DogPACT Puppy HeadStart Class

Get a head start with your new pup! The “critical socialization period” for puppies is before they reach 16 weeks of age. This is the time to safely expose your pup to other pups in a safe and supervised environment—DogPACT’s Puppy HeadStart Class!

There is a high correlation between dog-dog aggression and other fear-based behaviors and lack of early socialization. [Click here] for more information from veterinarians about the increased efficacy of today’s vaccines and their recommendations for early socialization, including puppy classes.

Puppies enrolled in DogPACT’s Puppy HeadStart class must be at least 10 weeks of age but no older than 16 weeks of age at the start of the second class and must have at least one vaccine 10 days before the second week of class (the first class is held without puppies). If your pup is slightly younger or older, you may get the instructor’s permission to join the class based on her assessment of your individual puppy’s size and temperament.

In this fun and upbeat 6-week course, puppies learn how to play with other puppies and human students learn what is normal and appropriate canine social and play behavior. And the bonus is that the DogPACT Puppy HeadStart class also builds a solid foundation of basic pet manners, all taught using positive reinforcement techniques. Supervised play sessions are interspersed with lectures about housetraining, puppy mouthing and biting, and how to start teaching your pup impulse control.

Start socialization and training early and avoid having to “untrain” behaviors you don’t want later!

Puppy HeadStart lessons include:

The first class is an hour and a half long and is held without puppies so that students can concentrate on orientation, lectures and questions/answers about common puppy behaviors (housetraining, destructiveness, etc.), group exercises, and demonstrations. Students receive a class packet that includes instructional handouts and homework assignments. The Puppy HeadStart class is six weeks long, with each class lasting 50 minutes. Cost is $125.00. Due to the small class size, pre-enrollment is required.

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Click Here to read Conditions

Note: There are some dogs for whom group classes are NOT appropriate. These include dogs who are reactive (overly stimulated, barking, lungeing, etc.) and dogs who are aggressive with other dogs or people, or dogs who are extremely fearful.

1. Has your dog ever growled, barked, or lunged at a person, seemingly with the intent of scaring them away or biting them?
2. Has your dog ever growled, barked, or lunged at another dog, seemingly with the intent of scaring them away or biting them?
3. Does your dog get agitated or so overly excited in the presence of other dogs that you "can't get through to him" no matter what you do?
4. Is your dog extremely timid, avoiding people or other dogs, to the point where he struggles to hide and get away?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, a group class may not be a good learning environment for your dog.  Please Contact Us if you want help in deciding if a group class is appropriate for your dog.

 

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Puppy Headstart Class

• 
  Caber
  Breed: Border Collie
  Owner: Sharon Adams
• 
  Caber
  Breed: Border Collie
  Owner: Sharon Adams
• 
  Photo by Pam Marks
  Charm
  Breed: Silky Terrier
  Owner: Nikki Myers
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  Nyx
  Breed: Border Collie
  Owner: Jeanette Walder
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  Winston
  Breed: Irish Wolfhound
  Owner: Jo Bracken
  
  This pup is exhibiting a classic "tongue flick" which is a stress signal in response to the photographer getting so close with that one-eyed box!