When to start
Puppy training can be started from around eight or nine weeks of age, but training and learning happens even throughout adulthood. The critical period is up until four months of age. Experiences during this time will strongly influence your puppy’s personality and behaviours.
One-on-one training
A positive and fun learning experience for all involved. Training is done at home for puppy to gain most benefit from learning in a one-on-one way and in a familiar environment.
Individual training ensures that puppy feels comfortable to progress at his or her own pace. Special attention can be given to difficult areas of learning and puppy can learn at their own pace, without forcing them or moving at a speed that overwhelms.
- Learning happens faster and a lot more is covered during one-on-one 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 in the future and to learn right from wrong in ways that make sense to them.
Positive reinforcement is very important for early learning / training.
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 and because of the ongoing socialisation with the big world outside their garden, your puppy will learn not to be reactive to others or pull on the leash.
Obedience and commands
General obedience and basic commands will help your puppy to be a happy, well-behaved and obedient fur kid. You’ll be more able to handle puppy even in public places, thereby avoiding mishaps and unnecessary stress.
Commands such as sit, stay, come, down, leave, to your bed etc. will mean that your 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, bonding and obedience) or to go to their bed for a delicious chew (instead of begging for food) at the dinner table etc.
Needed for classes
- Your puppy’s favourite toy eg: squeaky or soft toy
- Some tiny meaty treats eg: chicken breast or liver bread)
- Their collar and a light-weight leash
Cost breakdown
First session: R750
- During the first session the focus is on bad behaviour avoidance and existing puppy behaviours such as when puppies jump up, bite at hands or feet, chew on nearly everything, are boisterous, don’t listen and toilet indoors etc.
- Training is also started and the focus is on basic obedience, a coupl of commands and depending on how puppy is doing, also some leash training.
Second session & all follow-up sessions: R550
- A second class is recommended for around 10 days after the first session, to go over things learned at the last class, to work through difficult areas and to continue with commands and leash training. Or whatever the individual puppy needs most help with.
- Because the rate of learning is much faster with private home training, fewer repeat lessons are necessary, so a third session becomes optional as long as the owner continues using what’s been learned.