Common Questions
My puppy is 5 months old. Should he be going into Puppy Pre-school, or Family Dog class?
You should register him in the Family Dog Program. Puppy Pre-school is for puppies who are between the age of 9 and 15 weeks on lesson #1.
I would like to register my dog for one of your classes. How do I know if there is still space available?
If you send in your registration, and there is no space in either your first or second choice of class, we will hold your file and contact you. We will not keep your payment. We work on a first come-first serve basis. We may have space when you call, and then a registration (or 2) may show up on our fax machine. Best bet? Send it to us as soon as you can.
I have attended a Puppy Pre-school class with my dog when he was 3 months old. He did learn basic commands such as sit and lie down in Puppy Pre-school. He is now 5 months old. Should he go into Family Dog or Step Ahead?
Our Family Dog Program is designed to be the class taken after any Puppy Pre-school. Although you may have learned some of the basics, it is not a good idea to rush your training. Family Dog will cover walking on leash, staying while the handler is across the room (and other dogs beside them), making sure they understand down / stay and Family Dog builds on manners and relationship issues. At 5 months of age we still have to address jumping up on people, manners at the door and paying attention. The bulk of the training theory, that you will use in more advanced classes, is taught in Family Dog.
I have sent in my registration, but have not had any confirmation that I have been accepted into the course. Can you please let me know if you received it?
We usually confirm your registration within a week of receiving it. If you include a return fax number, your confirmation will be sent via fax. If not, we will send it by mail. If it is close to the start date, we will contact you by phone. Please give us some time to confirm receipt of your registration. If you have not heard anything and it has been over two weeks or the date is drawing near, feel free to give us a call or email.
I would like to register for a class, but do not have a Visa and would like to make sure that I get a spot. Can I register and pay at your school in person?
Yes, you can pay in person. The system is different for each location. If you want a class in Ajax, we have a door going in to our training hall with a small space under it. Your registration and payment, in an envelope, are quite safe if slipped under the door. You can do this at any time. If you are in Toronto you can pay in person but will need to call us to see when we are teaching. (Please do not drop payment off at Urbandog without discussion with our office first. Thanks). Payment can be made in Toronto in the evenings, during our breaks in between our classes. In both locations, payments can’t be made while any classes are in progress
My dog will need to be spayed / neutered during the class session. What do you suggest?
That is a great question. The best idea would be to book an appointment for the day following one of your classes. For example, if you normally take your class on a Tuesday night, book your appointment for Wednesday. This will allow you to rest your dog for close to a week. Your dog can still attend class, but do restricted exercises if necessary. If you have already booked your appointment, you can call your Veterinary to see if it is possible to switch it. If all else fails, please feel free to attend class without your dog so you will learn the lessons to practice during the week.
My dog can be a bit wary of new situations. He is not aggressive but he will back away from strangers. Is a group class the way to go with him?
If your dog is a bit shy or overwhelmed, then he is welcome in our classes. We strive to do what we feel is best for your dog. Many dogs can feel wary of new situations and as soon as they feel at home, the come out of their shell. In saying that, there are the exceptions. If you feel that your dog would be under a great deal of stress in a group situation, please call us and we can have you bring your dog in to meet us prior to registration. He may need a bit of behavioral work first, to help lower his stress level. We will be able to guide you in the right direction after meeting him.
My dog doesn't always like other dogs, especially while on leash. If a dog comes too close he will snap but has never made contact. Will I be able to attend a group class?
Some dogs are aggressive towards others, and some are reactive. If you have a reactive dog, and you act aggressively towards him (pulling him back and giving him a leash correction), it may make matters worse. He may just have a personal space issue. We feel that it is best to have you call us and bring your dog in for an assessment. We can meet your dog and decide what is best for both of you (and for the rest of the group). Just because your dog makes no contact to another dog does not mean that he has not caused a bit of trauma. We err on the side of safety for all the dogs. After meeting him, we will discuss your options. Please do not register your dog for classes if he has these issues without contacting us first. Thank you.
My dog will lunge and bark at other dogs while we are out on a walk. I don't know if he is acting aggressively or simply wants to play. He doesn't have any contact with other dogs at the moment and I am not sure what the outcome would be if I let him have contact with the other dogs. What should I do?
First, you may want to collect some information. If he has no contact with other dogs, and his first experience with them is in a class, where he is learning new skills, this may not be the best route to take. Many dogs that lunge out at others don't do anything at all once the leash is loosened up a bit. Many dogs pull against a tight leash. We can arrange to meet him and let you know if he just seems to be all bark.
Do you have a policy for missed classes? Do you have any compensation if I have to stop classes half way through?
In the case of short term illness of the handler, if you miss one class, you can look into your workbook, which is handed out to each participant on lesson #1, and you will see all the lessons listed. There are detailed instructions and you can do your best to work with your dog during the week. The following week come to class at 15 minutes before the hour and one of the trainers will take you aside and catch you up on what you missed. There may be the option of booking a private make-up class depending on the class you are in and scheduling (for an additional fee), but we don't feel that this is always needed. In the case of short term illness of your dog, we encourage you to attend your class without your dog for that week, to observe the lesson.
Please remember that when you sign up for a class, you have purchased that space. No one else can use it. If you drop out, it means that that space stays empty. We have no refunds after registration. In the case of illness of dog or handler (for more than one week), a Courtesy Credit Voucher may be issued. A $25.00 administration fee will also be deducted. The voucher may be used towards another upcoming session.
If I send in my registration and payment and the class is already full, what happens to my payment?
If both your first and second choice dates are full, we will call you and ask you what you would like us to do. We will not process any Visas or cheques if you are not confirmed into a class.
Can I pay for class on the first night it starts?
Due to the fact that most of our classes are filled, we normally do not have this option. Your payment will hold your space in the class. If the class you want is still available and is starting in a few days, please feel free to call us to discuss this option.
If my puppy only has one vaccination, can I still come to Puppy Pre-school?
Yes. We have checked with a number of Veterinarians who have given this their stamp of approval. You would be advised to double check with your own Vet if you have any concerns. The pups are in a controlled environment. All the pups have at least one vaccine, plus the floors are disinfected daily. It is important to weigh the vaccine schedule against the need for proper early socialization.
I just adopted an adult shelter dog and the shelter gave me his vaccination certificate. Does he need another vaccination before starting class?
No. Your dog will not be getting monthly boosters if he is an adult. It is fine to just send us the vaccination certificate that you have along with your registration info.
My dog is an adult and has had no previous formal training. Is he too old to start training now? If not, where should we start?
Your dog is not too old to start training. We deal with a lot of shelter dogs, and many of these are in need of obedience training. It is never too late to start. While most of the dogs in our Family Dog classes are under the age of one, it is not uncommon for us to see dogs 4 or 5 years of age start in this beginner's level.
We got our dog for our 8-year-old son. He wants to do all the training himself and we would like him to have this responsibility. Is it all right for him to handle the dog in your class?
While your son may be old enough to learn, we feel that children of that age are too young to teach. We have a suggested age of 12 years for participation in the classes. We do however believe that children should handle dogs that have some understanding of obedience words. The adult can do the classes, and once the dog has learned the basics, the adult can help the children practice at home with their dog. This will make it easier for your dog to learn the basic skills. Kids teaching kids may not be the best scenario.
Can the whole family come to the class, or do you suggest only one handler?
It is best to have one handler at a time working with the dog. If you want to switch off with a family member part way through the class, that is fine. It is best to switch only once. You can have 1 or 2 family members come as spectators. Very young children can come with an accompanying adult.
