Animal Medical Center - Dr. Cynthia Hartz

Animal Medical Center

Quality Healthcare for Your Pet

First Steps Puppy Classes

Creating Friendly Dogs Through Puppy Socialization

The socialization period in a puppy’s development occurs between the 4th through 16th week of their life. At this most crucial time in a puppy’s development they are not afraid of much and they are primed and eager to experience pleasant opportunities with a variety of people, places and things.

What does and doesn’t happen during the socialization period in your puppy’s life can have a significant impact on their adult behavior. Puppy’s that were not allowed the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of people, places and situations can develop into adult dogs who have a difficult time adjusting to anything new and can become fearful of unpredictable situations. To help ensure that your new puppy reaches your goals of a friendly well-adjusted family member we offer our First Steps Puppy Primer Classes to capitalize on this socialization period.

We have structured our First Steps Puppy Classes so they provide a fun and safe environment in which to introduce your puppy to new sights, sounds, activities and friends. You will be taught positive techniques to motivate your pup and to build his or her confidence. There will also be discussions on the latest methods to help with puppy challenges of housetraining, nipping, barking or chewing. By using positive reinforcement, your puppy will learn to respond eagerly to the commands come, sit, wait, loose leash walking and down.

Each hour class starts out with Puppy Playtime and then moves on to the specific socialization exercise for that week. Each week we try to highlight a different theme. We have a night of things that move and make noise, a night of obstacles, costume night and a visit to the vet clinic.

As the puppies wind down from all of their exploring and meeting new friends, discussions are held on preventing normal puppy behaviors and we answer any other puppy questions that come up. We finish out the evening with the beginning techniques for teaching your pup some basic commands.

General Information
Our Puppy Primer Class runs for a total of 5 weeks, the first class being orientation and is without your pup. Orientation is held every other Wednesday evening at 7:45PM. The subsequent 4 classes meet the following Wednesdays at 6:30PM with you and your pup.

All family members, including children 3 years old and up, are encouraged to attend classes. Puppies will benefit by socializing with different ages of children and learn to accept the leadership of children. Families and puppies will enjoy learning together. Singles are invited to bring a friend. Each of our weekly sessions will involve both you and your puppy in different games, props and learning activities.

Puppy information
All pups must be between 8 and 12 weeks of age at the time of their first class.

Puppies must:
• Have been examined by a veterinarian and be in general good health
• Be free of internal and external parasites
• Have had their first vaccinations as recommended by a veterinarian

Equipment
The Ultimate Puppy Toolkit is included with your registration fee. Each puppy should have a properly fitted buckle collar or a Gentle Leader Head Collar and a 6-foot long leash.

Additional Information
Orientation sessions for First Steps Puppy Primer Classes are every other Wednesday evening at 7:45 pm. Please call for upcoming orientation dates or to register for our First Steps Puppy Class. Please click here for our Puppy Primer Class registration form and click here for our Puppy Primer Class information flyer.

For more information about AMC's First Steps Puppy Classes, please contact Shirley Thompson, CPDT, at 610-489-8982.

Our Puppy Primer Classes information sheets and forms are in Adobe PDF format. If you need to download the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the forms and flyer, please click this link: Adobe PDF Reader Download.

Animal Medical Center

25 West Third Avenue
Trappe, PA 19426

Phone: 610-489-8982

Fax: 610-489-4363