Week 5, Puppy training class:

FOR the fith week, the room is prepared with the minimum of barriers, water bowls and no toys or treats on the floor this week. Handlers are asked to leave the puppies in their cars if it is safe to do so, and come into the hall. They are given a brief talk for just a couple of mintes on the plan for the session. Then the first puppy is brought in with his handler and settles in a corner of the room on his blanket with a kong that the owners have brought in, followed by the second handler and puppy settling in their corner, and so on until we have all puppies in the hall in different areas on their blankets chewing stuffed kongs.

The intructor demonstrates the next step of loose lead walking with one of the puppies. That is to walk on - as the puppy begins to walk with the instructor, the puppy is praised and given a treat. If the puppy begins to go right to the end of the lead and the instructor anticipates the puppy about to pull, this is the time to make the neutral sound (click sound) and change direction. As the puppy turns to catch up, he is praised and given a treat.

Each puppy and handler practice this, one at a time, while the other puppies rest with their kongs and a nice, calm massage.

The next stage of the recall is demonstrated by the instructor with a different puppy. This week the instructor wanders around the room with the puppy on a long lead. As the puppy comes to his handler he gets verbal praise and a treat. As the puppy walks nicely beside the instructor, the instructor changes direction frequently and as the puppy runs to catch up a cue word such as 'come', 'here' or 'dog's name' can be added, and he is given a treat. Treats can be given randomly here if the puppy has learned the recall very quickly. Random reward strengthens a behaviour.

The handlers each have turns at practicing the recall with their puppies while the other puppies settle on their blankets with their kongs or a massage.

Each puppy then goes out of the hall with an instructor and is shown at their car how to get the puppies in and out of the car in a nice calm way so that puppies are not rushing and jumping out of the cars soon as the door is open. This is especially helpful for the larger breeds who may hurt their owner when jumping out of the car in a rush.

As soon as each puppy is safely finished the lesson and in the car, they go home.