PLENTY OF PUPPY MISCHIEF Dec2009

Puppy Preschool Classes are held every Thursday night at the Old Mill Veterinary Surgery. 

Please call 3425 2222 for bookings or more information about classes.

Most of us living in Dayboro have either owned a puppy at some point in our lives, or are about to get one in the near future.  Those of us with experiences of new puppies know how much work it is to look after them, but also how rewarding they can be.  In the first few months of owning a new puppy there are numerous things to tackle, including housetraining, feeding, health care, grooming, and exercising. Puppy Preschool, where all of these things are discussed and practiced, can give you and your new puppy a great start together.  When your puppy is still little and cute, certain lessons are easily taught that would require much more work if delayed.  Walking on a loose leash, paying attention when you call their name, coming when called, keeping feet on the floor to greet people, keeping teeth off humans and other essential skills for living in a human world are most easily taught to your puppy over a two or three month period in early life.
People with limited dog experience benefit tremendously from puppy classes, where the mysteries of puppy behaviour are explained, and various handling skills are learned.  Even if you have owned several dogs before, and know all of these things, your new puppy will certainly benefit from the experience, and chances are you will end up learning something new as well.  And whatever dogs you may have trained or owned before, there is only one guarantee:  this one will be different!
Your puppy needs a nurturing learning environment provided at Puppy Preschool during its critical development stages.  If socialisation is missed during this period, some puppies will never be as successful as they otherwise could have been at fitting into your home and lifestyle, or whatever else you hope to do with your dog.  Sadly, when a dog can’t function safely with humans or other animals, it can ultimately mean a lost home and a lost life.  Most dogs at pounds and rescue centres have ended up there due to behaviour problems.  Good basic handling and training prevent most problems from turning into serious issues as the dog matures, and we all want to enjoy our puppies and have them grow into safe adult dogs that spend long and happy lives in our homes.  Puppy Preschool is a great start to making this happen.
A common misconception about socialising puppies is the belief that if there are other dogs at home, or if the dog is to be kept on a big property, it won’t need socialization skills or training.  The truth is that adult dogs respond to a new puppy very differently than other puppies of the same age, and even farm dogs need to go out in public ever now and then.  Adult dogs will dominate a new puppy in the family from the start, and they may end up lacking in confidence, or become aggressive when they are not in their own home environment. Dogs that have grown up on property without other dogs can be very unpredictable when coming into contact with other dogs or humans, and may even end up being very dangerous in social environments.
So what are the goals and benefits of Puppy Preschool?  At puppy classes your pup can begin a lifelong love of going to events and gatherings that include other dogs.  You will benefit by developing a working relationship with your new dog, which can gain a love of learning new things that will last for life.  The purpose is not to produce perfectly obedient dogs at the end of the course, it is more about positive interaction and learning the basics in an appropriate manner in a safe environment, but you will certainly have the tools and the knowhow to continue training at home.  Your puppy will have a great foundation for all future learning and the best possible chance for a great attitude about the world and the people in it.
And when is your puppy ready for Puppy Preschool?  All puppies mature at different ages, but generally the period between 8 and 16 weeks of age is the most important for socialisation.  All puppies will also need to have had their vaccinations and intestinal worming.  Puppy Preschool is enormously helpful to humans and dogs alike, and provides about the best entertainment possible.  For a small fee you get to participate in something that is mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy for you and your dog.  Seeing the other puppies and sharing the experience with the other puppy-loving humans adds to the fun.  Be sure to take the opportunity to do this with and for your puppy.