Puppy Training

Program Overview

This puppy training program teaches owners how to educate and train puppies under one year old in essential skills for socialization and behavior management. Led by a behavioral expert, the course encompasses weekly sessions on handling, confidence-building, cue training, and understanding dog body language. Attending over 80% of sessions earns puppies a Certificate of Attendance.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This short course is designed to help new puppy owners educate their puppies and equip them with the skills to fit well into society. It is designed for puppies under one year old. The course will teach owners the skills and behaviors needed to handle and manage their dogs during their development into adults. It will also teach owners about the right expectations to have of their puppies and how to achieve the correct behaviors and responses. The course is based on evidence-based research on dog behavior and cognitive development.

Outline:

The course is divided into eight weeks, with each week covering core skills that the puppies are expected to learn in class.

• Session 1: Introduction to the course (owners only this week)
• This is the only theory session in the course.
• It covers background knowledge on dog body language and communication, course format, expectations, etiquette, and general principles in dog training.
• Teaches owners the expectations and tools to facilitate emotional regulation in dogs.
• How to help the fearful puppy.
• Introduces owners and their puppies to the principles and techniques associated with good handling and examination.
• Teaches puppies a leave command and to walk away from desirable things.
• Teaches owners the importance of frustration tolerance in dogs.
• Session 4: I can be calm and follow cues
• Teaches puppies how to settle in the absence and presence of distractions.
• Teaches owners some key principles in dog training (e.g., importance of visual cues).
• Session 5: I can listen and can display good manners
• Teaches owners about the importance of consistency in dog training.
• Session 6: Helping puppies make the right choice
• Teaches puppies to deal with distractions.
• Teaches owners about the importance of motivation in dog training.
• Session 7: Dogs can and should be dogs
• Session 8: Graduation day – Puppy party!

• Discuss expectations and overall guidance on taking the lessons learned into the future months.
• Discuss and allow for the right environment for social play and demonstrate appropriate versus inappropriate play between puppies.

Teaching:

• The short course is taught in-person at the Brackenhurst Campus.
• It includes a mix of tutor demonstrations and practical exercises.
• There are no more than seven puppies per class to create a relaxed and comfortable environment for training.
• The tutor is Alex Bordin, a behavioral academic expert with a BSc (Hons) in Veterinary Science and an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour.

Other:

• If you attend more than 80% of the course, your puppy will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance.
• The course is held at the Brackenhurst Campus in Southwell.
• Puppies attending the classes must be up to date with all their vaccinations.
• Evidence of vaccinations must be brought to the first class.