Puppy Start Right Classes at Tails
Sarah Heyer our Tails Rossland Manager, certified as a Puppy Start Right Instructor in Spring of 2017. She currently runs 2 puppy classes every Sunday at Tails in Rossland at 5pm & 6pm.
Puppy Start Right & Puppy Socialization – What does it mean?
Commonly, Puppy Socialization is misunderstood as puppies learning to be social with people and other puppies and dogs. Lots of people assume that puppy class is all about puppies learning some simple things like sit and down and how to play with other puppies. However, when trainers talk about Puppy Socialization, we mean so much more!
In her book Social, Civil, and Savvy: Training & Socializing Puppies to Become the Best Possible Dogs, KPA Certified Trainer Laura VanArendonk, Baugh writes. “If we want our dogs to be acceptable, happy, welcomed, and safe in human society, we need to socialize them to human social norms.”
“I want a dog to think rationally and proactively about any new stimulus or situation, and I want him/her to act intentionally and with confidence.”
Puppy Start Right Classes at Tails are a positive approach to adding your puppy to your family. We believe in proactively preventing common puppy dilemmas, rather than having to go back and fix things later. Our goal is to teach puppies to be confident, well balanced and most of all, fearless! This means you be able to take your dog with you anywhere, anytime and people will often comment on what a lovely dog you have!
This class is a positive approach on adding your puppy to your family. We believe in proactively preventing common puppy dilemmas, rather than having to go back and fix things later. Our goal is to teach puppies to be confident, well balanced and most of all, fearless!
Puppy Start Right & Puppy Socialization – What does it mean?
Commonly, Puppy Socialization is misunderstood as puppies learning to be social with people and other puppies and dogs. Lots of people assume that puppy class is all about puppies learning some simple things like sit and down and how to play with other puppies. However, when trainers talk about Puppy Socialization, we mean so much more!
In her book Social, Civil, and Savvy: Training & Socializing Puppies to Become the Best Possible Dogs, KPA Certified Trainer Laura VanArendonk, Baugh writes. “If we want our dogs to be acceptable, happy, welcomed, and safe in human society, we need to socialize them to human social norms.”
“I want a dog to think rationally and proactively about any new stimulus or situation, and I want him/her to act intentionally and with confidence.”
Puppy Start Right Classes at Tails are a positive approach to adding your puppy to your family. We believe in proactively preventing common puppy dilemmas, rather than having to go back and fix things later. Our goal is to teach puppies to be confident, well balanced and most of all, fearless! This means you be able to take your dog with you anywhere, anytime and people will often comment on what a lovely dog you have!
This class is a positive approach on adding your puppy to your family. We believe in proactively preventing common puppy dilemmas, rather than having to go back and fix things later. Our goal is to teach puppies to be confident, well balanced and most of all, fearless!
Puppy play and learning to interact with other dogs
As humans, we learn to speak our own language (both verbal and body language) from our parents and not our similarly aged siblings or play-dates! Likewise, puppies learn to speak ‘dog’ most effectively from mature, puppy tolerant dogs.
Dog to dog Socialization Plan: Have your puppy interact with a friend or family member’s adult dog, under supervision, little and often. If the puppy becomes over excited, have the puppy take a break with a kong or other chew and praise the adult dog for being patient. If the adult dog growls or starts walking away and the puppy won’t take no for an answer, remove the puppy and either tether them or crate them with a toy, chew or a kong. Praise the adult dog for doing a good job.
Puppies can play together of course, but as they are still trying to figure out the world on their own, it should always be supervised and kept relatively brief. This way you will raise a polite puppy that is comfortable in all dog related activities and will always be welcome at other people’s houses. (Hint: free vacation coverage!)
As humans, we learn to speak our own language (both verbal and body language) from our parents and not our similarly aged siblings or play-dates! Likewise, puppies learn to speak ‘dog’ most effectively from mature, puppy tolerant dogs.
Dog to dog Socialization Plan: Have your puppy interact with a friend or family member’s adult dog, under supervision, little and often. If the puppy becomes over excited, have the puppy take a break with a kong or other chew and praise the adult dog for being patient. If the adult dog growls or starts walking away and the puppy won’t take no for an answer, remove the puppy and either tether them or crate them with a toy, chew or a kong. Praise the adult dog for doing a good job.
Puppies can play together of course, but as they are still trying to figure out the world on their own, it should always be supervised and kept relatively brief. This way you will raise a polite puppy that is comfortable in all dog related activities and will always be welcome at other people’s houses. (Hint: free vacation coverage!)
Qualifications
All of Tails' instructors are Karen Pryor Academy Certified either through the Certified Professional Trainer Program or the Puppy Start Right Program, but what does that mean for you and your dog?
Karen Pryor Academy graduates are:
All of Tails' instructors are Karen Pryor Academy Certified either through the Certified Professional Trainer Program or the Puppy Start Right Program, but what does that mean for you and your dog?
Karen Pryor Academy graduates are:
- Educated about using science and behaviour-based methodology to make training humane and effective.
- Skilled in using positive reinforcement teaching and training techniques with you and your pet to make training fun.
- Able to customize a training program specifically designed to help you and your pet communicate and succeed together.
- Up to date by participating annually in continuing education programs to ensure the training you receive is based on modern research and technology.
- Pledged to teach and train using force-free principles so that you and your dog develop a bond built on trust and respect.