Is it Important to Attend Puppy Class or is One-off Session Enough?
Is a one-off puppy party a suitable alternative to a
six-week puppy class? Research says you can’t skip the socialization if you
want a well-rounded adult dog.
Everyone knows that a puppy class is a good idea to help with socialization, but some trainers also offer a one-off puppy party. Which is best?
A study by Ai Kutsumi et al (2013) of the Azabu University
Graduate School of Veterinary Science compares four groups of dogs: those who
attended a six-week puppy class, those who went to a one-hour puppy party,
those who attended a six-week adult dog training class, and those who didn’t attend
any puppy or training class at all.
Dogs who attended the 6-week puppy class or the adult dog
training class scored significantly better on response to commands, showing
that dogs can learn obedience commands at any age.
Dogs who had been to puppy
class were significantly more likely to give a positive response to a stranger than
those who had been to just a one-hour puppy party or not attended any classes
at all. They also tended to do better than those who had only been to adult dog
training. This shows that the socialization aspect of puppy class is important
for the dog’s future behaviour.
The scientists say,
“the behaviour test showed that participation in puppy class contributes to improving the positive response of the dog to strangers. This indicates that if an ordinary companion puppy participates in a puppy class for socialization at about 4 months of age, the dog is likely to remain friendly to non-family members at an acceptable level.”
The one-hour puppy party arose because puppy class is not
that popular in Japan, according to the scientists. However these results show
that it is not a substitute for the socialization that occurs during a 6-week
puppy class.
142 dogs took part and the groups were about equivalent in terms of age, gender, and breed mix. The dogs were aged between 6 months and 3 years at the time of testing. The study included a questionnaire and a 30-minute behaviour test at the dog’s home.
142 dogs took part and the groups were about equivalent in terms of age, gender, and breed mix. The dogs were aged between 6 months and 3 years at the time of testing. The study included a questionnaire and a 30-minute behaviour test at the dog’s home.
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| Photo: omystory; top, Zuzule; both Shutterstock.com |
The puppy class, adult class and puppy party all took place
at the SIRIUS Dog Training School Japan. The puppy class curriculum included
basic training commands as well as bite inhibition, house training, and
socialization with the other puppies and their owners. The puppy party was
equivalent to just the first session of puppy class. The adult dog training
class covered basic obedience for dogs aged from 5 months to 2 years.
All of the classes were force-free and used positive reinforcement, and class sizes were small (4-8 puppies and 2-5 adult dogs).
All of the classes were force-free and used positive reinforcement, and class sizes were small (4-8 puppies and 2-5 adult dogs).
The results also showed links between behaviour tests and
scores on the Japanese version of C-BARQ, a questionnaire designed to assess
behaviour traits. If dogs had a C-BARQ score that suggests fear of strangers,
they gave a less positive response to a stranger in the behavioural test. Also,
there was a correlation between Trainability scores on the C-BARQ and the
results on the behavioural test for response to commands. The researchers say this
means that C-BARQ scores can be useful in detecting signs of problems that
require intervention.
In addition, ongoing socialization with people and dogs, and
more frequent training sessions, were all positive for the dog’s behaviour.
If you are looking for a dog trainer, whether for puppy class, adult obedience or behaviour problems, check out my article on how to choose a good dog trainer.
If you are looking for a dog trainer, whether for puppy class, adult obedience or behaviour problems, check out my article on how to choose a good dog trainer.
The results of this study show that attending puppy class is
important for socialization with other puppies and people. Although a 1-hour
puppy party might sound like an attractive option, it does not have the same
beneficial results for the dog’s future friendliness.
If you've ever taken a pup to puppy class, or you're a dog trainer, what do you like best about puppy class?
You might also like: How to choose the right puppy in 4 easy steps and make your dog happy: puppy class!
You might also like: How to choose the right puppy in 4 easy steps and make your dog happy: puppy class!
Reference
KUTSUMI, A., NAGASAWA, M., OHTA, M., & OHTANI, N. (2013). Importance of Puppy Training for Future Behavior of the Dog Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 75 (2), 141-149 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.12-0008
