Hi

How many of you have taken your pups to socialisation classes? If so did you find it a benefit to you and the pup?

How much would you expect to pay for a 1 hour class for 6 weeks.

Does any one run these classes and if so what qualifications do you need and how easy is it to get started.

I couldnt find a class for my pup in my area and wondered if there was really a call for them.

Wendy

Personally, I wouldn't bother paying for socialisation classes - you can get that with friends' dogs etc. I'd enrol straight away in puppy classes and start the training :)

Daisy

Hi

this is what I am doing with my pup I just wondered if there was a class available if anyone would use it.  I would of done and then gone on to the training but I dont know if there is any need to do that if you are going to a training class especially for pups.

To behonest I am looking for a carear change and thinking out load. Dont know how viable this would be but I am sure I would love doing it lol.

Wendy

I have always found Ringcraft perfect for socialisation, and would not consider taking a pup of mine to specific puppy socialisation classes.

My pups will ahve had all the litter socialisation they need, and it is socialisation with all ages and sizes of dogs that pups need, especially well mannered adults.

I find a combination of Ringcraft, Pet Obedience classes and getting them out into the wide world from the world go does it for me and mine.

I have heard so many bad things about badly run puppy socialisation classes that I would never use them :( Good ones, or bad, I just don't think they are any use.  I use Ringcraft classes, too, as a means of introducing a young pup to other dogs. They meet young and old dogs at the same time, but never get into a situation that they can't handle. A quick 'get out of my face' from the older dog (where necessary) is all that is needed, but a pup will quite happily play. One of the ringcrafts I have used even had a puppy play time (usually when we were having a cup of tea/coffee :) ) so that the pups could let off some steam.

my old vet in surrey used to run puppy partys for all new puppies to the pratice ,i found them fantastic, and because they were at the vets i have never had any problems taking them back when fully grown.

Hi Wendy,

I took my puppy GSD to a socialisation/training classes and after 4 classes i had to leave for the sake on my pup! The trainer believed in letting all the pups off their leads at the beginning of the hour, basically a free for all. This was to much for Jack, didn't like it at all and became scared and began to show some worrying signs towards other dogs. i got help from a APDT (think thats the right way round) trainer and after alot of hard work from all of us Jack is 100% better, but Jack is still nervous around other dogs.
 
Jane

Hi, I also had a bad experience when taking my GSD to a puppy party, it was absolute bedlam as all pups were allowed to run riot it  turned into a nightmare - only went the once,  there are many more suitable ways as previously suggested of socialising your puppy.

Lumphy, have you someone from Puppyschool in your area?

See: www.puppyschool.co.uk

Gwen Bailey is on the lookout for tutors although many areas are covered. It may not be for you but just thought I'd mention it. There is a huge skill in puppy socialisation and training in that, if pups do get a bad experience (classic case is that of pups learning other dogs are far more fun thantheir owners, or bouncy trouncy pups learning to bully shy pups, or shy pups learning to snap at bouncy pups...) it can truly effect the pups for life unless the owners are very dog savvy. This sort of thing is much worse in a class situation than when out and about due to enforced proximity.

I'd say a badly run pup class is much worse than none, and in that case I'd prefer to socialise a pup just out and about, however that requires other savvy  trustworthy owners etc and hopefully the sort of situation where the pup will learn a lot from a mixed group of different breeds, sexes and ages.

My own dog was taken to vets puppy parties (she now adores the vet surgery) and to well run pup classes and they were fantastic, however I knew exactly what i was looking for.

Hth a bit
Lindsay

Our puppy socialisation parties were run by our vet and were free to all pups whether or not they were with that practice or a completely different one. Going to the vet's is now seen as a great adventure :D

My vet ran free puppy classes too, it was a two week thing ran by a behaviourist with a lovely manner and like Harleys one they were free. I hadn't thought too much about it until I took my youngster for her booster last week and she positively pulled me into the surgery - tail up and wagging so unlike Tchi who was also going.

Hi

This is all very interesting thankyou. One of my big worries was if I made a mistake it could damage a pup for life. I wouldnt go into something like this with my eyes closed. I would want to be fully trained and even better work with a professional for a while before hand.

