Does This Sound Right?

[prettypuppy]

Where is this puppy preschool? As an obedience instuctor I would not expect ANY puppy of that age to do that. Our Beginners class start at 4 months and only goes for 40min as puppies of that age get tired and bored quickly. I'm with everyone else look for another school.....

[huski]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I spoke to my mum today as she had just come back from the second puppy preschool class. Apparently the talking has been cut down but the trainer still goes on and on for ages.

I also think it is difficult because we have always used verbal corrections on all three of our dogs and even our cat (not that the cat would ever listen ) that it is hard going to a training class that teaches you it is wrong. I think part of the problem is that there is a personality clash with the trainer as well. I don't think she is an easy person to get along with, although I will see when I get back next week and go for myself.

I will let you guys all know how it goes :rolleyes:

[pawpaw]

Thought I'd let you know as you are from Brisbane, there is a Puppy Preschool-Dog Obedience 4 being held as recommended by the Canine Control Council at Souths United Soccor Club. Their program seems well organised and is being run by proffessional trainers and as it is not at a pet store, does not promote specific products, rather the time is spent focused on the puppy training.

My husband and I have enrolled our new little girl (a chocolate lab) for next months start date. We have already gone to check out the classes as our little boy (Boston) was stolen. He was also enrolled to start in January. It only costs $15 to become a member and the classes are $4 per night. Held on Mondays. Certainly a lot cheaper than the $100-120 most other places charge for 4-5 weeks of puppy preschool.

The owners are more than happy for you to go and see what they do before you enrol and make a decision which I think is great. We actually went to the Christmas break up and the pups all had their photos taken with Santa. Too cute!!

So if you live near the southside it may be what you are looking for.

[Danois]

Hi - hope the PPS is going better now!

I am midway through our course - it was $100 for 4 hour long sessions.

It starts with pass the puppy so they get used to different people, then it is time for the puppies to play for 5 mins, then we work on an obedience task - we are told how to do and it is demonstrated, each puppy then gets 1:1, then it is play time again, then a 2nd task, then play time and then a chat about something like feeding, toileting etc - all very interactive - more of a discussion based on what people are experiencing. All the time the puppies are playing, the trainer is talking, explaining behaviours, answering questions etc.

Angus goes home and crashes on the couch!

[huski]

Ok well tonight I was finally able to go to this puppy pre school class myself.

I stick with my earlier thought that it is awful

The puppies had to sit tied to our chairs on a very short lead for the entire class - which went for an hour and a half Yes, they wanted my puppy to "settle" for an HOUR and a half To make the puppies settle we were supposed to feed them liver treats etc for the entire class. My puppy went through THREE pig snouts and huge amounts of liver treats, a huge piece of chewy dried liver (it could have been something other than liver but that's what it looked like) given to Daisy our pup by the trainer herself.

The information provided etc was ok but I was not happy with being expected to continuously feed my 16 week old pup dog treats for more than an hour. She was truly getting overfed on these treats :p One couple had a whole lot of ham they were feeding their puppy - I thought ham was bad for dogs? They were also feeding it grapes.

By the end of the session my puppy was so over worked and overexcited from being fed so many treats and being tied to the chair that she was literally choking herself on the lead jumping around, pulling and trying to move around :(

I could go into more detail but all I'm saying is thank dog there is only one more class left.

[Sayreovi]

Did you say anything?

No point in keeping quiet, the rest of the class is probably as frustrated as you are.

[Erny]

I could go into more detail but all I'm saying is thank dog there is only one more class left.

If there is no socialisation happening and no beneficial exercises, would you really want to bother to return???

From the description you give it sounds to me as if going there is teaching your puppy all the wrong things rather than the right things. If it were me, and I witnessed what you have described, I wouldn't subject my puppy to that.

ETA: And even though the instructor might not give it back to you, I'd be asking for my money back on the lesson/s you don't go to. And let them know why.

Edited February 5, 2007 by Erny

[BeeB]

So glad I didnt go there Husky! The place Im going seems really good so far. Will give a full review at the end of the 4 weeks

[huski]

I could go into more detail but all I'm saying is thank dog there is only one more class left.

