This entry was posted on 2014-09-25 by Robyn Adams.

Every child deserves a good education. And so does your puppy dog.

Puppy training classes are a lot more than just “sit” and “stay”. There is nothing cuter than a puppy that can do tricks and bark on command but there are also a few things more embarrassing than a dog that doesn’t have manners when meeting other dogs (and other humans too).
It is important that your puppy knows his boundaries. He will encounter many different puppy personalities throughout his life. Some will be a perfect match for him. Others?  Not so much.

The main focus for beginner puppy training classes is socialisation. Your pet might be an only pup at home but it’s important that he knows how to get along with other dogs, as well as other humans. It’s also important for him to learn that it won’t always be play time and if your dog is one to cause mayhem, you need to know how to reel him in. It’s all fun and games until someone gets head-butted into a bush.
It’s good to remember that the puppy trainer has had experience with a LOT of different breeds and behaviours so chances are they’ll know how to deal with your furkid. You’ll soon realise that you’re not the only one who has woken up to a lounge that looks like a scene from a war movie. Or a garden that you swear used to be grass and not just mud.

Your pet might be an only pup at home but it’s important that he knows how to get along with other dogs, as well as other humans.

This is also a good opportunity to see what your dog responds to.  Some dogs respond to calling, some respond to treat and others respond to squeaky toys. It’s good to know what your dog likes so that you can use it to your advantage. And remember to reward your dog for his good behaviour. He’ll soon lose interest if he’s not gaining anything from the situation. The sooner he realises that he gets something tasty when he listens to you, the better. You say “sit”. He sits. You give him a piece of biltong. Dogs are quite considerate beings, so as soon as they get the hang of it, they’ll save you the effort of even having to say “sit”. Their bums will hit the ground as soon as they see you getting close to the treat stash.

Now we all know that life would be a lot easier if dogs could understand human talk (or even better - if we could speak dog) but until that can happen we need to make sure that our dogs can understand what we need from them and at the same time we need to know what they need from us. Puppy classes are a great way to get to know your pet and ensure that you have a long and happy relationship together.