Dogs Trust Puppy Owner Guide

Owner’s Guide Puppy Classes 1

WELCOME TO DOGS TRUST DOG SCHOOL! We’ll be giving you some extra info – you can keep it safe here!

Cash, Labrador, 4mo

The perfect place to teach your puppy to grow into a well behaved, sociable dog who fits happily into your life! You’ll both have a lot of fun building your new friendship and learning skills together!

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FAQ’s 1. What happens in class?

You’ll meet our friendly and knowledgeable team of coaches who will guide you to your personal ‘pod’ - a small area reserved just for you and your dog so that everyone can feel comfortable and calm at the start of class. There will always be at least 2 coaches to teach you how to train your puppy, and because we only have 6 puppies in every class you’ll have all the support you need!

Once everyone has settled your coach will start the class, which will include practical training as well as opportunities for discussion and socialising. You’ll be able to ask questions and see demonstrations—we’ll do whatever we can to help your puppy reach their full potential!

Our coaches will show you how to teach your puppy using rewards that they will really enjoy, so training is always a happy experience.

At the end of each class we’ll provide you with training tips for the week ahead and ensure everyone leaves calmly and happily.

2. Who are the coaches?

Your coaches are a friendly team of dog training class instructors recruited for their passion, knowledge, skills and understanding of how to teach dogs using the most up to date, positive methods.

3. Who should come?

Anybody who is involved in the care of your dog is encouraged and welcome, including children (it’s a good idea to bring something along to keep them occupied if they’re very young). Let your coach know if you have any special requirements or if there will be lots of you coming, so they can make sure you’re all comfortable. Please leave any other pets (including dogs) at home so you can concentrate on having fun with your puppy!

4. What should I bring?

Bring your dog’s bed/blanket, a selection of their favourite treats and one or two of their favourite toys.

If your dog requires any medication or has a specialised diet, please bring this along and make sure you let your coach know about this before the class.

5. Can I contact the coach between classes?

Yes, absolutely! Please feel free to contact your coach between classes if you have any questions or need more support. The best way to get in touch is via email so that your coach has time to give your response their full attention and contact you with the most appropriate advice.

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What is Dogs Trust Dog School?

Dog School is a programme developed by Dogs Trust to provide an accessible approach to dog training for all UK dogs. Dog School is informed by the most up to date developments in canine science but most importantly is fun for you and your dog.

What is different about Dog School?

Dog School is different from other dog training classes you may have been to. We are passionate about dog behaviour, and want to help you teach your puppy to grow into a dog who fits happily into your family life.

That means doing some basic training of course – they need to learn to sit when asked, walk with you on a loose lead and come back when you call. But that isn’t all, at Dog School we also help your puppy learn how to behave in everyday situations, such as when you pass other dogs, stop to talk to people in the street, or need them to settle down when you’re busy.

Dog School is also about making sure you develop a strong bond with your puppy, understand their behaviour, and know how to react when things don’t go according to plan. We set up the classes to make you and your puppy feel as relaxed and confident as possible, so you can both make the most of all the new information and experiences that you will have with us at Dogs Trust Dog School.

“ Dog School is informed by the most up to date developments in canine science but most importantly is fun for you and your dog

”

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Dog School Puppy Classes Will: 1

Teach you to understand your puppy You’ll learn what your puppy needs, how they or she communicates with you, how to react and prevent unwanted behaviours developing.

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Give your puppy confidence Your puppy will experience new things in a positive way, so they will grow up able to cope confidently with different aspects of family life.

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Teach your puppy good behaviour You’ll learn how to teach your puppy important skills such as coming back when called and walking nicely. Your puppy will learn to behave well in a range of situations, even if there’s lots going on to distract them.

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Help good behaviour become a way of life Your puppy will learn to behave well without being asked, so good behaviour will become the norm, and whatever the situation you’ll have a puppy to be proud of!

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Teach your puppy to enjoy being social Your puppy will have the chance to learn social skills by mixing with other puppies in a safe and positive environment, to give them the best experience.

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Give you all the help you need You’ll always be able to discuss any concerns you might have. We’ll also look out for any early signs of problems so we can give you the best advice right from the start.

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Your puppy wants you to:

12 STEPS TO PAWFECT PUPPIES Having worked with dogs for over 125 years we’ve learned a thing or two, including 12 key steps every dog owner should take to have a better relationship with their new companion. Each step will help you build a positive bond

with your puppy by understanding their needs, and will help prevent problems in the future. Your Dog School coaches will talk to you about these ‘twelve things your puppy wants you to know’.

