Puppy Schools?????

Hi

I'm thinking of taking Buster to a puppy school a few times.

Not so much for the training as I think we are capable of it and I've already grow up with 2 staffs, but more for the interaction of other dogs as unfortunately we don't know any other dog owners to go on play dates with.

Would any one think the puppy classes are a good idea for interaction, or will jus walking over the park meeting new dogs there do the trick?

Thanks

we just took Tommy there as a late starter, any socialisation is good .

I have been thinking similar to yourself ( we get our new pup next month)
I don't really feel I need the classes as I can teach the obedience stuff myself at home and have had a Stafford before.
We have enrolled in puppy socialisation classes at our local vets , they said cover little bits of obedience and help you with any general questions or health advice but it's primarily so the pups can meet other pups . They also bring in older dogs of different sizes . The other benefit is you can attend after the 1st injection so they don't have to wait as long. The course last 6 wks and is £35.
Perhaps you could see if anywhere near you does something like this?

Dave wrote:we just took Tommy there as a late starter, any socialisation is good .

How did you find it?

it was good for us it was a foundation course for older puppies teaching manners etc but most important was to used to being in close proximity to other dogs all the time , plan on having an 8 week break now to work harder on some stuff like stays etc but then will go back and continue

I may ring the vets and ask if they do a course like that as it sounds like exactly what I want and buster had his first injection yesterday. We only got him Thursday night and I alread got him to sit on command moving on to Kay down next

I think the classes would be a good idea, they are as much for you to learn things as well as the puppy. Go for it you may even make some new friends.

Just found this in Walsall , looks ok

http://www.adimus.co.uk/training/classes/

That is another reason I was thinking of going as I'm from Essex and moved to the midlands to be with my partner and don't know that many people so would be a good social thing for buster and also for me too.

Dave wrote:Just found this in Walsall , looks ok

http://www.adimus.co.uk/training/classes/

I was just looking on their site lol

see great mind and all that I would really recommend my trainer but it would be an hours drive each way too . Just make sure if you call up there is no hesitance at all when you say Busters a staff , you would be surprised at how many back off. Karen , my trainer has been brilliant and very reassuring , Tommy as an older pup did have a couple of incidents when he would growl at a couple of the others and you could see they were a little edgy but she reassured them and was always constantly looking for the good points in Tommy to share with the others and they all finished the course with a little affection for my boy

If petrol wasn't so expensive I would go that far for a good trainer lol.

Don't know why people turn their heads at staffs they are great dogs wouldn't really have anything else but then that might be because if grown up with them.

We are fortunate up here to have a club which is run by the president of The North of Scotland SBT Club and is aimed principally, but not exclusively, at staffies and staffy crosses.
Bacchus completed his first term just before Christmas and earned his PUPPY FOUNDATION ASSESSMENT certificate for basic obedience etc. The classes resume at the end of Feb. and we can't wait. Being staffy owners everyone encourages each other as they all appreciate, as do the contributors to this forum, how significant each small step is in the training of our lovely , but sometimes stubborn breed. The class consists of staff types of various ages and is excellent for socialisation. Apart from this aspect I would thoroughly recommend taking your puppy to classes as he will learn to carry out his tasks with the distractions of other dogs around, something you can not simulate on your own.
And best of all with our class there is no one casting aspersions or sneering because we have a staffy.

P.S.
forgot to mention......everyone in the class has to go round each dog and check their teeth, paws , ears, etc. which gets the dogs used to being approached and touched by other people and not just their handlers or vets.

reuben wrote:P.S.
forgot to mention......everyone in the class has to go round each dog and check their teeth, paws , ears, etc. which gets the dogs used to being approached and touched by other people and not just their handlers or vets.

That's a really good part of the class since having buster I've had people come round every day so he gets used to difference people.

Defiantly am going to be looking in enroling him in a puppy class.

That is a great idea to swap dogs