Puppy Pre-school

[mollynme]

I guess this isn't a problem as such but more of a concern but i'm thinking it's quite normal too

Last night was the first session of puppy pre-school and out of the 10 pups there, mine was by far the scardest out of them all. The others were all happily sniffing and checking each other out whereas mine just wanted to claw her way onto our laps. We resisted so she could get used to it but when i noticed she was really getting distressed i picked her up to comfort her for abit and then put her back down.

She absolutely loves people and so i thought would be the same around other pups but i guess not. Has this happened to anyone else and did they improve as puppy school went on?

Thanks

[Berner-Loki]

Loki was never frightened at puppy school in fact he was labled the party animal but there were a couple that were frightened. 1 lady only brought her Maltese to the 1st session. The couple of other timid ones did get a lot better. They picked who they liked and steared clear of Mr Boisterous and went to the other quieter dogs. Key I think is to just let them learn.

[poodlefan]

10 pups was probably overwhelming for your dog... better to start with one and work up from there.

[mita]

I was told this week about a Tibbie girl who, in her first visit to puppy pre-school took a chunk out of some bloke's boot. Which apparently made her unwelcome from then on...but she got a certificate sent to her at the end.

She's gone on to be a wonderful pet with her family which includes children...but a steely 'defender' against all strange people & dogs. Now...at 4 yrs...that family's been directed to a responsible dog trainer to sort this.

So I think it's important to deal with any marked response by a pup in the pre-school setting. It's good you're asking for advice how to help your pup who seems to be getting a bit overwhemed by it all.

Edited January 4, 2007 by mita

[freysmum]

When we went to puppy pre-school with Phoebe she was in a class of about seven as she and a little maltese were just about the same as your baby.

It was wonderful to watch them (Pheebs and the little malt) gain confidence as the weeks went by. By the end of it they were in the middle of all the puppy mischief - chasing, being chased and giving their funny little puppy yaps and running around. You would not have believed that they were the same puppies.

Sounds like you are doing everything right by reassuring your puppy and putting him back down again. Baby steps. Persevere. I'm sure he'll be fine. It's worth it in the end. You'll end up with a happy, friendly, well socialised puppy.

Keep us posted and let us know how you go next week.

Sandra

[mollynme]

Thanks Sandra. It is positive to hear that they can improve over the weeks.

[Nekhbet]

they do. When I had a puppy preschool there was one little pup who was scared to, I got the owner to ignore its pining behaviour but didnt let the other pups clamber all over it either.

by week 3 the little scamp was wrestling a golden!! If you discount them from all the fun they soon start thinking its not so bad and remember how it was with their own littermates so want a go too! I wouldnt fuss too much, its not that traumatic unless the preschool trainer lets all the dog run over yours.

[OMD²]

Awww your puppy is so cute

Can I ask how old she is?

I will be taking my puppy to pre school as soon as he has his second injection.. Hopefully that isn't too late

[fido666]

Hi Uforia,

From what you have posted it sounds to me like your pup was just overwhelmed. The wrong type of socialisation "taught" at some puppy schools is worse than not taking them at all IMHO. Puppy school should not be a free for all play session. First and foremost the pups should learn some basic manners (sit, etc), so they learn how to behave in the home and around people. Socialisation should be introduced slowly and at first with dogs of like size and disposition. I have attended and assisted in quite a few puppy programs and all were conducted with the mental welfare of the pups in mind. If a little Maltese is scared you don't go shoving a Doberman pup in its face (as an example), you find another puppy that isn't over the top who is happy to approach quietly.

At the programs I have attended first intros are done with the instructor supervising the intros, usually sitting down between the 2 pups, calling them in with treats and then luring them away from each other (again with treats). The idea is they get close enough to scent one another but not so close they feel threatened. I have seen many timid puppies improve with confidance afetr a few sessions of this type of interaction.

Most owners like to see their puppies play with other pups but it is the pup's long term perceptions which need to be managed carefully at this point. While socialisation IS important it must be done right. I hope your puppy does gain some confidance but don't let the instructor push her into a situation she can't deal with at this point. JMHO, I'm sure there are many knowledgable professional trainers on DOL who can advise you also.

Cheers,

Corine

[Bindo]

Hi there, I can relate to this. My mini schnauzer male was a real wuzz, and at the first few puppy classes was 'Nigel no friends'. After a few weeks he started to join in the fun, but still avoided the more boisterous pups.

