Once you complete your 4 sessions, you may repeat any of these classes again for $10 per visit until your puppy is 18 weeks of age if you maintain our isolation protocol.  You only need to register for this course one time no matter how many times you attend.  When your puppy is 16 weeks of age, you are eligible to enroll in our Basic Obedience and Behavior Course where you will learn every practical skill you'll ever need to know to help your dog become the very best they can be!

 

Our class schedule is attached that details what is covered during each week.  We ask students to bring their puppies in on a 6' leash which is attached to a standard buckle/snap-lock collar or a front ring harness.  (A back-ring harness is great for transporting a dog safely in the car, but teaches puppies to pull when they're on leash!)

 

If you didn't upload a copy of your puppy's vaccination record when you registered online, please bring it with you to your first class.  Save paper; we don't need a copy for our records.  You are also asked to bring in about a quarter to a half a cup of very small, but very tempting treats (depending on the puppy's size) to use in the early stages of training.  You might reduce or withhold the puppy's morning feeding accordingly so that they are more eager and aren't overfed.  We wean puppies off of treats very quickly here, so don't be concerned about the treat dependencies that are common in other training programs.  All classes feature loose lead handling/following, constructive (one on one) socialization, basic command start-up, stimulate & settle and one of four series of lectures that will cover house-training, containment & supervision, energy/playtime/exercise as well as chewing and mouthing.  All household members, even the kids, are encouraged to attend our Puppy Building Blocks program.  There's no additional charge for additional people and it is good for everyone to learn how to handle and interact with their puppies.

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It takes a pretty major storm to shut us down, but if driving conditions are a concern for you, you can skip the class and add another class to your schedule at no additional charge.  You will miss one mini-lecture and hear another one twice, but you can still get the handouts that cover the lecture that you miss.  If we decide to close, we will post class cancellations on our website bulletin board at least one hour before class time.

 

Isolation protocol:  We've rarely had a transfer of illness from one puppy to another in any of our puppy classes in the 10 years that we have offered this class.  You can help to maintain this effort and your own puppy's health by minimizing your puppy's exposure to viral and bacterial concerns until they are at least 16 weeks of age.  Ten days has been determined to be a general maximum time span in which a dog can start showing symptoms from exposure to bacterial and viral concerns.  These are good practices to follow even if you don't attend a puppy class.

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1. Wait to come to these classes at a later date if your puppy has been in a public multi-dog environment or had contact with unknown dogs in the past 10 days.  This includes, but is not limited to, grooming shops, dog parks, kennels, day cares, shelters or rescue facilities.  You may start your classes once this 17 day period passes.  We do encourage ongoing constructive socialization with known, healthy, unexposed dogs however.

2. Please do not allow your puppy to have any contact with unhealthy dogs, unknown dogs or any dogs that may have been exposed to unknown dogs, or have been exposed to stool and urine from unknown dogs, in the past 10 days.  This includes, but is not limited to, any dogs that have been in a grooming shop, dog park, kennel, day care, vet clinic, shelter or rescue facility.

3. Avoid any areas where the stool and urine from unknown dogs may be present.  The stool and urine from other dogs can contain bacterial or viral elements that could be hazardous to your puppy's health and possibly transfer to other puppies in your classes.

4. Don't let your young puppy touch any floor when you visit your vet clinic.  Keep them in a small carrier or in your arms during the entire visit, except when the puppy is on the exam table.  Maintain a distance of at least 10' from any dog when visiting your veterinarian.

We want to make sure that all of our families and puppies have a healthy, safe and fun experience at Ted Terroux Dog Training.  We look forward to meeting you and your puppy!

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The following PDF document links are:

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1. AVSAB (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior) Puppy Socialization position statement

2. PPG (Pet Professional Guild) puppy socialization checklist

3. Article by Tiffany Terroux with tips on how to create and maintain loose-leash walking

 

The Terroux Crew

 

Ted Terroux
Tiffany Terroux
Sara Peneton
Rick McComb

Molly Kleemola