Learn how to understand their body language so you can recognise how they’re feeling.

Introduce them to new things gradually and in a positive way that doesn’t frighten them.

Help them learn it’s ok to be left alone and not to be anxious when this happens.

Let them experience a varied and flexible environment so they’re comfortable adapting to new things.

Understand how they learn and use reward-based training to teach them new skills.

Give them the best chance of succeeding and learning how to respond in the right way by giving them simple things to learn and building up slowly.

Make learning easier for them by being consistent.

Teach them to expect quiet times so they know to settle down when you’re busy.

Help them learn that they don’t need to worry or be protective if someone approaches something they possess or value (like food or toys).

Allow them to express normal dog behaviour and simply enjoy being a puppy.

Be calm and patient with them, understand that getting angry will just make them confused and worried.

Understand how they learn to interact with other dogs and give them the best chance of developing good social skills.

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Learn to recognise how your puppy is feeling through their behaviour Dogs are a highly social species and use an amazing range of ways to communicate with each other and with us.

They’re very good at observing and responding to the behaviour of others – both dogs and members of their human family.

By watching and understanding your puppy’s behaviour you can manage their experiences and ensure they are positive.

Fear and anxiety are two of the most important signs to watch out for. If your puppy shows signs that

they’re frightened by a situation they’re in, they will need you to help them feel secure again by making the situation less scary.

Take a look at the pictures on the next few pages and learn what to look out for in your own dog.

Appeasement This dog is making it clear that they’re no threat to anyone by rolling onto their back and exposing their underside. Their tense and stiff body, narrowed eyes, tightly closed mouth, held back ears and tucked in tail are all communicating that they just want to be left alone please!

Low body and Tense This dog is showing they are worried about something in front of them by slightly lowering their body and tucking their tail in. Their body is tense and they’re leaning slightly backwards. Too worried to look away from what they’re anxious about, they have narrowed their eyes to show they are unsure. Their ears held back, and tense, furrowed face show that they’re concerned.

Low body and Whale Eye This dog has lowered their body to the floor to appear smaller and show they mean no harm. They’ve opened their eyes extra wide so the whites are visible and their brow furrowed. Their face, body and mouth are all tense, showing they’re concerned about whatever’s going on right now.

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Nervous This dog is communicating they’re a little unsure by planting their front feet widely apart and licking their lips. They’ve also widened their eyes, so the whites are showing and they are holding their ears slightly back, with tight facial muscles, to show that they’re anxious about what might happen now.

Paw Lift This dog is showing they’re worried (about someone approaching their food bowl) by lifting a paw. They’re also hunching their back and stiffening up all tense, with a tight mouth, widening their eyes and starting to tuck their tail in tighter – all to show they’re feeling uncomfortable with what’s happening right now.

Snarling This dog is extremely worried and is showing their teeth in an attempt to say that they want to be left alone right now! This is a clear warning sign that if they are unable to escape or avoid what’s happening then they might feel they have no choice but to snap. It’s important they aren’t told off for doing this as it is very useful communication that we need to heed immediately.

It’s important to recognise your puppy’s early signs of distress and respond quickly and appropriately to reduce your dog’s stress levels and avoid him having a bad experience.

Repeated exposure to scary events can result in dogs cowering, tucking their tail under their body, trying to move away, rolling onto their back, raising their hackles or potentially even baring teeth or growling.

By learning to spot early signs of fear and intervening quickly, you can make sure these behaviours don’t develop, and your dog stays safe, happy and calm.

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Introduce your puppy to new things gradually

Your puppy’s first experience of new things is very important as it can affect how they feel and react to that thing in the future. By introducing new things slowly and in a positive way you can reduce the chance that they will be worried. Letting your puppy investigate if they want to and it’s safe to do so, or look, listen and smell from afar if they prefer, means giving them a choice which can help them feel confident!

At Dog School classes we start introducing new things in this gradual way, including sounds that often scare dogs, like fireworks and sudden, loud bangs.

We start by playing these sounds at a very low volume in a safe, calm environment, so that your puppy associates them with feeling happy and secure. We then gradually increase the volume so that they get used to the strange noises while they’re having fun!

By building up tolerance slowly, we minimise the risk of your dog being frightened of the sound later in life.

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Help your puppy learn it’s OK to be alone

Dogs are a social species, so it’s natural for puppies to be scared of being alone. With time and patience, you can teach your dog that there’s nothing to worry about when they’re by themselves.

