Next puppy classes start on Saturday 22nd February 2025
Saturday mornings - The Dog Den, 52 Small Road, Silverdale, Auckland.
- 22nd Feb and 1st, 8th & 15th of March.
Group Classes - $220 for 4 weeks
Puppy Essentials Classes
Puppy Essentials+ Classes
Puppy Essentials is aimed at puppies between 8 - 17 weeks.
This is known as the critical period. It is critical that puppies are introduced correctly to the world during these weeks.
- Dog body language & communication
- Mouthing, Chewing, Jumping, Barking
- Toilet Training
- Positive Reinforcement
- Engagement Games
- Enrichment
- Socialisation
- Cooperative Care & Grooming
- Recall intro
- Mat Training
- Loose Leash Walking intro
- E-book and how-to videos
Puppy Essentials+ Classes
Puppy Essentials+ Classes
Puppy Essentials + is aimed at puppies between 4 and 8 months who have not been to class before and covers:
- all of the content from the Essentials class plus:
- more Recall exercises
- more Loose Lead Walking exercises
- Leave It
- Dog Games
- Addressing Unwanted Behaviour
- Verbal Cues
- E-book and how-to videos
Puppy Extension Classes
Puppy Extension Classes
Puppy Extension is aimed at puppies under 1 year who have been to class before and covers:
- Whistle Recall
- Loose Lead Walking around distractions
- Recall around distractions
- Wait
- Release Cue
- Leave It
- more Mat Work
- Brain Games
- Addressing Unwanted Behaviour
- Enrichment +
- more Verbal Cues
- E-book and how-to videos
Where and When?
Terms and Conditions?
Puppy Extension Classes
Classes are held on Saturday mornings at:
The Dog Den in Silverdale
- Puppy Essentials 9am
- Puppy Essentials+ 10am
- Puppy Extension 11am
Times may vary depending on the age of dogs enrolling at the time.
Does Age Matter?
Terms and Conditions?
Terms and Conditions?
Classes are largely grouped by age although the needs of each individual dog is the top priority. The size and breed of each dog is also important so that we can ensure the safety and compatibility of all group class participants.
About Group Classes
Benefits of group classes.
- Group classes are a great way for your dog to meet and learn with other dogs that are a similar age.
- They are also a great place for owners to meet, share experiences and support each other.
- Group classes can be manipulated to add or remove distractions, to support your dog’s learning. Your dog may perform perfectly at home but struggle around other dogs.
- Group classes enable you to introduce the distraction of other dogs while retaining your dog's focus.
Positive Reinforcement
- Reinforcement is a type of reward that the dog values.
- We use food in class as a reward to help dogs learn. Think about applause or praise for humans. The reward encourages us to repeat the behaviour.
- There are many types of reward that aren’t food, and we will show you how these work.
Force-free
- We do not use any form of force in our training.
- Force can be anything punishing to the dog.
- Most people associate force with shock collars, leash jerking, smacking etc but force is also isolation, deprivation, coercion and intimidation.
- The use of force ruins the relationship between dog and owner and often confuses the dog further, leading to more behaviour problems.
- To train a dog we need to teach it calmly and methodically, what we want it to do.
Commitment to practise - Class alone will not solve any problems.
- Group classes must be supported by practise at home.
- Dogs learn best practising exercises every 2 - 3 days (not every day).
- Exercises must be repeated 8 -10 times (less than 2 minutes).
1:1 Training Needs
Some problems are situational to the home the dog lives in and the people the dog lives with. These problems may not benefit from group training. Complete the enrolment form with as much detail as possible. We may follow up with questions if more information is needed.
We do offer 1:1 training sessions in your home and this will be suggested if group classes may not meet your needs.
Even if they look the same, every single puppy is different.