A good idea is to try to become friends with one of the quieter/smaller pups owner and perhaps suggest a one on one play session outside of puppy school for her to get her confidence up. This worked for us.

[MTD]

Where Maggie went to puppy pre school they wouldn't take more than 7 puppies. We had 5 puppies in the class.

At first Maggie was very reserved and another puppy was very scared by the 3rd class Maggie was playing with the biggest buffiest puppy there ever was I'm probably greatful for this as she isn't scared of any size dog now. The puppy that was really scared, by the last class it was fine played with the other one the same size.

Maybe try and find another class with less puppies

[mollynme]

Awww your puppy is so cute

Can I ask how old she is?

I will be taking my puppy to pre school as soon as he has his second injection.. Hopefully that isn't too late

Aww thanks Molly is almost 10 weeks.

She is due for her final vaccination on Tuesday so she isn't fully vaccinated yet but the vet assured us it would be fine as all the puppies that attend the class are from the same vetenary and 50% of them have had their final injections.

Hi Uforia,

From what you have posted it sounds to me like your pup was just overwhelmed. The wrong type of socialisation "taught" at some puppy schools is worse than not taking them at all IMHO. Puppy school should not be a free for all play session. First and foremost the pups should learn some basic manners (sit, etc), so they learn how to behave in the home and around people. Socialisation should be introduced slowly and at first with dogs of like size and disposition. I have attended and assisted in quite a few puppy programs and all were conducted with the mental welfare of the pups in mind. If a little Maltese is scared you don't go shoving a Doberman pup in its face (as an example), you find another puppy that isn't over the top who is happy to approach quietly.

At the programs I have attended first intros are done with the instructor supervising the intros, usually sitting down between the 2 pups, calling them in with treats and then luring them away from each other (again with treats). The idea is they get close enough to scent one another but not so close they feel threatened. I have seen many timid puppies improve with confidance afetr a few sessions of this type of interaction.

Most owners like to see their puppies play with other pups but it is the pup's long term perceptions which need to be managed carefully at this point. While socialisation IS important it must be done right. I hope your puppy does gain some confidance but don't let the instructor push her into a situation she can't deal with at this point. JMHO, I'm sure there are many knowledgable professional trainers on DOL who can advise you also.

Cheers,

Corine

Hi Corine,

Our puppy class wasn't a free for all session, in fact she went straight into the basic obedience training and all pups were on a leash. Most owners allowed their pups to sniff one another but when it got abit rough pulled them back into line. From memory there are about 3 other smallish type dogs there which we'll probably have Molly sit next to so it's not so over whelming for her :D

[fido666]

Hi Corine,

Our puppy class wasn't a free for all session, in fact she went straight into the basic obedience training and all pups were on a leash. Most owners allowed their pups to sniff one another but when it got abit rough pulled them back into line. From memory there are about 3 other smallish type dogs there which we'll probably have Molly sit next to so it's not so over whelming for her

Hi Uforia,

I did not mean to insinuate your was a free for all but many are. A lot of vet clinics run them but get the junior vet nurses to take the class. Not knocking their nursing abilities but most are not qualifed to run dog training classes and will just turn it into a play group by stealth.

Your initial post mentioned Puppy Pre School so that is the scenario my post was aimed at. Your pup wnet straight to basic obediance, at 10 weeks I feel she is a bit young for this level. I don't know the stucture and content of your program though so don't take my word as gospel. Your idea of sitting next to the smaller pups has merit, just remember some can be as dominanant as big dogs too.

I fully support puppy preschools as early training and socialisation, as long as they are done right.

Cheers,

Corine

Edited January 5, 2007 by fido666

[dougie]

i can only repeat what a friend, fellow breeder & vet nurse once said to me......

" i wont even put my puppies on the floor at a vet clinic......that is where all the sick dogs go for cri's sake''

i agree with her 100%

[Flying Penguin]

When we went Sam was absolutely terrified of every dog, she tried to hide behind my leg, jump into my arms etc. she wouldnt even let them lick or sniff her.

The lady who took the class was really great, she allowed Sam to go at her own pace not allowing the dogs to go near her and push her.

A few sessions later she was sniffing them and letting them lick her.

They are they only dogs she would let near her for a few weeks, now she is getting better with every dog that approaches her, she wants to play with them all now.