Your puppy needs to learn that being left on their own is a normal part of life. This means briefly starting to leave them early on, then gradually increasing these periods of time, and making sure that being alone is associated with something enjoyable (like a stuffed Kong). Build up the length of time very slowly, making sure that they

don’t get worried. Start by letting your puppy sleep in the bedroom for the first few nights so they feel safe and secure, before gradually moving their bed elsewhere. It is also a good idea if you can, to take a little time off work when you first get your puppy so you can teach them to be left alone for slightly longer each day.

Using an indoor kennel to make a cosy den An indoor kennel (or ‘crate’) can be useful, providing a safe, cosy place where your puppy learns to relax for short periods of time. Fresh water should always be available and your puppy will need enough space to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably.

It’s important to start by teaching your puppy to relax in their kennel without shutting the door, before introducing short periods of time with the door shut.

Time spent in the kennel should be built up very slowly, always associated with good things and should never be used as a punishment.

Give your puppy plenty to do at other times The other key aspect to helping your puppy to settle down when left alone is ensuring that they have plenty to do at other times. Your dog is much more likely to feel happy and relaxed if they’ve spent time and energy playing and training with you. Always allow your puppy to stretch their legs and go to the toilet before leaving them alone.

Make being left alone a positive experience for your puppy Start by encouraging your puppy into the kennel or bed and giving them a long-lasting treat like a stuffed Kong, whilst you sit nearby. If your dog is happy, start moving away just a step or two whilst they’re eating. Over time, slowly build up the distance you move away, so your puppy is happy when go through the door, move into another room, or go upstairs. If they try to follow you or whine, shorten the distance or time you’re away and start again. It’s worthwhile investing as much time as needed into these early stages to ensure that your puppy will happily settle down alone.

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Let your puppy experience lots of different environments

The first few months of a puppy’s life are an incredible time for learning. Amazingly, the range of experiences your puppy has early in life have a profound influence on the development of their brain and character!

Giving your puppy a variety of things to see and do will give them the best chance of becoming a well-adjusted, confident adult dog.

I can try out new things without feeling scared!

Dogs like routine and familiarity, but it’s equally important to teach your puppy to be comfortable with change and variety. You can do this by going to new places, meeting new people, and having new experiences, making sure your puppy feels happy and confident all the while. Try taking them in the car or on public transport, and go to different places like the beach, countryside or urban areas so this doesn’t frighten them in the future.

“ Letting your puppy experience lots of different environments early in life will have a profound influence on the development of their brain and character!

” Breaking up your puppy’s routine from time to time by visiting a friend’s house or changing their walks (even just the direction you walk in) can also help them become comfortable with change. But be careful not to overwhelm your puppy with new experiences; if they seem quiet or nervous try doing less, and build up the variety gradually.

Your puppy will continue to learn throughout life so it’s important to keep taking them out and about as they get older. By refreshing your dog’s familiarity with the different environments you introduced as a puppy, you’ll help them stay calm and confident as an adult dog.

Dixie, Saluki Cross, 8mo

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Use reward-based training

Dogs learn to connect events that always happen close together.

They come to believe that one action will result in another action, such as your puppy learning to expect you to come through the front door just after they hear the sound of the gate.

The sound of the gate on its own isn’t important, but if it predicts the pleasure of you getting home, they’ll start to get excited when they hear it.

Another type of association is made between your puppy’s own behaviour and what happens to them straight afterwards! If there’s a good outcome or reward, your puppy is more likely to repeat that behaviour again.

We use this type of reward based learning to train new behaviours or commands! For example, teaching your puppy to come to you when you call them. If your puppy learns that running straight to you when you say “come” means they’ll be given something they really enjoy - a piece of food, a game with their toy or a loving fuss (whatever they most enjoy) - then they’ll come running straight to you again the next time you call them!

My training sessions are always fun and I’ve learned so many new things!!

Ryman, Boxer, 4mo At Dogs Trust Dog School we only use reward based training, and do not advocate any training which causes pain or fear. Experts now know that historical training methods which use punishment or pain can lead to a number of behavioural problems. These include confusion and fear (which we now know is the biggest cause of the problems that people seek professional help for) as well as a breakdown in the bond between you and your dog.

Our coaches will guide you on the best way to teach your dog and how you can use reward-based training to redirect any bad habits or poor behaviour your dog might display. They’ll also give you lots of advice about which methods and rewards are effective and positive for your dog, and which types of equipment to avoid.

