Frequently asked questions

I require proof of Kennel Cough vaccination for all group classes and socialization, in addition your puppy needs to be up to date with all age appropriate vaccinations recommended by your veterinarian. This doesn't mean they have to have completed all their vaccinations though! Early learning and socialization is critical for behavioral development.

Ideally we start puppies as young as 9 weeks in the Puppy Play and Train, socialization class. This class is ONLY for puppies between 8-16 weeks of age. It is recommended but not required for the Level 1 - Puppy Kindergarten class which is for all puppies between 10 weeks and 6 months of age.

NO! I have consulted with many Veterinarians as well as Behaviorists and the 'best practice' thinking in the industry now is that early puppy socialization is critical to the proper development in puppies. This does NOT mean you should take your dog to the dog park, but does mean that during the socialization phase of puppy development (between 4 and 14 WEEKS) that puppies should be carefully exposed to as many new environments as possible including supervised play with other puppies of similar age, size and play style. The best independent reference on this topic is from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, who state, "The primary and most important time for puppy socialization is the first three months of life. During this time puppies should be exposed to as many new people, animals, stimuli and environments as can be achieved safely and animals, and experiences. Incomplete or improper socialization during this important time can increase the risk of behavioral problems later in life including fear, avoidance, and/or aggression. Behavioral problems are the greatest Veterinarians specializing in behavior recommend that owners take advantage of every safe opportunity to expose young puppies to the great variety of stimuli that they will experience in their lives. Enrolling in puppy classes prior to three months of age can be an excellent means of improving training, strengthening the human-animal bond, and socializing puppies in an environment where risk of illness can be minimized. without causing over- stimulation manifested as excessive fear, withdrawal or avoidance behavior. For this reason, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated. "

All of our classes are 6 weeks long, to see the start dates for your class please go to the Services Page of the web site and press the Class Selector button. The first view will show you ALL of the classes we are now scheduling for, you can scroll through the list or use the pull down list to tell us about your puppy and let us help you choose the class that is right for you.

We utilize only positive methods for training at Proper Paws, so no special equipment is required. Here is what we recommend you bring. - Lot's of good yummy treats and/or the dog's kibble. - A bag, pocket, fanny pack or bait bag to make those treats easy to get to. - A plain collar and 6 foot leash or comfort harness (please, no extendable leashes or prong, choke or ecollars) - A towel or other portable mat for your dog to learn stationing exercise (Level 1 and 2 classes only).

Please see the class selector button on our Services page. https://www.properpaws.biz/services(https://www.properpaws.biz/services)

Yes, we now offer evening & weekend classes taught by certified trainers who share my philosophy and have been through my internship program. This allows you to switch back and forth between classes seamlessly

For dogs over 6 months of age, with no prior training, we have the Level 1 - Beginner Obedience class. If your dog has difficulty in new situations, around other dogs or people, I recommend private lessons, with one of our trainers. You can find their names and contact information on the 'About Us' page. If your dog is having behavioral issues (barking/lunging, fearfulness, aggression, separation issues) please contact me for a referral to a qualified trainer in your area, or check out the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants trainer search page. www.IAABC.org (www.IAABC.org) These trainers specialize in behavior modification and working with dogs that have more complex training needs.

For newly rescued dogs over 6 moths of age, we offer a Level 1 - Beginner Obedience, which has the same curriculum as the Level 1 - Puppy Kindergarten but recognizes that older dogs have already got some of the fundamental behaviors started or may need help with fixing undesirable behaviors they have already aquired. As a result we often make more progress than a typical Puppy Kindergarten class. If your dog is having behavioral issues (barking/lunging, fearfulness, aggression, separation issues) I would recommend the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. www.IAABC.org (www.IAABC.org) These trainers specialize in behavior modification and working with dogs that have more complex training needs.