puppy training, abingdon, wantage, didcot, harwell, steventon, oxford, wallingford

Puppy foundation training is of paramount importance to the development of pet and working dogs. The training forms an early connection between the puppy and its handler/owner. It is the basis for future development through applying a learning methodology that will remain for the rest of the dog’s life, much like teaching a young child to read.

It is very important that training is structured around the requirements of the owner. At K9 Training Academy our aim is to ensure that the puppy has the appropriate start in life, having fun, socialising, learning how to greet other dogs and people whilst complying with instruction wilfully and happily. We concentrate on the important issues that are more difficult to deal with when juveniles, such as recall away from dogs, and other distractions, and walking on a loose lead. These are the most popular requests from clients who come to us with juveniles that haven’t been through our puppy course.

Our puppy foundation courses are very well received and attended by owners of miniature to large dog breeds. Our clients have included veterinary surgeons, professional handlers, as well as support and assistance dog owners from Didcot, Abingdon, Wantage, Oxford, Wallingford and beyond. The courses are invaluable to clients who wish to progress their training and knowledge or to take up Kennel Club breed showing, agility, scent detection, gun dog work, etc.

We offer training at clients' homes for puppies of 8-12 weeks, and group puppy foundation training at our facility for those that have completed inoculations.

Puppy training outlines required behaviour through establishing behavioural ground rules and boundaries while ensuring the puppy is physically and mentally stimulated. 
Puppy foundation training aims to establish a work ethic where, similar to humans, the puppy is paid through a reward system - utilising food, praise, and/or a toy for responding correctly to a stimulus (verbal and/or visual cue).

We do not teach or encourage the teaching of 'tricks' as we have found that such things can adversely affect training at later stages.

Our puppy foundation training includes, but is not limited to:

  • Sit
  • Down
  • Stand
  • Recall – including away from distractions
  • Wait
  • Stay
  • Veterinary inspection
  • Loose lead walking
  • Walking without a lead
  • Food manners
  • Not biting owners, children, or visitors
  • No jumping up at owners/visitors
  • Correct greeting of other dogs and people

Socialisation with humans, animals, and such things as traffic is essential to teaching correct responses to distractions. This must not, however, be conducted in such a manner that the puppy thinks it can run off and play or chase whenever it wishes. To this end, our courses allow play and interaction with other puppies and older dogs while ensuring that the owner/handler can recall the puppy away from distractions when required.

Clients in our puppy foundation courses are actively engaged at all times. Short instructional briefings and demonstrations are followed by 'breakaway' training periods where all the attendees work their puppies. We ensure that we have sufficient numbers of instructors to supervise and apply personal tuition where required.
We work to put our clients at ease and enjoy their training sessions; therefore, as far as possible, we do not ask clients to perform tasks individually in front of others. There is no 'sitting around’ waiting a turn!

During courses, we offer advice about equipment, feeding, crate training, toileting, and any other subject that may arise. Our behaviourists will always assist with any perceived problems or issues.

Families are welcome, including children, as it is always a positive for puppies to interact and be taught correct responses to strangers and become acquainted with small, young children. Parents will be responsible for their children at all times.

Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme

The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme is a well-established dog training programme that is open to all dogs, whether Kennel Club registered or not, to provide a quality standard of training for puppies and owners and we offer full training for the Puppy Foundation award under the scheme.

The training results in certificates of achievement awarded to owners and their puppies who have successfully passed the scheme's tests.

Full details can be found on the Kennel Club web site at the link below:

Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme - Puppy Foundation

 

puppy training, abingdon, wantage, didcot, harwell, steventon, oxford, wallingford

© K9 Training Academy
Nr Steventon & Harwell, Oxfordshire
Dog training and dog sitting services for dogs in Didcot, Abingdon, Wantage, Oxford, Wallingford in Oxfordshire