IdealPuppy® Class Training Concepts

• Check health requirements for any new puppies who arrive

Class Structure

1. Puppy Party, and Socialization (10 min)
2. Practice Lessons (20 min
)
3. Gentling (15 min)
4. Homework, Questions (10 min):

Puppy Class Goals

• to socialize the puppy to people, things and other dogs.
• to take behaviors that dogs do anyway, (like sitting, coming and laying down) and teach the dog to do these behaviors on cue. 
• to teach basic manners necessary to be an ideal indoor dog and best friend.
• to actively look for and praise desired behaviors like laying quietly and gentle play
• Most people mistakenly ignore these, and only give attention when something is wrong.  This is why most puppies think their name is “NO.”

Review Puppy Class Rules

Puppy Party Socialization

Socialization is the process of developing friendly confidence meeting other dogs and people. 

Optimal learning in puppies happens between 6 to 18 weeks of age (when the puppy has “puppy teeth”).  During this time, the puppy should be exposed to as many different friendly dog breeds, pets, adults, children and situations as possible under adequate supervision to insure a pleasant experience. 

Always ask the pup to sit for a food treat every time it meets someone. If the pup jumps on you, turn and ignore the pup.  Use your hand to lure the sit. Then drop (crouch), put your thumb under the pup's collar (to prevent jumping) and give a loving chest rub.

Anytime during socialization, If a puppy acts scared, you act “jolly.”  Demonstrate there is no reason for concern.  Don't soothe or console the pup when it acts fearful or you will reward the fearful behavior and make the pup overly dependent upon you. Praise any posture or movement toward a social experience

Shy puppies should not be pushed into doing anything they don't want to do. It is very important that puppies learn emotional recovery from minor stresses but are protected from major stressors.

Allow puppies to hide and observe. If a puppy is too focused on people make sure the people ignore the pup and become less interesting than the other puppies. During puppy socialization place, people need to be relaxed and watch to learn normal canine body language.  Puppies must learn at their own speed. By week six, rarely is there a puppy who has not made good friends or refrains from play time. 

• People, be boring!  (Turn away)
• Remember to interrupt an improper play or bad puppy manners

Lessons

Canine Commands Sit-Come-Stay-Heel