Obedience Training

Puppy Pre-school | Advanced Puppy/Introduction to Obedience
Canine Good Citizen Preparation Class

 

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Puppy Pre-school

Start your puppy off on the right paw to becoming a great pet! We cannot overstate how important this "early" socialization and training can be during this impressible time in a young dog's life. Learn the fundamentals for helping your puppy become a good citizen and family member. This training will help add years of enjoyment to your relationship with your dog.

Classes will teach you and your puppy:

There are a number of training philosophies and techniques available. We focus on positive reinforcement of desired behaviors. Our goal is to teach these skills in a     way that is fun for dogs and fun for owners.

Pre-school has a new and improved curriculum. Classes are held on weekday nights from 7:00pm - 8:00pm here at the hospital with new classes starting about every 8 weeks. Cost is $157.00 for the course.

Class size is limited so that individual and adequate attention is given to each puppy/owner. Applications are available from a client services representative at Merrimack Veterinary Hospital.

If you are interested in more information or want to sign your puppy up, please call us at 424-9922 or stop by to fill out an application.

Puppies must have had a veterinary exam and be current with their rabies, distemper, and bordetella vaccinations.  They also need to be
free of internal and external parasites.

Please read more about why we are so proud
of our disease prevention standards.

 

Advanced Puppy/Introduction to Obedience

We all want a calm dog.  This class is going to help teach your dog how to act in public.  Moreover, this class is going to teach you how to teach your dog how to act in public!  These adolescents are really still puppies in dog's clothes!

In this class we are going to focus on the in-depth ways to influence your dogs behavior.  We will discuss how you can teach your dog to learn (i.e. learning theory).  The basic ingredients we use in class are the clicker, treats, a six foot leash, a flat collar, and two techniques known as shaping and capturing.

This is a six-week course.  We meet at the hospital on Saturday afternoons to cover basic obedience exercises and add a level of controlled distraction.  The exercises include sitting politely for greeting, controlled leash walking, strengthening the stay, coming when called, and how to be calm in public!

In addition to these behaviors, you will be given written homework to help define your goals and homework tracking sheets to better keep track of you and your dog's progress.  Although there is a set curriculum for the classes, we are always able to address specific behavior concerns and will custom tailor a training plan for the individual dog.

Instructor, Jessica Janowski, is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), as well as a certified evaluator for the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen program.  Email and telephone consults are always available in-between classes for trouble shooting and problem solving.

New classes form every 7-8 weeks.  Feel free to call the hospital to speak with Jessica and/or sign up for the class.

 

Canine Good Citizen Preparation Class

Puppies must have had a veterinary exam and be current with their rabies, distemper, and bordetella vaccinations.  They also need to be
free of internal and external parasites.