Puppy class (age 2 to 5 months)

Congratulations!! you have a puppy! You have a golden opportunity to help your puppy become a well-adjusted adult dog through early and mindful training and socialization. Group classes are an economical way to teach your puppy skills including attention, sit, down, stay, leave it, leash manners, coming when called, and polite greetings. Even more critical, puppy classes can aid in your puppy’s development during the critical period when they are defining what is “normal” in the world. Meeting other dogs and people in a supportive, structured, and positive way can help your puppy develop social skills that set them up for successful interactions with other dogs and people throughout their lives.

Some puppies should NOT join puppy class:

1. These classes are for dogs age 8 weeks to 20 weeks. For dogs over 20 weeks old without prior group training, please check the Manners classes page.

2. If your puppy barks intensely, growls, or is aggressive to people or dogs, your puppy may not be appropriate for group puppy classes. Private lessons may be required to prepare your dog for group classes. Dogs who are not appropriate for group classes will be excused and no refund will be given. If you are in doubt, please contact us! Ali@kinshipdogs.com

Vaccinations and Puppy Classes:

We expect every dog attending training at Kinship to be up to date on his/her vaccinations or to have been tested for antibody titers for Distemper, Parvo, and Rabies. Puppies must have age-appropriate vaccinations. This means that very young puppies will not be finished with all vaccinations at the start of classes. For more information on balancing the risks and benefits of early puppy classes, please read this statement by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

PUPPY 1(FOR PUPPIES 8-16 WEEKS OLD)

CLASS DETAILS

This class is for puppies 8-16 weeks at the start of class, with no previous training. The class lasts 4 weeks with up to 6 puppies. The topics we cover include socialization, bite inhibition, house training, crate training, and the skills attention, sit, down, polite greetings, leash manners, and coming when called.

Location:

Kinship Dog Training Studio is located at 320 SW Mount Si Blvd Suite 108, North Bend, WA 98045. The entrance and parking are behind the shopping center.

Cost: $220 | Length: 4 weeks

Email us to join NOW, we will prorate the cost.

Puppy 2 (for Puppies 12 to 20 weeks old)

CLASS DETAILS

Puppy 2 is for puppies 12-20 weeks at the start of the class who have completed Puppy 1 or without previous training. Puppy 2 builds on Puppy 1 with socialization, problem solving, and skill improvement in attention, sit, down, polite greetings, leash manners and coming when called. New skills introduced include Targeting and Leave It.

Cost: $220 | Length: 4 weeks

Email us to join NOW, we will prorate the cost.

Puppy 3 (Puppies 4 to 5.5 Months Old, who have completed puppy 2)

CLASS DETAILS

Puppy 3 is for puppies 4 to 5.5 months at the start of class, who have completed Puppy 2. Either completion of Puppy 2 or instructor permission is required to register for Puppy 3. Puppy 3 provides ongoing socialization, and increases difficulty and distraction for skills attention, sit, down, stay, leave it, leash manners, coming when called and polite greetings. New skill introduced in Puppy 3: Going to mat.

Cost: $220 | Length: 4 weeks

Puppy 3 requires instructor permission if you are a student new to Kinship. Please schedule an assessment if you feel your puppy has the prequisite skills: Use of the clicker or other marker, effective reinforcement, attention/focus, sit, down, beginning recall, beginning leash manners, beginning leave it, and polite greetings in the presence of a novel dog and human your puppy hasn’t met at a distance of 10 feet in the Kinship facility.

What to bring:

• Your puppy! Preferably a little hungry, and having been given a potty break prior to class.

• flat buckle collar, martingale collar, head halter, front-attaching harness (ex. Freedom or Balance harnesses) or body harness. Please no prong collars or slip/choke collars.

• 6 foot nylon or leather leash. Please no flexi/retractable leashes.

• treat pouch. A fanny pack, climber’s chalk bag, or hardware apron will work well too!

• treats! At least two cups (I know, it’s a lot!) of pea-sized delicious treats. Your treats need to outcompete the environment, so hot dogs, ham and cheese will all work well.

• Optional:

  • a mat for your puppy to rest on between exercises.

  • a chew or stuffed kong for your puppy to chew during downtimes.