
If you are giving a home to one of the many cross breeds available and do not know the mix of breeds involved, it is always a good idea to have a DNA test done. This will not only satisfy your curiosity, it will give you a good understanding as to general behaviour and why dogs do what they do - different breeds have different personalities, exercise needs, social abilities, prone to certain behaviours, plus you get an insight into possible genetic factors. The tests are very easy to do, non-invasive, and can be done in the comfort of your own home. Have a look at website for further information and do contact us if any questions. www.muttmix.co.za
What to expect from Puppy School
Guest contributor - Laura-Jade Durrheim
Laura-Jade is the owner of Proud Pups in the Randpark Ridge & Honeydew areas,
and is one of our Recommended Puppy Schools. To find out more about the school and how she works click here
Laura-Jade is the owner of Proud Pups in the Randpark Ridge & Honeydew areas,
and is one of our Recommended Puppy Schools. To find out more about the school and how she works click here
.

So the day has finally arrived and you have collected your new bundle of joy from the breeder or shelter. This is an exciting and somewhat daunting time for new puppy owners – both experience and not experienced.
Puppies are individuals and just like people should be treated as such. Each puppy will present challenges to their new owner, be it house training, jumping up etc. As these little bundles of joy do not come with a “how to” manual, these challenges can be frustrating and sometimes overwhelming!
Never fear – there is an answer... Puppy School!
A responsible breeder or vet would recommend that you enrol your little Fido in puppy school as soon as possible. The suitable age to enrol your puppy would be from the age of 8 weeks to 16 weeks. This is a critical time in the development of your puppy socially as they are going through their first “Fear Period”. This is the period in your puppy’s life when he/she learns what in their environment is potentially threatening. It can be a very scary time in your puppy’s life but it is also the most important time to socialise them and expose them to as many weird and wonderful experiences and objects as possible. This should always be done in an encouraging and motivating way. The more positive experiences your puppy has, the more confident they will become.
There are some key factors to consider when enrolling in any puppy school, as you want to maximise this critical socialising period.
The most important part of puppy school is socialising and habituation. It is critical that your puppy learns to interact with other puppies in a fun and safe environment, and therefore “Playtime” is a fundamental component to any puppy class.
When considering any school it would be a good idea to ask what qualifications the school owner and trainers have. It is important that the people running the school are equipped to provide you with the right advice and support, as well as a safe environment for both you and your puppy to learn. Puppy play can be quite rough and boisterous and it is important that your trainer knows what is acceptable play that will provide a learning experience for the puppies involved and what is potentially an unsafe situation.
It is also important that your puppy is socialised to other people of all races and gender. An example of this would be a “swop the puppy” exercise, where the puppies in class are handled by strangers to help them get used to other people in a safe and positive environment.
Another key component would be body work or handling exercises, which will teach your puppy to be handled and touched all over their body and that contact can be fun and rewarding. During this part of the class, the “swop the puppy” exercise can be helpful to teach puppies to be handled by strangers.
Puppy school should also provide you with basic obedience commands such as sit, down, stand, stay, recall and leave. Other exercises that can be included are paw and roll-over to name but a few. It is important to understand that puppy school is only the beginning of obedience training and that there is a lot more to learn as your puppy gets older to ensure that you have a well disciplined dog.
Teaching your puppy to walk on a leash is an essential part of puppy school. The sooner you expose your puppy to leash work and leash manners the more successful you will be at establishing a cooperative, well mannered and safe dog. Loose leash walking is a valuable tool for any dog owner as it allows your dog the freedom to move in their own self carriage and to be well balanced, confident individuals. It also makes walking your dog a pleasant, fun activity for you as the owner. Allowing your dog to pull you and “walk” you down the road is dangerous for both you and your dog. It is therefore important to find a puppy school that will equip you with the correct tools and knowledge to make walking your dog safe and fun for everyone involved.
Positive reinforcement is the preferred methodology for training any animal but most importantly for the training of puppies, as it encourages confidence and promotes learning without fear. It would therefore be highly recommended that choke chains, prong collars and other aversives not be used in the training of dogs (and most importantly puppies) regardless of breed, size or temperament! It would be encouraged to find out what techniques and equipment are used and allowed at a puppy school before enrolling.
A confidence course is also an important part of puppy school. This should not be confused with agility as puppies aged 8-16 weeks are too young for agility. However a confidence course should expose your puppy to different surfaces, the tunnel, the A-frame (walking up something high and walking down), jumping over small jumps and going under higher ones. It is important during the confidence course to encourage your puppy and motivate them through the course but to work with what your puppy is comfortable with and not to force them to do anything – this will only damage their confidence.
Q&A sessions are also a central component to puppy school as they allow owners to ask important questions and for trainers to impart valuable information that everyone can benefit from. Remember there are no stupid questions!! During this time in the class it would be valuable for the trainer to discuss a specific topic either behavioural or with regards to dog care. Topics of interest could be how to deal with digging, jumping up, biting, barking, house training, as well as grooming, parasite control and vaccinations.
