Dog Services Unlimited - Serving Southern California Dog Owners Since 1969
If you have registered for one of our 6-week Puppy Kindergarten classes, but have missed the orientation meetings, this page will give you some important information about topics that were covered.
If you have not yet paid your class fee, please call the Dog Services Office at (714) 532-3647 to let us know you would like to join our class, and to check on availability. If the class you want is still open for new students, you will be given information on how to register.
Please read all of the information below, so you will be better prepared for coming to the first lesson with the dogs. After reading this information, please call us if you should have any questions!
If you have not yet paid your class fee, please call the Dog Services Office at (714) 532-3647 to let us know you would like to join our class, and to check on availability. If the class you want is still open for new students, you will be given information on how to register.
Please read all of the information below, so you will be better prepared for coming to the first lesson with the dogs. After reading this information, please call us if you should have any questions!
Dog Services Unlimited: (714) 532-3647
We are looking forward to having you and your dog participate in our upcoming PUPPY KINDERGARTEN COURSE. This will introduce basic obedience commands, heel, sit, automatic sit, sit-stay, down, down-stay, and come, and will address a variety of behavior problems. Here are some important things to prepare you for attending the class:
PROPER EQUIPMENT: Your instructor will have proper training collars and training leashes available for students to purchase at very reasonable prices for those who need it. To do the best job, please be sure you have training equipment that will be safe and effective. Here is what we recommend:
Training Collar: If you have a very young pup (under 12 weeks) or a very mild-mannered pup who is not lunging ahead or pulling hard on the leash, you could probably start off with a buckle collar (snug enough so it cannot slip over the head) or harness. For most pups over 12 weeks, you will probably want to introduce a simple slip-collar, so you can have success in working on leash-walking and staying in a sit position without constantly getting up. A training collar must fit the dog appropriately, with only about 2-3" of excess chain leading through the ring when the collar is on the dog in a loose position. Your instructor will demonstrate the correct way to put this collar on the dog. Please check the collar each time you work with your dog to make sure it is on properly so it will release or correct the way it was designed to. Training collars are not meant to be left on the dog when he is unsupervised, so be sure to take it off each time when your training session is over. Alternative type collars may also be used, such as the "beastie" collar, "no-pull halter", and "gentle leader" collar. These collars may be safely used for training, however most people do tell us that they are not as effective as the standard training collar in getting the dog to learn the commands.
Training Leash: A six-foot long leash will be ideal for the training techniques we'll be covering. Your leash should be made of leather or nylon (NO CHAIN LEASHES PLEASE!) and should have a hand-loop and a swivel harness snap. Retractable leashes are bulky and sometimes difficult to use, and the mechanism will often jam or break so we do not recommend using them.
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO KNOW:
Please make sure all vaccinations are current. (get any remaining boosters done on time!) These include Distemper/ Parvovirus (sometimes listed as "DHLPP" or "DAPP"), Bordetella, and Rabies vaccinations. For Puppy Kindergarten, we require that at least TWO of the Distemper/Parvo boosters be completed before bringing your pup to class. Also, one Bordetella (BORD) (either nasal or injection) should be given before attending. The Rabies shot will be recommended by your vet for your pup between 4 and 6 months of age, and that one does not need to be given before attending. Please bring your current shot records to the first meeting.
Please remember to double-check the day, time and location of your class. You can find this information on many city websites, in city recreation brochures, or use the FIND YOUR CLASS DETAILS link below (look under the city where you registered) to check our class listings.
PROPER EQUIPMENT: Your instructor will have proper training collars and training leashes available for students to purchase at very reasonable prices for those who need it. To do the best job, please be sure you have training equipment that will be safe and effective. Here is what we recommend:
Training Collar: If you have a very young pup (under 12 weeks) or a very mild-mannered pup who is not lunging ahead or pulling hard on the leash, you could probably start off with a buckle collar (snug enough so it cannot slip over the head) or harness. For most pups over 12 weeks, you will probably want to introduce a simple slip-collar, so you can have success in working on leash-walking and staying in a sit position without constantly getting up. A training collar must fit the dog appropriately, with only about 2-3" of excess chain leading through the ring when the collar is on the dog in a loose position. Your instructor will demonstrate the correct way to put this collar on the dog. Please check the collar each time you work with your dog to make sure it is on properly so it will release or correct the way it was designed to. Training collars are not meant to be left on the dog when he is unsupervised, so be sure to take it off each time when your training session is over. Alternative type collars may also be used, such as the "beastie" collar, "no-pull halter", and "gentle leader" collar. These collars may be safely used for training, however most people do tell us that they are not as effective as the standard training collar in getting the dog to learn the commands.
Training Leash: A six-foot long leash will be ideal for the training techniques we'll be covering. Your leash should be made of leather or nylon (NO CHAIN LEASHES PLEASE!) and should have a hand-loop and a swivel harness snap. Retractable leashes are bulky and sometimes difficult to use, and the mechanism will often jam or break so we do not recommend using them.
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO KNOW:
Please make sure all vaccinations are current. (get any remaining boosters done on time!) These include Distemper/ Parvovirus (sometimes listed as "DHLPP" or "DAPP"), Bordetella, and Rabies vaccinations. For Puppy Kindergarten, we require that at least TWO of the Distemper/Parvo boosters be completed before bringing your pup to class. Also, one Bordetella (BORD) (either nasal or injection) should be given before attending. The Rabies shot will be recommended by your vet for your pup between 4 and 6 months of age, and that one does not need to be given before attending. Please bring your current shot records to the first meeting.
- To minimize clean-up, please don't feed your dog a big meal before class time...about 3-4 hours prior is ok.. Bring a plastic bag in your pocket just in case...
- Only one handler should be working with the dog for class meetings and homework. Other family members may attend class to observe. Later, after the dog has learned and responds to the commands, others will be able to work with the dog and transfer the training. Try to attend all of the meetings, since a great deal of information is covered each week.
- Inclement weather: We try to get class in if at all possible, and we ask students to attend class on rainy days and a decision will be made at class time as to whether or not we need to cancel, (which means we would need to add a week to the end of the course). We can't predict earlier in the day what the weather will be like at class time, so please try to attend.
- Please wear closed-toe shoes with good traction
- HOMEWORK: About 20-30 minutes per day should be spent working with your dog on the techniques you learn in class. You may break down the time into shorter segments if you wish.
- Bring water for yourself and your dog, and bring your dog a water bowl.
- Please bring the $10 materials/insurance fee to the first meeting and give it to your instructor before class starts. Your instructor will have a Puppy Training Manual for you, which will be helpful for you to refer to throughout the course.
- Please arrive about 10 – 15 minutes early, since you missed orientation, our instructor will need to have you fill out a form with your dog’s information, check your vaccination records, collect the insurance/materials fee, give you your Training Manual, and assist you if you should need a proper collar or leash.
Please remember to double-check the day, time and location of your class. You can find this information on many city websites, in city recreation brochures, or use the FIND YOUR CLASS DETAILS link below (look under the city where you registered) to check our class listings.
If you are not sure about the location of your class, please call the Dog Services Office at (714) 532-3647 and we will do our best to give you directions to the facility where your class is being held.
