If a puppy is coming home this holiday season, start training in the first few weeks. Behaviors are still developing at that age, and they change quickly between 4 and 12 months.
Start with the house rules
Our training approach has three steps:
- Set rules, boundaries and limitations.
- Build impulse control.
- Build self-control.
The first step starts before you teach a single command. Your family decides what the rules are, and everyone sticks to the same ones. The goal is a puppy that fits into your routine. Follow through on the rules every time and you end up with a well-mannered dog for the rest of its life.
What Puppy Pre-School covers
Puppy Pre-School is five personalized sessions, usually once a week, for puppies 8 to 16 weeks old. It starts with what to set up before your puppy comes home, then walks you through the first few nights. After that it covers:
- Crate and potty training
- Leash boundaries and loose leash walking
- Getting your puppy to pay attention to you
- Polite behavior around food bowls and toys, so resource guarding doesn't start
- Getting used to being handled, like nail clipping and ear cleaning at the vet or groomer
- Basic obedience and manners
How we train
We're a balanced training facility, and we don't use e-collars. Puppies earn rewards like treats, toys or affection for the behavior we want, and lose the reward when they get it wrong.
Private lessons can start as early as 8 weeks, at your home or at Kamp K9 in Orlando. Day Kamp n Train and Kamp 'N Train, our longer programs, start at 5 months.
When can my puppy come to Day Kamp?
Once your puppy is fully vaccinated. Before the first Day Kamp visit we need records for rabies, DHPP, canine influenza and Bordetella. Bordetella has to be renewed every 6 months, and canine influenza every year. You can upload them in the Parent Portal or email them to info@kampk9.com.
The first visit is an evaluation. You arrive at 8:15am, take a tour, drop your puppy off, and pick up at 11:30am. Your puppy starts alone in a yard, then meets one calm dog, then a few more. That's how we decide which play group fits. Evaluations run Monday through Thursday.
Puppy Pre-School details are on our Puppy Training page, or call 321-376-KAMP to get started.