Open enrollment puppy classes gives clients flexibility and puppies a head start. These classes offer many benefits to all involved – the clients, the puppies, and the instructor(s).
Why You Should Host An Open Enrollment Puppy Class
1) No Waiting To Start Class
Puppies can start as soon as they arrive in the home and have received their required amount of vaccinations. No waiting until the next class starts.
2) Community of Puppy Owners
There are widely varying levels of experience, training, and puppy “issues” in the class – so new puppy families can see that they are not alone and also that there is hope for their puppy. Students also learn from each other.
3) Easy Make Up Policy
If families must miss a class, they can make it up the next time it rolls around. The rolling enrollment model offers far more flexibility with schedules. When coming to class is more flexible, families are more likely to come.
4) Continuous Income
Income from class fees and product sales comes in more steadily and frequently.
5) Stronger Customer Retention
Because the instructor spends more time working one-on-one with each family, they are more likely to continue taking classes with the instructor as their puppy grows up (customer retention).
Implementing an open enrollment puppy class can be challenging (stepping out of a comfort zone), but once it gets up and running, the benefits are huge for all involved.
From puppy classed to reactive dog classes, judging the stress levels of the dogs is an important part of making the class successful. There are three optimal ways to quickly judge a dog’s level of stress during training. Reducing stress levels in a dog is important to the learning process. Learning is hard without all the environmental distractions in a group class or at a park so reducing the level of stress the dogs are in will improve your training success rate and increase the amount of time you can train them effectively by lowering the level of fatigue the dog will experience.
Observe Body Language
Excessive sniffing, yawning, lip licking, scratching, or other passive behaviors are a sign that the dog needs a break, more space between dogs, or more positive reinforcement. Ideally, training sessions shouldn’t last longer than 5 minutes at a time so make sure your client’s aren’t working their dogs too long.
Food Intake
When a dog’s stress levels increase, they will likely stop eating treats they were accepting just a few minutes before or they’ll take the treats more harshly than before. If you hear clients complain that their dog must be full or that the dog is hurting them when they take the treat, ask your clients to give their dogs a small sniffing break away from other dogs or people. This will help the dog “reset” and regroup in order to continue learning. We all take breaks while studying for exams, right?
Response To Known Behavior Cues
Considering that a dog knows that sit means sit at home, at the park, at the vet’s office, and everywhere else, if the dog does not sit when asked during class it could be a sign that the dog is too stressed to comply or understand what is needed of them. This is especially true when working with reactive dogs and their “fight or flight” response has been triggered. It isn’t that the dog is being stubborn, but rather that they dog cannot think straight because they are worried for their physical safety. If someone put you in your most feared situation and asked you to do math, how well do you think you would do?
Stress is an emotional roller coaster for everyone – people included. Being able to recognize it in dogs will help your training proceed more smoothly and efficiently. Implement management techniques to help dogs (and their people) feel more comfortable in group classes or lessons out and about.
What’s one of your favorite stress management techniques for dogs or people? Share it with us below in the comments!
Many dog owners come to us with broken human-dog bonds. We recommend modern dog training techniques that will aid in repairing their bond while creating better behaved dogs. However, what do you do when the owner and dog have too strong of a bond and are literally inseparable?
Separation anxiety is an epidemic in the US. Dogs are injuring themselves while trying to get out of the crate or destroying homes when the owner leaves. They are angering neighbors with constant barking and living in misery and depression until their owners come home. This behavior is dangerous to their health and mental well-being and is almost entirely preventable.
Separation Anxiety Prevention Techniques
Socialization
One of the prominent triggers that can contribute to separation anxiety is under socialization. A dog who is sensitive to the sounds and smells of the outside world can startle easily if a loud sound occurs outside while you are away. Educating clients on the importance of proper socialization is an important factor in preventing separation anxiety. Socialization should teach the dog that the outside world is fun and exciting rather than scary and intimidating. Make sure your clients understand that they should not force their dogs into situations they aren’t ready for.
