Congratulations on your new puppy and good on you for researching important puppy things like what age they should start puppy classes! If you’re like us, bringing home a new puppy is one of the happiest experiences of your life. It can also feel a little scary, because you want to make sure you give your puppy the very best life he can have.
If you’re feeling a little nervous about getting things right for your puppy, just know that it’s a good sign. It means you care deeply about your dog’s happiness and well-being. And if you’re reading articles like this one, you’ve already started your research on how to provide the best possible care for your new best friend.
One of the first things that should be on the agenda when you get a new puppy is training. In this article, we’ll talk about puppy classes: whether they’re worthwhile, what your puppy will learn, and what you’ll learn too.
Should I do puppy classes with my puppy?
You might be wondering: is it really necessary to take your puppy to puppy classes? Puppy classes are a good idea, as long as you find a high-quality class with a qualified trainer who knows what they’re doing.
Good puppy classes should focus on teaching your dog to pay attention to you and to view other people and dogs as neutral. This is a key lesson for your dog to learn because it will allow all your future training to go smoothly even if there’s a lot going on around you.
Puppy classes alone, however, are not enough. It’s important to supplement puppy classes with learning in your own time online. This way, you can find out more about how dogs learn and how you can support your puppy’s learning.
Your dog’s learning should be lifelong
Training sessions shouldn’t just be something that happens when your puppy is young – in fact, dogs need to be taught and guided throughout their whole life. That might sound a little exhausting or difficult, but there’s a way you can make training easy and fun.
It’s all about seeing things from your dog’s perspective. When you are tuned in to how your dog sees the world, training becomes so easy it’s almost like you share one mind. This magical connection is what OneMind Dogs is all about.
What age should I start puppy classes?
The beautiful thing about online puppy classes is you can start them immediately. In fact, we recommend getting started on lessons before you even bring your puppy home. Doing so will ensure that you are prepared and knowledgeable when your puppy arrives.
When in-person puppy classes start depends on the area you live in and which class you’ve signed up for, but generally, they begin once your puppy has begun his series of vaccination shots. Most puppy classes involve interacting with other puppies, which can be dangerous without your dog having its first vaccinations.
Where do I find puppy classes?
For online puppy classes, you’re in the right place. At OneMind Dogs, we have a comprehensive online puppy training course that can give your puppy a head start. You can access our lessons on your phone, making it easy to follow along with the lessons while you’re outside with your dog.
To find an in-person puppy class, you can ask for recommendations from your puppy’s vet or Google searching for a local dog training school with great reviews. Don’t just settle for any puppy classes, however, as a bad puppy class is worse than no puppy class.
Do some research on the trainers and their training techniques before making your decision. What methods do they use? What are their qualifications as dog trainers? Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
If there aren’t any good dog training schools in the area where you live, it’s a good idea to just take online puppy training classes and have regular puppy meet-ups or social walks with friends or neighbors in order to socialize them.
What will my puppy learn at puppy class?
When you go to your in-person puppy class, your puppy will learn basic manners and how to meet other dogs.
With OneMind Dogs puppy training classes, your puppy will learn:
- To focus on you, even when in distracting situations. This essential first step allows you to continue training your dog throughout his whole life, ensuring that he values your attention more than he values chasing birds or other dogs!
- Recall, sit, down, and stay. These basic commands are the foundation of good dog training and can help prevent all kinds of problem behaviors like jumping, excessive barking, or asserting dominance.
- Walking nicely on a leash. When your dog is able to walk well on a leash, you can take him to more places and have more fun – without throwing your back out from him tugging on the leash.
- How to make friends and be brave. Learning how to be part of a pack of dogs will help grow your puppy’s confidence and avoid fearful or aggressive behaviors.
- Calm and relaxed behavior even when your puppy is on his own. Your dog needs to know that when you go out to the store, you’re coming back. Learning to be calm alone helps prevent separation anxiety when you can’t be there with your puppy.
- Not to guard food, people, or belongings. These types of aggression can lead to further aggressive behavior, which can quickly get out of control.
- To enjoy being handled and groomed. This way, a trip to the groomer or vet doesn’t have to be a scary nightmare for your dog.
- To love car rides. Going with you in the car should be great fun for your dog, not scary.
- And much more!
What will I learn at puppy class?
During your in-person puppy classes, the dog trainer will teach you the basics of how to care for your puppy, what to feed it, when to visit the vet, and how to train your dog basic behaviors.
With OneMind Dogs, you’ll learn:
- How to play with your puppy. Playtime is an important bonding opportunity for you and your puppy, and we’ll show you just how to interact with your dog in a way that’s fun for him.
- How dogs learn. Our approach fosters mutual trust and respect between you and your dog. We put value in building a strong bond and understanding each other rather than asserting control.
- Why your puppy does certain things. Learning about your dog’s behaviors and what they mean is essential to training. It will help you see their perspective of the world.
- How to help your dog understand what you want. It’s all about learning how to speak to your dog in his own language, so nothing gets lost in translation.
- How to socialize your puppy and gain your puppy’s trust. When your puppy learns how to feel safe around you and other dogs, he’ll feel like he’s an accepted part of the pack.
- That dogs are amazing (in case you didn’t realize that already!)
Why is it important to train my dog from the very beginning?
It’s important to start your puppy’s training from day one. This will help your puppy understand how things work in his new home and prevent behavioral problems from happening later on. It’s better to proactively avoid bad behaviors rather than having to fix the problems further down the track.
The number one reason why dogs develop bad behaviors later on in life is something we call “the puppy bubble trap”: thinking your puppy is a little angel who doesn’t even need training… until they become more like a little devil! Instead of falling into the puppy bubble trap, make training a part of your everyday routine.
Where should I start?
To get started on your puppy’s learning adventure, you can download our Ultimate Puppy Starter Kit. It’s a totally FREE bundle of comprehensive information on how to give your puppy the best possible start in life.
Training your puppy is not only important for your dog’s well-being, it’s also a great way to build a magical connection between the two of you that will enrich both of your lives more than you can even know.
