Puppy Junior High

Puppy Junior High graduate Sweetie checks in during a field trip to a local vet

Puppy Junior High was specifically designed for older puppies who still need a bit more polishing up of their oh-so-important puppy skills before progressing to Canine University. This program still incorporates the great socialization and handling that you get in the Puppy Head Start program, while also introducing solid foundations for the manners and obedience skills that they will learn in Canine University.

Adolescence is a tough time for puppies AND their people! Your puppy’s brains are still developing at this stage, and their bodies are undergoing lots of changes too. It can be hard for you to remember that your rapidly growing (or nearly full-grown) dog is still mentally a puppy. It’s hard for your puppy too, as they need to adjust to your changing expectations and their changing body all at the same time. Many dogs at this age might still be working on the simpler things in life that come with being a puppy. Others need to go back to basics as their changing hormones play havoc with their previously well-learned obedience skills. With this customized program, they will be getting the best of both worlds and will be better equipped to continue on into the Canine University program.

Here are the specific skills we teach:

  • Crate training
    • Wait patiently while the crate door is opened
    • “Kennel up!” on cue
  • Name recognition
  • Socialization
    • Puppy playtime to learn about other dogs
    • Positive exposures to new surfaces
    • Confidence-building and body awareness through navigating obstacles
    • Desensitization to common noises such as fireworks, thunderstorms, city sounds, and household appliances
    • Polite greetings with a wide variety of people
  • Drop it/Trade
  • Food bowl exercises to prevent food guarding
  • Positive introduction to a head halter or harness to instill good leash manners.
  • Sit for petting (instead of jumping up).
  • Place (go to a mat or bed and stay there)
  • Chin rest – an easy way for your puppy to “opt in” for grooming, handling, and veterinary care.

Puppy Junior High graduate Flynn and Puppy Head Start graduate Clover became best friends during Camp! Here, both puppies worked on their sits and downs next to one another. Paying attention even when you’re right next to a fun friend is hard work!

Your puppy will receive four daily, personalized one-on-one training sessions with a professional dog trainer, as well as two daily, personalized socialization sessions. These often include field trips to new locations so that we can continue positively expanding your puppy’s world. In addition to training and socialization, we make sure that each puppy receives an age-appropriate amount of physical exercise each day so that they’re pleasantly tired when you pick them up in the evening.

Throughout this entire process, we keep you in the loop with daily report cards covering everything your puppy did during the day, as well as a secret Facebook group where we post regular training videos and photos so that you can keep up-to-date on your puppy’s adventures! We also send home a brief (5-10 minutes long) homework assignment each night so that you will learn as your puppy learns, for a lifetime of good habits. Our Day Camp is a training school that you and your puppy will both love!

Puppy Junior High is a two-week-long program which costs $600.00. Puppies must be up-to-date on vaccinations, comfortable in a crate, friendly with people and other dogs, and less than 8 months of age at the start of their session to qualify. (Not quite there yet? Consider our private training lessons instead.)

Ready to enroll? Fill out your puppy’s personalized profile here to reserve their spot in an upcoming session!