Puppy School – Foundation Course (Group Class)

We offer a 6 week foundation, owner education course to give you the tools, skills and knowledge that you need to begin your journey of raising a healthy, happy and well behaved puppy. The aim for the course is to aid understanding and communication between dogs and their families. We focus on building relationships where the dog and human both get what they need and want as well as setting foundations for the future.

This group class (maximum 6 puppies and families) covers everything you need to know from toilet training and teething, social skills and settling, training, recall and loose lead walking.

Please see below for a complete list of course content.

This course is held at our private, full time training venue on a farm to the south of Exeter Airport. We have a large indoor training barn as well as a large outdoor, secure training field.

You will receive:

•      Puppyhood Booklet

•      Weekly Course Notes

•      Up-to-date (science led) information

•      Friendly, supportive and inclusive atmosphere

•      Time for individual questions and support as well as group coaching.

•      Course graduation certificate

•      Access to our Puppy Training Club group courses

We welcome anyone in the family who would like to attend.

Areas covered on this course are:

Foundation Principles - understanding appropriate communication and interaction.Development stages and realistic expectations. A little bit of philosophy and ethics.Recognition of the species, their ethology and breed traits.

Physiology of Arousal - understanding the biological effects of arousal caused by external and internal stimuli, that affects behaviour. i.e. Stress and excitement and how to promote recovery.

Practical skills - for support settling, adapting to change and getting the best out of new experiences.

Feeding and Nutrition - a happy tummy promotes a happy, calm dog.

Recall - understanding this from an ethological angle. How to teach it, when to teach it, and when to use it.

Body Language and Social skills - between dogs, between dog and human. Learn to read theirs and how to use yours.

Safety and Management – risk assessment and boundaries with a juvenile dog in a busy human world.

Training - how to do it, when it is useful or appropriate. How to proof it and the pros and cons.

Loose Lead Walking - Learning to walk together, calmly, in a realistic and fair way for your dog’s age and life experience.

Stay - understanding the value in calmness and stillness and how to build on this in a functional way for safety.

Next Steps - an intro into adolescence, what to expect and what we offer next.

Search games - A taste of team work with your dog their amazing super power – the nose!!

*If you miss a class, there are notes sent out for each class . We also offer the option of a ½price 121 session to catch up. This is £30 (normal price £60)