Puppy Kindergarten is for puppies between 8-12 weeks (56-84 days) old on the first day of class.
$249 for 5 weekly 50 minute sessions. For the best value and education, sign up for a Puppy Training Bundle.
Puppy Kindergarten is all about making sure that you and your pup begin their socialization and education as soon as possible. The sooner you start, the easier and more effective training will be.
When you sign up for Puppy Kindergarten, you get instant access to a comprehensive collection of on-demand online puppy training videos, plus an expert trainer to answer your questions about housetraining, puppy biting, chewing, or separation anxiety, so you can begin training at home right away.
In class, you’ll learn how to socialize your pup, so they develop a confident and friendly temperament. This is THE MOST IMPORTANT PART of raising a puppy, but it is easy to neglect because most puppies already seem friendly and confident. However, without sufficient proactive socialization with unfamiliar people and dogs, many pups become increasingly wary and fearful of unfamiliar people and unfamiliar dogs as they grow older.
Also, you'll begin learning how to use Lure Reward Training to start teaching your pup to perform useful behaviors on cue, such as Come, Sit, Down, Stand, Stay, Off (leave it), Take It, and Thank you (release) by using food lures and food rewards.
At this young age, the most important aspect of Puppy Kindergarten is having a good time together and building confidence (for your pup and you!). You'll learn how to communicate with your pup, reinforce the behaviors you like, and redirect the behaviors you don’t, all under the supervision of an experienced puppy trainer who can answer your questions, troubleshoot your training techniques and alert you to any problems or issues.
Of course, Puppy Kindergarten is just the beginning. When your pup is 12-18 weeks, you’ll want to continue with Puppy Training I — where the fun continues as your pup learns to play nicely with other pups, to listen to your instructions and do what you ask, even without the continued need for food lures or food rewards.