Puppy School
Why Puppy School?
Acquiring a new puppy is very exciting, but can also be a little challenging, as your new puppy needs your time, care and attention. New puppy owners need a source of support and information while caring for their new family member.
Unfortunately, new puppy owners are often given either no information or misinformation on how to manage their pup's behaviour, and as a result every year thousands of dogs are euthanased or surrendered to animal shelters due to problem behaviours.
Greencross Puppy School is an excellent starting point for any owner wanting a well managed and socialised pet. Our course aims to teach owners skills and techniques they can use to plan their own behaviour management for the life time of their dog, and not just provide solutions to puppy problems. We aim to give owners realistic expectations of their dog through the understanding of dog behaviour, communication and learning.
You can start your puppy at Greencross Vets Puppy School from 7 to 16 weeks of age. Before commencing a class your puppy must have had at least one vaccination and a veterinary health check.
Greencross Puppy School provides a safe environment for your puppy, and classes are kept small so quality time can be spent with each puppy and their family. The course runs for 6 weeks to ensure vital contact time and assistance during this critical period of you and your puppy getting to know each other.
While attending Greencross Vets Puppy School you will be given assistance with:
- Calming and settling your puppy
- Solutions for problem behaviours
- Teaching acceptable behaviours
- Toilet training
- Gaining control of your puppy
- Preparing your puppy for obedience training
- Socialising your puppy
- Creating a controlled and interesting puppy environment
- Identifying potential problem behaviours
What makes Greencross Vets Puppy School classes unique?
- Our classes are run by veterinary nurses who are continually training and updating their skills and knowledge in puppy and dog behaviour.
- You are welcome to contact our nurses/trainers taking the classes at any point in between classes, to discuss any difficulties or advice with your puppy.
- A FREE vet health check is provided for the puppy if you have not visited any of our Greencross Vets.
- A hydrobath voucher is given to your puppy to be used on any Saturday morning at many of our Greencross Vets.
- You are entitled to a six month review consultation with your qualified veterinary nurse to discuss your puppy's progress.
Topics we can discuss
- Products available: Flea Treatments, Heartworm Prevention, Shampoos
- Diet and Feeding: When, where, how often and what to/what not to feed your new puppy
- Grooming: Brushing, bathing, nail clipping. When to start, what needs to be done for your individual puppy. How to introduce your puppy to being groomed without making them afraid.
- Preventative Medicine: Outline of the preventative medications currently available and which ones are important for your puppy.
- Dental Care: Maintenance of healthy teeth and gums.
- Fleas: What's effective, what's not and how to avoid a flea infestation in your household
- Dangers in the Home: How to make your home a safer place for your puppy.
- Council Laws: Advice on what's legally required for your puppy and where you can exercise him/her in your local shire.
- Missing Dogs: What to do if your new puppy goes missing. Effective ways of locating your little friend! Including Microchipping.