Unfortunatly I dont have anyone from Puppyschool in my area. I  have looked at the website and have contemplated the course. But to be honest I am a long way from Oxfordshire in Scotland  and going for training isnt really practical. It is going to work out really exspensive and I have a young family.

I would like to work with dogs in some manner. I have a lot of knowledge and I do feel I have a way with them. So maybe i will have to look at another avenue.

Thanks again

Wendy

We had puppy socialisation classes at our vets.  They weren't free but I found them very helpful and Flynn really really enjoyed them.  As others have said going to the vets is seen as great fun now

i went to a gwen bailys semiar yesteday she very good and she has 10 books out on puppy to dog behaviour if you can get them to read up.what about your vet do they but on puppy classes

I took my current pup to a puppy party. Our clicker trainer holds a puppy party every 5 weeks before the start of his clicker courses. The puppy parties themselves are free and include a 'taster' of his clicker course as well as allow similar ages pups to mix and allow discussion of any problems people are having. I think they're fantastic. Not sure what courses the trainer has done, but I know he works and judges up to ticket in obedience.

I now do clicker training and ringcraft classes with my pup, as well as take her along to agility when I run my other dogs. We've actually just got back from a country show =)

I am currently going to a puppy class with Paddy Driscoll (in Lincoln, I go to her competitive obedience classes as well). I am very, very VERY impressed. I have thought time and time again that classes like these should be a legal requirement. I've been to some classes in my time, from 1981 onwards, including puppy classes, but this, this is just way above anything else I've encountered. Max 6-7 pups per class, 6 weeks, one hour a time.   Pups not to be older than 20 weeks when the class starts.  I'm no novice but I feel that I have learnt so much. The socialisation, under supervision with expert advice on any unexpected reactions, has been ten times better than I could ever provide myself by just going for walks etc.  Malinois are not known for being a breed that loves other dogs etc, but Rio can't wait to get there now, happily mixes with the other pups, and in fact last week refused to leave! I love the fact we are given a homework sheet, with one or two exercises to practice until next time. It spurs me on to actually DO it, to have in writing what we are meant to do. Often it has included socialising in various ways, one week for instance homework consisted of walking near heavy traffic and visting Pets At Home. Being asked the following week if we'd done it make sure we DO, rather than think "Oh well we'll do it another day, no rush, too busy today".

I know that I will go to these classes each time I have a new pup. I've been lucky to find really worthwhile ones.

See if your vet does puppy parties lots of vets seem to now. Took both mine to them, they are two years apart in age and it did them the wold of good I think.
Karen

I took my puppies to puppy party run by my vets it was great and more recently went with a friend and her dog to a vet run puppy party it is something i would recomend if done properly it is great fun and the vet was able to offer free advice for those with problems I even won a box of maltesers so i would go back if someone would lend me a puppy

HI

Marianne that is just what I had in mind for my classes. Didnt think about homework though, a blooming good idea. My vet didnt hold classes. I went to them and asked about them and they said  they were not necassery just get my pup out and meet lots of people. I know this because I have always had dogs and worked with them for years and bred ect. But a new pet owner isnt as knowledgeable. My own pup is very sociable as i have her out mixing and I also have the benefit of another very friendly sociable dog. I also take them to school to deliver and collect my son so they get to meet the other kids ect. Again not every one can do this. but I would of still of liked to have taken her to a class when she was younger because I feel she and I would of got a lot out of it. It would of been great for her to have been able to have had a mad 5 mins playing with pups her own age. Ok rose tinted glasses here lol.

It looks like if I am serious about this I would be better going along the training route and incorperating a class into my training. As I say I am just thinking about this but it is something I would really like to do.

Wendy

I took my girl to them, and I honeslty believe if I hadn't, she'd have some real issues.  She had 8 weeks in the end, as in the first 4 (4 week course) she'd only just ventured out from under the chair by the end - after the second 4 she was playing well with all the puppies.  It really boosted her confidence, she was just too timid with other dogs before that.  Had I waited till she'd had her shots I think I'd have had trouble getting her over it - those early weeks are so important.

The class we attended was run at the vet's, it cost me £5 for 4 weeks and they were generous enough to let me have the second 4 weeks free.