Frequently Asked Questions

If you are unsure of your dog’s behavior and would like immediate assistance, we recommend an initial private behavior consultation. During that two-hour session your dog will be assessed, and you will be provided with guidance on addressing the issues.

Another option is to register for the Canine Courtesy/Confidence class. This class has been designed to assist dogs with dog-dog or dog-human reactivity. It is a multi-week program starting with a two hour lecture (without dogs) during which time Cheryl Smith will provide you with a full overview of what to expect from your dog and the following classes. Cheryl Smith was the creator on the ‘Growl Class’ in the 1990s and has evolved her program to reflect the challenges of dog ownership in our current times.

The Life Skills 1 class is an excellent place to start. But if you need guidance on introducing your new dog to your home and its new environment, we would be happy to conduct an initial one-on-one session. It is important with a new older dog to set up the structure and boundaries within the first two weeks (the honeymoon phase).

It is always better if your dog has done one or more obedience class, but this is not necessarily a must. One thing we recommend is that you work on is the sit/maintain as it is used often prior to the dog running an Agility course. A strong recall is desirable as well.

We recommend your dog be close to a year a age before beginning our Agility Intro class. Until the dog is over a year old, we keep the jumps low to minimize any joint injuries.

It is even more important for timid, shy dogs to take part in the puppy social groups. You need to address your dog’s fears now while it is easy to do so withing a controlled environment. During our sessions, if we see a timid dog, we will separate it from the group to start. He/she will be paired with another shy dog to build confidence and to allow interaction without fear. Within a few weeks we normally see the timid dog come out of his/her shell and have a blast with the full group of doggies.

First of all, we highly recommend the Puppy Social Development Program for any puppy! Yours, because it will be over the age of 15 weeks, would be in the Senior Puppy Group at 10:30 am on Sundays. You can also register for the Teenage Transition class where we continue with controlled play to develop impulse control. This class also provides training for reliable response to basic commands such as sit, down, maintain, loose-leash walking, recalls etc.

In general, puppies can start puppy socialization classes as early as 7-8 weeks of age. Puppies should receive a minimum of one set of vaccines at least 7 days prior to the first class and a first deworming. They should be kept up to date on vaccines throughout the class.

We agree with the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior: ‘The primary and most important time for puppy socialization is the first three months of life. During this time, puppies should be exposed to as many new people, animals, stimuli and environments as can be achieved safely and without causing over-stimulation or other such behaviors such as excessive fear, withdrawal or avoidance behavior. For this reason, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated.’

The Puppy Social Development Program is off leash puppy play with invaluable coaching from instructors on correctly interpreting body language, appropriate play interactions, greetings, and proper handling in multi-dog situations. The Start ‘Em Right class continues guided play sessions but also offers practical and effective obedience techniques for integrating your puppy smoothly into your home and the community.