Puppy Courses - For Puppies Between 8-16 Weeks

Erin says ... "Sit" Happens! offers both group and private training sessions, options are as follows:

The Development Program (22 week course)

Weeks 1-4
Using motivational techniques our trainers teach pet owners how to manage toilet training, vet visits, grooming, jumping, biting and mouthing. Our trainers help owners teach their puppies mouth control by training puppies to open and close their mouth on a verbal cue (very important for puppies who like stealing those socks and undies!).

Other verbal cues discussed and taught are "sit", "look", "leave" "come", "off" and "go play".

A large component of these four weeks is learning about dog senses, how this influences behaviour. We focus on recognising dog body language and how to use this knowledge to keep puppies safe and relaxed during dog-dog socialisation.

Massage and handling skills are taught and used during question time. Some common questions addressed are "how do I get my puppy to sleep quietly?" "How do I keep my puppy from chewing furniture or destroying the garden?" "How do I stop my puppy barking?" "How do I stop my puppy chasing the cat" … and many more!

Week 5
Owners only class focusing on learning theory, and clicker training.

Weeks 6-12
This component of the program focuses on teaching owners how to train their dogs to be calm and attentive around distractions, and respond to training cues: sit, look, come, drop, stand, stay, wait, walk nicely, go to your mat hand signals and fading the lure are also addressed.

Weeks 13-22
These sessions can be used on a casual basis. During these classes we teach you to help your dogs be calm and relaxed around a variety of different breeds, by learning to walk together and come when called reliably. We aim at proofing all behaviours learnt, completely fading the lure, generalising behaviours, and creating greater reliability under distractions.

The Combination Program (12 week course)

Combines Weeks 1-4 and 5-12 of the Development Program.

Early Learning Program (4 week course)

Weeks 1-4 of the Development Program
Topics addressed: - toileting, jumping, chewing, destructiveness, biting, mouthing, handling, massage, grooming, nutrition, vet visits, dog senses, exposure and new experiences, body language, appropriate and inappropriate play.

Training cues: sit, look, come, take, give, leave, off.

What to bring to the first class of you puppy program

  • a HUNGRY puppy, please do not feed you pup the meal prior to class
  • a mat or old towel to teach puppy this is the calm and settle area
  • a rope tug toy for the pup to bit instead of biting you!
  • a normal collar and lead (NO choke chains)
  • a grooming brush
  • (OPTIONAL) ESSH Training Pack. Contains water resistant mat, kong, training pouch and tug toy. RRP: Large $85, Small $80