Karma Dog Training
Puppy Kindergarten Classes

A gentle, effective, and enlightened approach to dog training

PUPPY KINDERGARTEN CLASSES & OFF LEASH PUPPY SOCIALIZATION!!!

Karma Dog Training founder, Jeffrey Brian, has created a dynamic 7 week, puppy kindergarten and puppy socialization class consisting of over 10 hours worth of instruction designed to give Athens dog parents and their newest addition to the family the headstart in life he or she deserves. Endorsed by Veterinarians, Groomers, Animal Control Officers and Doggie Daycare Professionals throughout Athens, we give unprecedented care and attention to each puppy. Click here for current class schedule

Taught in a state-of-the art indoor training facility featuring climate controlled spacious rooms, the grounds our kept immaculate as they are parvo and distemper disinfected before each class. This allows maximum safety and comfort for your new puppy!

Jeffrey Brian is also the founder of the TPSP (Trainers who Participate in Socialization Parties), a not-for-profit organization comprised of professional dog trainers and veterinarians who have joined together in the interest of puppies everywhere to help facilitate the all-important puppy socialization process.

By hosting weekly puppy kindergarten and puppy socialization classes for puppies between the ages of 8 weeks and four-and-a-half months of age, Karma Dog Training offers Athens puppy owners a safe and supervised place to bring their not-yet-fully vaccinated puppies to immediately begin the process of "safe socialization".

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

In addition to having your puppy become "super socialized", your dog will learn basic dog obedience with Karma Dog Training's 7 Requests for Success - "sit", "stay", "come", "down", "loose leash walking", "leave it" & "go to your bed". Your puppy will learn this with hand signals and voice cues. No harsh corrections.   

In our puppy kindergarten and socialization classes, your puppy will also learn important bite inhibition skills. Furthermore, we give you a greater understanding of your role in your puppy's behavioral obstacles and how they originated. We then provide you with many practical applications on how to overcome them, turning them from potential negative experiences into positive healing opportunities.

WHY IS PUPPY SOCIALIZATION SO IMPORTANT?

Would you like your dog to sit QUIETLY beside you when another dog walks by?

Would you like your dog to be SUBMISSIVE and get along with other dogs on and off-leash?

Would you like your dog to LIKE being introduced to other dogs and want to play?

Would you like your dog to ENJOY meeting new people instead of fear them?







As a client of Karma Dog Training's Athens puppy training class, you'll be guaranteed to make the most of the golden opportunity called "puppyhood" by ensuring your dog gets properly socialized during this critical developmental stage.






That's because each of Karma Dog Training's premiere Athens puppy training and socialization classes are integrated with at least a half hour of fantastic unbridled puppy fun as your newest addition to the family learns to properly play off-leash with his or her peers.



To find out more about Karma Dog Training's Athens puppy training and puppy socialization classes, please email us at info@karmadogtraining.com. (Space is limited)

For more information on Jeffrey Brian's not-for-profit organization TPSP, please visit: www.puppyparties.org

VETERINARIAN ENDORSED!

"Puppy parties are just a brilliant idea. Early socialization is absolutely crucial. I fully endorse what the TPSP is doing for puppies everywhere. This is a wonderful way to socialize puppies in a safe and responsible manner."

- Dr. Ian Dunbar, Veterinarian and Founder of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers

Dr. Dunbar is currently Director of the Center for Applied Animal Behavior in Berkeley, California. He has written numerous books and hosted a dozen videos about puppy/dog behavior and training. Click here to get his classic book "After You Get Your Puppy"

IS EARLY SOCIALIZATION SAFE?

A Veterinarian's Plea on Puppy Socialization

This is an open letter from Dr. R.K. Anderson, who encourages veterinarians and puppy guardians to make puppy socialization a first priority.

Robert K. Anderson DVM
Diplomate ACVB and ACVPM
Professor and Director Emeritus, Animal Behavior Clinic and Center to Study Human/Animal Relationships and Environments
University of Minnesota
1666 Coffman Street, Suite 128,
Falcon Heights, MN 55108
Phone 612-644-7400 FAX 612-644-4262

Puppy Vaccination and Socialization Should Go Together

TO: My Colleagues in Veterinary Medicine:

Common questions I receive from puppy owners, dog trainers and veterinarians concern:

1) What is the most favorable age or period of time when puppies learn best?

2) What are the health implications of my advice that veterinarians and trainers should offer socialization programs for puppies starting at 8 to 9 weeks of age?

Puppies begin learning at birth and their brains appear to be particularly responsive to learning and retaining experiences that are encountered during the first 13 to 16 weeks after birth. This means that breeders, new puppy owners, veterinarians, trainers and behaviorists have a responsibility to assist in providing these learning/socialization experiences with other puppies/dogs, with children/adults and with various environmental situations during this optimal period from birth to 16 weeks.

