Can I Go To Puppy Training Classes During The Pandemic?

Ideas For Puppy Training At Home During the Pandemic

With the pandemic demanding social distancing between people, it presents an unforeseen challenge to new puppy owners. Day by day, they are finding it difficult to ensure their new pups get the adequate training they need to learn about their new world.

In a period of social isolation and uncertainty, taking your pup to puppy training classes is truly challenging. Most dog trainers are currently at home. The chances of attending training sessions in the UK are undoubtedly limited, courtesy of the stay-at-home order.

Does that mean I can’t attend puppy training sessions?

The window for pup training through face-to-face classes isn’t shut yet despite the current COVID 19 restrictions.  Some dog schools are still open for classes, although most schools remain shut particularly those in areas perceived to be highly vulnerable to the virus outbreak.

For the few schools that are offering classes, they have all adhered to safety measures to keep their clients and staff safe. The measures include asking pup owners to come with their treats and blankets, other than using the items bought by the school. Besides, owners have to wear masks for the entire duration of the training sessions.

What to Consider Before Attending Classes

Fortunately, you could find a suitable school that is offering puppy training sessions. This doesn’t mean the school is COVID 19 secure.  Pup owners hence need to consider multiple factors in advance, days before setting foot in the school classes. These factors below can give you a glimpse into whether a school is a good option to take your new pup for training.

• The school should conduct all its appointments with people coming from public places in outdoor areas. Anyone coming to the school should wash their hands before they are attended to. Furthermore, they should sanitize their hands with their hand sanitizers.
• Upon arrival at the school, incoming pups should be cleaned and all their items such as leads and collars should be disinfected.
• The school should regularly disinfect all the training rooms.
• The school’s staff should wash hands immediately they enter the premises. The staff also needs to wash and sanitize hands before and after coming into contact with the pups.
• Anyone coming to the school should wear masks, observe social distancing, and carry hand sanitizers with them.

Private Training During the Pandemic

Not every pup owner will be lucky to find a good school that suit their training goals. First, puppy training classes may be prohibited in densely populated areas. This rob of pup owners hailing from such areas the opportunity to attend training classes.

Secondly, some schools may have not complied fully with government directives that are aimed at keeping dog schools safe from COVID 19. With that in mind, private training allows parents to accord their little pups the training they need for proper social development.

If you choose private training, you will have a trainer who will work with you either at home or in any other private space. This training is strictly done outdoors, minimizing your chances of contracting the virus from public places.  The training offered focuses on addressing your pup’s specific behavioral challenges.

Why choosing Private Puppy Training Classes can help in the wake of the Pandemic

Private training isn’t for everyone. It is expensive and demanding. On the brighter side, it is the best pup training option at the moment. The benefits of investing in private training over the traditional face-to-face puppy training are invaluable, particularly with the pandemic around. They include-

• Flexible training schedules– you can easily arrange for a flexible training schedule with your trainer. You can ask the trainer to come to your place any time, so long as it suits your schedule. This is unlike the traditional training model. Here, the owner takes their pup to a training school, forcing them to strictly follow the school’s schedule.
• Customized training– traditional models offer group classes, whereby pups get the basic training every pup needs to learn. Private training lessons are customized. They give puppies the lessons that fit them. Lessons are fully customized to address any behavioral issues with your pup.
• It minimizes distractions and unnecessary interactions– your pup can be easily distracted by other puppies or humans while undergoing training in an average training school. This will inevitably impact your pup’s learning progress. More importantly, the pup could unknowingly come into contact with other infected dogs. This is disastrous for it puts your life at risk.

What if I can’t attend Puppy Training classes or afford Private Training?

Training puppies can be a noble challenge today. As much as puppy owners would love to take their young puppies for training classes the government-issued restrictions could stop them from doing that. Even for owners who can afford private training, they aren’t guaranteed that the training will work in favor of their pets.

Fortunately, your pup can get the best training possible at home. Don’t worry about attending puppy training classes or investing in private training. These ideas below will guide you on how to train your puppy at home during the pandemic.

• Start with the basic commands– no puppy training is effective if the puppy doesn’t understand basic commands. Basic commands make the foundation of every pup training program.  These commands include come, sit, stay, and lay down commands. Puppies don’t need hours to understand these commands. Just ten minutes daily is sufficient to help your puppy comprehend the command you want them to learn. Ensure he has understood one command before teaching him the other.
• Establish a training routine- pups do best when there is a planned training schedule they need to follow. Like with other activities, training can’t be done the entire day. It can be boring for pups. Establish a training routine that won’t affect your pup’s time. Remember he needs time to eat, play, and bond with the family considering he is a new member.
• Take charge of the training– monitor the progress from time to time. Don’t assume he has understood all the lessons and yet he hasn’t. That means keeping an eye on your pup all the time. Make him understand you are his trainer unless otherwise.
• Don’t be a perfectionist– the reason why pup owners fail with their training efforts is that, they expect their little companions to understand everything from the onset of the training. Expect your pup to make mistakes during training. Expect him to have a couple of accidents at first. Although it can be upsetting at times, don’t shout at him.
• Reward him– a reward is a form of positive reinforcement. Not just for canines, but humans too. When he gets something right, reward him with a treat. This motivates him to progress with his training. Best of all, he will take his training positively knowing that you will reward him in the end.
• Seek help– puppy training isn’t for everyone. Some owners do well in training their young pups. Others can’t even teach them even the basic commands. If training isn’t working well for you, get a trainer to train him instead.

Virtual Training Classes for Puppies

The internet offers great dog training resources thanks to virtual training. With this technology, you can give your pup lessons, even without training him yourself.  Most pet parents across the UK are integrating their training programs with virtual training.

It allows pet owners to connect with trainers remotely via live video sessions.  With virtual sessions, even the most stubborn pup can learn several lessons. From understanding basic commands to understanding complex instructions, virtual training can be the perfect learning resource for puppies during this pandemic.

For training to work best for your pup, you ought to select the right virtual training classes for him.  Select classes based on the situation and what you want your pup to learn.  Also, do some research? Find classes that suit your pup’s age. For instance, a virtual class for a 10 weeks pup won’t work for a 5 weeks pup.

More importantly, create ample training space where the pup can undergo training without distractions. Like you would do during the normal training sessions, create a schedule for your pup’s virtual classes.

What are the actual benefits of virtual puppy training during the pandemic?

Although it is entirely your prerogative as a pet parent to choose the way you train your pup, the benefits of virtual training makes sense now with the pandemic than before. Below are the benefits of virtual training for puppy owners and their puppies.

• Safe-the training honors COVID 19-restrictions such as stay- home and social distancing. It is safe and doesn’t expose either the pup itself or the pup owner to the virus.
• Effective – when done properly, virtual training works well for all puppies. The classes are way effective than most face-to-face training sessions.
• Convenient- you can use it to train your pup anytime, anywhere. Pup owners don’t need to follow boring, training sessions.
• Resourceful- offers multiple training materials, including live chats and training manuals.

Conclusion

Training your pup determines the kind of dog they will become in the future.  The pandemic shouldn’t hinder you from training your new cute, furry family member to become the best they can be. Let the pandemic offer an excellent opportunity to train your young pup, other than allowing it to hinder your training efforts.