If there is no socialisation happening and no beneficial exercises, would you really want to bother to return???

From the description you give it sounds to me as if going there is teaching your puppy all the wrong things rather than the right things. If it were me, and I witnessed what you have described, I wouldn't subject my puppy to that.

ETA: And even though the instructor might not give it back to you, I'd be asking for my money back on the lesson/s you don't go to. And let them know why.

Sorry I wasn't that clear in my post - there was socialisation at the end (for about five minutes), there were some exercises in between her talking. However the exercises probably only took up fifteen-twenty minutes of the hour and a half.

I wish I had said something in hindsight but I think we (my family and I) will be making a written complaint as well as a verbal complaint next week.

Edited February 5, 2007 by husky87

[Bellebriar]

My first question is why are there 7 1/2 week old pups there :D

They would not be fully immunized and they should not have left the breeders until 8 weeks of age

When I was instructing with Hornsby Dog training club our puppy classes only ran for 1/2 hr and the pups had free play at the beginning of the class, in the middle of the class and at the end of the class. And if my memory serves me correctly they had to be 12 weeks old and you had to produce their immunization records.

Even the advanced class only ran for 45 mins and all the instructors would have constant breaks for the dogs so as to overload them.

I would be asking for my money back and finding an Obedience class run by a club.

[Heidley]

wow doesn't sound good at all. We just finshed a 5 week puppy class at our vet and it's was very well run, the first session was all talking and we were told not to bring the pups as it's too much for them. The rest of the classes were a good combination of socialising and information, I was very pleased with it at the end.

Hope your feedback about it is taken on board by the trainer.

[angelbundy]

Where are these classes held? A lot of vet clinics hold PPS, run by outside trainers using the vet clinics premises. If this is the case here, I would be complaining to the vet as well as the trainer.

When little Cougar went to PPS, we had 4 1 hr sessions, with LOTS of interaction, and we were told to limit the treats as they upset little tummies very easily! I really enjoyed our sessions, and Cougar really got the benefits, as he was really bad with other dogs whn we first got him, and now he's great.

I would also really struggle with the "no" thing, as i have always given a growl to stop unwanted behaviours!

[huski]

My first question is why are there 7 1/2 week old pups there

I know all this too and I was really shocked when mum told me (I was OS when the classes started) that there were puppies younger than 8 weeks there. One of them came from what sounds like BYB, I don't think it was a registered breeder. Of course in QLD pet shops sell puppies as young as six weeks so some of them could have come from there too.

Angelbundy the classes are held at a shop (doesn't sell pets just supplies). The people who work there are excellent, I was really looking forward to puppy preschool there as they are always so knowledgable and helpful.

Bellebriar I have already found an obedience club that looks good if mum wants to do more training with Daisy.

Heidley I hope the trainer will take on board our suggestions however I don't think she is the kind of person who will accept criticism seriously. However we will be talking to her about it, she is running two classes at the moment so I wonder what the people in the other class are feeling.

Edited February 7, 2007 by husky87

[MolassesLass]

Which shop is this (PM me if you'd prefer)? Don't want to recommend it to anyone!

[Bellebriar]

My first question is why are there 7 1/2 week old pups there

I know all this too and I was really shocked when mum told me (I was OS when the classes started) that there were puppies younger than 8 weeks there. One of them came from what sounds like BYB, I don't think it was a registered breeder. Of course in QLD pet shops sell puppies as young as six weeks so some of them could have come from there too.

Angelbundy the classes are held at a shop (doesn't sell pets just supplies). The people who work there are excellent, I was really looking forward to puppy preschool there as they are always so knowledgable and helpful.

Bellebriar I have already found an obedience club that looks good if mum wants to do more training with Daisy.

Heidley I hope the trainer will take on board our suggestions however I don't think she is the kind of person who will accept criticism seriously. However we will be talking to her about it, she is running two classes at the moment so I wonder what the people in the other class are feeling.

Glad to hear that you have found Obedience classes, much better to go to these as most of the trainers have been doing it for years and are not in it for the profit but for the love of dogs.

Good luck with your pup.