Last night Barbara's Junior Puppy Class had their graduation ceremony! Junior Puppy Class is for very young puppies who are under 16 weeks of age when class starts. This is the best time to teach puppies that learning is fun and to help them get socialized to people, other pups, and new places. The old theory was that puppies couldn't learn anything, and shouldn't go to class, until they were 6 months old, which is completely ridiculous. A puppy's mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Good puppy classes balance socialization, play, management and basic skills to get puppies off to a great start. I, of course, was in puppy class almost as soon as Barbara brought me home and look how well I turned out.
The puppies showed off their tricks and then went through an obstacle course to demonstrate their skills. Sasha is rewarded for excellent attention to her person.
Sailor bravely walked over the hula hoops.
Gracie enjoyed going through the tunnel. All the puppies showed great confidence - one of the benefits of attending a class.
Here are the graduates. There were treats for dogs and people and they got nice diplomas for completing the class.
Of course 7 weeks of class is only the beginning but all of the puppies signed up for another set of classes. Soon they will be practically perfect just like me!
16 comments:
Hi there! Sorry we haven't visited in a while, but the typist's been out of town and well... we've obviously missed out on a lot! Those puppies are doing soooo well!!! I'm furry impressed by their trust and bravery! Your mama and you are incredibly good teachers!
Hugs xo
Sammie
Oh puppies! Congrats to all the graduates. Puppy school is not as easy as it looks.
Slobbers,
Mango
Wow! Abby's got a lot to live up to - she's 11 weeks old, and just started her puppy class. She's the only one in her class, but they are setting up "play dates" so all the puppies from the different classes can get together. She's only had one class so far, but the socialization part so far has consisted of walking around PetCo! I'm going to show her these pictures and tell her that I expect her to be able to do all of this! ;-)
(Nevermind that I can't do it yet...)
*kissey face*
-Fiona
That is one accomplished group of pups - off to a great start in life for sure! Maybe that yellow lab will be an agility star someday!! I too got my start in puppy class, and just look at me now!
Snorts-
Brutus the Frenchie
Congrats on the Jr puppy Graduation pup ! Well done ;)
I keep telling my M to take Frankie to puppy training. Look at all those wonderfully behaved pups in your post. That's all I wanted for my sister, is that too much to ask?
Twink!
Congratulations to the Graduates!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
Now we know the reason that Mitch is so unruley! He never attended puppy class!
Congratulations to all of the graduates! Well done!
Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch
What a good looking graduation class!!
Smileys!
Dory
Mom took me to puppy school as soon as she brought me home. I loved it! Met one of my bestest friends there, and now that we are both growed up (or at least more growed up than we were!)we both get lots of compliments on how well behaved we are.
wags, wiggles & slobbers
Murphydog
Congratulations to all the graduates. You know, they don't all always pass. Good class.
Twink!
Congrats to all the graduates! Very well done!
take care
Clive and the NSLM
Those puppies are blessed to have such responsible owners. Congrats to all the young grads!
Well done to those puppies!!
OH we so agree about puppy classes. Hsin-Yi gets so mad when she meets new puppy owners who say they don't want to take their puppies to school until they are 6 months or something - GAH??!! She feels like shaking them and telling them that it's so much easier to establish good habits in the beginning than to try and change bad habits later (esp with teenage hormones kicking in!) - not to mention all the really important socialisation that is missed out during the imprinting period!!! (Sigh) - then these same people complain about having problem dogs - sometimes people are their own worst enemies (and their dogs'!)
Slobbers,
Honey the Great Dane
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