Puppy Training

Evenings, 6.30pm – 7.30pm, in person, eight weeks 

Standard price per learner: £130

Indicative maximum class size: 7 puppies

If you have recently got a new puppy this short course will help your beloved four legged friend develop the skills needed to fit into society well.

Please note that your puppy must be no older than 1 year at the time of starting this short course.

Course Description

Acquiring a new puppy can be a daunting prospect for owners. Dog owners may lack the knowledge or the environment to socialise a new puppy. 

This short course is intended to support owners of new puppies in their education and provide an environment to teach owners and puppies the right skills for their dogs to fit well in society.

It aims to teach puppies the skills and behaviours that will be useful when handling and managing these dogs during their development into adults. It will also teach owners about the right expectations to have with regards to their puppies and how to best elicit the correct behaviours and responses from their dogs.

This course is based on evidence-based research on dog behaviour and cognitive development.  

The course will be divided into eight weeks and each week will cover some core skills that the puppies are expected to learn in class.

Session 1.  Introduction to the course (theory)

• The only theory session in the course. This will cover background knowledge on dog body language and communication, course format, expectations, etiquette and general principles in dog training

Session 2.  I am confident and I like surprises

• Teach puppies how to deal with novelty
• Teach owners the expectations and tools to facilitate emotional regulation in dogs
• How to help the fearful pup

Session 3.  I like being handled and I can’t have everything I want

• Introduce owners and puppies to the principles and techniques associated with good handling and examination
• Teach puppies a leave command and to walk away from desirable things
• Teach owners the importance of frustration tolerance in dogs

Session 4.  I can be calm and follow cues

• Teach puppies how to settle in the absence and presence of distractions
• Teach owners some key principles in dog training (e.g. importance of visual cues)

Session 5. I can listen and can display good manners

• Teach puppies to follow visual and audio cues and perform a behaviour(s) in order to elicit an outcome
• Teach owners about the importance of consistency in dog training

Session 6. Helping puppies make the right choice

• Teaching puppies to deal with distractions
• Teach owners about the importance of motivation in dog training

Session 7. Dogs can and should be dogs

• Teach owners about expectations on dog behaviour and how to read and react to different body language in 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
• Closing remarks and feedback

 

Cohort Dates:

• 30 September, 7, 14, 21 and 28 October, 4, 11 and 18 November 2024
• 3, 10, 17 and 24 February and 3, 10, 17 and 24 March 2025

Any questions?

Contact the Brackenhurst short course team:

Email: [email protected] 

You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.