As an owner it is important that you expose your puppy to the right environment and therefore it would be a good idea to observe a class at the school of your interest before enrolling.
As you start this journey with your new best friend it is important to remember to have fun and enjoy your puppy while at the same time learning with them.
They grow so fast... Good luck!
To help you find a Puppy School near you visit - http://www.friendsofthedog.co.za/puppy-schools.html
Puppies are individuals and just like people should be treated as such. Each puppy will present challenges to their new owner, be it house training, jumping up etc. As these little bundles of joy do not come with a “how to” manual, these challenges can be frustrating and sometimes overwhelming!
Never fear – there is an answer... Puppy School!
A responsible breeder or vet would recommend that you enrol your little Fido in puppy school as soon as possible. The suitable age to enrol your puppy would be from the age of 8 weeks to 16 weeks. This is a critical time in the development of your puppy socially as they are going through their first “Fear Period”. This is the period in your puppy’s life when he/she learns what in their environment is potentially threatening. It can be a very scary time in your puppy’s life but it is also the most important time to socialise them and expose them to as many weird and wonderful experiences and objects as possible. This should always be done in an encouraging and motivating way. The more positive experiences your puppy has, the more confident they will become.
There are some key factors to consider when enrolling in any puppy school, as you want to maximise this critical socialising period.
The most important part of puppy school is socialising and habituation. It is critical that your puppy learns to interact with other puppies in a fun and safe environment, and therefore “Playtime” is a fundamental component to any puppy class.
When considering any school it would be a good idea to ask what qualifications the school owner and trainers have. It is important that the people running the school are equipped to provide you with the right advice and support, as well as a safe environment for both you and your puppy to learn. Puppy play can be quite rough and boisterous and it is important that your trainer knows what is acceptable play that will provide a learning experience for the puppies involved and what is potentially an unsafe situation.
It is also important that your puppy is socialised to other people of all races and gender. An example of this would be a “swop the puppy” exercise, where the puppies in class are handled by strangers to help them get used to other people in a safe and positive environment.
Another key component would be body work or handling exercises, which will teach your puppy to be handled and touched all over their body and that contact can be fun and rewarding. During this part of the class, the “swop the puppy” exercise can be helpful to teach puppies to be handled by strangers.
Puppy school should also provide you with basic obedience commands such as sit, down, stand, stay, recall and leave. Other exercises that can be included are paw and roll-over to name but a few. It is important to understand that puppy school is only the beginning of obedience training and that there is a lot more to learn as your puppy gets older to ensure that you have a well disciplined dog.
Teaching your puppy to walk on a leash is an essential part of puppy school. The sooner you expose your puppy to leash work and leash manners the more successful you will be at establishing a cooperative, well mannered and safe dog. Loose leash walking is a valuable tool for any dog owner as it allows your dog the freedom to move in their own self carriage and to be well balanced, confident individuals. It also makes walking your dog a pleasant, fun activity for you as the owner. Allowing your dog to pull you and “walk” you down the road is dangerous for both you and your dog. It is therefore important to find a puppy school that will equip you with the correct tools and knowledge to make walking your dog safe and fun for everyone involved.
Positive reinforcement is the preferred methodology for training any animal but most importantly for the training of puppies, as it encourages confidence and promotes learning without fear. It would therefore be highly recommended that choke chains, prong collars and other aversives not be used in the training of dogs (and most importantly puppies) regardless of breed, size or temperament! It would be encouraged to find out what techniques and equipment are used and allowed at a puppy school before enrolling.
A confidence course is also an important part of puppy school. This should not be confused with agility as puppies aged 8-16 weeks are too young for agility. However a confidence course should expose your puppy to different surfaces, the tunnel, the A-frame (walking up something high and walking down), jumping over small jumps and going under higher ones. It is important during the confidence course to encourage your puppy and motivate them through the course but to work with what your puppy is comfortable with and not to force them to do anything – this will only damage their confidence.
Q&A sessions are also a central component to puppy school as they allow owners to ask important questions and for trainers to impart valuable information that everyone can benefit from. Remember there are no stupid questions!! During this time in the class it would be valuable for the trainer to discuss a specific topic either behavioural or with regards to dog care. Topics of interest could be how to deal with digging, jumping up, biting, barking, house training, as well as grooming, parasite control and vaccinations.
As an owner it is important that you expose your puppy to the right environment and therefore it would be a good idea to observe a class at the school of your interest before enrolling.
As you start this journey with your new best friend it is important to remember to have fun and enjoy your puppy while at the same time learning with them.
They grow so fast... Good luck!
To help you find a Puppy School near you visit - http://www.friendsofthedog.co.za/puppy-schools.html