1. Introduction

• What are the benefits of Puppy Classes?
• What are the priorities for puppies?
The big four: Socialisation, Environmental Conditioning, Independence Development and Preventative Strategies (for avoiding the development of problem behaviour)
• Suitable venues for puppy classes: veterinary hospitals, pet shops, grooming salons, private residences, etc
• Relationship with owner of venue: financial arrangements, conflicts of interest, bookings, advertising, PR, shared benefits, etc • Equipment: Supplied by class instructor; supplied by puppy owners
• Hygiene for puppies’ safety: floor surfaces, equipment, toys, etc
• Vaccinations required
• WH&S Risk Assessment
• Discuss course assessment

2. The Science of Learning and Behaviour
• Habituation
• Classical or Pavlovian Conditioning

3. The Science of Learning and Behaviour
• Operant Conditioning 
4 Independence Development
• The Tie-up or Restraint Exercise
• Crate Training
• Time alone

5. The Importance and Benefits of Play
• Tug-o-war, retrieve, chasing
• Impulse control
• Play as a reinforcer

6. Preventative strategies (to avoid development of problem behaviour)
• Resource guarding
• Variety (avoiding routines and patterns)
• Relationships built on trust
• Identifying and addressing behaviour resulting from puppies becoming overtired, over-stimulated or out of control of emotions – developing emotional self-regulation

7. Socialisation and Environmental Conditioning
• Canine Critical/Sensitive Developmental Phases
• Species Specific Defence Response (fear response)
• Puppy class social interactions – learning manners and social etiquette

8. Introduction to the technique of Luring 
• Positive reinforcement combined with Negative Punishment
• Pavlovian conditioning of the bridge/mark word, “good”
• Avoiding luring becoming bribery

9. What you will need for practical sessions
• Lunch and cold drinks (there will not be time to go to shops). Tea and coffee facilities will be provided.
• Food treat pouch https://www.thetrainerspouch.com/
• Puppy or puppies
• Crate, collar, lead, water bowl • Pen and paper and/or electronic device with internet connection

10. Practical Session - Day 1
• Classmate introductions
• Hygiene, WH&S
• Puppy social introductions and interactions
• The tie-up or restraint exercise
• Sit on cue; sit and stare as a behavioural default; sit and stare as a polite means of asking for attention
• Commence training of the recall
• Encourage tugging play
• “Park the Puppy”

11. Practical Session – Day 2
• Puppy social interactions
• Progress recall training
• Commence training of the drop (lay down)
• Introduce “leave-it” cue 
• Handling exercises
• Introduce “leave” cue during tugging play
• “Swap the Puppy”, class exercise

12. Practical Session – Day 3
• Social interactions
• Progress recall training
• Progress training of the drop
• Three Principles for commencing the fading of food treats
• Training the stay
• Environmental conditioning exercises
• Hand touch
• Introduce “yes” cue to grab tug toy
• Participants instruct an exercise to one another

13. Toilet Training

14 Puppy Nipping and Biting

15 Barking Aggression in puppies Other problem behaviours

16. Participants provide answers to common puppy owner questions. Maximum time of five minutes per answer.

• Total course time: approximately 46 hours (approximately 20-hours ‘at-home learning’; 18 hours practical over three days; and eight hours to complete course assessment at home). Participants are also expected to conduct additional reading/research in support of learning and gain hands-on experience to develop skills. Participants will need to be self-motivated.

Request to defer practical dates (three days): Changing or deferring of practical days is problematic as we have based our financial structure on having ten participants only in each practical session. We have aimed to keep practical classes to a maximum of ten participants to ensure a good learning experience for all. We hope you understand that requests to change or defer practical dates will incur fee/s:

• If a replacement can be found for the cancelled practical days, a fee of $440 (inc GST) will be applicable in order to transfer to later practical days.

• If a replacement cannot be found for the cancelled practical days, a fee of $660 (inc GST) will be applicable in order to defer to later practical days.

• Non-attendance or cancellation, without attendance at a later date, does not incur a fee. A refund will not apply. 

• All practical days must be attended in their entirety to gain eligibility for certification. Attending the missed day/s with a later group will be dependent on availability and will incur a fee of $110 (inc GST) per day.

• Participants must view all provided learning sessions and resources, achieve a minimum of 80% on all quizzes and attend all practicals, in their entirety, to gain certification. Q&A webinars will be recorded and accessible for those unable to attend at the allotted times. Practical sessions must be attended on the scheduled dates and times.

• Recorded sessions 1 – 8 must have been viewed and relevant quizzes successfully completed, prior to attending practical sessions.

• Tea and coffee facilities will be available at practical sessions, but attendees will need to bring their lunch and refreshments as there will not be time available to attend local shops.

• The three-days of practical sessions will be limited to ten participants per group. You will receive an email confirming your enrolment and the dates of your practical sessions. If for any reason, you are unable to attend your designated practical dates, you can transfer to a later set of practical dates, if available and if your place can be filled – an administration fee of $440 will apply. If your place cannot be filled by an alternative participant, transferring to a later set of practical days will incur a fee of $660.

• If there is sufficient demand, additional practical days can be held in other cities or areas. There will be an additional cost to attend practical days outside of Sydney to cover Vicki’s flights, accommodation, etc.

• Participants attending practical days must be well presented in clean, professional attire and as per the Workplace Health and Safety Risk Assessment provided.

• Participants are required to source a puppy or puppies aged between eight and 15 weeks of age, to bring to practical sessions. Sources for securing a puppy or puppies could include: social media posts, friends/family/neighbours, advertisement in local paper, local trading post bulletin boards, dog welfare organisations, etc.

• All course requirements must be satisfactorily completed within 16 weeks of completion of practical training, to achieve certification.

• Pre- requisites and Requirements to gain certification:
- Moderate computer skills and internet connectivity
-Moderate literacy skills 

-Self-motivation
-Read “Excel-erated Learning” by Pamela Reid 
- Read 'How to Train Your Dog' by Jen & Ryan Tate
-Attend to observe, at least one full course of puppy classes (usually four to six weeks) by any Instructor
-View all course sessions and materials in their entirety 
-Successfully complete quizzes -Successfully complete course assessment

NB. All course requirements are to be completed within 16 weeks of the completion of practical sessions.

Participants are encouraged to join Vicki Austin’s Puppy Class Instructors’ Group on Facebook

Approximately 38 hours (approximately 20-hours ‘at-home learning’ plus 18 hours practical over three days).  Additionally, the course assessment will take approximately six hours to complete. Participants are also expected to conduct additional reading/research in support of learning and gain hands-on experience to develop skills. Participants will need to be self-motivated.

$997 (inc GST) 

A deposit of $100 will reserve your place and is refundable until the date that full course fees are due which is 16 weeks prior to the first practical training day.

Access to online course materials will be available once the full course fees have been paid.  Individuals may choose to pay the full fee earlier to gain access to the online materials.  Payment Plans will be considered, please email us to discuss.