kezz05 Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Hi guys, Just wanted to get some thoughts on puppy pre school. Is it worth it? I've got an 11 week old Amstaff, and was going to book him at pre school. He's already 95% there with his toilet training, knows general commands (sit and stay) isn't much of a biter and responds to NO when mouthing. The only real benefit I could see is socialisation. Has anyone put a puppy through it and is it worth it or a waiste of money? Cheers:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juice Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I always thought they were a waste of time, just lots of young dogs charging around in chaos with the bigger pushy dogs scaring the more timid ones. I could never see the benefit. they are normally run by vet nurses , who are not trainers they are vet nurses :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bundyburger Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Waste of money unless it's run by a trainer. Did one with my boy with the vets and it was hopeless, we didn't end up going to them all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 A well run puppy school is absolutely worthwhile and should not be a free for all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 (edited) It is my fav class. I've taken all 5 of my dogs to puppy pre class at the same dog school. Even when I was instructing I still took them. Edited January 6, 2016 by JulesP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayhay Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I think it is an important part of socialisation. Good for them to meet and greet other puppies to help reduce dog issues as they grow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Unless it's one run to specifically teach the right manners into adulthood then a total waste ,far to many are free for alls and run by unqualified people .Puppies need to learn that seeing another dog means it's entitled to play,teaching self control and focus amongst a crowd is far more important ,good dog manners sets up a pup for life You can tell the owners who have been to a free for all puppy school as they often struggle to control there dog when getting older.Puppy school should be about teaching adult values and behaviour not about researching the dog bad habits taught at free for alls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roova Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I was wary taking my new puppy to one but 'shopped around' and found one where the instructor did obedience and agility with her own dogs and was a vet nurse. She was great. Firm rules and no puppies off lead until the end of the night and even then you could remove your puppy if you didn't want free play. She answered questions and helped with problems like toilet training etc. She gave homework like feeling all over puppy, in ears, mouth etc and acclimatising puppy to being held firmly to be examined, restrained recall, sitting before exiting doors, sit-drop-stand etc and she tested everyone at the beginning of next session. I can't compare to other classes but I was pretty impressed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jars Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I think the key it to find the right puppy school. I took Pepper to one that was run by the vet. It was great. They gave lots of tips, we had a chance to ask a lot of questions and were given excercises to do with the dogs. Helped lay the foundation for some basic training. There was never a free for all play. Only introductions in a controlled manner. On the other hand, I have observed one run by a pet store, and it was such a waste of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superminty Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 Just booked back to back schools for when my pup arrives - but it is with an experienced trainer who I know well and I am primarily there for controlled socialisation - and also it's held at my usual vet, so good for pup to have lots of nice experiences there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kezz05 Posted January 7, 2016 Author Share Posted January 7, 2016 Yeh I had heard mixed reviews. The one at my local vet west is run externally by a trainer and I think is fairly controlled. So I might give that a go for a session next week and see how it goes. Thanks for all the advice:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 I think if you can find a good one they're great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westiemum Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 I took Sarah as a 5 year old to 7 weeks of puppy training with Adelaide Pet Dog training when I first got her as she seemed to need confidence - and despite her being the oldest dog there by some years it was brilliant and did her the world of good. The trainer later confessed to me she wasn't usually very fond of small white dogs, but thought Sarah was fabulous. I was the proudest Mummy there - and Sarah taught those puppies a thing or too about loose lead walking and recall - she learned very quickly and was great at it! So as others have said - IMO its about finding the right class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 (edited) No you don't have to go but if u find a well run school it's a great way to access other puppies and socialize. I took my nervous kelpie to two. The first was great. 9 people in a circle ist week and we played pass the puppy. I wanted to keep some of the cute fluffy ones and u should have seen other owners faces holding my crazy kelpie pup. Funnily she came back to me pretty quick! Next there was food thrown done and all the pups had a forage and gradually started to interact. It depends on pup size in the group too how much freedom they get. Really interesting how some pups behaviour is already a standout. Lot of vet advice which I found helpful as my first pup after rescues before. Lots of games and handouts from royal canine . Second school not so great but if u know what u r doing OK. I managed to avoid some pups and played tug and other games all over the surgery with my pup. Apparently the best toy here was the pee mop. It was hard to mop with half do pups on the mop. Some other pups in this class were a worry. So getting a good school important. Maybe one by a trainer if you can. A badly run class could do more harm then good, but you can always refuse to participate if things go pearshaped Edited January 10, 2016 by skip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 A great puppy school is invaluable, but a bad puppy school can negatively effect your dog for life. I wrote a blog post on this topic a while back that you might find useful :) http://blog.k9pro.com.au/puppy-schools/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willem Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) huski, the link works, but the links in your article don't...?.... BTW we never visited a puppy school with our dog, nevertheless she had a too high value for other dogs (it's vanishing now more and more so). ETA: ...the links actually seem to work but only to reach a webpage saying 'Not Found'. Edited January 11, 2016 by Willem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Skip: I took my nervous kelpie to two. The first was great. 9 people in a circle ist week and we played pass the puppy. I wanted to keep some of the cute fluffy ones and u should have seen other owners faces holding my crazy kelpie pup. Funnily she came back to me pretty quick! Next there was food thrown done and all the pups had a forage and gradually started to interact. It depends on pup size in the group too how much freedom they get. Pass the puppy and food thrown on the ground would be two things I'd be less than happy with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 huski, the link works, but the links in your article don't...?.... BTW we never visited a puppy school with our dog, nevertheless she had a too high value for other dogs (it's vanishing now more and more so). ETA: ...the links actually seem to work but only to reach a webpage saying 'Not Found'. Sorry I am having some trouble with the backend, will fix it up as soon as I can. Obviously visiting a poorly management and poorly run puppy school is not the only one way a dog might develop too high a value for other dogs. Many people seem to think socialisation is just about exposure, but it is actually about setting value for new experiences. Every time I take a puppy out, I am watching their behaviour, and the way they interact with new environments/other people/dogs/etc and assessing what value they are displaying for these distractions and adjusting my training accordingly. With any pup I raise I aim to have a pup who is generally disinterested in people and other dogs. I usually have this down pretty early on. For eg, this is my pup at 13 weeks, working in a high level distraction (a dog trial). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Skip: I took my nervous kelpie to two. The first was great. 9 people in a circle ist week and we played pass the puppy. I wanted to keep some of the cute fluffy ones and u should have seen other owners faces holding my crazy kelpie pup. Funnily she came back to me pretty quick! Next there was food thrown done and all the pups had a forage and gradually started to interact. It depends on pup size in the group too how much freedom they get. Pass the puppy and food thrown on the ground would be two things I'd be less than happy with. Agreed - neither are things I would include in our puppy classes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 My pup went to heaps of classes - but only ones I was running! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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