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Puppy school is a fantastic opportunity to teach your puppy desired behaviours as well as exposing him to a variety of stimulus in a safe environment. A pup that has been well socialised is able to be a calmer and more reliable companion and less prone to destructive, anxious or boisterous behaviour. The entire family is encouraged to attend classes as this ensures that the puppy's training is understood by all concerned. It's also lots of fun!
Click on the links below for more information: The Importance Of Puppy Classes
Puppy school provides the perfect opportunity for puppies to polish their canine communication skills, which are interrupted when they leave their mother and littermates. Puppies also get socialised to children and different types of people. This is one of the most valuable lessons you can teach your new puppy. All types of puppies (pedigreed and crossbreeds) should enrol in a recognised puppy school. Family pets, show dogs and working dogs in particular benefit as the training stands them in good stead for their future "career", be it family guardian, show stopper or lovable mutt! As a good owner you ensure that your puppy receives his vaccinations to prevent disease - puppy school could be likened to a behavioural vaccination. A lot of potential problems can be averted by undergoing the Super Pup course.
What Is Reward-Based Obedience?
All puppy training commands are taught with hand signals from Day One, which is particularly useful for domestic purposes. A treat or toy is given as a reward for complying. Because this training is reward-based the puppies do it because they want to - NOT because they are avoiding punishment. This type of training conditions the dog to LOVE TO LISTEN and is much more pleasant and effective for the puppy and the owner. Dogs also learn much quicker with reward-based training and it's easy for the whole family to do. Over the past decade we have refined the use of reward-based training to an art. Even when treats are phased out the dogs still respond smartly and reliably.
By using canine behaviour techniques, handlers achieve their objectives of getting their puppy to understand their requirements. We cover all of the "usual" puppy problems, such as:
Super Pup trainers expose the puppies to a variety of different stimuli (at appropriate levels) such as loud sudden noises, fireworks, flapping umbrellas, banging doors, etc. It's amazing to see how adaptable these puppies are - before the magic age of 16 weeks, anything introduced positively and sensibly is generally accepted without question by these "super dogs in training". All obstacles and exercises are designed with maximum benefit and safety as a priority. Super Pup trainers are dedicated to ensuring that your pup has fun while learning and all in a safe environment.
While the obstacles can be a little scary to pups initially, they are desensitised and a positive association is created. This in itself is a valuable lesson as it teaches the pup behavioural resilience - this coping skill is incredibly important and one that is largely overlooked in many other puppy programmes. After one or two lessons the puppy actively wants to do the obstacles because they are such fun!
Your Super Pup trainer will ensure that your puppy is examined by a mock vet and your pup will also be exposed to items that he will be likely to encounter in a vet's rooms. Owners are also taught how to examine their own puppies and how to manage and control their puppy during a trip to the vet - an outing that many owners (and their dogs) dread.
A good example is illustrated left. All this puppy wanted to do was chase the sheep. He was obviously denied this activity and as soon as he paid any attention to his owner he was rewarded. The pup is being taught that he cannot always get his own way and if he exercises some self-control he will be rewarded handsomely! Super Pup trainers are well versed in the benefits and techniques of teaching these coping skills - this is one of the unique aspects that sets Super Pup trainers ahead of the pack.
Super Pup trainers each have a set list of goals for owners to achieve with their pups. This goal-setting ensures that we all actively work toward something - it's easy to get side-tracked with all those cute pups running around!
Super Pup trainers ensure that play becomes learning and learning becomes play! The
goals also ensure that owners are shown the tools to get the most from
their lovely pups.
All trainers adhere to a code of ethics and are obliged to attend on-going education opportunities to retain their certification. All trainers agree to abide by a Code Of Ethics and any violation of this is taken very seriously. Any complaints are please to be reported to watchdog@superpup.co.za.
Most Super Pup trainers operate enrolments on these courses on a "first come first served" basis. Please request exact details from the Super Pup trainer in your area.
Happy puppies. Happy owners. That's the Super Pup way!
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All too often
owners wait until their dog's behaviour has become a problem before they
start training. While progress is definitely on the cards with older
dogs, the impact that a good puppy socialising school has on a puppy
throughout its life cannot be understated. In addition to being
socialised with other dogs (which greatly reduces aggressive behaviour
as an adult) puppies also learn to apply a thought process to new
stimuli i.e. they don't automatically use aggression or fear to handle
new situations as adults.
All
too often puppies are raised in "sterile" environments and find it difficult to
cope with anything new as adults - which can have disastrous consequences.
Super
Pup trainers
also include
A
major part of any dog's life is being able to tolerate being touched, whether it
is by the owners, a vet or strangers. So a lot of importance is given to
physically handling the puppies.
A good puppy class
will also teach puppies to be able to cope with not always getting their
own way - this behavioural resilience creates a puppy that is less
demanding on their owners and more able to cope with the challenges that
life presents. Puppies that are denied this teaching can grow up to be
intolerant, impatient, anxious and in some cases aggressive. It would be
great if our dogs never had to cope with challenges or frustration, but
let's be honest even staying at home while you're at work is frustrating
for a pup, so we believe it is imperative to teach puppies how to cope
with this.
