Kristen White offers puppy training classes, instructing owners on the basics of dog obedience. Three classes are offered, Puppy Class, Basic Manners Class and Geriatric Enrichment.
Geriatric Canine Enrichment Class Coming soon is a 4 week class designed for elderly pets! There are things pet parents can do to enhance the lives of their aging canine companions. We will explore puzzle toys, low level obstacles, refresher obedience/tricks, stretching, massage and education of how to support brain function and mobility. Each class is 50 minutes long. Please bring a soft bed and treats with you to class. Dogs must be current on vaccinations. Sorry no dogs with known aggression issues allowed in this class! Cost $75.00     Please call the office for class dates/times. Puppy Class We offer a four-week training class for your puppy. This class is designed for puppies between the ages of 8-16 weeks of age. The class focuses on exposing your puppy to confidence building environments and enhancing your puppy's communication skills. Your puppy is enrolled in a one year Pet Parenting E-course from Animal Behavior Network (www.animalbehavior.net) Puppy classes are approximately one hour long. Call the office for dates and times available. Classes are organized in a way that allows new puppies to begin classes at any week in a four-week series. Each 60-minute class will consist of the following activities:
Controlled Social Interactions Games such as "pass the Puppy" will be used to encourage puppies to socialize with a variety of people. Owners will learn to teach their puppies how to inhibit biting. Puppies will learn that people in uniforms, hats, or funny costumes are all part of life. Puppies will also be allowed time to interact with each other to learn safe normal canine body language. Discovery Walks Habituation to a variety of surface textures, objects, and situations will occur during each class. Metal grates, agility equipment, umbrellas, scooters and other items will be included. Exam rooms, hallways and outdoor environments will be utilized.
Basic Puppy Manners Each class will cover a beginning puppy manners exercise such as leash walking and beginning "sits" and "downs." Problem Prevention Each week a new technique will be discussed to help prevent such common problems as separation anxiety, house-training problems, resource guarding, and destructive behaviors.
Classes are rotational allowing puppies to join at any time after receiving the orientation packet. This method also allows different puppies to be in each class, therefore exposing your puppy to many new friends over the four weeks. Cost for the Puppy Class is $80.00
Basic Manners
We offer a 6 week class for dogs over 6 months old (or that have completed our puppy class). We will teach your dog based on a learning theory known as operant conditioning. It is based on the idea that the consequences of a behavior (the event that immediately follows it) determine whether or not that behavior will be repeated. A clicker is a device used as a communication tool. The clicker is going to come to mean, “That’s it! You’ve done the right thing!” During the course of the class your dog will learn basic obedience skills such as attention, sit and stand, down, recalls, stay, and heeling. We will also address different adolescent dog behaviors and how to deal with them during each class. Call for class dates/times Cost $120.00 Contact the office for class dates!

When your puppy comes home, it is important to be prepared for many training opportunities ...

Puppy training basics during the first week the puppy is home is critical. It is obvious that you need certain physical items such as a dog bed or crate, food and water bowls, puppy chow, collar, leash, toys, etc. Equally as important, all family members must decide and agree on routine, responsibility and rules.

The first few days are extremely important. Enthusiasm and emotions are up. Everyone wants to feed the puppy, play with the puppy and hold the puppy. Pre-established rules are easily broken. Everyone agreed that puppy will sleep in her crate but as soon as she's home, someone melts and insists that puppy will sleep in bed. Everyone previously agreed not to let puppy jump up on them, but in the excitement, no one even notices that puppy is jumping up. No one sleeps the first night. Puppy wins and gets to sleep in bed. The next morning we find puppy has eliminated all over the bed. So the following night puppy is banned to her crate and screams all night. No one sleeps tonight either.

Grouchiness sets in; enthusiasm is down. No one wants to get up at the pre-agreed upon early morning feeding time. How are we going to housetrain puppy? How are we going to sleep with her constant whining?

Your new puppy has just been taken away from her mom and littermates. She is vulnerable and impressionable. What she needs now is security and routine. Set up a small room to be her very own special haven for the next couple of months. Paper the entire floor and put her food/water bowls and bed in one corner. Scatter her toys everywhere.

Play with her quietly and gently. Don't flood her with attention and activity. If she looks like she wants to sleep, leave her alone. Puppies need lots of sleep.

Decide who is responsible for feeding and cleaning up after her. Don't deviate from the schedule. Routine is especially important for your puppy. Don't spend all your time with her. If she is going to be alone during the day or night, she needs to start getting used to it now. If she wakes up from a nap and whines, resist the urge to run in and comfort her.