New puppy owners ask themselves when, how often and, above all, how important puppy school is. We show you why a puppy should attend puppy school regularly.
When do you start training a puppy?
Most puppies move into their new home between the 9th and 11th week of life. The transition from breeder to new home is not easy, as the puppies have just lost their mother and siblings. Therefore, you should try to gain the puppy's trust in the first few days. However, this does not mean that educational measures should be completely dispensed with. Not a day should be wasted during this important learning phase. You can therefore start by calling the puppy by name and making it clear to him with a "no" that messing around in the home is not allowed.
You should wait a little longer before taking your puppy to puppy school for the first time. However, it usually takes very little time for the puppy to trust its caregiver. After about a week, the time may already have come to enroll the dog in a puppy school or to attend a trial lesson there.
How important is it to attend puppy school?
It cannot be emphasized enough how important it is to attend puppy school early on! In the first few months of life, the foundations are laid for the dog's entire life. The more he has experienced in his socialization and imprinting phase, the easier it will be for him in life. This applies above all to interaction with other dogs and people. Attending a puppy play session is a good foundation for this.
Here the puppy not only meets numerous other dogs of the same age, but also their owners. Initially, it is not unusual for a young dog to barely leave your side. But after an hour or two, many are surprised at how quickly shyness has turned into curiosity and active contact with other dogs is sought. Not only do they learn that there are very different characters, but also clear differences in size and strength.
How can I tell if a puppy school is good?
As soon as you have decided on a puppy and want to take it to a puppy school, you can rely on the experience of other puppy owners . Most of them will be happy to provide information. Otherwise, you can look for a dog school in your area on the Internet. You should find out about qualifications on the website, as these can vary greatly from dog trainer to dog trainer. If you have a good impression, most dog schools will allow you to attend a trial lesson first.
It is important that the puppy group is homogeneous and not overcrowded. On the one hand, this means that the maximum number per group and trainer should be around eight dogs. Secondly, attention must be paid to the composition. There is little point in letting a ten-week-old Chihuahua play with a sixteen-week-old Rottweiler. If possible, puppy groups should therefore be separated in terms of age and size. It is also important that the dog trainer and owner intervene as mediators or protectors in the event of problems. Under no circumstances should the dogs settle everything between themselves.
How often do you have to attend puppy school?
As soon as the puppy has settled into its new home, the first visit to a puppy school may be due. Some puppies are around 10 weeks old at this point, but others may be older. In any case, puppy school should be attended at least once a week .
If the dog enjoys it, there is nothing wrong with two visits a week if there is a suitable offer. A puppy play session usually lasts 60 minutes - although not all of this time should be spent playing. It makes sense to give the little ones a break in between . Once the puppy has settled in well after a few hours, the first training exercises can begin. Most puppy owners complete around 10 puppy play sessions. Depending on the dog owner's level of knowledge and the puppy's needs, it is advisable to complete a basic course afterwards.
How much does puppy school cost?
The price of attending a puppy school can vary greatly. On average, 10 - 15 euros are charged per puppy for a play session.