Frequently asked questions

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. "

Please see the class selector button on our Services page.

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 trainers listed on www.chooseleap.org for trainers who specialize in your dog's particular issue. All LEAP trainers are credentialed and use only positive methods when training.

Yes, some of our trainers do offer private training for dogs with behavior issues, you can check them out and get their contact information on the About Us page of the web site. You can also look for qualified trainers on www.chooseleap.org a listing of Credentialed, evidence based trainers in MA.