Puppy Kindergarten
We used to think that dog training should begin at six months of age, but puppies are capable of learning good manners at a much earlier age. The earlier you begin to train your Lab, the more quickly you will develop a deep and powerful bond with him that will last throughout your life. Puppy kindergarten is the perfect place to learn how to be your Lab's leader and friend, using only positive reinforcement techniques — no choke chains or physical manipulation, such as jerking or pulling.
What Your Lab Will Learn
A good puppy kindergarten class provides opportunities for puppies to develop social skills with dogs and people. You'll learn how to communicate effectively with your Lab and cope with typical puppy behaviors, such as barking, play biting, chewing, digging, stealing food or trash, and jumping up on people. Pups learn basic commands (“Sit,” “Stay,” “Come,” “Down,” and “Off”), and walking nicely on a leash without pulling is also part of the curriculum. Trainers may also cover such issues as spaying, neutering, grooming, health care, safety, and tattooing or microchipping for identification.
Some trainers offer regular “puppy parties” for socialization purposes. These informal get-togethers are a great opportunity for puppies to let off some steam, especially if they don't have another dog at home to play with or are alone during the day. Puppy parties have the same vaccination requirements as puppy kindergarten classes.
Class Size and Makeup
Look for a class with a manageable number of puppies, so the trainer is able to give individual attention to everyone. It's also a good sign if puppies are divided by size during playtime. Dogs play rough, and it's all too easy for a big dog to accidentally injure a small one. Local breed clubs often offer training classes, and this can be ideal for you and your Lab, allowing the two of you to meet other Labs and Lab owners.
Puppy kindergarten is aimed at puppies ten weeks and older. Be sure the class you attend requires dogs to be vaccinated and flea-free before attending class. Expect all puppies older than eight weeks to have written proof of distemper and parvo vaccination; puppies older than twelve weeks to have written proof of their second distemper and parvo vaccination. Run the vaccination requirements by your veterinarian to make sure he or she is comfortable with your puppy attending the class. Some vets prefer not to expose puppies to strange dogs until the vaccination series is complete at four months of age.
Well-behaved children of appropriate age (six years or older) should be welcome at dog training class. They need to learn how to work with the dog just as much as you do. A reputable trainer encourages participation of the entire family.