Many veterinarians are making this early socialization and learning program part of a total wellness plan for breeders and new owners of puppies during the first 16 weeks of a puppy's life -- the first 7-8 weeks with the breeder and the next 8 weeks with the new owners. This socialization program should enroll puppies from 8 to 12 weeks of age as a key part of any preventive medicine program to improve the bond between pets and their people and keep dogs as valued members of the family for 12 to 18 years .

To take full advantage of this early special learning period, many veterinarians recommend that new owners take their puppies to puppy socialization classes, beginning at 8 to 9 weeks of age. At this age they should have (and can be required to have) received a minimum of their first series of vaccines for protection against infectious diseases. This provides the basis for increasing immunity by further repeated exposure to these antigens either through natural exposure in small doses or artificial exposure with vaccines during the next 8 to 12 weeks. In addition the owner and people offering puppy socialization should take precautions to have the environment and the participating puppies as free of natural exposure as possible by good hygiene and caring by careful instructors and owners.

Experience and epidemiological data support the relative safety and lack of transmission of disease in these puppy socialization classes over the past 10 years in many parts of the United States. In fact; the risk of a dog dying because of infection with distemper or parvo disease is far less than the much higher risk of a dog dying (euthanasia) because of a behavior problem. Many veterinarians are now offering new puppy owners puppy socialization classes in their hospitals or nearby training facilities in conjunction with trainers and behaviorists because they want socialization and training to be very important parts of a wellness plan for every puppy. We need to recognize that this special sensitive period for learning is the best opportunity we have to influence behavior for dogs and the most important and longest lasting part of a total wellness plan.

Are there risks? Yes. But 10 years of good experience and data, with few exceptions, offers veterinarians the opportunity to generally recommend early socialization and training classes, beginning when puppies are 8 to 9 weeks of age. However, we always follow a veterinarian's professional judgment, in individual cases or situations, where special circumstances warrant further immunization for a special puppy before starting such classes. During any period of delay for puppy classes, owners should begin a program of socialization with children and adults, outside their family, to take advantage of this special period in a puppy's life.

If there are further questions, veterinarians may call me at 651-644-7400 for discussion and clarification.

- Robert K. Anderson DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Behaviorists

(Reprinted with permission from Dr. R.K. Anderson for Karma Dog Training in Athens)

AMERICAN VETERINARY SOCIETY OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR POSITION

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 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.

Because the first three months are the period when sociability outweighs fear, this is the primary window of opportunity for puppies to adapt to new people, 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 threat to the owner-dog bond. In fact, behavioral problems are the number one cause of relinquishment to shelters. Behavioral issues, not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years of age.

While puppies' immune systems are still developing during these early months, the combination of maternal immunity, primary vaccination, and appropriate care makes the risk of infection relatively small compared to the chance of death from a behavior problem.

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. 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.

In general, puppies can start puppy socialization classes as early as 7-8 weeks of age. Puppies should receive a minimum of one set of vaccines at least 7 days prior to the first class and a first deworming. They should be kept up-to-date on vaccines throughout the class.

The Process of Socialization: Puppies should be handled from birth, learning to accept manipulation of all body parts. Every effort should be made to expose them to as many different people, well-socialized animals, situations, places, etc. as possible .

Puppies should be encouraged to explore, investigate, and manipulate their environments. Interactive toys and games, a variety of surfaces, tunnels, steps, chutes, and other stimuli can enrich the puppy's environment. Puppies should accompany their breeders/owners on as many car trips as possible.

These exposures should continue into adulthood to maintain an outgoing and sociable dog. Puppy socialization classes can offer a safe and organized means of socializing puppies and more quickly improve their responsiveness to commands.

Each puppy should have up-to date vaccinations and be disease and parasite free before entering the class. Where possible, classes should be held on surfaces that are easily cleaned and disinfected (e.g. indoor environments). Visits to dog parks or other areas that are not sanitized and/or are highly trafficked by dogs of unknown vaccination or disease status should be avoided. Classes and at-home training should be based on positive reinforcement with frequent rewards praise, petting, play and/or treats.

Positive and consistent training is associated with fewer behavioral problems and greater obedience than methods that involve punishment and/or encourage human dominance. Time must be scheduled for puppies to play alone with their favorite toys (such as stuffed food toys) or take naps in safe places such as crates or puppy pens. This teaches puppies to amuse themselves, and may help to prevent problems of over attachment to the owners.

Continuing to offer dogs a wide variety of experiences during their first year of life is also helpful in preventing separation-related behavior.

Proper confinement training using pens or crates helps to ensure that puppies have safe and secure places for rest and confinement. Puppies that are used to being crated will be less stressed if they must be hospitalized or be confined for travel by plane or car. Crates should serve as comfort or play areas.

Early and adequate socialization and programs of positive training can go a long way to preventing behavior problems and improving bonding between humans and dogs. While the first three months is the most important socialization period in a puppy's life, owners of puppies that have passed this milestone are strongly encouraged to continue to socialize their puppies to as many people, pets, and locations as practical. However, owners of puppies displaying fear should seek veterinary guidance.