At what age can I start puppy socialisation?

The earlier the better. When we take a puppy from it's mother and siblings, we also take it out of it's 'school of life' - the place where it learns how to be a dog. Socialisation is the next best thing. Socialising puppies is very important as it allows them to meet and get on with other dogs, i.e. learn dog manners. You will be able to safely take your socialised puppy to the park and take it for a walk without it getting out of control the first time a dog barks at you from behind a fence. Puppies also get used to being with other humans and are taught to behave when going to the vet or the groomer.

The most impressionable time for puppies is up to 16 weeks. (Like in humans it is up to 2 years.) So at Manderston puppy school we want your babies at 7 or 8 weeks. Our puppies learn through play and socialisation. Our training is motivational. We don't need to do the old "Ruk and Pluk" method as food training is a gentle way to train and reward your puppy.

But in saying this it also does not mean that after 16 weeks it is to late. It is never to late. You can teach and old dog new tricks. Do you not learn something new everyday? Well, it is the same as with us. Our oldest dog student so far has been 8 years.

Can I train a dog of any age?

Yes! No dog is to old. Our oldest dog is 8. You can teach an old dog new tricks. Rather late than never.

What method of training do you use?

At Manderston we use positive reinforcement. "All dog training is an association of good ideas."

Manderston believes in the Synergistic Approach to dog training. This approach is the combination of Ethology (the scientific study of animal behaviour) and practical outcomes based obedience training, offered by trained Animal Behaviourists with the practical knowledge of ongoing obedience training.

We do not believe that giving you and your dog a manual-driven fixed term course is either practical or sensible. As is the case with us humans, each dog learns at his or her own pace, and may need more attention in some areas than others. Our approach to training allows us to be "learner driven", giving you and your dog all the time you need to master the objectives of the training.

Which breeds do you train?

At Manderston we train all breeds of dogs. 

How long does puppy training take?

Puppies learn very quickly, especially up to the age of about 16 weeks. Once a puppy has grasped a concept, say "sit", it's there. Then it's simply a matter of practice to get what you want, when you want it, every time. There are however numerous factors that influence the rate at which your puppy will learn all the things that are required of a modern good canine citizen. Some of these include:

• Your puppy's attention span - most puppies have a very short attention span and can only learn for very short periods at a time
• Your puppy's breed - all dogs possess the potential to learn and excel at what they have learnt. Dog breeding has over many years has accentuated certain traits in the various breeds, making each breed naturally better at certain things than others. This reality may have an influence on how quickly your puppy learns certain things.
• Your puppy's temperament, for example:

1. A nervous puppy will take longer to learn, simply because it needs to relax first before it will learn anything
2. A puppy with strong dominant traits may challenge your authority and may very well "refuse" to learn unless you establish and assert your leadership role consistently
3. An independent puppy may be so caught up in it's own world that keeping it focused on what you're busy with can be challenging

• Practice - practising what you've learnt at the class every day during the week is very important in internalising the desired behaviour. A five to ten minute session (depending on your puppy's age) before meal time is ideal.

We therefore don't believe in the concept of a three week course or a six week course. Reaching your expectations depends on the factors mentioned above. We are, however, quite confident that with your full commitment, your puppy will learn what we expect it to learn. 

When does the next training course start?

Puppy Classes

Our training programme is not course based. You can join us next Saturday or Sunday. There are three classes on Saturday and there is currently one class on Sunday. It is best to phone us or use the Contact Form to discuss the best class for your puppy to join. The details can be found under Contact Us.

Won't we be behind the rest of the class? No. The class content is repeated regularly to help puppies and their owners practice, so you won't miss anything. It is natural for the puppy to feel scared and 'out of sorts' during the first one or two classes, just as you might feel uncomfortable in a new situation. So don't worry if you and your puppy feel a bit lost on your first day. The classes are very informal and designed to be fun for both puppy and owner.

Adolescent and Adult Dogs

Similar to the puppy classes, we have classes on Saturdays and Sundays. These classes are more structured in nature and are based on the dog's existing skills, ranging from novice to advanced obedience. As with the puppy classes, you can join in at any time.

It is best to Contact Us using the contact options to determine the best class for your dog to join.

Classes are adapted to assist people to catch up. In some cases, especially with older, troubled, or severely anxious dogs, for the first week your may have a private lesson to bridge you into your class. If the dog is still having trouble you might need a second class. These classes are meant to teach you the commands and the moves so you are not left behind.

Why do we do it this way?

Being able to start immediately is great. Firstly you get to join school when you have the urge and there is no delay. If you delay, sometime you lose interest, and your dog needs to go to school.

Secondly, if your puppy is 8 weeks old and you have to wait, by the time your class is ready, he has now aged a couple of weeks and they miss out so much.

See also "At what age can I start puppy socialisation?"

Did we not answer your questions?

Do you have a question we did not answer? We invite you to email your questions to forumadmin@manderston.co.za and we'll see to it that you get an answer right away. You are also welcome to post a question on our Forum's Your Questions Category - Go to Community >> FAQ to Access.

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