven weeks supports crucial socialisation, laying the foundation for a well-adjusted adult dog through play, training, and positive interactions
When Can My Puppy Start Puppy School?
Puppy schools are typically part of dog schools, which means that as the dog grows older, it can continue training in other groups within the school. Very young dogs that have just arrived from the breeder should be given some time before puppy school prepares them for the “seriousness of life.”
By the age of eleven weeks at the latest, you can start puppy training with your new housemate. Up to the 16th week of life, the four-legged friend is in the “socialisation phase,” which is crucial for its character as an adult dog.
Training during this time is highly effective. At puppy school, you can train with other puppies until at least five months old. The transition from puppy to adult dog is gradual and also depends on the breed: small dogs mature faster than large ones.
One key requirement for attending puppy school is that your four-legged friend is dewormed multiple times and vaccinated.
What’s on the Timetable?
The playful learning often focuses on basic commands such as “Come” as a recall signal or “No” as a stop signal. Training sessions last a max. of ten minutes, as your little companion shouldn’t need to concentrate for longer. There are always short games in between.
Attention: The game sessions should not be too long either – variety is key so as not to overwhelm your puppy! Trainer-led instruction for the owner is also important: the trainer explains their methods and provides numerous tips for a positive relationship with your puppy, such as when to intervene during play to prevent bullying, and much more.
Learning Together
Puppy school generally involves group training. The group size should not be too large – more than ten human-dog pairs can be hard for even the best trainer to manage effectively. Up to six teams are preferable.
Group training fosters learning from one another, with more experienced young dogs ideally setting a good example. Many dog schools offer puppy training by size – large breeds train separately from smaller ones.
This separation is optional but can be sensible, as young large-breed dogs are often very exuberant and may not yet know their strength.
Puppy school offers valuable socialisation for young dogs and fresh training insights for owners, helping to develop a consistent and positive approach to dog education
Tips: What Makes a Good Puppy School
Try Before You Commit: A good puppy school offers a free initial consultation and the opportunity to observe a training session without your four-legged friend. This gives you a feel for the school’s atmosphere. A respectful and relaxed handling of dogs should be standard.
Know-how: Professional trainers have appropriate education and regularly update their skills. Even volunteer trainers should have substantial experience. They should always be open to questions.
Ingredients: There shouldn’t be too many dogs training at once – five animals per trainer is manageable. In puppy training, it’s often better to separate large and small dogs, as large-breed puppies may not yet know their strength.
Human-Dog Bond: The dog’s attention should be on its owner – not on treats. Treats should be given sparingly.
Motivation:Praise and petting motivate your dog. Shouting, questionable “tools” like prong collars, or even violence are entirely out of place, even with older “students”, and a reason to leave the school immediately. Each training session should end on a positive note.
Training Ground: Ideally, puppy training takes place on a fenced-in property. Positive features include opportunities to get the dog used to everyday items: flutter ribbons, play tunnels, a scarecrow, or dog toys– a varied setup offers many benefits for engaging training.
A Good Feeling:You and your four-legged friend should feel comfortable. A good indication of a quality puppy school: your dog eagerly anticipates the visits!
Can Puppy School Be Skipped?
If you are already an experienced dog owner and have a particularly easy-going four-legged companion, attending puppy and later dog school is not mandated. However, puppies should be well-socialised and meet many other dogs during their youth – puppy training sessions are excellent for this, and owners often learn too.
Even experienced owners can find puppy school a valuable experience for overall life with their pet.
One final tip: In terms of dog training, you will encounter many different opinions and methodologies once you talk to others or read some books on the subject. Finding the right training method for you and your dog can be challenging, given diverse views among dog owners.
Approach this topic without bias if you are a first-time dog owner. Read up and talk to experienced owners to find what suits you. In puppy school, you can gather new ideas and sound advice. However, do not switch training methods thoughtlessly to avoid confusing your dog.
zooplus Editorial Team
The zooplus editorial team consists of a dedicated team of experts with many years of experience in the field of animal husbandry: Luisa with her White Swiss Shepherd Elyos, Laura, Julio, and Florian. Together with a large network of animal experts, we work to make the zooplus magazine a trusted source of information for all animal owners and lovers. Our goal is to provide exciting animal knowledge and relevant information on the proper care of pets.
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