Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital 2009 / The Lesson Plan

The Lesson Plan

by Shannon Pecora, M.A.

Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital

It’s the end of the summer, and we’re sending our kids back to school to learn information, acquire skills, and improve basic socialization. Education, or mental stimulation, is a vital part in our children’s growth and development. Did you know that the same holds true for our dogs?

Puppy and dog training classes are quite common. They’re offered at so many places, from Petsmart to A Click Above, and even at Stream Valley. Starting early in puppy classes can help with standard “good behavior” as your dog learns to sit, stay, lay down, etc. This also helps the pet parent learn techniques for teaching further commands and behaviors. Once you know how to “be the boss,” you’ll be more comfortable working with your puppy to get him used to nail trims, ear cleanings, and teeth brushing, among other things. Then you’ll be able to more easily care for your pet—and hopefully your veterinarian and groomer will be able to as well!

After puppy class graduation, further obedience classes can help you and your dog master more advanced skills. You can start with “tricks,” such as roll over or speak. Yet you may also want to consider agility classes, where dogs learn to run through tunnels, jump over bars, and complete full competition-style courses. Your dog could actually attain a sense of accomplishment for a job well done and get some ever-important exercise in the process.

There is another benefit to these classes that you may not have considered. Think about your kids’ days at school. They go to classes, of course, but they also see each other in the hallways, play with one another at recess, and sit together at lunchtime. During these times, they’re learning how to interact with their peers and how to make friends. While this may not be the primary goal of schooling, socialization and education often go hand-in-hand. And as our dogs learn alongside their puppy classmates, they’re being socialized as well. You want your puppy to remain calm and friendly in the presence of other people and dogs—think of walks through the neighborhood, waiting in the lobby of the vet’s office, playtime at doggy daycare, running at the local dog park…Your dog may meet up with others at so many places. Therefore, just as you want your kids to avoid confrontations and to make friends, you want your dog’s experiences around new pooches (and their parents) to go smoothly.

This is the perfect time of year for everyone in the family to learn and grow. Pack those lunches for Timmy, Suzy, and Fido! Let’s get ready for class!