According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, the critical socialization period is before the puppy hits 16 weeks of age. This means you’ll want to emphasize the need to get puppies out into the real world before they are fully vaccinated. Unfortunately, more dogs perish due to behavior issues than medical issues. Clients who wait until their puppies are fully vaccinated run the risk of behaviors issues due to under socialization in the future. In general, a puppy who is allowed to explore the outside world before 16 weeks will be more confident and less skittish as an adolescent or adult.
Crating
Encourage clients to put their dogs in crates. Every dog should learn to love being crated for practical reasons (emergencies, vet visits, travel, etc). Crating is the safest way to contain a dog while client’s are away during the day. Dogs should be crated throughout the day when the client is home and away. The most detrimental failure of crate training is putting the dog in the crate only when you leave the house. Teach clients that this should be a very happy and fun place for the dog to hangout, whether or not the clients are home, and you’ll likely change the dog’s emotional response as well.
Relaxation Exercises
The most popular train of thought I come across among clients is that you must constantly give your dog physical exercise. Their dogs grow up with plenty of daily exercise. Unfortunately, their dog adapts to the level of exercise and then the behavior problems arise due to boredom or lack of training. Relaxation exercises are incredibly important. Just like the trend with people to do meditation or yoga, relaxation is something that has to be taught to most dogs. Self control and impulse control don’t come naturally to dogs. They usually need a bit of guidance to learn how to be still and calm amidst the chaos of life these days.
Mental Stimulation Activities
Let’s face it, our clients are increasingly busy dealing with work and raising a family. Dogs don’t get as much physical or mental stimulation as they used to. Bored dogs experience more anxiety which can lead to separation anxiety. When the owner isn’t home, the dog experiences excessive boredom. One solution is to provide the dog with activities when the owner leaves. Leaving a dog to fend for itself in a crate or loose in the house is a great way to set them up to fail. Encourage owners to provide their dogs with safe chew toys, puzzles, and other activities when they leave the house.
Client’s Misdiagnosis
Clients that have a tendency to cater to their pet’s demands may fall victim to attention seeking behaviors and assume they are dealing with separation anxiety. Extinction bursts and temper tantrums can weaken a client’s intentions and make them question their methods. Ignoring a crying baby, or puppy in this case, is difficult, but important in creating an independent pup. For example, if the client begins to ignore the puppy and the puppy only barks louder, they may think the training isn’t working and tend to the puppy’s wants. Unfortunately, this creates a dog that knows how to get a reaction out of their owners. In the long run, dog that decides what he wants and knows how to get it when he wants will experience increased anxiety if his demands are not met. A consistent schedule and clear rules are important in preventing separation anxiety from the beginning.
Linda Michaels has a nice, simple article on the Positively Blog about ways you can treat and prevent separation anxiety. She discusses the importance of keeping dogs out of the bed while sleeping and providing accurate levels of stimulation to challenge dogs mentally.
What are your recommendations to new puppy owners? Share your ideas in the comments below.
Retractable leashes are gaining in popularity unfortunately.
More likely than not, your future clients will be using retractable leashes when you meet them. When you recommend that they use a regular 6 foot leash instead, they might question why. Here are some great replies you can respond with.
Possibility for Injury to People or Their Dog
One the design feature (or rather a flaw) is that the wire is thin and light weight. This makes it easier to retract without tangles, but also means it is easier to injure yourself or your dog if it gets wrapped around a limb. We have personally experienced rope burns that are extremely painful and would not recommend a retractable leash to dog owners (and especially not novice dog owners).
They Teach Dogs How To Pull
The basic principle of the leash is that the dog gets more freedom when they pull the leash. This is inherently rewarding and teaches dogs how to pull their owners along walks. Often when a dog is put on a regular non-retractable leash the dog continues to pull because they don’t understand the difference. Clients inadvertently train their dogs to pull without know it by using these retractable leashes.
