Questions About Teaching A Puppy Class

[Luvs]

Starting next Wednesday I will be teaching my first obedience class. I will be teaching a puppy and a super puppy class,for puppies that are more advanced. I am very excited about teaching my first class, but also very nervous since I have never taught before. I am really looking forward to getting my weekly puppy fix

Previous instructors at our club have let the puppies have social time at the end of class. I wanted to get your opinions on this. When I took the puppy class with Akasha I really enjoyed the play time, but after becoming a member here, I discovered that alot of people disagree with this. One negative aspect of letting them play together was that after the first play session, the beginning of each class was spent trying desperately to keep their attention (which is challenging with a puppy to begin with) because they just wanted to play. Of course for me it was a little easier because Akasha was in the super puppy class instead of the puppy class and never got to play with her classmates. We would stay after since Keil was in the puppy class and let her play with his classmates. Keeping Keil focused was a major challenge at the next class and very frustrating for my daughter.

I wanted to find out your opinions and reasons why this is or is not a positive thing to do. At this time I am not planning on having puppy play time, but I want to be armed with info on why I have chosen not to if our training director asks, because she is all for puppy play time.

I was also wondering if I can print info from this site to give out to the people in my class? For instance, Mick's thread on potty training puppies. Do you guys know of any other sites where I can get some info to hand out to them? I know when we were taking the puppy classes we really liked getting handouts to take home every week. Of course I am the type of person who will read anything I can get my hands on and I am always trying to learn something new

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[dmoniz]

In the puppy class I took Logan to we had play time all during class. Play was their reward for the work we were doing. It was great because he learned to come to me while he was distraced by other dogs and it didn't mean the end of play. We would collect their leash, say Logan Come! and then give a little tug, it was enough momentum to get them to come to us, give them a treat and lots of praise and then tell them to go play again. I can see how this would not work with every dog, but it worked well for us. We graduated to beginner obedience and I have no problem keeping his attention, he knows the difference between work time and play time.

[SonnyRott]

Awesome!! Congratulations on teaching your first obedience class....you must be soo excited!

Our training club does not allow for a playtime between the puppies or dogs. What we do outside BEFORE or AFTER class, on the way to our vehicles is up to us. For instance we may greet in the parking lot while we load the dog's into our vehicles prior to going home.

This works out great because we are there to learn and the time is limited. Also, not all dogs in the puppy class are puppies but larger rescue dogs and therefore do not take kindly to being jumped on by little pups. This avoids any problems.

Socialization is something we are responsible for each and every day (outside of class). Class time is just that....class time. We are there to learn not to play. Our class literature says in part that...all other things including people and dogs should be secondary to the owner in importance... It is hard to accomplish that if the pups are torqued up and distracted.

Hope this helps!

[Sargeant_C]

We had puppy playtime after things were done but also during training time. We would release a few puppies with their leashes on and then call the dog back to us. Then we would reward and say Go play. This way we worked on recall and the puppies got to play. I feel it was really helpful with sarge to do this and he always came when we called him.
One thing that I have noticed though at our classes since Sarge is no longer in puppy class and there is a puppy class afterwards is when I was leaving with Sarge all the puppies wanted to play ( they were waiting outside by the door) and Sarge did not. So I quickly got his attention and walked quickly to the car with him paying attention to me. But all these puppies were leaping at him and things like that. If you have a class afterwards or even before make sure there is plenty of time for the puppies to leave the area or the dogs to leave the area. I about yelled at some ppl for having the pups jump all over Sarge but I removed him away and they were all cooing over him. Fine and dandy to look but ask before touching is my theory.
But I feel in puppy class it is a good thing to have playtime in it.

[Rottlva]

Why not use the socialization time to train?? Puppy is off playing, owner calls pup, puppy comes, owner rewards puppy and lets him play again.

Puppies need to learn there is a time to play, and a time to work. I have no problems with letting them have some socialization to help break up training sessions. This "socialization time" is a wonderful time to discuss body language, pack order, doggie daycare/ dogparks etc. (But always make sure to keep an eye on the puppies).