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Give your puppy the best chance of learning how to respond in the right way Your puppy is learning about the world, all the time! Every time they do something, they’re learning about what happens as a result and whether this gets them something they value.

This provides a great opportunity to make sure your dog learns the right things. Once you understand what your puppy values (usually attention, food and play), you can set up situations so that they can learn the right behaviours to get these rewards.

Although it is sometimes difficult to do, this means giving them attention when they are quietly resting or playing with their own toys, rather than charging about or being naughty.

It’s easy to underestimate how much dogs value attention, but it’s an incredibly important tool you can use to teach your puppy how to behave.

You can do this by giving your puppy attention when they’re quietly resting or playing with their toys, and no attention at all when they’re misbehaving.

“ Try to understand what your puppy values so you can set up situations where they learn the right behaviours

” Making sure your puppy learns how you’d like them to behave involves planning. For example, by ensuring your dog has easy access to their chews and toys, you can reward them with attention when they pick them up.

If your dog picks up anything else, it’s important not to react. This means making sure that anything potentially dangerous, or valuable, is kept out of reach.

If your puppy is already showing ’naughty’ behaviours like stealing (especially if you notice your puppy attempting to protect stolen items) speak to one of our Dog School coaches for further advice.

By saying hello to them when they have four feet on the floor, rather than when he is jumping up, he will soon learn that this is what they need to do to achieve the amazing result of getting you to talk to them!

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Teach your puppy to settle when you’re busy

There is one important thing that every puppy needs to get used to, but which is often forgotten—the idea that life isn’t always exciting and sometimes nothing happens.

It’s important for your dog to learn that you’re not always ‘available’, even if you’re physically in the same space.

They need to learn to relax and settle down when you’re busy.

We work on this with you in class by teaching your dog to ‘settle’ between each activity. This helps them to get used to the idea that sometimes fun things happen, but sometimes they need to relax and to be patient – even if there are other people and dogs about.

It’s important that you practice

this at home, as it will make a big difference to their future behaviour. Teaching this behaviour from the start means you can build up to having a dog that you can take to a café to catch up with friends, or even take them to work if it’s a dog-friendly environment.

Some puppies find this easier to learn than others – so don’t worry if yours takes a bit of time to settle down in class. Puppies have different experiences in their first few weeks of life and each one has its own special, unique personality. Keep practising and with patience your dog will learn to relax, making your future life together much easier and happier.

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Teach your puppy how to share

You can help make your puppy happy about you approaching them by bringing them something even nicer to add to what they have, or even exchanging it.

Swapping things like toys (or stolen slippers!) for an extra tasty treat will help teach your puppy that giving something up is rewarding.

Early experiences play a big part in how your puppy responds to people approaching their ‘possessions’, so if they’ve learnt that people approaching could mean things being taken away from them or being told off, they may become defensive.

It’s important for your puppy to learn not to worry if people approach whilst they have things like food and toys.

Old ideas about guarding being associated with dominance are not helpful – in fact, poor advice to take a food bowl away when your dog is eating or to tell your puppy off for guarding will probably just make things worse, as they will feel more worried and more defensive.

I’m happy to share my favourite things with my owners and doggy friends!

Dolly, Terrier, 6 mo

If your puppy shows signs of being worried around their food bowl, such as eating very fast, appearing tense or ‘hunched’ over the bowl, keeping a wary eye on you whilst eating, or growling, you’ll need to teach them that your approach is a good thing.

Start with an empty food bowl on the floor and approach to add a small amount of kibble at a time. By starting off with no food, your dog has nothing to worry about and will learn that your approaching is always good. Ask your coach for advice if you think your dog is still worried, but for most puppies doing this very simple exercise makes the difference between a dog who is relaxed about you approaching their food and one who could end up dangerously overprotective.

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Developing good social skills with other dogs

Puppies need to learn how to communicate with other dogs through practise, just like children.

How your puppy gets on with other dogs in the future depends on their early interactions with other dogs. At Dog School we’ll teach you to recognise how your puppy is reacting to dogs and how to ensure that all their experiences are positive.

Understanding how your dog plays with other dogs is particularly important. Your coaches will demonstrate when to leave your puppy to it, and how to identify situations where you may need to intervene. For example, if one of the puppies shows signs of fear, or one persistently chases the other.

Like us, puppies need to learn social niceties, so they can get along in the dog world. It’s important to let your puppy interact with well socialised ADULT dogs with good social skills, as well as other puppies. Many adult dogs are remarkably good at ‘puppy training’, as they’ll allow puppies to play but will stop them getting too lively. This helps puppies to learn how to interact appropriately and is a vital part of growing up.

