Puppy class

[Urika]

Rogue cannot start class at the club I chose until she's twelve weeks old. We have a month to go. Can anyone suggest things that I can teach until then. It has been four years since I have been in a puppy class. I have started her out with sit. Am I headed in the right direction? After sit, do I start on down?

I know she's a puppy, and she's eight weeks old but right now her name fits her perfectly. A month can't get here soon enough.:)

[brunie's mom]

Teach her name, teach her to wear a collar and let her drag a light, cheap nylon leash around the house...so she get's the feeling of the leash being on. Teach her to sit. Start teaching "drop it" or "give" with treats and trading...teach her "leave it". Teach her to come to you. I think the most important thing right now is house training. Give her the command to "go pee" , "go poop", or whatever words you want to use...and praise, praise, praise.

Gina

[Urika]

Thanks Gina,
I think she knows her name now or knows if she comes to me she'll get something good.

[hokisteph5]

Besides everything that's been mentioned, one thing I remember doing in Puppy Kindergarten was working on having the dog sit or stand (no jumping) when a friendly stranger approaches.

[TrinaJ]

Those 4 weeks feel like an eternity!!! I would like to add another thing to teach along with the things previously mentioned. Crate train her to get her used to being in the crate. Pop a stuffed kong in the crate with a few of her favourite toys, maybe even a bone to munch on.

This is great because you never know when they need to be crated (ie vet, bording etc). Crating is also a safe way to transport your dog.

Most of all, enjoy your puppy!

Trina

[Zumie05]

One really important thing I remember teaching my puppy at this age was how to handle being alone. You don't want to end up with a dog with separation anxiety every time you leave! Dogs will end up destroying your house and just plain aren't happy campers when they are plagued with this anxiety.

What I did was several times a day I would leave him alone (at first in his crate or safety pen when I couldn't trust him out) and go out of sight. He would cry and whine and go nuts. I just ignored it and came back as soon as he quieted down (at first you can come back when the dog is even quiet for just a split second, and gradually build up on this). I came back casually and not excited.

As he got older, I trusted him alone in the bedroom. So I would close the door and leave him in there with a toy or two, and yes a little bit of whining but not as bad as it had been weeks before. I did not return to the room until there was quiet. Eventually I was able to start leaving him in the room alone while I took a shower or ran to do something that took 5 - 15 mins. Otherwise he was crated if I had to be gone longer.

I now have a 7 month old dog who I can leave home alone (only in my bedroom though) who doesn't cry or whine or tear things up due to separation anxiety when I leave. I also want to add that he doesn't get up on the bed, have any accidents, chew on cords, or anything! I have never come home to find that he has gotten into trouble. Then again my room is also puppy proofed :p

[spawn207]

My 12 week pup will be starting puppy classes next week and I am so excited and can't wait. I want him to socialize with other pups as well. I socialize him as much as possible, I take him everywhere I go. So far I started teaching him how to sit and is doing it very well. He also knows his name and he knows to leave it. He also know "kisses" when he starts with his nipping which is starting to get under control.

Beside that , what do they really teach in puppy class, this will be my first time doing this.

[Zumie05]

They will teach a whole bunch of things like sit, lay down, leave it, drop it, how to walk nice on a leash, come when called, and stay. Those are usually the basics, and there may be a lot more depending on where you go and what curriculum you are doing!

[spawn207]

Good, I'm very much looking forward to it. There are a few things that he needs to improve.

[spawn207]

Well, we started our first day of puppy class and it was great. There were 5 other pups there. He just loved it. He just played with all of them, he looked so cute. Our first day wasn't much since all she did was talk about the class and what to be expected in the next few weeks. I can't wait to take him next week.

[Zumie05]

Congrats on starting your first class! Hopefully it won't be your last one. They are so much fun and definitely worth going to several, even if your dog has already learned most of the basics.

I'm glad you and your pup had a good time!