Puppy Start Right

The Puppy Preschool class is for under-vaccinated puppies up to 20 weeks of age.

Why should you start your puppy in a group class at this young age?
A puppy’s “socialization” window closes at about 16 weeks of age. Before 16 weeks, puppies are more curious and willing to try new experiences and create positive associations. After 16 weeks, puppies may become more cautious, and novel experiences may be more challenging.

Young puppies do best with puppies closest to their age and are less likely to be overwhelmed behaviorally. Puppy Preschool is designed to facilitate positive exposures, address normal puppy behaviors, and prevent the development of behavior problems. The primary focus of Puppy Preschool is exposure to people, novelty, and working around other dogs. This class is designed to set you and your puppy up for success with housetraining, enrichment activities, communication with one another, and life skills such as leash walking, coming when called, etc. This class includes an online classroom with a video tutorial library and written handouts to supplement your in-person classroom experience.

After taking Puppy Preschool, our Preschool graduates will be ready to enroll in Puppy Kindergarten.

Social time for Puppy Preschool may not include off-leash play but rather how to be around other puppies confidently. We carefully make social interaction decisions based on the puppies we have in class. If we assess some puppies to be good together off-leash, we may conduct off-leash play between those puppies while the other puppies in class observe and learn from good social play gestures. Learning is not just a tactile experience.

What is the difference between an under-vaccinated puppy and a fully vaccinated puppy?
An under-vaccinated puppy is not fully immunized against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza (DHPP). Puppies begin a series of DHPP vaccinations around 6-8 weeks. They continue to receive a DHPP vaccination every 2-4 weeks until at least 16 weeks of age. Once your puppy gets the final vaccination in the series, usually between 16-18 weeks of age, they are considered fully vaccinated for DHPP. The first rabies vaccine is generally given at three months of age.

Class Requirements

Vaccine Requirements:

• A two week quarantine period from the time you bring your puppy home
• A second DHPP vaccine and 48 hours have passed by the start of class
• A bordetella vaccine
• A negative fecal test result ensures your puppy is parasite-free, including giardia.  Please schedule your fecal test ASAP after bringing your puppy home. A positive fecal test is a common reason puppies cannot attend preschool, missing out on a significant developmental experience. Should your puppy test positive for giardia, we require a follow-up fecal test to indicate effective treatment.

Click here for a printable checklist of requirements that you can give to your veterinarian.

You can order a fecal test kit and have the results to your veterinarian within days. Many vets have long appointment wait times, so this may be a good option. You can order your kit here.

Class Instructor: Kim Silver, Elizabeth Green, or Michele Almeida

Class Length: Four 45-60 minute classroom sessions

What Will You and Your Dog Learn:

• Teaching behaviors with luring
• Leash walking games
• Coming when called games
• Great name response!
• Drop/Trade
• Sit
• Focus games
• Exploration of novel objects and surfaces
• Nose touch to hand

Requirements:

• Preschool is available to puppies that under 20 weeks of age and who are not yet fully vaccinated. Your puppy can start preschool at least 48 hours after their second DHPP vaccine and must have a negative fecal test result from your veterinarian indicating they are free from giardia and other parasites.
• We require a bordetella vaccine.
• We ask that you please give your new puppy 14 days to settle in before coming to a group class.

What to Bring to Class:

• Your puppy is required to wear either a harness or flat collar and a 6 ft. leash to class. We would like to note that we do not allow choke, prong, electronic collars, or retractable leashes in class.
• A mat that your puppy can comfortably lay on during downtimes, such as a bath rug or yoga mat.
• Please bring lots of soft, tasty treats and some of your puppy's kibble food if they eat kibble. Bring more than you think you need!
• Bring a bowl and water for your puppy.
• Bring a variety of toys and something for your dog to chew on. If you have a snuffle, bring that too.
• Be on the lookout for an email detailing how to access your online classroom.

Register Now

Puppy Start Right Kindergarten is for fully vaccinated puppies 20 weeks – 7 months of age who have graduated from preschool OR are just starting with training. Kindergarten includes in-person classroom instruction with your certified trainer and tutorial videos with step-by-step written instructions on how to teach new behaviors with lifetime access.

