PUPPY PRE-SCHOOL

An invitation for you and your new puppy

Puppies develop their social skills between the age of 8 -16 weeks. Puppy Pre-School is designed to use this window period in your puppy's life to ensure he/she becomes a polite and well behaved canine citizen. Just like children, dogs are a product of their "parents" which is why it's important you are fully aware of your dog's needs.

It is also during this period of 8 -16 weeks that vets recommend keeping your puppy away from other dogs while he/she completes his/her vaccination course. Puppy Pre-school provides a safe disease free environment for you and your puppy to learn the first steps in puppy socialisation. All Puppy Pre-Schoolers must be up to date with their vaccination course to be admitted to the class.

The focus of Puppy Pre-school is on socialisation not training although we do provide you with some basic training information. It is an opportunity for you to learn about the needs of your pup, utilise the knowledge of the Nurses who run the class and most importantly enjoy your new puppy.

At The Vets, Puppy Pre-School is unique, because we offer an exciting swim class at our Aquadog Health & Fitness Centre. The only one in South East Queensland!

The other benefit of Puppy Pre-school is providing your puppy with some great memories at the Vet Clinic! We've all seen the dog that "puts on the brakes" as he approaches the Vet's door! Puppy Pre-school will have your doggy stepping on the accelerator as he heads towards the Vet's door!!!

Information and Photographs of recent puppy graduates of the Puppy Pre-School can be viewed on the Graduation page.

The Puppy Pre-school class is designed and run by our very own Nurses! Classes are held on Monday and Wednesday nights and the course runs for four weeks.

WHEN WHERE WITH

	Wednesday at 6.30pm - 7.30pm Nerang Clinic with Jodi/Claire
	Monday at 6.30pm - 7.30pm Helensvale Clinic with Michelle

Please call our Nerang or Helensvale clinics to find out the date of the next Puppy Pre-School class.

Victoria Stilwell : You have to socialise a dog when it's a young puppy, from 8-weeks old. If you don't socialise a dog with other dogs by the time it's 16-weeks old you have lost a vital window because during that time puppies love to investigate and if they have pleasurable experiences with other dogs and learn all the rules of doggie etiquette from other dogs before they are 16-weeks then it's very unlikely they will be bad with other dogs unless they have some sort of traumatic experience. As soon as the dog reaches 16-weeks this primary socialisation window begins to close - the reason is that in the wild this is the time that the mother begins to push her puppies away from her. The puppy has to have a vital fear mechanism in order that it doesn't go up to everything and possibly get attacked. Therefore from 16-weeks old a puppy learns to fear things and is left reticent to go and greet people or dogs that it hasn't been exposed to. Early socialisation is key.
(http://www.victoriastilwell.com)

PLEASE NOTE: PUPPY PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS ONLY.

JOIN THE PUPPY PRE SCHOOL TODAY

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