Puppy Pre-School

Puppy Training Classes at the Lake Veterinary Hospitals are run over five lessons for puppies with a starting age of 8 to 14 weeks but this can vary in some circumstances.

This time is critical to the puppies’ learning when they need positive training in a safe environment to help them develop confidence and the social skills required to become a happy, well adjusted companion that your family will enjoy. It is very important that you introduce your pup to as many different things as possible – for example, other puppies, other people, new experiences, loud noises, etc.

Our well-managed classes are limited to four puppies, to ensure personalised attention in a calm environment so we all start off on the ‘right paw’.

The aim of puppy pre-school is to educate both the dog and the owner. More specifically, it covers:

• Socialising the pup to encourage him/her to become a good, obedient and enjoyable pet to own. The pup will learn how to cope with lots of people, loud noises, other dogs, cats, children and novel stimuli early in life.
• Teaching the pup basic good manners skills.
• Ensuring the puppy enjoys coming into the veterinary clinic and hence makes visits less traumatic for the puppy and the owner.
• Providing the owners with strategies to manage future behavioral issues at home.

Classes are run at Charlestown and Belmont.

There are 5 lessons and each run approximately 1 hour.

Please book early, as classes are very popular.

Call Charlestown 4943 6066 or Belmont 4945 9677 or email us.

Puppy Prep

Puppy Prep is a one-on-one service offered to clients whose puppies may be too old, or who are unable to attend, puppy training classes.

This means that your puppy doesn’t miss out on vital training information relating to its development. This private session includes all the information received at our puppy training classes.

Also, this is a good time to discuss any ‘issues’ you may be having with your new addition to the family.

• Toilet training
• Play biting
• Environmental enrichment
• Foundation behaviours
• Parenting skills

Appointments can be arranged either at the surgery or in the home environment.

Senior Puppy/Good Dog Manners

Mixed Age Classes

Good Dog Manners classes are suitable for adolescent and adult dogs with or without prior training. We concentrate on pet dog training to strengthen the human-animal bond.

The six classes in this course are small and personal with six dogs only in each group.

The curriculum includes these foundation behaviours and activities:

• Attention to owners – ‘look at me’
• Sit on request
• Drop on request
• Stand on request
• Settle on mat
• Stay on request
• Come when called
• Good on-lead manners
• Loose lead walking (no pulling)
• Meeting other dogs politely
• Trick training

This course complements the training completed in Puppy Training Classes, reinforcing foundation behaviours.

Principal: Phoebe Wallace Delta Accredited Instructor with Class IV Certificates in Dog Behaviour Training

For bookings: please phone Call Charlestown 4943 6066 or Belmont 4945 9677 or email us.

Behavioural Consultations

Behavioural consultations are available to help owners manage difficult or problem behaviours.

• Digging
• Barking
• Jumping
• Mild anxiety
• Anti-social behaviour
• Pulling on lead
• Chewing
• Inappropriate toileting

All training methods are scientifically proven and humane. We only use positive reward based training techniques. These will help your dog become a well-behaved dog and enjoyable companion for life.