About the Puppy Parenting Program

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Within each class you will all sit down at tables as a group while your pup hangs out in an open top crate next to you with some enrichment toys and snacks to keep them occupied. 

This is to allow you time to really focus and absorb the information that Kristen is teaching and to provide ample opportunity to ask questions, listen to answers and discuss things as a group.

Over the 8 weeks we cover the following topics:

1. Genetics 

2. Biological fulfilment

3. Puppy Behaviours

4. Markers

5. Luring games and body awareness

6. Desensitisation to sound

7. Desensitisation to touch

8. Toilet training

9. Crate training

10. Developing boundaries within the house

11. Common Mistakes in puppy raising

12. Meet my puppy events

13. Confidence

14. Understanding Social Cues

15. How to play with your puppy

16. Teaching an “on” and “off” switch

17. Desensitisation to movement

18. Fear periods

19. Consequences

20. Training Tools

21. Learning how to give to pressure/resistance

22. Choosing the right lead and treat pouch

23. Understanding your puppy's dietary needs

24. Choosing the right food

25. Choosing the right supplements

26. Impulse control

27. Muzzle Training

28. Presentation command

29. Grooming

30. Desensitisation to vet equipment

31. Dog sports: What, where, why?

32. Group Classes: What, where, why?

33. Doggy Daycare: What, where, why?

34. Boarding Facilities vs Vet Boarding vs Home Care

You also receive a booklet each week with all of the information we have covered just incase you miss anything!

Throughout each class the theory is broken up with practical sessions where we spread out throughout the room and work through different obedience commands. 

Each week there is either a new skill introduced or an increase in difficulty of the previous weeks skills.

Kristen will guide you through the process of introducing each new skill and any variations to introducing the skill because every puppy is different and what works for one may not work for another.

Over the 8 weeks we introduce 10 obedience skills:

• Sit                                         
• Drop                    
• Stand
• Place          
• Out   
• Door Manners             
• Leave It               
• Calm Greetings           
• Recall            
• Loose Lead Walking

(Please Note: Week 1 of the program is for owners only to ensure the puppies first week runs as smoothly as possible so there is no practical element in week 1)

Desensitisation to sight, sound, touch and movement is so important during a puppies critical period of development (0-16 weeks). It is during this time that they form opinions and feelings towards different things, outside of this window it can be very difficult to change their opinion so it is important to try and develop either positive or neutral associations as much as possible.

At the end of each class all of the puppies are taken through a desensitisation course that changes each week and involves going under things, through things, over moving things and past noisy things.

The desensitisation course then becomes a socialisation pen so that they can socialise under Kristen's supervision so that she can interrupt any undesirable behaviours should they arise. 

Socialising with the desensitisation equipment means the puppies focus is not solely on each other and also allows pups the opportunity to  place distance between themselves and others if they are feeling overwhelmed.

(Please Note: Week 1 of the program is for owners only to ensure the puppies first week runs as smoothly as possible so there is no desensitisation or socialisation element in week 1)