It’s Easy For Dogs To Get Loose
The handle is designed to keep an easy grip. However, as the dog pulls he can pick up momentum and ultimately yank the leash out of the owner’s hands. We have seen this happen numerous times. What happens when a client’s dog sees a squirrel across the street and takes off without notice? Dogs can get hit running across the street while on a flexi or retractable leash.
Increased Chances For Dog Fights
Dogs can easily get too far ahead of their owners with retractable leashes. This means they could turn a corner only to come face to face with an unfriendly dog. The confusion and sudden appearance without warning on both parties can cause a dog fight where the owners have no way to untangle the dogs withouth giving themselves a rope burn. This kind of experience can give dogs a life-long struggle when it comes to interracting with other dogs in the future and can even lead to leash reactivity.
Accidentally Dropping The Leash Can Spook Dogs
If an owner accidentally drops the handle, it can spook the dog. The dog could then take off running and get lost or, worse, get hit by a car. The leash only chases them as they run away making them run away even faster. This can be incredibly dangerous and traumatizing for dogs.
Educate your clients about the dangers of retractable leashes. Sure they are convenient, but so many things can go wrong. We always say, “Better to be safe, than sorry!”
The dog loving world is catching up with modern technology.
Dog lovers play a part in all professions, but only recently has that translated to technology that can help owners love their dogs more. These machines help people communicate with their dogs. From training to enrichment, this technology is a small step into the future.
The Petzila allows you to see, speak to, and treat dogs. This machine is great to check in with your dog throughout the day and give them a special treat. With regard to training, you can remotely reward dogs for good behavior such as not barking or being destructive. It comes in at about $169.99 on their website.
This toy is ideal for dogs that love to play fetch. When used within reason, it is a great tool to incorporate more exercise for dogs with people with mobility issues. Of course, in the dog’s eyes, part of the fun of fetch is the interaction with their person. With this machine, the dog drops a mini-tennis ball into the large hole and the machine throws it out the smaller hole. The iFetch would probably be a wonderful Holiday gift at only $99.95.
The Pet Chatz machine allows people to talk with their pets while they are away. It also has the treat dispensing feature. This is another great option for remote training to reward and encourage good behavior. It connects to your home’s wifi so you can easily connect remotely. You can pre-order this machine for $350.00.
The Pet Cube is a camera and laser entertainment system for people and their pets. It connects through wifi and video tapes your pets as they play with a laser pointer that is integrated into the cube. This project was funded by kickstarter. This machine is ideal for cats who need daily exercise. You can pre-order it for $179.
The Pet Tutor is the ultimate remote training device. It has a sensor to reward the dog when it doesn’t bark so it can function automatically or manually. Trainers often use this for distance behaviors as well as separation anxiety cases. The Pet Tutor comes in at $379.
The APDT offers a fun and challenging CLASS curriculum for new pet owners.
The Association of Professional Dog Trainers is the leading organization for professional dog trainers in North America. They offer a wonderful program for trainers to get involved with local rescues as well as increase their income by teaching a specific kind of class. Canine Life and Social Skills (CLASS) is targeted towards shelter dogs who need to build their life skills and social skills to successfully get adopted or stay adopted. Becoming a CLASS Instructor & Evaluator is a great way to set yourself apart from your competition.
Becoming an Instructor
To become a CLASS instructor simply sign up for an account. Once you’ve registered, you have access to the CLASS curriculum so that you can easily begin teaching. The APDT also supplies advertising materials so you can help clients or potential clients learn about the CLASS program. CLASS for shelter dogs is a great program to use if you want to begin a relationship with your local rescue or shelter.
Certification for Evaluators
To become certified as a CLASS Evaluator you’ll need to pass a video exam, be the minimum age of 21, have at least 60 hours of training experience, and maintain liability insurance either through the company you work for or through your own business. The cost is only $40 to become certified. Once your students complete the CLASS curriculum in class, being certified allows you the possibility to graduate your clients and help them become certified as well! Getting their dog certified is a fun way to encourage excellence in pet ownership and responsibility.