Class Instructor: Kim Silver, Elizabeth Green, or Michele Almeida

Class Length: Six 45-60 minute classroom sessions

What Will You and Your Dog Learn:

• Focus games
• Sit
• Down
• Release cue
• Leash walking
• Meeting People Politely
• Recall games
• Settle on a mat

Requirements:

• Your puppy must be between 20 weeks - 7 months old at the start of class and must be able to work around other dogs.
• Your puppy must be fully vaccinated for parvo, distemper, rabies, and bordetella.
• We ask that you please give your new puppy 14 days to settle in before coming to a group class.
• If your puppy has a history of barking at dogs or people, growling, or has bitten another dog or person, please contact us to discuss if this class is right for your puppy. Private lessons are also available and may be recommended.

What to Bring to Class:

• Your puppy is required to wear either a harness or flat collar and a 6 ft. leash to class. We would like to note that we do not allow choke, prong, electronic collars, or retractable leashes in class.
• A mat for your puppy to lay on. Bath mats and yoga mats work well.
• Please bring lots of soft, tasty treats and some of your puppy's kibble food if they eat kibble. Bring more than you think you need!
• Bring a bowl and water for your puppy.
• Bring a variety of toys and something for your dog to chew on. If you have a snuffle, bring that too.
• Be on the lookout for an email detailing how to access your online classroom.

Register Now

This course is for puppies and dogs struggling with people, dogs, new places, etc. Dogs suitable for this class are typically described as “shy.” Dogs barking and lunging at people and other dogs are best served in private lessons. This class will focus on confidence building and developing life skills for navigating the world. This class will give you tips and tricks to help your puppy or dog become more resilient and teach your dog skills to thrive. We will also teach you how to help you meet your dog’s needs based on their breed and lifestyle. Every dog has four L.E.G.S. (Learning, Environment, Genetics, Self), and we will help you uncover any missing pieces to help you and your dog find your happy place.

Instructor approval is required for this class. There are three paths to getting instructor approval.

• You are a current or past private lesson client, and your instructor agrees your dog would benefit from this class. We may require a meet and greet evaluation if it has been longer than three months. The fee is $30.
• You are or have been a Building Bonds group class student, and your puppy or dog struggled to engage in the group exercises due to “shyness” or retreating. We may require a meet and greet evaluation if it has been longer than three months. The fee is $30.
• If you have never had a private lesson or group class with Building Bonds, you must have a meet-and-greet evaluation with one of our trainers at the Broadway/Campbell training room. The fee is $30.

Class Instructor: Elizabeth Green

Class Length: Six 45-60 minute classroom sessions

What Will You and Your Dog Learn:

• Coping in new environments
• Engagement with pet parent
• At home skills
• How to have safe social Interactions with people and other dogs
• Calming skills
• Problem prevention and solving by studying your dogs L.E.G.S

Requirements:

• Your puppy must be fully vaccinated for parvo, distemper, rabies, and bordetella.
• We ask that you please give your newly adopted dog 14 days to settle in before coming to a group class.
• If your dog has a history of barking at dogs or people, growling, or has bitten another dog or person, please contact us to discuss if this class is right for your puppy. Private lessons are also available and may be recommended.

Register Now

Puppy parties are designed to provide socialization experiences in a safe and educational environment for pet parents. Activities designed to boost confidence and resiliency around novel things, people, and dogs will be carefully crafted by your trainer. Play MAY BE a component of Puppy Parties if the trainer observes suitable playmate matches in class.

