Puppy Play Group
“I love running through the tunnel”--Totoro the goldendoodle
Of course puppy play groups (PPGs) are a lot of fun, but we plan ahead and continuously monitor to make sure they’re safe and fun for everyone. We watch the pups’ body language and move a pup away when they're not listening to other puppies’ appeasement or discomfort signals. All the puppies get regular two-minute rest breaks. Although studies have shown that it’s most important to work on socialization and desensitization during a puppy’s first three months of life, sessions can have a positive affect for older puppies, too.
Some of the desensitization work we do involves the physical: (touching paws, around ears, and along the body), which is helpful at the groomer’s or vet’s office. We always pair touch with praise and treats, and keep touch time short. We desensitize puppies to sounds like fireworks, garbage trucks, and grooming tools, and sights like umbrellas being opened, people on crutches, bicycles, and skateboards.
Shy puppies can have 1:1 time with a handler in our smaller yard and we can bring in one of the quieter dogs to meet them. They can do projects next to each other, like each explore a snuffle mat, or practice sits and stays.
We never yank at or yell at the puppies. Instead we redirect to a cue or behavior for which we can then use praise, treats, and touch to reinforce that they're doing the right thing. We welcome our clients and their positive-reinforcement dog trainers to share with us what they’re working on and we’ll reinforce that as much as we can. We provide regular reports, updates, and photos of the pups in the group.
Details
We work with a maximum of seven puppies in puppy play group (PPG) and there are at least two handlers. Puppies also get some social time in the transport vehicle to and from PPG sessions (provided you’re in our pick-up area.)
All Puppy Play Group sessions are a minimum of one hour. We do not offer Puppy Play Groups on evenings, weekends, or holidays (see our FAQ for which days we are closed). Clients must sign up for a package of at least two PPGs per week on a regular schedule. No credits are given for cancellations. Clients sign up for auto-pay and their credit cards are debited monthly after services have been completed.
“Little Jasper LOVES his puppy play group! He has gotten so much out of PPG; on July 4th he barely even noticed the fireworks! His confidence and socialization have really blossomed with PPG's help.”
-Katy
