The Ultimate Puppy

Basic manners training, puppy socialization + two (2) private sessions

· 4 week option includes two (2) private training sessions
· Add-on training options also available to extend your program

Your pup will learn all of their foundational manners skills, receive appropriate and robust daily socialization, and you'll receive weekly videos to keep you on track at home to maintain those new behaviors. Plus you get two (2) private training sessions at RMDT with your puppy's instructor to transfer the skills they learn at school and answer any questions you may have. We're on your team to get their exercise, training and enrichment needs met through the very important formative first months.

Age Range: 9-16 weeks

Puppy Day School is for puppies 9-16 weeks of age at the start date. We recommend getting started as early as possible. ⚠ Please start crate training upon registering.
See all requirements »

All Puppy Day School options run Monday – Thursday with the exception of modified holiday schedules.

Drop-Off: 7:30AM-8:00AM
Pick-Up: 12:30PM-12:45PM

**An additional fee will be assessed if you are late picking up your puppy.

Note: When purchasing 2 add-on weeks, you will be provided with an add-on transfer session free of charge.  

PROGRAM DETAILS

Training Skills

  • Sit, Down, Stand with Hand Signal
  • Verbal Cues added
  • Go to Place (Mat Targeting)
  • Focus
  • Hand Touch
  • Threshold Training
  • Settle In Place
  • Leave-It
  • Drop Toy
  • Loose Leash Walking Foundations
  • Come When Called

Extras

  • Weekly Videos to teach you how maintain the skills we've taught at home
  • Weekly report cards
  • 4 Off-Site Field Trips (weather and COVID conditions permitting)
  • Two (2) Private, 50m Hand-off Sessions

Socialization Includes

  • closely moderated group and individualized play sessions with appropriate other puppies daily
  • confidence building obstacle courses & games
  • exposure to new surfaces, textures and moving objects underfoot
  • safe and moderated exposure to "friendly strangers" and the various "looks" of people
  • on field trips
  • via use of costumes, walkers, canes, etc.
    • Please note, COVID-19 distance adherence in effect when out and about.
  • controlled exposure to new sounds and familiarization with loud household sounds and sudden environmental changes
  • exposure to wheeled objects, weird objects like umbrellas, etc.
  • exercises to teach body awareness
  • body handling to prepare them for vet and grooming needs
  • weekly field trips for real world environmental exposure
  • potty training support

How We Do It

Watch Puppy Day School in action! This video provides an overview of the experience you can expect for your pup.

How We Do It

This video provides an overview of the experience you can expect for your pup from the Social Puppy Day School Program.

How We Do It

This video provides an overview of the experience you can expect for your pup from the Ultimate Puppy Day School Program.

Compare Day School Programs

Program Details

  • Basic Foundations Skills (sit, down with hand signals, hand target, focus, go to place, polite doorway / threshold behavior)
  • Life Skills (verbal cues for all behaviors, come when called, polite greetings, drop)
  • Impulse Control (Leave It, Down/Stay, Anti-Jump, Leash Foundations)
  • Advanced Distraction Work (available with Add-On Dates)
  • Emailed Weekly Instructional Videos
  • Bi-Weekly Handouts
  • Two (2) – Private Sessions (Skills Transfer)
  • Weekly Field Trips
  • Training Practice on Field Trips (weeks 3 + 4)
  • Socialization
    • Optimism Building Activities
    • Obstacle Courses
    • Conditioning to New Surfaces / Objects
    • Sound Desensitization
    • Sudden Light Shifts Desensitization
    • Car Desensitization
    • Body Awareness Activities
    • Body Handling
    • Dremel Conditioning (nail grinder)
    • Wheeled Objects Conditioning
    • New People (During COVID, we remain 6ft from strangers on field trips, also use costumes to change our "look")
    • Daily Playtime with Appropriate Playmates
  • Potty Training Support
  • Weekly Report Cards

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Social Puppy

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Required for all programs

  • ⚠ CRATE TRAINING:
    Please start crate training your puppy immediately. Crate Training instructions will be sent in your registration confirmation email. This program is not suitable for dogs showing signs of separation anxiety. This is a fast-paced program and to make the most out of day's activites pups need to rest for about 15 minutes. If they aren't comfortable in their crate, rest does not occur. Read more to learn why your puppy and others will benefit from crate training.

  • ⚠ AGE:
    Eligible puppies must be between 9 and 16 weeks of age at start to take advantage of their early socialization window. If dogs do not pass an initial temperament evaluation (conducted on their first day) to remain enrolled in the program, an alternate training program will be recommended and refund for the remaining package will be issued.

  • ⚠ DAILY HEALTH:
    Puppies must pass a daily health check before class admittance for the day. This is to ensure each puppy is healthy enough to socialize with other puppies for their own safety and well-being and the safety of their classmates. If a puppy shows signs of illness while at the program, we will contact you immediately for pickup.

⚠ VACCINATIONS:
Puppies must be up-to-date with and maintaining their booster vaccination series. Of particular importance are Distemper and Parvo.
See Vaccination Requirements »

Puppy Day School FAQs

?What do I need to know regarding COVID protocols?

When COVID is circulating at a high level in the community, our team will require you to mask up inside the building during drop off/pick up and during Private Transfer Sessions (In the Ultimate Puppy Program). Please continue to practice social distancing.

?What happens if I'm late picking up my puppy?

12:46pm - 1:14pm = $50 additional fee
1:15pm and beyond = $100 additional fee per hour
** - Having a designated pick up and drop off window allows us to keep our overhead costs down and pass savings on to our students. - **

?What happens if I forget my treats and stuffed Kong?

$15 supplies fee applied per day for use of RMDT supplies.

?I don't have my puppy yet so I don't have vaccine records. Can I still register?

Yes! We encourage you to sign up early as spots fill up fast! However, we are required by law to have these records on file and current prior to the puppy's first day. It you register without, we will need you to send them along prior to entry. Depending on age and date for first set of series, this may mean including 1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd round. See our Vaccination Requirements page for more details.

?I'm worried about illness, what is your commitment to prevention?

Understandable, we are too! Not only is illness a real problem in interrupting their socialization timeline, it's incredibly time consuming and expensive to address within the business! Prevention is key! We require puppies remain up to date on their series of vaccinations and conduct a visual health inspection each morning before the puppies enter the building. We request that families also keep an eye out before bringing them. Coughing, excessive sneezing, runny noses, colored discharge, or irregular poop not easily attributed to food are all things we screen for. Can we prevent everything? No. Sometimes, like any school program, a dog may make it in before cold symptoms appear. This is rare, and the benefits of early socialization far outweigh the risk of illness. To date, in 13 years, we have only seen common colds and only occasionally. I e. Kennel cough. And it's rare.