Class Instructor: Elizabeth Green

Class Length: Drop In Style

What Will You and Your Dog Learn:

• Socialization around new sounds, surfaces, people and dogs
• Confidence games
• Novel experiences
• Play with appropriately matched puppies and/or social interactions with new people

Requirements:

• A minimum of 3 DHPP vaccinations
• We require a bordetella vaccine
• A negative fecal test result from your veterinarian indicating your puppy is free from giardia and other parasites.
• A rabies vaccine for puppies 20 weeks and older

What to Bring to Class:

• Your puppy is required to wear either a harness or flat collar and a 6 ft. leash to class. We would like to note that we do not allow choke, prong, electronic collars, or retractable leashes in class.
• A mat that your puppy can comfortably lay on during downtimes, such as a bath rug or yoga mat.
• Please bring lots of soft, tasty treats and some of your puppy's kibble food if they eat kibble. Bring more than you think you need!
• Bring a variety of toys and something for your dog to chew on. If you have a snuffle, bring that too.

Register Now

In Puppy Start Right Camp, we teach your puppy and generalize many behaviors taught in Puppy Preschool, Puppy Kindergarten and MORE!

• Clicker Intro
• Nose Touch
• Sit
• Down
• Wait
• Mat Work
• Come when Called
• Polite People Greetings
• Non-Greetings with People
• Walking On a Leash
• Focus & Attention Games
• Crate Training
• Potty Training including Dog Door Training If Needed

Socialization, Exposure and Handling

Puppies are in a critical period of their lives where they will start to develop their feelings about the world. Our trainers will expose your puppy to many different sights, sounds, textures, people, dogs, and more. We want your pup to have a positive outlook on life and think new sights and sounds are no big deal! Here’s a sample list of things your pup will be exposed to:

• Veterinary Equipment
• Household Items
• Things with Wheels
• People with Weird Clothing
• Novel Items
• Unsteady Surfaces
• Shiny Surfaces
• Loud Surfaces
• Items Hanging From Above
• Stairs
• Ramps
• Ball Pit
• Flirt Pole
• Tunnels
• Farm Animal Sounds
• Bird Sounds
• Wildlife Sounds
• Car Sounds
• Siren Sounds
• City Sounds
• Playground Sounds
• Construction Sounds
• Train Sounds
• Firework Sounds
• Doorbell Sounds
• Storm Sounds
• Household Sounds
• Smoke Detector Sounds
• We will also practice for happy vet and grooming visits. This includes nail trims, brushing, vaccinations, and more.

Controlled Group Play With Other Puppies

Our professional trainers are experts in dog body language and play. Your pup will be specifically placed with other puppies that match your dog’s play style and energy level so that this is a fun experience for your puppy. We want your pup to learn how to play well with other dogs, how to read their body language, respond appropriately and how to take breaks and come back to you when needed.

You’ll Also Receive:

• Daily updates on your puppy’s progress at pick up as well as weekly report cards, and emails updating you on everything your pup learned that week and how you can continue that training at home.
• Concierge Puppy Field Trip – Once a week one of our trainers will pick up your puppy from your home and take them on a socialization field trip to experience new things and practice what they learn in camp.
• Two 45-Minute Private Lessons to help you with all things puppy! This lesson includes transferring the manners behaviors to you.
• Our Puppy Essentials Video Library with over 40 must have puppy raising videos.
• Video Tutorials and Handouts for the skills taught at camp so you can practice at home.
• Access to our weekly 30 minute Puppy Start Right Q & A time on Zoom with our trainers and connect with your puppy’s camp friends.

Enrollment Information

• Puppies must be 20 weeks or younger at the start of the program.
• Puppies must have their second DHPP vaccination at least 2 days prior to camp starting, a negative fecal within 14 days of camp starting, and a clean bill of health.
• Puppy Start Right Camp is on 1/2 days Tuesdays and Thursdays for 4 weeks at our location. If you need to skip a week due to travel, please let us know. Field trips provide a third day of socialization for your puppy. Field trips are approximately 60 minutes and will take place on a M/W/F or Saturday based on our trainer’s availability.
• Drop-off from 7:30 am – 8:00 am / Pick-up from 11:30 am – 12:00 pm (Through October 3. Starting October 10 Pick-up will be between 12:00 – 12:30 pm).
• Our Puppy Start Right Camp rate is $2025 due at time of enrollment and is non refundable. Space is limited. Complete this form to let us know you would like to secure a spot in camp.

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