Excited for puppy school

by Archie&Jess Thu Jul 11 2019, 23:59

Finally booked puppy school for Archie. Staring Saturday. So excited!! He has nailed the simple staff like sit, down, shake, roll, come. He waits for his food and will wait when I open the front or back door if I tell him. I have had dogs all my life but never done any to professional training before. I have always done the training myself. I have had dogs that have been both people and dog aggressive and I don’t want that for Archie. What can I expect? They have great reviews and I love their name, positive response dog training. For me the main thing is for Archie to be safe as well as dogs and humans that he meets. Also for me to learn how to get him there. He gets so excited when we are out so he pulls like crazy. If I choose to they do clicker training. I think he will do well as he loves being praised for good behaviour. He melts when we say he is a good boy.

by **gillybrent** Fri Jul 12 2019, 00:28

I think they can be great, especially for socialisation, but only if there's a small number attending - 4 or maybe 5 maximum.

Training at home is great, but in a class with other pups, you can teach them how to behave with distractions.

by Archie&Jess Fri Jul 12 2019, 01:41

gillybrent wrote:I think they can be great, especially for socialisation, but only if there's a small number attending - 4 or maybe 5 maximum.

Training at home is great, but in a class with other pups, you can teach them how to behave with distractions.

I think their policy is 6 per class. But I didn’t think they reach that number as they have a few different times and venues available. The class we are enrolled in has 3 including us. So that’s good. Just got an email from them regarding what to bring to class. Apart from dry food they say to bring “human food” and suggest sausages, steak, cheese and things like that as it might motivate them more. Is that weird? Archie has never had any of those things so I’m a bit reluctant. They suggest boiled chicken for puppies that haven’t had those other foods before so I might bring that. He hasn’t had boiled chicken before but that seems to be the safest option.
Behaving with distractions, that’s it.

by **Nifty staffy** Fri Jul 12 2019, 05:39

Human food is seen as a high value treat.
Mine will do practically anything for cheese - I cut it into thin strips like mini french fries so we have quantity in terms of number but less volume, if you see what I mean.

Before puppy/training classes, I reduce feed by half to compensate treats that will be given.

One thing with treats, bear in mind that you will have to handle them so beware of anything that is too greasy/smelly - bring hand wipes before smearing it all over your steering wheel for the drive home ! Laughing

My canine club also ask to bring a simple dog lead, about 1m long without elastic insert and definitely no extendible leads.
If Archie is used to harness instead of collar, don’t be afraid to stand your ground if you don’t want to use a collar.

It’s gonna be great fun ! Big Grin

by **Nifty staffy** Fri Jul 12 2019, 05:56

Oh, and don’t forget poop bags in you pocket either Wink

by Archie&Jess Fri Jul 12 2019, 06:05

Nifty staffy wrote:Human food is seen as a high value treat.
Mine will do practically anything for cheese - I cut it into thin strips like mini french fries so we have quantity in terms of number but less volume, if you see what I mean.

Before puppy/training classes, I reduce feed by half to compensate treats that will be given.

One thing with treats, bear in mind that you will have to handle them so beware of anything that is too greasy/smelly - bring hand wipes before smearing it all over your steering wheel for the drive home !

My canine club also ask to bring a simple dog lead, about 1m long without elastic insert and definitely no extendible leads.
If Archie is used to harness instead of collar, don’t be afraid to stand your ground if you don’t want to use a collar.

It’s gonna be great fun !

Great advice. Thank you

We use a collar at the moment. I do want to use a harness but he is growing so fast he would outgrow them so quickly. As for the training place, they don’t mind either as long as safe for the dog. So no choking collars and other similar things which I wouldn’t use anyway.they said front loaded harness. They did mention no extendible leads. They make their own harnesses which you can purchase. They make them by measure and can be extended as puppy grows. I might have look when I’m there.

by Archie&Jess Fri Jul 12 2019, 06:06

Nifty staffy wrote:Oh, and don’t forget poop bags in you pocket either

by **Nifty staffy** Fri Jul 12 2019, 06:19

Mine wear ruffwear front range harnesses and to be honest, they only wore xs when puppy and grew into s now (Nifty is 17kgs and “chunky” Blushing

)

by **Jenc** Fri Jul 12 2019, 07:36

Sounds like it's a good class. Small numbers are much better for any dog. I never did puppy class but wish I had, we did school when Katy was 18 months. She's now gold standard, but you'd never know it Rolling Eyes

Chicken would be a good starting treat for Archie as not too rich for him!
Let us know how he gets on Love Struck

I'm sure he will be a star pupil Love Struck

by **gillybrent** Fri Jul 12 2019, 09:04

A lot if people use liver cake cut into small cubes.

