Effective Training for Smart People and their Dogs
Puppy Class and Vaccinations
Hello Smart Puppy Owner
Please forward this page to your veterinarian. You two make all decisions about your pet's health. I take care of the brain and you two take care of the body.
My puppy training class is the safest place you can take your pup. I teach on an asphalt parking lot which is attached to office buildings, only. My classes are not near or sponsored by an animal shelter, veterinary office, pet or feed store, dog day care facility or any other animal related business. My classes meet on Sundays and the only objects on that training lot during the week are cars.
I do require, and all clients sign an agreement, that pups are current on their vaccine series. Every Orange County veterinarian has their own vaccine protocol. My request accommodates each veterinarian and owner. Every pup attending class is current according to the treating veterinarian. Also in my agreement is the clause that' if my pet appears ill I will attend class without my dog.' In any illness or injury, not just with communicable diseases, the dog does not attend and the owner does.
My clients are the best of the best. After thirty six years of successful training I have a special type of owner who enrolls in my class. These owners are caring, conscientious and tremendously responsible. Their pups are house dogs, fed quality diets, are current on vaccines and do receive veterinary care on a regular basis, for life. The quality of my clients is reflected in the overall health of their pets.
My teaching emphasizes getting the pup accustomed to the world. I ask that the pups go to five new environments each week, none that are populated with dogs. I insist, and all my clients sign an agreement with me, that no puppy go to dog parks, dog beaches or dog day care facilities for the five weeks they are in class with me. I have asked owners to leave class when they report that their pup has been at dog beach, dog park or day care. After the completion of class owners are free to choose to go to these places.
The importance of repeated exposure to 'the world' is critical to pups and especially so during the most impressionable period of six to sixteen weeks. Since 1954 the research from Bar Harbor, Maine done by Scott and Fuller still holds true; that the most important social developmental phase is under seventeen weeks. Puppies who start classes after this critical period are often already at risk for behavior problems for which owners are unequipped to manage.
When pets are spayed or neutered during the class session, I ask that the pet come to class. I put a red bandanna around the puppy's neck as a clear visual signal to the class that this dog cannot interact with other pets this week. This system allows dogs to attend class and be safe. I use this system for any injuries that require the pet to be separate from the rest of the class.
Last, I let my record speak, loudly. I have never, since I started puppy training classes in 1979, had a sick pup attend class, seen the pups in class suffer with an outbreak of a communicable disease or encouraged my clients to take their pups to pet stores, public parks and especially, the dog parks and dog day care facilities.
Training classes in pet stores, while common, are the worst places to train a pup. During the week the traffic of dogs of uncertain care standards is high and, rescue dog groups bring dogs straight out of the shelter for potential adoption. The sneezing, coughing and urine/stool from these groups of dogs is the most real threat to a pup's health except for excursions to dog parks, dog beaches and doggie day care facilities.
If you would like to enroll in class, and you and your veterinarian decide that keeping your pup out of the first or second meeting of the class is necessary, please come to school without the pup. You'll learn lots of helpful training and practical help for daily living problems.
Hope to see you in class
Sue Myles