[ReXy]

i can only repeat what a friend, fellow breeder & vet nurse once said to me......

" i wont even put my puppies on the floor at a vet clinic......that is where all the sick dogs go for cri's sake''

i agree with her 100%

absoloutly dougie , im the same... years ago i took my first lab girl to puppy pre school at the vet,, silly me didnt think anything of it and thougth i was doing the right thing,, pup ended up in hospaital with a tummy bug,, boy did they make money out of me,, puppy school then treatment..lol

my stafford boy went to puppy preschool. 5 in a class at our obed club.. its in a soccer clubroom, no other dogs go there,, every pup must have had first vacc.. i know this doesnt always guarantee nothing will go wrong but it minimises the chances i guess

it was very well run, pups are taught basic manners how to intereact and some very basic commands . sit come ect, but focusing more on socialisation..( plenty of time for obedience later). with 2 instructors to make sure pups are not overwhelmed and jumped all over... owners were given lots of info, on how to toilet train and general manners, care etc..

[skwo2]

oh, your puppy is so cute. What breed is it?

I took my pup to puppy school at week 13, after 2nd vaccination, cos classes run every 4 weeks, if I have taken her at 9 weeks, I would worry about her catching disease.

On her first class, she is also very scare and whinning a lot during the class. I gave her a few scratches around her throat area. In her second class, she is up and playing with other pups.

In my class, there is actually a big lab puppy that was so scare that he hind under the chairs for the whole 1st lesson, and even when the instructor put food on the floor to ask him to come out, still hinding. It improve the next week.

You will be amazed as to how quickly they will learn. I suggest you to take your pup for a walk or invite people to your place.

[SparkyTansy]

reassurance is good, but surely too much would cause puppy to think that to whinge and act scared is acceptable? I would not let any harm come to the puppy, but i certainly wouldn't enforce the behaviour by fussing it when it acts scared. I agree a couple of strokes and a reassurance that you are there is good.

My pup takes his time getting to know dogs he meets, and will mostly run the other way for the first 5 minutes of interaction. Eventually he will end up playing with them although he is not a big fan of boistrous dogs, even though he tends to be one himself.

[mollynme]

oh, your puppy is so cute. What breed is it?

I took my pup to puppy school at week 13, after 2nd vaccination, cos classes run every 4 weeks, if I have taken her at 9 weeks, I would worry about her catching disease.

On her first class, she is also very scare and whinning a lot during the class. I gave her a few scratches around her throat area. In her second class, she is up and playing with other pups.

In my class, there is actually a big lab puppy that was so scare that he hind under the chairs for the whole 1st lesson, and even when the instructor put food on the floor to ask him to come out, still hinding. It improve the next week.

You will be amazed as to how quickly they will learn. I suggest you to take your pup for a walk or invite people to your place.

Thanks, she is a cross breed, malt x poodle

We have friends over all the time, with humans she is completely fine, she loves anyone who comes through the door that is why i thought she would love other pups too but i guess it's not the same. We'll see how we go with this weeks class, if she is still scared then i may postpone it till she is a little older. We were just told the earlier you get them out socialising, the better.

reassurance is good, but surely too much would cause puppy to think that to whinge and act scared is acceptable? I would not let any harm come to the puppy, but i certainly wouldn't enforce the behaviour by fussing it when it acts scared. I agree a couple of strokes and a reassurance that you are there is good.

My pup takes his time getting to know dogs he meets, and will mostly run the other way for the first 5 minutes of interaction. Eventually he will end up playing with them although he is not a big fan of boistrous dogs, even though he tends to be one himself.

We thought this also that is why we tried not to pick her up or comfort her too much but i just couldn't bear to see her begging like that After a minute we put her back down and didn't pick her up again... TBH it broke my heart seeing her wanting to be held like that so again, if she's not coping to well we may take her back in a few weeks.

[dougie]

why anyone would want to rush their puppy out & about before their second vaccs has kicked in is beyond me.....they are still puppies at 14 to 40+ weeks......

they are not going to turn into slavering beasts because they are not ''socialised'' at 6 weeks.

a normal family environment, vaccs at 12 weeks....puppy out & about a couple or 7 days after that.....no wuckers.

only dodgy trainers would advocate ''socialisation'' any earlier than the second round of vaccinations.