Puppy School Class Etiquette
This is the calm arrival and class etiquette guide I send to clients before Puppy School. It is also useful for any pet dog owner. These small habits make a huge difference to confidence, focus, and the overall vibe in the room.
What We Want to Avoid
- Puppies launching out of the car
- Puppies bouncing straight onto other puppies, especially when some are worried
- Puppies barking constantly and getting over excited
- Owners getting dragged into the hall
What We Want to Encourage
- Park in a quieter spot where possible
- Wait until your puppy is calm before encouraging them out of the car
- Do not rush straight in. Let them sniff and decompress near the car first
- Give your puppy a chance to toilet away from the other puppies
- Stand at a distance where your puppy can stay calm and relaxed
Practise calm behaviour getting out of the car throughout the week. Read: Car Travel.
Even though it is post COVID times, keeping space is still good practice. It helps puppies feel safer and prevents chaotic greetings.
How to Manage Barking
If your puppy is barking, they are usually either a little worried or over excited. Both are common in a new environment.
The solution is simple. Increase distance until your puppy can be quiet again. Reward calm behaviour with food. Try not to say too much. Let the treats do the talking.
On walks too, if your puppy gets jumpy and vocal around people or dogs, do not worry about being rude. Increase distance immediately so they do not rehearse those behaviours.
Sensitive and Confident Puppies
If your puppy is on the more sensitive side, distance matters. A confident puppy bouncing in their face can be enough to make them feel unsafe.
You are coming to class to build confidence. Too much, too soon can backfire. Keep this in mind on daily walks too.
Bring a blanket or mat and a long lasting chew to help your puppy settle. VetBed is ideal, and a Pizzle Stick is a reliable settle helper.
Some breeds naturally play in a full on way. That is not wrong, but it can overwhelm sensitive puppies. Please be mindful and give worried puppies space.
Avoid rough play between confident puppies. We want calm neutrality around other dogs. Otherwise they arrive at class wired and ready to party.
Leads and Equipment
Use the right lead. It helps with loose lead walking and gives you better control.
Please do not bring flexi leads, extendable leads, or chain leads.
We recommend the Halti Training Lead. It is comfortable, versa
tile, and great value. You can also browse leads and training kit in our Online Shop.
This is what NOT to allow:
Body Language
Dogs communicate constantly through body language. This often gets missed or misunderstood by humans.
If a puppy looks worried in the hall, pulling them through the room is not helpful. Give them space and time so they can feel safe enough to think and learn.
This video gives a great overview of dog body language.
Inside the Hall
Maintain space as you enter. Find a spot to set up camp. Put your mat down, then sit with your puppy while they settle with their chew.
Stock up on a few natural settle helpers. Sprats are always a winner, and Pizzle Sticks are brilliant for calm chewing. The quality varies elsewhere, so I recommend the ones in our Online Shop.
I call session one the settle session. If all we achieve is 45 minutes of calm while your puppy learns to relax around other people and dogs, that is a huge win.
Do not forget to read the Class Checklist so you have everything ready in advance.
I want you and your puppy to have the most rewarding experience. Stick to these habits and you will be well on your way to having a calm, confident puppy in class.
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