Tuesdays 6:00-6:45pm
For puppies under 20 weeks old on the start date of the course
If your puppy is over 20 weeks old, please see Junior STARS.
This course lays the foundations for early learning and assists new puppy owners in understanding basic training techniques.
- 15 April to 20 May
- 27 May to 01 July
- 08 July to 12 August
- 19 August to 23 September
- 30 September to 04 November
- 11 November to 16 December
Puppies who successfully complete the course are encouraged to continue their learning in the Bronze STARS course.
More About This Course
Puppy Foundation aims to provide a means of socialising puppies and to lay down a foundation for education and training. On successful completion of the course puppies will respond to their Guardians and the Guardians will have an awareness of the responsibilities of dog ownership.
The 6 week course will cover:
- Basic puppy positions (sit, down, stand)
- Puppy recall
- Walking in a controlled manner
- Take article away from the puppy
- Food manners
- Attentive response to name
- Play
- Jumping up
- Stay for approximately 10 seconds
- Socialisation with a placid dog unknown to the puppy
- Socialisation with an adult person unknown to the puppy
- Socialisation with noise distraction
- Handling and inspection to maintain health
- Cleanliness and identification
- Responsibility and care (recognition of basic health problems, health protection for the puppy, teething, chewing and daily routine, house training and separation anxiety, socialisation with people and other dogs)
For your puppy's safety and the safety of others, we ask that your puppy is vaccinated and has been cleared by the vet before they join a group class. However, we understand how important it is to socialise puppies as early as possible. Therefore, we can offer 1 to 1 puppy training, at your home, before they have finished their vaccinations.
Guardians must show that they have means of cleaning up after their dog and that they have proper identification. It is a legal requirement to inscribe the name and the address of the owner on the collar or on a plate or disc attached to it. Dogs are also required to have a microchip which is registered on a Defra-approved database, in the UK.