Picture this: you bring your adorable ball of fluff (a.k.a. your puppy) home. Then – within days – you find your cushions ripped, toilet paper strewn about, and leather shoes ruined. Now, it’s easy to feel like you’ve bit off more than you can chew. While raising a puppy can be an exciting time in your life, it’s also a big responsibility and takes a lot of hard work. That’s why so many dog owners opt to send their furry friends to puppy school. But is it really worth the expense?
To help start your furry companion off on the right paw, let’s take a look at how much puppy school could cost you and what some of the risks/rewards are.
What is puppy school?
In a nutshell, puppy school is an interactive behavioural training program designed for puppies aged between 8 to 16 weeks. Run by qualified trainers, it is where your puppy can learn how to be a well-behaved and socialised pet in a secure environment. It also helps you as an owner be equipped with the knowledge and tools to help your puppy reach their full potential.
Has your puppy been vaccinated?
Is puppy school worth it?
As puppy school involves time and money, you might be wondering whether it’s worth it. While we can’t guarantee it will result in a perfect dog, puppy school offers plenty of benefits.
This is because the first 16 weeks of a dog’s life is an important time in their life and crucial to their development. It is when they learn how to socialise, pick up good (and bad) behaviours, and build their confidence with other dogs and humans. According to an article published in Veterinary Medicine:
What will my puppy learn at school?
The goal of puppy training is to teach your puppy to become a happy, well-socialised, and confident member of your family. So, to help achieve this, a puppy school program might include:
- Calming techniques
- Handling techniques
- Basic commands i.e. sit, come, drop, stay, lie down, and go to bed
- Name recognition
- How to safely and appropriately socialise with other dogs and humans
- Controlled play
- How to focus on their owner in busy environments
- Troubleshooting biting, jumping, hyper-activity, and separation behaviours
What will I learn at puppy school?
Your puppy won’t be the only one learning at school. As the owner, you’ll find out how to understand your puppy and receive feedback from qualified trainers. To get an idea of what you might learn, here’s a list of what most puppy schools teach:
- How to fulfil your puppy’s basic health and environmental needs including nutrition, exercise, vaccinations, grooming, and parasite control
- Toilet training and walking on lead
- Ways to manage your puppy’s developmental issues including chewing and teething
- How to manage your puppy’s social skills and house manners
- How to read your puppy’s body language and interactions
- The differences between appropriate play, dominate play, and unacceptable play
How much does puppy school cost?
The price of puppy school classes will vary depending on where you go and the type of training. According to OneFlare, the national average cost of puppy school in Australia is between $100 and $250.
Group classes run by animal charities, pet stores, and vet clinics will generally cost between a total of $130 to $150. However, you can expect to pay more for private training which can cost up to $200 for an hour’s session.
Top tip
- Do your research by checking out their customer reviews
- Ask about the trainer’s experience and qualifications
- Ask if the trainer has a Certificate III in Dog Behaviour and Training — this is the only government-approved training certificate in Australia
Oiyo is a consolidated online resource, we are not financial advisors. We work with a range of industry professionals and compliance check our articles to ensure factual accuracy. However, we do not provide professional financial advice. Consider seeking independent legal, financial, taxation or other advice to check how the information and ideas presented in this article relate to your unique circumstances.