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Croft Puppy School
Do you have a puppy younger than 18 weeks old?
Do you want a well behaved dog that respects you and understands your commands?
Biting, toilet training, jumping up and pulling on the lead are just a few bad habits that puppies develop and if they are not resolved quickly they can progress into behaviour problems that are much more difficult to control
Croft Puppy School is a 6 session course designed to socialise and train your puppy and teach you how to teach your puppy to be the best
We will cover bad habits as well as healthcare, diet, clicker
training and socialisation. Contact 0191 250 3800
Preparing your puppy
If you have to travel to classes by car, it is best to get your puppy used to car travel beforehand. Travelling in cars can be an unsettling experience for young puppies, so prepare as follows:
- Play with your puppy and feed small meals in the car when it
is stationary to give pleasant associations with being inside - Take your puppy on short journeys, ending with a walk or a
play session - Close doors carefully and drive considerately. Remember that
your puppy cannot see where the car is going, is not sitting in a seat, and cannot predict when the next corner will be coming up - Arrive in plenty of time to allow your puppy to recover from
the journey before class begins
Your puppy needs to be interested in working for the treats you are offering during training. For this reason, it is not a good idea to feed your puppy just before the class. It is important that your puppy is not too hungry either, as this it will affect their ability to concentrate. Feeding a small meal a few hours in advance of the class can help to sooth the appetite, but still leave your puppy wanting more.
If you own a boisterous puppy that has lots of energy, try to arrange a vigorous play and free running session in a safe place before coming to class. This will help to ensure that your puppy is in a calm, ready-to-learn mood.
Most puppies are a little overwhelmed by the experience of coming to class at first. They soon learn to enjoy it and it is a good learning experience for them, but expect a drop in your puppy’s confidence when coming to class for the first time.
Try to arrive at least 15 minutes early at the venue. This will allow your puppy to recover from the journey, take a small walk and go to toilet before coming into class.
What to bring
Your puppy, wearing a plain flat collar, with cloth or leather lead
(no chain collars or leads, head collars or Flexi leads please).
Please put the collar on a few days before coming to classes so that your puppy is already used to it before attending.
Everybody is welcome but a maximum of three people per puppy is preferred.
Small, tasty titbits. These should be small so your puppy does not become full too quickly. Pieces about the size of a small pea are best.
There are plenty of tasty treats on the market that can be cut up into small pieces. Alternatively, cooked liver that has been cut into small cubes and dried in the oven, or cheese is usually very acceptable to puppies.
Soft, smelly food is usually more acceptable than dry, hard food, but some puppies will work well for the dry kibble food they are usually fed.
If you are introducing new foods, be careful not to feed too much and upset their digestion. Feed gradually increasing amounts in the days leading up to the first class so they get used to it gradually.
Use whatever titbits work best for your puppy. You may find that, after a few weeks, your puppy begins to lose interest in working for familiar treats. For this reason, it is best to vary the treats from week to week.
Toys.
Some puppies work harder for a game with a toy than for food.
Bring your puppy’s favourite toy so that you can use it to attract his attention if you need to. Soft toys that can be bitten and tugged are best.
Please avoid squeaky toys and toys that roll as these can cause a distraction for other puppies.
Poo bags will be supplied
Every week please bring:
- Treats
- Toys
- Your puppy!
The first class is a puppy free introduction class where we will discuss more topics and explain exactly what the course will involve and training methods.
Please bring your puppy’s vaccination certificate to the first week.
Topics covered
Week 1 (puppy free introduction class)
- Bite inhibition
- Socialisation and Habituation
- Commands, Clicker training
- Toilet Training
- Teaching how to “sit”
Week 2
- Common problems and how to avoid them
- Handling and desensitisation
- Recall
- Teaching how to “give a paw”
Week 3
- Hedonic budget
- Kong feeding
- Walking on a loose lead
- Teaching how to “stay” and “wave”
Week 4
- Diet
- Healthcare
- Insurance
- Teaching “Roll over”
Week 5
- Heelwork to music
- Demonstrating commands and recall
- Further training and support