Life Skills

The title of this program was chosen because this is exactly what we teach pups in this course, Life Skills.

Pups need to be continually guided and taught what is expected from them, in and out of your home. All dogs love predictably. By teaching your pup predictable outcomes in different scenarios you are setting yourself and your pup up for success. These predictable behaviours are Life Skills, which help your pup understand expectations.

Our Life Skills course is designed for puppies between 4 to 6 months of age. This course is perfect for pups that have completed our puppy preschool course or for those puppies that missed the chance to attend puppy school.

We have designed our Life Skills course to help you navigate through the next developmental stage with your pup. Pups in this age group have usually settled into their homes, bonded with their owners and are now more confident and independent. This is a great outcome, but without continued training and socialisation this is also when problematic behaviours can begin to show.

Classes are focused on the day-to-day interactions you have with your pup and how to ensure that training is implemented into their days. This way your pup stays on track and continues to learn and retain great focus and general manners skills.

Our Life skills course is also suitable for pups that missed out on puppy school. During our theory class we discuss all the elements of older puppy behaviour and how we can help each owner and pup achieve their goals, regardless of their skill level. Pups are individuals with their own unique requirements and history. We take every aspect of the journey you are on with your pup into consideration during class and ensure you are heading in the right direction.

This program gives owners the chance to continue the practice of general manners behaviours and encourages calm and focus in a class environment, with guidance and encouragement from your trainer. All training skills are taught using up to date positive reward-based/force-free methods. We do not use outdated methods which included punishment. Classes are set up to strengthen the bond you have with your pup and promote good behaviour through mutual respect.

Life Skill Program Details

You will not be able to attend class if your pup is displaying fearful or aggressive behaviour around other people or other dogs. Please contact us to arrange a home visit to address these issues.

• This program runs for 6 weeks.
• Week one is a theory lesson and is dog free. This lesson runs for approximately 90mins.
• The following five lessons run for 60mins.
• Classes include 60 minutes of structured training including focus and calm.
• Classes are conducted on weeknights. Please check our booking system for available class dates.
• Prior to booking with us, ensure your puppy is between 4-6 months of age when the course begins.
• Puppies must be fully vaccinated to join the program.
• Please make a booking for your puppy using the on-line booking system provided.
• The booking system will allow you to provide us with all the information we need to add you to the class and will also take payment to secure your booking.
• The cost for the 6 Week program is $250.00.
• Homework and information related to each lesson is sent weekly via email.

Puppy Program Training Information

Week One - Theory Class

Theory class is a puppy free lesson. This gives us the opportunity to welcome you to the venue and talk about all the important aspects involved in owing an older puppy.

At the end of this lesson, we leave you with some homework, preparing you for your first class with your puppy.

Weeks Two – Six – Practical lessons

When puppies are a little older, they become comfortable in your home and in your company. They also move into a different developmental stage. Pre-adolescence. During this period puppies become more adventurous, have boundless energy, and begin to test boundaries and generally get up to a lot of mischief. All of this is normal puppy behaviour, although it can be overwhelming for owners and therefore their pups.

Our Life Skills practical lessons are designed with this new developmental stage in mind.

We aim to teach owners and their pups the skills required to achieve a well-focused, calm, and well-mannered pup. Our venue is set up so that structure is maintained. This way pups feel safe and can focus and train well. In this space we provide you and your pup with training exercises that will encourage learning in real life scenarios, helping with your day-to-day activities, inside and outside of your home. Some pups struggle to remain calm and focused, so it is important to us that your pup is coping in class. We begin the course and then each class with settling exercises before moving onto more complex skills, to ensure you and your pup are doing well.

Training skills

Certain training skills will be taught at a higher level for the pups that have graduated from our puppy preschool program.

• Swap – teaches puppies to exchange high value items, preventing resource guarding.
• Find it – an invaluable management strategy to distract and calm pups down.
• Focus – the cue your puppy learns to look at you. Used to avoid distractions and prevent unwanted. behaviours.
• Sit and Drop - the important basics.
• Go to your bed and settle – teaches your puppy where their safe place is to rest and promotes independence.
• Default Drop – your pup learns to drop when you sit and remain calm.
• Capturing calmness – puppies learn to lay down and relax in the presence of other people and dogs.
• Engage and disengage – look at distractions briefly then look back to their owners.
• Touch – a hand target for engagement and more.
• Stay and Wait- the cue for stillness, safety, and calm.
• Door manners – safe and calm door entry and exits.
• Leave it – teaches puppies to not touch what is unsafe or unnecessary.
• Café scenario – teaching owners and pups to remain calm in public settings. Using leave it, default drop and capturing calmness.
• Calm greetings – pups are allowed to greet a trainer and then are called away and reinforce neutral behaviour around people.
• Veterinary exams – in a veterinary consultation room to help your pup practise calm during vet visits.
• Handling exercises – helps pups tolerate veterinary examinations and grooming experiences.
• Loose lead walking – encourages puppies to follow and enjoy remaining close while on lead.
• U- turns – learning to move away from other pups/dogs when asked.
• Fun ways to have dog remain by your preferred side while walking.
• Middle and Tuck – ways to have your dogs remain calm and safe on walks.
• Fun tricks and games to teach your active pup.
• Socialisation and Exposure – a lesson dedicated to the topic. This is a fun and educational course of novel items which is designed to help puppies build confidence and learn about our human world.

Puppy Play will not be allowed in this class. This class is about your pup learning to take instruction from you and remaining calm and neutral in the presence of other dogs and people. Puppy play will be discussed and other opportunities for play will be suggested.