What Do You Think Of Puppy Pre School?

[luvsdogs]

I'm taking Tilba to pps tomorrow night. Both the instructors are Cert IV qualified. I'm expecting it to be much better than the one I took Sooty to 7 yrs ago. All they talked about was all the things I already knew like feeding, worming, vaccinations, grooming etc. There were only 3 pups & in the 3 weeks they only had about 5 mins of play.

[helen]

There are many puppy pre schools run by qualified Delta instructors. If you are looking for a good puppy pre school it is probably a good place to start - http://www.deltasocietyaustralia.com.au/cg...ctors_index.htm - some would be at vets, some at clubs and some private but all instructors suitably qualified

I have had Robyn Jackson as an instructor at Bellarine Dog Activities Group, she was great

[kateykateykatey]

Personally I would avoid classes run by vet nurses and pet stores. Most canine council obedience clubs also run puppy preschools where there are qualified trainers. The pups learn basic obedience and have controlled socialization as well, and the owners learn some very helpful training tips.

In defence of vet nurses, some can be qualified as trainers, ours was a vet nurse.

[blacklabrador]

It depends on your expectations. Puppy preschool is often the only place you can safely socialise your puppy before their 12 week vaccination. It's really important that your pup gets to see and play with other dogs during this four week period.

Puppy preschool will help you learn about puppy care (worming, basic grooming, clipping nails etc) if you don't already know those things. It will also teach you to teach your dog some basic commands like "sit" and "come". Don't expect it to be obedience - you need to go to an obedience school with qualified trainers for that.

*Thinks they need a separate puppy preschool for labs and goldies they are very bouncy puppies!!*

[BC]

*Thinks they need a separate puppy preschool for labs and goldies they are very bouncy puppies!!*

Try taking in an Australian Shepherd puppy Maybe add them to the seperate group too

[The Spotted Devil]

*Thinks they need a separate puppy preschool for labs and goldies they are very bouncy puppies!!*

Try taking in an Australian Shepherd puppy Maybe add them to the seperate group too

Add the Dallies while you're at it

[Joan of Arc]

I agree with the others it depends on whose running the PPS, but why not just go to your local obedience club (affiliated with your state controlling body), they will have great beginners classes, qualified instructors and you and your puppy will experience great socialising as it should be done.

Hi Mercedes. Just curious - is this a 'generalistation' or do you actually know for a fact that the local obedience club affiliated with the OP's state controlling body has a "great beginners classes, qualified instructors" and that the OP's puppy "will experience great socialising as it should be done"?

OK so now I 'm prepared to be flamed here but I would never rec Barkbusters - We had friends who took thier dog to barkbusters despite our protestations. Three months after the dog had finished its "training" with them we were visiting fo rhte weekend. The dog was out of control and they were sick of giving it verbal commands that it never seemed to obey.

You won't get flamed. Franchise businesses are like that. Similar to the answers given to the OP to her question, it isn't about the "name" of the place, but about the qualifications, reputation and capabilities of the person who runs it.

Yeah Hi Erny

From experience every obedience club I have been a member of over 30 years that has been affiliated with our state body has had qualified obedience instructors and often offer show training as well. Also from experience our pups have enjoyed a safe socialisation where other pups including our own are well supervised, taught what is expected of them and expected to behave.

A simple phone call to your local obedience club will soon tell you if thier instructors are qualified, if they are affiliated with your state body etc.

I am not pushing just those clubs Erny because I have also seen some clubs that you wouldn't encourage your enemy to go to. The point is we have to give as much information as possible so that OP can become a discerning dog owner.

JMHO

[JulesP]

Croydon PPS will separate the quiet puppies from bouncy ones until the quiet ones get their confidence. I am embarrassed to say that my BC, Brock, ended up being put in the quiet class! Puppies are also let off one at a time to check that everyone is ok.

[Erny]

I am not pushing just those clubs Erny because I have also seen some clubs that you wouldn't encourage your enemy to go to. The point is we have to give as much information as possible so that OP can become a discerning dog owner.

JMHO

I'm not arguing with what you say (just in case you think I might be). By "State Body", you mean something like (if in Victoria), "DogsVic" affiliated? The reason I ask is because to my knowledge each Club affiliated with DogsVic don't necessarily comprise of qualified instructors and I've had good feedback of some, and not of another, in terms of understanding dogs and dog behaviour. I agree with giving as much info as possible, but want the OP to know to be discerning, regardless of affiliation. I just thought that you might know something I don't and that perhaps somewhere along the line I got it wrong.

:p

[Joan of Arc]

Its cool Erny

Just commenting on my experiences in NSW but not sure if it is actually a requirement here either.

[MalteseLuna]

*Thinks they need a separate puppy preschool for labs and goldies they are very bouncy puppies!!*

Try taking in an Australian Shepherd puppy Maybe add them to the seperate group too

Definitely agree - I took my Maltese puppy (who at the time was 1.2 kg maybe) to a puppy school run by my vet (was very good) and I LOVE Labrador puppies ( my auntie has Lab's) but a Maltese puppy just can't hold her own against that size dog :rolleyes: Poor baby - she wanted to play and then as soon as she was in the 'play' she wanted out again :p Towards the end though she comfortable with the bigger pups ;) I thought it was a good part of my puppy school that the dogs not only encountered other dogs but also were handled by other people (we did pass the puppy) and Luna is a very sociable little doggy now when she started off as being quite timid :p I felt 'safer' doing it at my vet than at another location because I felt they would have a better handle on diseases (i.e. the room we used was wiped down with Trigene before and after the school) JMO though. The puppy school was run by a senior vet nurse and 'semi'-retired vet and they did keep a close eye on the pups to make sure nobody got bullied or overwhelmed