Puppy Honeydew

	Why should my puppy go to puppy school? Do we teach basic obedience? What training methods are used? Do we get help with puppy problems? What else do we cover? Why should I take my puppy to the McKaynine Puppy School? When are the classes? Do I need to book? How do I enrol? How many puppies have attended these classes?
	WHY PUPPY CLASSES? All too often owners wait until their dog's behaviour has become a problem before they start training. While progress is definitely on the cards with older dogs, the impact that a good puppy socialising school has on a puppy throughout its life cannot be understated. In addition to being socialised with other dogs (which greatly reduces aggressive behaviour as an adult) puppies also learn to apply a thought process to new stimuli i.e. they don't automatically use aggression or fear to handle new situations as adults. Puppy school provides the perfect opportunity for puppies to polish their canine communication skills, which are interrupted when they leave their mother and littermates. It's not just other dogs they are socialised to - chickens, ducks, rabbits (and a donkey called Friday) are just a few of the critters they'll get to meet face-to-face. Puppies also get socialised to children and different types of people. This is one of the most valuable lessons you can teach your new puppy All types of puppies (pedigreed and crossbreeds) should enrol in a recognised puppy school. Family pets, show dogs and working dogs in particular benefit as the training stands them in good stead for their future "career", be it family guardian, show stopper or lovable mutt!
	REWARDS-BASED OBEDIENCE Owners are taught how to get their puppy obeying simple commands such as: sit, down, stay and heel. All puppy training commands are taught with hand signals from Day One, which is particularly useful for domestic purposes. As this training is rewards-based the puppies do it because they want to - NOT because they are avoiding punishment. This type of training conditions the dog to LOVE TO LISTEN and is much more pleasant and effective for the puppy and the owner! Visit the ABC website and the Super Pup website for links to other approved puppy socialising schools in South Africa.
	PUPPY PROBLEMS By using canine behaviour techniques, handlers achieve their objectives of getting their puppy to understand their requirements. We cover all of the "usual" puppy problems, such as: Nipping Chewing Digging Jumping Up Lead Pulling Boisterous Behaviour Toilet training (cyber pup still hasn't got it right!)
	SENSORY STIMULATION All too often puppies are raised in "sterile" environments and find it difficult to cope with anything new as adults - which can have disastrous consequences. We expose the puppies to a variety of different stimuli (at appropriate levels) such as loud sudden noises, gunfire, flapping umbrellas, banging doors, etc. It's amazing to see how adaptable these puppies are - before the magic age of 16 weeks, anything introduced positively is generally accepted without question by these "super dogs in training". Pups also get to meet our resident sheep, during the "Sheep Weave".
	BODY AWARENESS A lot of importance is given to physically handling the puppies (and not just by the owner) and encouraging the puppies to negotiate tunnels and mazes. These exercises are designed to teach the puppies "where their body starts and stop" - we've all seen clumsy puppies who grow up into boisterous dogs with little apparent sense of depth or balance.
	ABOUT US The Honeydew puppy school instructor - Shannon McKay - is one of the most highly respected trainers in South Africa from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Your puppy's mental and physical development is in highly qualified and experienced hands. Click here to view Shannon's biography. Being an accredited canine behaviourist, Shannon is bound by a code of ethics to utilise proven methods of socialisation and training. Clients and puppies are treated with the utmost respect and we never "bully" puppies or handlers to get results. All our crew undergo stringent training and continuing education in the field of canine behaviour. We also boast the highest number of Super Pup certified trainers than any other school in South Africa! Our school is recommended by Radio 702's "Dr. Platzhund" and is also used by SA Guide Dog Association trainers and puppywalkers.
	ABOUT THE PUPPY COURSE The course runs for two months, with six one-hour lessons. Puppies can start at 8 - 10 weeks of age. They should have had the second of their three puppy inoculations and must be suitably protected against ticks and fleas due to the rural environment. A new class starts every month with classes on Saturday mornings. Exact times vary according to the season. Please consult the Schedules page for details.
	ENROLMENTS & REGISTRATIONS Enrolments on this popular course are handled on a "first come first served" basis. Course payment and confirmation via email or fax (0866 129 211) secures your booking. For details on costs and payment as well as an enrolment form, email us. Clients are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.
	PUPPY GRADUATES Since the inception of our puppy school, we have had nearly 3 000 puppies coming through our school. View the Puppy Graduates page for photos of the most recently graduated puppies.