If your puppy doesn’t get this opportunity to learn, they may end up being too boisterous, which can lead to problems. Similarly, meeting dogs that are nervous, aggressive, or overly tolerant, will not help your dog to develop good social skills either. Finding the right type of dog-friends for your dog is therefore very important, and your coaches can give you advice on what to look for.

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Understand how your behaviour affects your puppy

Consistency is fundamental in helping your puppy learn what to expect from you. How you act and react to your puppy’s behaviour has a direct impact on them. They need us to be people they can trust to guide them safely through life. It’s particularly important to appreciate that getting cross or frustrated is counter-productive. Getting angry will make your dog worried about you, which can potentially lead to problems in the future.

Having a puppy can be frustrating!

It’s very easy to be impatient if you come home tired from work to a puppy that’s excited and wanting attention. It can drive you mad if they don’t appear able to concentrate when you’re practising training—but remember they’re still very young! Your puppy is always watching and learning from your responses though, so any negative reactions from you can have a long-term impact on them.

If you feel frustrated with your puppy, our advice is to ask someone else to take over for a while or walk away and leave them with a chew whilst you take a much-needed break. Patience is an essential element to training your puppy, so if yours is wearing thin, its okay to leave the training until you feel calm again. Getting angry will only confuse your dog or make them anxious, which is the last thing that you want.

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Be consistent

Your puppy is learning about you all the time.

Every time you interact with them, you’re building their expectation of how you’ll respond to them in the future.

Your dog wants to please you, but they can only learn how to do this if your behaviour is consistent. For example, if you only greet your dog when they have four feet on the floor, they’ll quickly learn that this is how you want them to greet you. But if you sometimes say hello when they’re jumping up but at other times ignore them, they’ll become confused and find it much harder to learn that this is not good behaviour.

Being confused can cause anxiety in your dog, because they can’t work out what you really want from them, which often leads to other problems. This is particularly true if they get both a good and bad reaction for the exact same behaviour.

So make sure everyone interacts with your puppy in the same way!

Getting on the sofa is a good example. You may be perfectly happy to have your puppy on the sofa when they’re clean and sleepy. However, telling them off for getting up with muddy feet will only confuse them. It’s entirely up to you whether you let your puppy on the sofa all the time, or only when a blanket is there, or only when invited, or not at all – as long as this is always very clear to the puppy and everyone gives your puppy the same message! Decide on a rule and be consistent in sticking to it, so your puppy knows exactly what to expect.

“ Consistency is key! Being confused can cause anxiety in your dog, because they can’t work out what you really want from them

”

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Give your dog plenty of opportunities to enjoy being a puppy

Puppies are full of energy and curiosity, which means they need plenty of exercise and things to chew or play with to keep them happy. Exercise doesn’t just mean going out for a run, but having the opportunity to sniff interesting things, explore their environment and play with other dogs. It’s just as important to give your dog plenty of opportunities to use their brain power; for example, by solving food puzzles, or doing fun training sessions with you.

Making sure your puppy’s needs are met is a very important part of preventing behaviour problems developing. A puppy that’s had lots of positive stimulation and exercise is much less likely to be

bored or frustrated. By using up their energy doing positive things, your puppy is less likely to look for other, possibly destructive things to do.

Dog School classes are a fantastic way to provide your dog with opportunities to help him enjoy learning how you’d like them to behave!

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And finally... a little bit about us Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog charity, caring for over 16,000 dogs in our centres every year. Sadly, many of those dogs end up with us because they’ve developed behaviours that are difficult to live with.

Every step of the way we’ll always be working hard to keep abreast of advances in the understanding of dog behaviour and keep updated with the most positive dog training methods.

Our Dog School is based in the most up to date developments in canine science and aims to reduce the number of dogs developing problem behaviour by providing high quality training and friendly advice.

We value your feedback, and aim to continually improve the work that we’re so passionate about, so please feel free to contact us with any comments or questions relating to your experience at Dog School.

We want to help owners form a life-long bond with their dogs, have a good understanding of how behaviours develop, and how to avoid problem behaviour occurring.

After puppy classes: the next steps?

Your Dog School adventure doesn’t have to end here!

We run classes for both adolescent dogs and adult dogs so you can come along whenever you’d like during your puppy’s development. You might feel you need a little extra support during their adolescence or you might just want to continue having fun teaching your dog in a safe and supported environment.

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For further training information, including leaflets and 'how to' videos visit

www.dogstrustdogschool.org.uk