Puppy Preschool is a socialization and problem prevention class that puppies can start up to 16 weeks of age. under. Geared specifically to your puppy’s developing physical and social needs, this class is a precursor to our Canine Academy Program or Private Lesson Series.
Like humans, canines have biologically prepared critical periods for social development commonly called socialization windows. Most of these windows of opportunity close by the time a puppy reaches 16-weeks of age.
While in-person classes are unavailable, we are assisting our puppy clients conducting Virtual Puppy Home Visits via Zoom. Puppies completing a Virtual Puppy Home Visit will be eligible to attend our Puppy Preschool Classes - Homebound Edition! Program details below.
Our Puppy Homeschool curriculum is a socialization and problem prevention program that puppies can start up to 16-weeks of age. Geared specifically to your puppy’s developing physical and social needs, this program is a precursor to our Canine Academy Classes or Private Lessons. Like humans, canines have biologically prepared critical periods for social development commonly called socialization windows. Most of these windows of opportunity close by the time a puppy reaches 16-weeks of age. Well-run puppy classes are a wonderful and safe way to maximize this time in your puppy’s life. But there may be times when a puppy can’t safely join a puppy class or that you can’t find a good puppy class in your area.
What is socialization and why is it important?
This time in your puppy’s life is your opportunity to build the best possible dog. To build a solid house certain elements need to be in place from the start. You need to begin with a good foundation. That’s your puppy’s genetics. Genetics dictate and constrain both your puppy’s physical and behavioral development.
Socialization is the framework we put on top of that foundation to extend the behavioral limits genetics have imposed on us. Without good framework, a house will not stand up. Without good socialization, a puppy is at greater risk to develop behavioral problems as an adult. A wide variety of experiences are necessary to stimulate neuron connections in a puppy’s brain. Puppies that don’t receive this environmental enrichment may never develop to their full potential.
Most of us prefer a house with indoor plumbing – that’s what house training is – installing indoor plumbing! To complete the essentials of our house, we need to install wiring. Many hard-wired behaviors that puppies need to learn to become safe and stable adult dogs are best installed during this period. Behaviors such as bite inhibition, impulse control, sharing treasures (a.k.a.: Object Guarding), and coming when called are critical to an adult dog’s safety and life. We only get one chance to build our dream dog from scratch.
Sure, we can install plumbing, wiring, and framework in a home after it’s built, but it is messy, time consuming, and expensive. It will always be a “remodel” job rather than doing the job correctly in the first place. After a puppy’s socialization window closes, it may be possible for dogs to learn how to respond to situations in an appropriate manner, but it will never be as easy, nor will it have the same beneficial and long lasting effects as it does during this critical period in your puppy’s life.
Is it possible to socialize a puppy while we’re not allowed to socialize?!
While there’s no substitute for your puppy getting to meet other social dogs and people in person, there are things we can do to make the most of a bad situation at this very important time in your puppy’s life. However, to do that well and to provide you the highest quality direction possible to help you with your individual puppy and situation requires a very different program to our in-person Puppy Preschool.
Our in-person classes always have at least 2-3 trainers and assistants on hand to actively supervise and monitor puppies. We can easily break off from the group to help people individually and answer questions when needed. New students are introduced to foundational exercises while current students work on a variety of socialization activities. All of these components give us a good understanding of who you and your puppy are and what your specific needs are at that moment.
The current limitations of on-line classes and interactions don’t allow us that flexibility or give us the ability to really get to know you and your puppy the same way we would in person. To address that and to provide you and your puppy the best program possible that’s tailored to your individual needs our Homeschool Program starts with a Virtual Puppy Home Visit.
What can I expect from a Puppy Home Visit?
No two people have the same living situation or type of puppy. A Virtual Puppy Home Visit helps us really get to know you, your puppy, and your unique situation. Prior to your visit, we will ask you for some general information about your puppy, a list of your main questions and concerns, and a detailed floor plan of your home and outdoor areas. We review all your information ahead of time so that we can “see” where your puppy lives and are ready to help with your specific issues and needs as soon as we “walk through the door!”
