Can Anyone Recommend A Puppy School

[EllieDog]

Just wondering if anyone could recommend a Puppy School.

I've noticed a sign at Karingal Vet Hospital that they run them.

Is it best to go to one connected to a vet? A Pet store? Somewhere else?

Puppy is nearly 10 weeks old and could benefit from ongoing socialisation :)

[Cosmolo]

It's not so much about where you go but who is running it-a qualified trainer, experienced with puppies who does not allow puppy free for all's is what you're after. Having a bit of a mental block with who works in that area, perhaps contact Pro K9- not sure where they run their puppy classes now but they used to be local to there.

[EllieDog]

Thanks Cosmolo, I have emailed K9 Pro, but I don't believe they are currently running puppy school.

The Karingal Vet blurb says:

"Puppy School is a program of classes aimed at providing you with the necessary tools to socialise and train your puppy in a rewarding and positive manner. It allows puppies of similar ages to interact in a safe, controlled environment under the direction of trained and experienced staff. Our staff that conduct Puppy School are either qualified Delta trainers or studying to become one. The Delta Canine Good Citizen Pet Dog Trainers Course is an eighteen month vocational course in reward-based dog training which leads to the award of a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services within the Australian Quality Training Framework. Delta is a Registered Training Organisation within that framework. This all means that our Puppy School staff are trained and certified with the highest nationally recognised qualification in dog training.

Positive reinforcement training techniques and basic obedience commands such as sit, drop, come and stay are taught. You will also get help with common doggy dilemmas such digging, jumping, biting, barking and toilet training."

Does that sound like they would have the right training?

[mackiemad]

I think secret dogs business operates in that general area and they do heaps of puppy schools at various locations

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I've spoken with the vets at Karingal at one point and the main person who runs the puppy school is a Delta certified trainer. I would say they probably do a pretty good job as at least they have training, and generally Delta don't really approve of play in classes so I would imagine that interactions are probably fairly well controlled. Can't speak from first hand experience though, but when I chatted with them they seemed to know what they were talking about.

If I had a puppy I would probably take them there, however I don't go to puppy school to learn stuff I just go for the social experience and I'm more than happy to remove my puppy from the situation if I don't think it is a good experience for them to be having.