When to start
Puppy training can be started from around eight weeks of age, or after.
One-on-one training
An all-positive & fun learning experience for all. Training is done at home for puppy and family to gain most benefit from learning in a familiar environment.
While learning in a group setting can be fun, it can also be distracting, overwhelming and restrictive for young puppies to learn in, so one-on-one training is often the solution. Individual training ensures that puppy feels comfortable to progress at his or her own pace. Puppy’s individual progress can be monitored and special attention can be given to difficult areas of learning. Learning happens faster and a lot more is covered during private training.
Positive reinforcement (reward-based) methods are used and encouraged in training.
Undesirable behaviours
By understanding what to do when puppy chews your valuables, bites at you hands, toilets in the house or jumps up against you, unwanted behaviours can be unlearned and avoided.
Avoiding bad behaviours and keeping normal puppy behaviours in check through knowing how to handle these, will help your puppy to make better choices and to learn right from wrong. You will also learn how to handle existing problems so that they’re discouraged each time, and then simply stopped.
Positive reinforcement is very important for such training and learning, and punishment should be avoided.
Leash training (socialisation, exercise & mental stimulation)
During walks socialisation can take place at a natural pace for your puppy to absorb information in a way that doesn’t overwhelm, intimidate or scare as can sometimes happen in a group setting. New environments and different stimuli are encountered in ways in which your puppy will come to experience them during adulthood.
Leash training encourages relaxed and enjoyable walks for both puppy and owner. Because of the ongoing socialisation with the big world outside their garden, your puppy will learn to happily walk past dogs behind gates without having a bad reaction as many dogs do and will not pull you along during the walk.
Obedience and commands
General obedience and basic commands will help your puppy to be well-behaved and to listen to you. You’ll be more able to handle puppy even in public places, thereby avoiding mishaps and all the while encouraging good manners and good general obedience.
Commands such as sit, stay, come, down, leave, to your bed etc. are taught so that puppy can be asked to sit and patiently wait while you prepare their meal (thereby encouraging good impulse control, patience and calm behaviour), to come over when called (encouraging good responses and obedience), to go to their bed for a delicious chew (instead of jumping up on visitors) etc.
Needed for the class
Classes last for around 1.5 hours and are enjoyable and educational for puppy and owner alike.
We’ll need :
- Your puppy’s favourite toy
- Some tiny meaty treats (eg: chicken breast or liver bread)
- Their collar and leash
Cost breakdown
First session: R750
- Focus on bad behaviour avoidance and existing puppy behaviours such as when puppies jump up, bite & mouth at hands or feet, chew at nearly everything, are boisterous, don’t listen and toilet indoors etc.
- Training – Basic obedience, commands and leash training are also introduced during this session.
Second session/all follow-up sessions: R550
- A second session is recommended for around 10 days after the first session, to work through difficult areas and to do general obedience training, commands, specific training as needed and leash training.
- Because the rate of learning is much faster with private home training, fewer repeat lessons are necessary, so a third session becomes optional.