It's cheap, smelly, high value & easy to make!

by Archie&Jess Fri Jul 12 2019, 11:23

Thank you all. I really appreciate all the advice. I’ll let you know how our first class goes.

by **Nifty staffy** Fri Jul 12 2019, 21:14

gillybrent wrote:A lot if people use liver cake cut into small cubes.

It's cheap, smelly, high value & easy to make!

A recipe could definitely be useful, please !

by Archie&Jess Fri Jul 12 2019, 22:21

Nifty staffy wrote:
gillybrent wrote:A lot if people use liver cake cut into small cubes.

It's cheap, smelly, high value & easy to make!

A recipe could definitely be useful, please !

Yes please

by Archie&Jess Fri Jul 12 2019, 22:24

Nifty staffy wrote:Mine wear ruffwear front range harnesses and to be honest, they only wore xs when puppy and grew into s now (Nifty is 17kgs and “chunky” )

Had a look online. It looks great and it has really good reviews. I can’t find it being sold in any of the stores here but I might get in online. Thanks

by **gillybrent** Sat Jul 13 2019, 09:39

Archie&Jess wrote:
Nifty staffy wrote:
gillybrent wrote:A lot if people use liver cake cut into small cubes.

It's cheap, smelly, high value & easy to make!

A recipe could definitely be useful, please !
Yes please

This is the one I used to use, but I added two garlic cloves...

https://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/training-our-puppies/dog-treat-recipes/liver-cake/

by **Nifty staffy** Sat Jul 13 2019, 09:49

Thanks gilly thumbs up

by **Inez Maria** Sat Jul 13 2019, 09:53

Good luck it will be fun unfortunately I didnt have a good experience with puppy classes but saw it through mainly for socialization but Vin was quite ahead of the rest as I did a lot before hand Smile

by **Nifty staffy** Sat Jul 13 2019, 09:57

Inez Maria wrote: but Vin was quite ahead of the rest

I experienced that with both of my girls. Not convinced I worked much more than the basics regularly at home, maybe just because they’re clever staffies. You’ve been warned Wink

by **Inez Maria** Sat Jul 13 2019, 09:59

Nifty staffy wrote:
Inez Maria wrote: but Vin was quite ahead of the rest

I experienced that with both of my girls. Not convinced I worked much more than the basics regularly at home, maybe just because they’re clever staffies. You’ve been warned

by **Jenc** Sat Jul 13 2019, 14:58

They are a clever breed, the lady that suggested I take Katy to classes was my agility teacher. She had one of her dogs there long before we started & Katy sailed right past her to gold Laughing

by **Nifty staffy** Sat Jul 13 2019, 15:06

Just back from canine school with Opium. Yet more compliments on her beauty and her obedience (mostly).
I’ve been told to work off the lead 100% of the time there from now on nail biting

The reality is that the weak element is me, not her.
Really gotta live clever staffies ! Love Struck

by Archie&Jess Sun Jul 14 2019, 02:24

Well.... that’s exactly how it went. Archie is so ahead with everything. I have done some work with him so there was nothing to learn. The trainer made a comment that he is doing so well. I said it’s because he knows all this stuff and more. Everyone else was a first time owner as well so it was very basic. I have already paid for the rest of the course which is three more classes. I’m hoping there will be a bit more to it. The socialisation is important. After we do this I might look into something a bit more advanced. Not sure if they have to complete the basic classes to be able to do obedience or something like that.

by Archie&Jess Sun Jul 14 2019, 02:25

by **Nifty staffy** Sun Jul 14 2019, 04:49

Well done Archie, well done Jess !
If you’re like me, I used puppy school so my girls could meet, and work whilst in the presence of, other dogs of all types and sizes.
Our puppy school also put up mini obstacles (like tube, bridge, dangling bottle tunnel and the such) which was nice but yet again, mine breezed through them all.

