Petorama: We are looking for puppy classes...

Ask Yvette

Dear Yvette,

We are looking for puppy classes, but our veterinarian says we need to hold off until more vaccines are done. People keep telling us that socialization is important. We do not want to mess our new baby up. Different people tell us different things. Now we are just plain confused.

Stan

Socialization is important. Most people toss the word around, but never quite know how to go about getting this important task done. In a nutshell, socialization is about exposing a puppy to new and novel things. In the wild, a young puppy will likely follow anything that moves. By about 16 weeks of age, Mother Nature steps in and says, “No more.”

Your job, as a puppy owner is to expose your dog to life in the human world. They need exposure to everything. If you live in a home with lots of children, is your dog getting socialized to seniors? Look outside of your life in order to socialize well.

However, the health of the puppy needs to be factored into the equation. I leave that between the veterinarian and owner. Different veterinarians follow different protocols, so the best bet is to ask them when you can start classes.

Thankfully, there are lots you can do in the meantime. There are smart socialization options. There is so much you can do without exposing a puppy to high-risk areas. If you go to my website at www.awesomedogs.ca, go to the “articles” tab for the “Socialize that puppy,” resource for dozens of ideas.

Quality classes are the next step. The important word in that sentence here is, “quality.” You are not buying a toaster that can be returned. You are buying advice during a critical time in your puppy's development. That time cannot be bought back. A puppy is not a toaster you can replace in a year. Quality counts.

As you scout for classes, here are some factors to look for:

Class and room size: One trainer handling 10 puppies in a 20 x 20 foot room is chaotic. Expect to spend weeks just settling the pups, and it may be that some puppies never settle well into the cramped environment. Take away the time for group instruction and you'll be lucky to get 3 minutes of one on one time with the coach. Look for classes that are capped at a maximum of 5 puppies per instructor. No one wants to feel like they are packed in a tin of sardines. Few people can learn in a distracting environment.

Experience of the trainer: Just because anyone can become a trainer does not mean they are good. Organizations, certifications, associations are only as good as the screening processes they employ. Would you hire a car mechanic who read a few books, or took a crash course? Not likely. Then why shop for pet training that way?

Screen: Ask to sit in on a class to watch. The dogs in the class will be learning, but you should see people working well and the dogs responding. Look for an open atmosphere that delivers results and solid advice.

Control: Good coaches are good at classroom management. Puppy classes are not a free for all. Positive is not permissive. But it is absolutely possible to be kind and set rules.

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Yvette is an award winning pet writer and pet behavior columnist. She also is the author of Meeting Milo, a North American dog bite prevention program to reduce the approximately 2 million children bit by dogs annually. She is the owner of AwesomeDogs.ca and works as a behavior consultant in London, Ontario.

This column was originally featured in The Londoner
See more of Yvette... www.awesomedogs.ca
www.meetingmilo.com

Yvette has 2 dogs of her own, KIKI and KAYA. Take a look...