requirements:

  • Paper proof of RECENT veterinary exam and DHPP vaccination (or similar vaccine protecting against distemper and canine parvovirus).  Rabies is not a required vaccine for this class.  A recent exam is defined as a wellness visit within the last 4 weeks.
  • Your puppy must be between the ages of 8 and 16 weeks in order to participate in a session.

dates and times:

Sessions at Stack Veterinary Hospital are scheduled on a first come, first served basis with availability on Tuesday evenings, Wednesday evenings, Fridays before 3pm, and Saturdays before 3pm.
Home visits are possible on those days as well, and also on Thursdays between 10am and 7pm
Q. Where and how do I sign up and pay for class?
A.  To sign up for class, use the link that says "Click to contact Dan".  This tells Trainer Dan you're interested in doing a session, but it's not official until you get confirmation from him.  He'll email or call you to schedule your puppy consult.  Regarding payment, it's free to sign up and then you pay for each session that you attend.

Q. Can I buy more than one session at a time?
A. You may purchase multiple sessions but they must be used while your puppy meets the age requirements.

Q. Can I do sessions with Dan but also with other trainers?
A. Yes, absolutely!  There are several other trainers in the area who offer fantastic kindergarten and socialization programs.  That said, Dan's experience and knowledge will keep you coming back to him for advice and guidance.

Q. How long is each session?
A.   30 minutes

Q. Where do I go for class?  Is there a difference in price?
A.  Dan makes house calls for $50 or you can arrange to visit Dan for $25 at Stack Veterinary Hospital located at 5092 Velasko Road in Syracuse, NY 13215.  When you get here, park in the front and come to the reception area, even if you have pre-paid for class.

Q. What is the price if I want to spend longer than a half hour with Dan?
A. A full hour session is $80 at your home or $60 at Stack.  Most young puppies have short attention spans and are exhausted after 30 minutes, but we understand new puppy owners usually have lots of questions and 30 minutes isn't always enough!

Q. What should I bring with me to class?
A.  Soft, bite-size treats (the most exciting treats you can find), a chew toy, a non-retractable leash, and a properly fitting collar or harness.

Q. Who should I bring with me to class?
A. Your puppy!  Also, well-behaved spouses, children, grandparents and grandchildren!  Seriously- your family and friends are invited and encouraged to attend the session with you.  Just make sure that if you bring children younger than 8, there is an additional parent or guardian able to directly supervise.  All participants must be able to understand and follow instructions, as well as sit quietly when asked.

Q. What is covered in a session?
A. Your private session will be about whatever you need it to be about, but a typical focus for a session would be on the needs of young puppies.  Dan will cover biting, mouthing, chewing, potty training, socialization, and foundation obedience commands like Come, Sit, and Down.

Q. If this is a private session, does it help with socialization?
A. Socializing your puppy is absolutely a priority and Dan will teach you how to set up puppy play dates and socialization sessions on your own in your home.   Dan will show you how to teach your pup to love being handled by new people and he'll show you how to train those people to handle your puppy properly.  Puppy playtime with other puppies is also important so Dan will make recommendations about getting your pup into an appropriate kindergarten.  That said, some puppies are a little too rough while other puppies are little too shy for puppy kindergarten.  If you feel your pup falls into either category, then doing a private session is especially important!

Q. So my puppy will be totally trained after attending some of these sessions?
A. Nope.  These sessions get you started off the right way but training is a life-long commitment.  Certainly the canine adolescent stage (6 months to 2 years) is the toughest and you will benefit from learning additional skills beyond what is taught to puppies.  You will want to get into further private training or a Level I class so Dan can help guide you.

Q. If I'm going to have to do more training, why should I start now?
A. Puppies are like clean slates.  From the ages of about 1-4 months, they are very open to new experiences and will quickly learn to tolerate or even love just about anything.  You should take advantage of this sensitive period by starting from day 1 teaching them manners and socializing them so they learn to like people and know how to behave appropriately around all types of people (like children).  By the time a puppy is 4 months old, the sensitive period is ending and your opportunity to prevent many problems is gone.  Training can still help you solve problems but it's much easier to prevent them in the first place.  Coming to a private puppy training session will make this task much less daunting and you'll actually have fun!

Q. My puppy is already good.  I can skip training, right?
A. Puppies usually start out "good".  Training can take a good puppy and make him GREAT!  And of course Dan is training YOU, not just your puppy.  That way you won't ruin your pup- or more likely, simply fail to notice problems when they're still small and easily fixed!  Remember that while some puppies start out very sweet, an easy baby can spoil you and give the false impression that no serious effort needs to be made to further socialize or train.  When the baby gets older, when your puppy develops into an adolescent, it's too late to go back!  It's wiser to do everything right from the beginning.

Q. Can I attend without a puppy?
A.  Yes, absolutely!  If you're still in the pre-puppy planning stages, now is a GREAT time to attend at least one pre-puppy planning session.  You will learn a lot.  Bring the whole family!!

Q. My puppy already has what seems to be a serious behavioral issue.  Will this class help with that?
A.  Pups that are merely a little shy or who have mild fears can benefit from a half hour session like this, but serious behavior problems need to be evaluated and handled on a case-by-case basis.  Please contact Trainer Dan to discuss your situation and decide on the right course of action.