The importance of socialising and training your puppy

The first few months of your puppy’s life are crucial to their development. What they learn in this period can set them up with the foundation for lifelong behaviours, emotional responses, and bonds.

At Thornbury Vet Hospital we understand the important of this life stage and offer several puppy school classes on weeknights. Our puppy school aims to deliver both a safe environment for your puppy to socialise and the skills needed to teach your puppy basic training cues. Our puppy school trainers know that puppies learn by association, repetition, and reward. The sessions are 1 hour long for 4 weeks, and positive reinforcement is used to create a love of learning.

Here are seven reasons why puppy school will benefit your puppy:

-            Socialisation: Our puppy school provides a controlled environment for your puppy to interact with dogs and people. Early socialisation is crucial for puppies to learn appropriate behaviour and communication skills with others.

-            Behavioural Training: Puppy school introduces basic obedience training such as sit, stay, come, and leave. These foundational skills are essential for your puppy to become a well-behaved adult dog.

-            Preventing Behavioural Problems: Early training helps prevent common behaviour problems such as excessive barking, chewing, digging and aggression. By addressing these behaviours early, you can prevent them from becoming more challenging to manage in the future.

-            Bonding: Attending puppy school allows you to bond with your puppy through positive reinforcement training techniques. Building a strong bond with your puppy early on sets the foundation for a training and respectful relationship.

-            Training for Owners: Puppy school not only teaches puppies but also educated owners on how to effectively communicate with and train their dogs. Leaning about canine behavior, body language, and training methods equips owners with the knowledge and skills necessary to raise a well-adjusted and obedient dog.

-            Expose to New Environments: Puppy school exposes your puppy to new environments, sounds, smells, and experiences in a safe and controlled setting. Thie exposure helps prevent fear and anxiety-related behaviours as your puppy grows older.

-            Health Benefits: Our puppy school includes discussions on proper nutrition, grooming and healthcare for your puppy.

Overall, attending puppy school sets the stage for a positive and well-rounded upbringing for your puppy, fostering good behaviour, social skills and a strong bond between you and your puppy.