[Ilovemypuppy]

Hi Carol :o)) You're gonna love teaching :o) Can I ask.....what is the difference between puppy k and super puppy classes ? I do agree with off leash puppy play time in puppy k (under 5 months of age) (providing all puppies are of similar size) the exception would be to allow off leash play between a toy puppy and a giant breed, for obvious reasons.

Do you know , in advance, what the breeds and ages are of the puppies in the puppy k class you will be teaching ? I keep a 'call' list and select from that which puppies will be in which classes together. I do use the off leash playtime to practice puppy recalls and then reward by returning them to the play...you can also get long lines attached during playtime, but they can get tangled.

I do not allow off leash play beyond puppy k.

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by Ilovemypuppy

Hi Carol :o)) You're gonna love teaching :o) Can I ask.....what is the difference between puppy k and super puppy classes ? I do agree with off leash puppy play time in puppy k (under 5 months of age) (providing all puppies are of similar size) the exception would be to allow off leash play between a toy puppy and a giant breed, for obvious reasons.

Do you know , in advance, what the breeds and ages are of the puppies in the puppy k class you will be teaching ? I keep a 'call' list and select from that which puppies will be in which classes together. I do use the off leash playtime to practice puppy recalls and then reward by returning them to the play...you can also get long lines attached during playtime, but they can get tangled.

I do not allow off leash play beyond puppy k.

The puppy class is for puppies who have never taken a class and have no training. Most of them have just turned four months old. The super puppy class is for older puppies and puppies who have the basics. Akasha started in the super puppy class because she already knew everything in the puppy class. Keil on the other hand took the puppy class since we had just gotten him the day before class started. I had a two month head start with Akasha

I have met the puppies in both of my classes. At this time I only have five puppies in my puppy class, but more people have called and are expected to show up Wednesday night, altho I am kind of hoping it stays small, at least for my first class. Right now I have three german shep's and two mini schnauzers. If I do let them have play time the gs would be together and the mini schnauzers would be together.

I have to admit I am really excited about the class.

[lblax]

there are several reasons not to have a play time for one dogs simply do not need other doggy friends/they do not have to like other dogs they simply need to learn to tolerate and work for you while the distractions are going on once your pup leaves the litter every thing it ever needs or wants should come from you after working for it. im not against in multi dog familys the dogs playing together or if you have a few friends that occasionally bring there dog over and they have contact, but to take dogs into groups and expect them to mingle and play is just another attempt of putting human ideals onto a dog ... i think youve made the wise desicion in not having a play time and congrats on your class.

[RottiMomCT]

Try this:

American Dog Trainers Network

There was another one but I can't recall the name....I'll ask my instructor today for links...

[Ilovemypuppy]

Here's a link to Dog Breed Characteristics to is useful when you have several different breeds in a class and you want to 'bone up' on some of their individual traits.

http://www.pgaa.com/canine/general/size.html

[Ilovemypuppy]

HI LUVS :o))) Just wondering...how are those classes going ?

[Luvs]

Classes are going GREAT! Thanks for asking. I have really enjoyed watching all the puppies and owners learn and grow thses past few weeks. It has been amazing to see the difference in the puppies from the first week of class. The majority of the puppies didn't even know how to sit at our first class. There were also several who had never even been on leash before, I am happy to say they now walk happily on lead.

It has been a VERY rewarding experience.

[Ilovemypuppy]

Way to go Carol !!!!!! The teaching bug has bitten It IS amazing to watch the progress from week to week.....and you can sure tell the ones that do their homework. I love watching the bond build between the puppies and their handlers...when the joy of learning takes hold for both.

[debbiej]

I don't know how I missed your first post Carol. that is so exciting you are teaching a class! Wonderful! great things are going well! congratulations!

[MontanaRott]

Originally Posted by debbiej

I don't know how I missed your first post Carol. that is so exciting you are teaching a class! Wonderful! great things are going well! congratulations!

I missed it too!! Congratulations Carol! And your lucky students!