Join us for puppy confidence classes every Thursday at 10:30am
We are so happy to invite puppies that are registered with us and using us as their regular practice to our newly reimagined ‘puppy parties’, with a focus on puppy socialisation and confidence. We are launching a four week course aimed at improving your puppy’s confidence and getting them ready for the big wide world as well as meeting some new puppy friends!
What are the age restrictions?
Puppies can attend from 9 weeks of age and at least one week after their first vaccine, please bring along proof of vaccination if this has been done by the breeder. They can attend up to 16 weeks of age, after which they are likely to develop their sharp puppy teeth and be a little too big to interact with smaller pups. If your puppy will be too old to attend all four weeks or you can’t make it one week, you are still welcome to attend as many classes as you can.
How do I book my puppy in?
Speak to our reception team in practice, call us on 01435 864422 or fill out our online sign up form. We will book your pup in for the full 4 week course and a member of our team will call the day before to confirm numbers.
How long are the classes?
Classes will range from 30-45 minutes depending on well the puppies interact and how tired they are getting!
What if my puppy is the only one who can attend?
Our classes are planned to accommodate for the event where only one or two puppies are able to attend, as they aren’t just about meeting other pups. Your puppy (and you!) will get to learn how to prepare for a vet visit, how to get used to vet handling and some really useful training techniques you can practice at home that will make puppy and adulthood easier. You’ll also be able to ask our expert nursing staff any questions you might have about your puppy’s health, nutrition, exercise and training.
What sort of things will the classes cover?
Socialisation
Puppies will meet other puppies in a supervised area to ensure that interactions are positive and not overwhelming. Learn more about socialising your puppy here.
Vet confidence
Our aim is for your puppy to associate their visit to us as something fun and rewarding, we have found that even some of our senior dogs remember their ‘puppy party’ days when they come in for health checks!
Puppy health
Our nurses are on hand to give you expert advice about vaccinations, parasite control and neutering.
Vet handling
We will be showing you some basic handling you can practice at home so your pup thinks of a vet exam as a positive experience. We’ll show you how to get your pup ready for their first nail clip and introduce them to sitting still on the weighing scales as well as lots of other new experiences. A lot of these techniques will also make it easier for you if you notice something about them and want to check it out.
Nutrition and exercise
Not sure how much food your puppy should be having or how long they need to be walked for? Our nurses can answer all your food and exercise questions, we have also made a handy guide to puppy nutrition.
Training
We’ll run through some basic training techniques you can use to tackle things like getting your puppy’s attention or reducing puppy biting. We can also advise of where there training journey should go next.
Getting ready for the big world
Our nurses will guide you through how to get your puppy ready to deal with ‘scary’ things they may encounter like noisy traffic, doorbells or sirens.
Playtime
We want your puppy to have some fun too so there’ll be plenty of time to try out some new toys and interact with new people and pups.
How much does attendance cost?
Puppy classes are free of charge to all our clients.
What about older dogs?
If you have an older dog who isn’t very confident at the vets, we’re here to help! We offer confidence clinics for our canine patients who find vet visits stressful, beginning slowly with a visit to reception during our quieter hours for some fuss and treats from our reception staff and gradually building up to exploring consult rooms and meeting the rest of the team. If you think your dog would benefit, please contact the practice so we can plan a program for them.
Call us on 01435 864422 if you would like to book your puppy for a confidence class.