Can give us a little more detail on how it went ? Would love to know how different clubs operate Big Grin

Archie looks like such a good and clever boy in the car.
Just one thing though, you should always ensure they are tied when travelling on car seat and this should never be on the collar but onto a harness. God forbid, imagine in case of an accident .... When safety spots talk of small children being the equivalent of an elephant-sized projectile in case of car accident, your adult staffy will have the weight of a small child.
Best ways to travel are in car boot with correct safety grill/net between boot and rest of car, on seat wearing harness and using lead attached to seat belt or isofix, or in a travel case yet again in boot or fixed to (back) seat.

by **Jenc** Sun Jul 14 2019, 08:41

Well done to you both Big Grin

Sounds like you will breeze through the class!
As Nifty was saying about car travel, you now legally have to keep your dog restrained in the car or you get a big fine. It's for their safety & yours Love Struck

Mind you they don't tend to announce new laws as my sister informed me the other day that I could be fined for driving in flip flops Surprised

so I said ok I'll drive barefoot then! apparently I would be fined for that too Rolling Eyes

by Archie&Jess Sun Jul 14 2019, 12:07

Thanks for the advice

. I actually bought a harness and a seatbelt attachment thing when we arrived there and he did have it on for the ride home. Took the picture before I put it on. A friend of mine got fined twice in a week for having a very small dog in her lap. Definitely not safe for them especially for a big dog.
A bit more detail about the class. Each of us had a little cubicle so the dogs don’t get distracted by each other. Settles them with bones to chew on. Talked about vaccinations, flea treatment, deworming, nutrition. How to crate train. Types of collars and leads, other equipment. Recognition of name and sit. Talked about clicker training. Biting and nipping, something they call swap technique, how to distract unwanted behaviour and swap it with acceptable one. Toilet training. Talked about different activities and different ways of play, rather then just going for plain old walks. There was a lot of talking and only a little bit of activity. There is a pet cafe where they do the classes. Archie got to meet a couple of big dogs. His behaviour was very different to how he is with Buddy. He was so gentle and pretty much just wanted to smell them and say hi. Not trying to bite play like he does with Buddy.
It would be great if they do some obstacle stuff, that sounds like fun. Archie would love it.
I love driving in flip flops, that’s what I wear in summer most of the time

.

by **gillybrent** Sun Jul 14 2019, 18:04

Sounds good, but a little too 'in depth' for pups - but maybe it works!

Oh, and driving in flip flops is illegal! Wink

by **Nifty staffy** Sun Jul 14 2019, 18:16

Puppy school sounds so very different to ours here.
Maybe the first session that you had is meant to bring the owners all to the same level (if theory at least) before interactions with the pups.

In any case, any activity “out of the ordinary” can only be beneficial for Archie so you’re already on a winning streak there Wink

by **MartP** Sun Jul 14 2019, 18:57

Hey, just picking up this post - have struggled so far to find anything near me... Have called and left a couple of messages plus sent emails, even to the Dogs Trust and no one has come back to me...!?!?

Anyone know of/recommend any good puppy classes in Kent at all?

Thank you in advance. Smile

Apologies Archie and Jess for piggy backing on your posts! Hope all goes well x

by **Jenc** Sun Jul 14 2019, 21:17

Where about in Kent Martp? I'm on the border

by **MartP** Sun Jul 14 2019, 21:18

Near Maidstone, am near Leeds Castle...?

by **Jenc** Sun Jul 14 2019, 21:51

I'm 5 miles from Battle Big Grin

by **MartP** Sun Jul 14 2019, 21:55

Yeah - lovely area - you're about an hour away from me

by Archie&Jess Mon Jul 15 2019, 00:19

MartP wrote:Hey, just picking up this post - have struggled so far to find anything near me... Have called and left a couple of messages plus sent emails, even to the Dogs Trust and no one has come back to me...!?!?

Anyone know of/recommend any good puppy classes in Kent at all?

Thank you in advance.

Apologies Archie and Jess for piggy backing on your posts! Hope all goes well x

All good

by Archie&Jess Mon Jul 15 2019, 00:24

Nifty staffy wrote:Puppy school sounds so very different to ours here.
Maybe the first session that you had is meant to bring the owners all to the same level (if theory at least) before interactions with the pups.

In any case, any activity “out of the ordinary” can only be beneficial for Archie so you’re already on a winning streak there

What’s you puppy school like? I agree, anything is ok at this stage. It’s good to work on things he already knows while being distracted. Once we finish this I might look into something a bit more advanced.

by Archie&Jess Mon Jul 15 2019, 00:27

gillybrent wrote:Sounds good, but a little too 'in depth' for pups - but maybe it works!

Oh, and driving in flip flops is illegal!

What’s you experience with puppy school. I’d love to know the difference.
I must research the flip flop thing here in AUS

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