What happens at puppy classes?

[Waggy One]

I shall know the answer to this in about 2 hours but I've got myself in such a state that I need to know now - please help!  Are there any serious do's or don'ts?  Should I take treats or will that put the other puppies off?

[dood]

Oh yes take lots of treats - they will be expected. I was advised to take hot dog sauages as they don't crumble and make a mess for dogs to sniff around.Slice 'em up very thin tho!
At ours (after lots of talk in first session) we all had to stand in 2 rows and then demo heel walking etc. Then sat while individuals did sit, stay etc.The trainer showed us how to do a new thing each week.
Don't stress, enjoy.  Poppy loves the other dogs - far too much  - and it's a great mix of people.Funny when dogs completely cock up as they frequently do!!
Have fun!!

[CraftySam]

It's nothing at all to worry about.  

I can tell you about our puppy class.  There isn't really any do's and don'ts.  Take lots of treats, preferably special ones.  If you want to give another puppy a treat then I'd ask the owner first if it ok.  You probably find that other puppies will come and do all sort for you to try and get a treat if they think yours are tasty!    Some people take the puppies favourite toy too.  Take some poo bags!

We've done two classes.  The trainer explained a bit about the course, then we did some practice with basic positions, e.g sit, down, stand.  They had a play to learn to socialise with other dogs. Last week we learned to give our puppies a health check, then we swapped puppies and we gave them one, so that they get used to being handled by strangers. She showed us how to start recall training.

That's some of the things we did.  You'll probably find that some people have started training their puppies and some haven't at all.  I think one of the most important parts is the socialisation aspect of the classes, so let your puppy go up to other owner and puppies.

I'm sure you'll have a fab time!    Don't stress if Beau doesn't do exactly what you want him to, have a laugh about it! Max never did what he was supposed at puppy class (though he's waiting to take Good Citizen Bronze award now), thankfully Barney is doing pretty well, though I'm not sure it will last!

 Let us know how you get on.

[Joules]

Remember it is supposed to be fun!!  First puppy classes are more about socialisation than serious training so do not worry.  Everyone will be in the same boat.  Take plenty of treats, small bits of cheese or sausage or dried treats are best.  Poo bags too just in case.      Don't expect your pup to do everything straight away.  The class is really just to show you how to train your puppy so you can practice at home.  As far as the pup is concerned it is just a chance to have fun with some other puppies in a safe environment - this is very important.

Coco caused havoc at first charging around barking and bullying all the other puppies - she did eventually calm down.  Then she did a wee on the floor, the following week she did a poo (quite a runny one too!) so the third week I was expecting her to projectile vomit!  No need to be embarrassed though, it has all been seen before.  One of the other mums there said that her pup once had done 4 poos in one class of 40 minutes.  We haven't beaten that yet!  I think that at first the important thing is to enjoy it and if you both learn something then that is a bonus!! 

[Waggy One]

Thank you all so much - I feel much calmer now 

I'll let you know later how we get on....

[Waggy One]

We had such a good time and lots of fun at our first class.

Beau got to meet up with his brothers Freddie & Buster and then they all got to meet a westie puppy, a staffie puppy, a visla (sp) puppy and a border terrier puppy  all the puppies were reasonably well behaved and we learnt 'sit' (which Beau already knew) and 'lie' (which he didn't!)

I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would and I think Beau enjoyed it too so bring on the next lesson...

[Joules]

Glad you enjoyed it!    Sure Beau did too.  Coco is 10 months and she is now doing the intermediate class (she did puppy socialisation and beginners before that) and she still loves going.  As soon as she sees where we are going she is straining at the lead to get there.    It still sometimes seems to me that we are making no progress at all - in fact going backwards  - but when I think about how much she has learned it has been great.  I think one of the best things about it was that she learned how to behave with other puppies and how to play nicely!  This week we did a bit of agility - a couple of small jumps, weaving through cones and poles and a tunnel - she was brilliant and loved it.  It also tires them out which is a bonus! 

[debbie321]

Puppy classes are great aren't they?  I was so embarrassed about Ben's behaviour but I've met other members since that were just as embarrassed about their pups    I remember looking at the floor after talking to the trainer and seeing an enormous poo ............... I couldn't believe it was Ben as it must have been 1/3 of his total body weight    It was indeed my tiny Ben as other owner's had seen him producing it - and it was very soft and smelly!  Must have been the excitement I suppose!

[dood]

Really glad you had a lovely time. Have to confess that much as Poppy enjoys ours I'm thinking of stopping or going elsewhere now as we had 12 dog/pups in beginners and there were 15 of us at obedience last week - too many methinks. 

[Joules]

Yes, that is far too many.  My trainer limits all her classes to 8 but in reality, most weeks, there are no more than 5 or 6.  That is plenty I think because our classes are only 40 mins and with many more in the class it would be very difficult to get much out of it.    Even in our group it can be hard if there is one disruptive dog.

[Waggy One]

There were seven in our class and that felt like quite enough because we were in quite a small room (one of the pups has only had 1 jab so far so couldn't go outside)

Coco is 10 months and she is now doing the intermediate class (she did puppy socialisation and beginners before that) and she still loves going.  As soon as she sees where we are going she is straining at the lead to get there.    It still sometimes seems to me that we are making no progress at all - in fact going backwards  - but when I think about how much she has learned it has been great.  I think one of the best things about it was that she learned how to behave with other puppies and how to play nicely!  This week we did a bit of agility - a couple of small jumps, weaving through cones and poles and a tunnel - she was brilliant and loved it.  It also tires them out which is a bonus! 

I'd like to keep learning with Beau and I'd love, eventually, to do agility with him - it's something I'm really interested in 

[CraftySam]

I'm so glad you and Beau enjoyed it!  See nothing to worry about! 

I find training my dogs really rewarding and I love going to classes.  I've been going training with Max every week since puppy class and I think its really helped.  The place where I took Sapphi to puppy class stopped training when the dogs were a year old and I can certainly see the difference between the two of them.

Max did some agility at Junior Club and loved it. He started at Agility Club two weeks ago and he still loves it!  He also does obedience classes.  Sapphi goes to beginners Flyball and after a slow start she's now doing really well and she too loves it.
I'll certainly keep taking Barney training after puppy class finishes, I feel it makes a big difference.

Keep us updated with how you and Beau get on in the coming weeks.