If you are able to give us a virtual tour using a phone or tablet once we “arrive” at your home, that’s great! If not, we will work from your floor plan. During the visit we will address all your concerns and questions, make recommendations as needed, and teach you and your puppy a couple of games to strengthen your developing bond. After the visit we will send you a list of our recommendations, a management plan to keep your puppy safe, fundamental socialization guidelines to set him up for success, along with a number of supporting handouts to support your puppy’s specific issues.
After your home visit, you will be eligible to join our Puppy Preschool Classes – Homebound Edition! classes where you will customize your puppy’s socialization program in greater detail.
What are the Puppy Preschool Classes - Homebound Edition!?
In this four-lesson group class we help you create a more detailed socialization program tailored to your puppy’s specific needs. Our one-on-one time together in the Virtual Puppy Home Visit gives us (and you!) the deeper understanding of your particular situation to help us help you create your detailed, individual program within a group setting. And you get to see other puppies!
Lessons focus on four different areas of enrichment and include a mix of socialization activities, exercises to help prevent resource guarding and enjoy (or at least comfortably tolerate) body handling, games to help your puppy learn and make good decisions, teach impulse control to help your puppy learn how to switch gears, and ways to prepare your puppy for changes that will occur when life returns to normal. We are still finalizing the details of the curriculum and creating the supporting documents that go with each lesson, but the main topics and what they will cover include:
Whole House Training - not just “potty” training, but also how to safely expose your puppy to household items (i.e., hair dryers, laundry sounds, kitchen sounds, vacuum...), how to teach your puppy to be home alone (even when they're not actually home alone), food bowl exercises, crate training, and fun games you can play indoors.
The Physical Puppy - body language (how to read what your dog’s body is telling you), body handling exercises, vet visit strategies, understanding developmental periods & physiological development (including how your puppy sees and hears), and what activities are safe as your puppy matures.
Not So Scary Stuff - how to expose your puppy to people, places, and things (including other animals) at a distance; prepare your puppy to meet the many different types of people he will meet when he can go out in the world again; rehearse instructing people on how to interact with your puppy when we do go back to normal so all your hard work isn’t undone (everyone’s going to want to have some puppy contact!), and teach your puppy to check in with you in the presence of distractions.
Fun & Games in the Great Outdoors - games to play that work on impulse control to teach your puppy how to switch gears, coming when called, how to expose your puppy to outdoor items and activities (i.e., machinery like lawn mowers, raking the lawn, car/truck sounds, lawn decorations…), and ideas for setting up an outdoor obstacle course for your puppy.
What are the age and health/veterinary requirements?
There is an upside to the current quarantine! Since puppies won’t be physically interacting, they can join at any time up to 16-weeks of age. In the meantime, you should still follow your veterinarian’s vaccination and puppy health recommendations!!!
What does it cost?
Virtual Puppy Home Visits are $145 for a 1.5-hour session. The Puppy Preschool Classes - Homebound Edition! (coming soon!) will be $25 for each one-hour class. Participation is limited to puppies that have had a Virtual Puppy Home Visit.
How do I register and what is your cancellation policy?
We will send you some pre-home visit paperwork and an invoice. Once you return the paperwork and payment, we will review your paperwork and schedule your home visit. Virtual Puppy Home Visits and Puppy Preschool Classes must be paid in advance. Spots in the Puppy Preschool Classes are limited and must be reserved at least 24 hours before class to participate.
Cancellations must be received in writing at least 48 hours in advance for Virtual Puppy Home Visits and 24 hours in advance for Puppy Preschool Classes to receive a refund (minus a 20% non-refundable administrative fee). There are no refunds for cancellations after the stated cut off times.
WE ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED TO NEW CLIENTS THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR AS WE RELOCATE TO MAINE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN WE RE-OPEN OUR SCHEDULE FOR VIRTUAL SESSIONS OR IN-PERSON IN MAINE, PLEASE VISIT THE CONTACT US PAGE BELOW. THANKS!
How do I register?
Submit a request (above) and we will send you some registration paperwork once registrations resume. We schedule your home visit when we receive your paperwork and payment.
What other services do you offer?
We also offer group classes, private lessons, Rally Obedience, and consultations for aggression, phobias (including Separation Anxiety), and other behavior issues.