Here’s our favorite explanation to the common question: What is clicker training?
Clients always ask: What is clicker training? Even if they don’t ask, what they think they know may be incorrect or incomplete. This video by Kristin Crestejo is our favorite video explanation of what clicker training is and how to use it to train animals.
Clicker training is a wonderful training method that precisely identifies what behavior the animal performed that earned them the reward they were working for. This allows them to acquire the behavior accurately, quickly, and with great enthusiasm. The clicker is simply a piece of metal that makes a “click” sound when you press it with your thumb. The click should always be followed by a reward that the animal values. Clicker training is used worldwide to train zoo animals, wildlife for military operations, and top performance competition champions. Fortunately, it is easily applied to the needs of the common owner and their dogs.
Using food in training is your best option to create social, confident, and obedient dogs for your clients.
Many modern dog trainers utilize food in training. While food is an incredibly practical way to motivate dogs, it serves another important functions when it comes to the dog’s confidence. Simply put, food has the power to change how an animals feels about certain situations.
In the article “Preventative Counterconditioning…because bad stuff happens” by Awesome Dogs, the trainer uses an unexpected life event as a chance to countercondition her dogs before they get a chance to make an emotional connection to the situation. Her neighbors were having a huge and loud party and she took the opportunity to feed her dogs chicken. This ensured that the dogs made a good, positive association with the experience before they could decide for themselves.
Proper Socialization
Proper socialization should occur in this manner as well. Its important to help the puppy learn about their environment and teach them that the world is a fun a safe place. Socialization will occur either way so you need to step in and make sure they are creating positive connections with their discoveries by using food in training. In other words, this is also a form of “preventative counterconditioning.”
Chicken Is Powerful
Food has the power to change a dog’s emotional reaction towards stimuli (people, dogs, and other possibly scary things). It is easily deliverable to the dog’s mouth as they observe their environment which makes it an ideal tool to use in training. Granted the dog is not over threshold and too close to their feared trigger, food can help teach a dog new behaviors while creating positive associations and connections in their brains. Just like when people eat their favorite comfort foods, those “feel good” chemicals called endorphins are released in the brain. That warm fuzzy feeling is then paired with the dog’s trigger to make a new connection – “that scary thing makes awesome stuff happen, maybe it isn’t quite so scary anymore!” Basically, food has the power to make the world less scary for any dog.
Breaking down dog-dog play is an important part of teaching dog training and socialization classes.
In this video, Donna Hill narrates two dogs playing together. She helps us identify what dog play body language is occurring.
These two dogs demonstrate appropriate and reciprocal dog-dog play. The narration describes what is occurring as it happens. Rolling over, initiating play, and chase should be reciprocated by each dog. If one dog is doing most of the chasing or tackling, the pair maybe an uneven match and one dog may be bullying the other. The most important thing to remember is that each dog should take turns reciprocating the play and breaks should be taken frequently. Intervene using only positive interrupter to keep the interactions fun and upbeat while initiating breaks for the dogs.
Increase a dog’s accuracy in competitions by practicing back end awareness exercises.
Back end awareness is not something that comes naturally to dogs. Most dogs don’t realize they have anything behind their shoulders. Back end awareness exercises help dogs learn how to move their back end in order to increase accuracy in obedience, agility, and other dog training competitions. Donna Hill demonstrates several types of back end awareness exercises for dogs in this video:
Walking over ladders, over agility obstacles, and backing up over steps are some of the 22 exercises that are demonstrated in this video. Fortunately, you don’t have to purchase any special equipment to work on these exercises. Your students will likely enjoy watching their dogs discover this whole other part of their bodies which can make for great comic relief in class!
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Here’s our favorite explanation to the common question: What is clicker training?
Breaking down dog-dog play is an important part of teaching dog training and socialization classes.
