It's Time to Register your new Puppy for Kindergarten

The waning summer days trigger thoughts of back-to-school, and if you have a new puppy in your home, it's time to enroll in a puppy kindergarten class.

"A good puppy class is critical to how your pet will view the world," says Mira Jones, professional trainer at Best Friends Pet Care in Greenville. Puppies need lots of positive exposure to experiences, people and other dogs for proper socialization and to prevent the development of fearful or aggressive behaviors.

"The most important thing a puppy kindergarten class offers is socialization skills, including bite inhibition," says Jones. "In addition, there should be basic developmental training specifically tailored for puppies." Puppy kindergarten classes are also wonderful sources for general knowledge about raising dogs, and answering questions about behavior and development.

Choosing a school for your pet
Key to a good puppy class is the instructor. Look for a knowledgeable individual with professional training background who understands dogs and their different temperaments. According to Jones, the instructor should be able to determine which dogs will successfully interact with one another and should be able to control the class.

Although there is no nationally-recognized certification program for dog trainers, you want to choose an instructor who encourages use of reinforcement and rewards, not punishment, to achieve desired behavior. This approach is recommended by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and by most veterinarians and animal welfare associations. (Best Friends only employs qualified & experienced trainers who use humane and positive training methods.)

Another important factor in choosing puppy class is the willingness of the instructor to teach the puppies off leash. "Suitable puppies should be allowed to explore the class on their own at a given time," says Jones. Keeping a puppy on lead through the entire class may lead to straining and leash aggression, Jones explains. "Allowing puppies the freedom to interact in controlled circumstances teaches them how to negotiate one another and certain situations."

Parent-teacher associations
Puppy classes offer invaluable lessons for owners, too. Instructors should be willing to offer advice in all areas, including nutrition and specific behavioral issues. Topics covered during classes may include housebreaking, destructive behavior, crate training and different training methods. A dedicated instructor will often devote class time to answering questions and addressing specific problems.

Kindergarten only marks the beginning of your dog's training process. A dogs' brain chemistry doesn't settle down until two years of age (when they're "teenagers"), so puppy class should be followed with additional classes, including basic obedience, advanced obedience, and other skills, like agility.

Dogs also need ongoing socialization throughout their lives - and pet owners can benefit from some professional help, too. For more information on puppy kindergarten, visit the Best Friends center nearest you.