Puppy classes are a staple of puppy ownership, and have been for decades. Despite this, there has been some confusion recently about the effectiveness of puppy classes on helping create a well socialised and trained dog.
While not all puppy classes are perfect, the ones that are expertly run produce puppies that listen when cued, are confident in every environment, and are free of behaviour problems. We’re thrilled that we’ve worked with hundreds of puppies to achieve these results using games based training.
However, we’ve seen multiple puppies recently that haven’t attended puppy classes. These dogs tend to have behavioural problems, struggle to listen to their owners, and are anxious of new people, places and things. Their owners will be stressed and upset, as they now have to sink more time and money into their puppies’ training.
All of this can be avoided.
Let’s break down how puppy classes can be the ultimate solution for your dog’s training, and what to expect out of our own classes.
Time plays a key role in why puppy classes are the perfect fit for you and your family. Between the ages of nine weeks and six months, your puppy is like a sponge. They’ll soak up any and all information we give them. This is the perfect time to tackle your dog’s training head on so you have set foundations in place.
Working with an expert trainer gives you clarity. They’ll be able to assess your puppy and determine if there are any behaviour issues that might appear. If they’re concerned, they can teach you the necessary skills to avoid those issues becoming a problem.
Without that guidance, a puppy can easily develop behavioural problems. When a behaviour problem has developed, it takes far longer to deal with than we realise. For example, it could take:
-A few months to deal with a puppy who doesn’t like being left.
-A month to deal with a dog relentlessly jumping up at visitors.
-Years to deal with a dog who develops anxiety around people and dogs.
Meanwhile, preventing those same problems in a puppy class could make them take:
-A week to make a puppy comfortable being left.
-A few days to stop a dog bounding up and down on visitors.
-A few weeks to build a dog’s confidence around people and dogs.
Door and Gate Management
Their young age is the perfect time to teach them these things. In our classes, we want to set your puppies up for success and give you real life results.
But why is a group class setting the best place for this?
Puppy classes teach foundation behaviours, but also teach your puppy how to cope with life. Surrounded by up to five other dogs, they’ll learn how to deal with their own excitement and frustration in a safe environment.
For an hour each week, your puppy will work around other puppies. They’ll get to see dogs of different sizes, shapes and temperaments. Depending on the class setup, they might even socialise with them. This can eliminate dog reactivity issues before they’ve even begun.
Further to this, your dog will be in the thick of distractions. You’ll learn how to get your dog to recall, walk on lead, settle and disengage from other dogs. This will be massive when out and about on a dog walk.
Surrounding yourself with other like-minded puppy owners will allow you all to reach the same goal – the perfect puppy!
It isn’t just a timing or social issue. With the cost of living crisis rearing its head, finances also plays an important role.
Financially, puppy classes are the best investment you can make for your dog.
We understand that the price of everything is skyrocketing at the moment. From fuel costs to food shopping, Yorkshire is being hit incredibly hard. Times are tough, and finding a cost effective way of training your dog is high on your priority list.
Puppy classes are, for that reason, a great opportunity. For a fair price your dog will come away having learned to:
-Rocket back when called.
-Walk beautifully on a loose lead.
-Settle in the home.
Settling on a bed
-Rest at cafes and pubs.
-Be confident in new situations.
-Socialise nicely with other dogs.
All of this is accomplished in one hour once a day for eight weeks. Provided you are consistent and practice at home, your dog will have learned those skills for life. You’ll never have to worry about behaviour problems developing, because you’ll have the tools needed to eliminate them.
Further to this, the best puppy classes also provide add-ons. When you book onto ours, you’ll be given access to our private Facebook group. This training vault is like having a trainer in your pocket 24/7, so your success rate will be even higher! From training tips, q&as, live videos and more, it’s a great resource to make use of.
If your dog doesn’t attend puppy classes, and a behavioural issue develops, that is a far bigger financial drain than you might realise.
Behaviour problems, once they are there, take time to deal with. This may result in you having to pay 1-2-1 consultation fees for months at a time. This can, depending on the trainer you’re working with, cost thousands of pounds.
Paying those fees can be avoided by enrolling your dog in puppy classes. Rather than splashing out on behavioural consultations, you’ll be able to focus on the more important things.
You’ll be able to save time and money working with your puppy if you tackle their training head on. Delaying for even a few months could create behavioural problems that will be far tricker to deal with. Focus on your puppy right now. Eight weeks, in the grand scheme of their life, is a drop in the ocean.
Prevention is better than a cure! Puppy classes are the best thing for eliminating your puppy’s future behaviour problems. By tackling any issues before they can develop, you’ll save yourself time and money and will be far closer to having your perfect pet dog. You’ll receive expert support from a puppy trainer who has worked with hundreds of puppies, and gain access to a wide variety of resources.
That’s not to say training has to end there though. We provide a number of fantastic follow on classes that can help your dog continue to grow from your ideal puppy into a well behaved adult dog. These range from courses dedicated purely to confidence, to sport classes! Perfect for all dogs.
If you’re looking for the best puppy classes to set your dog up for success, click the link here to get started. Don’t delay in getting your perfect puppy.
Loose lead Walking
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