By now the puppies from our Jynx and Raven litters have settled into their new homes for a few weeks. While puppies are cute, I'm sure everyone has noticed that puppies also need a lot of structure. Puppy classes can provide you with guidance to get your puppy on a great path of training.
If you are in the St Louis Area, two of my go-to places have excellent puppy classes. These will not only train the puppy but also instruct owners on how to handle current problems or how to prevent them from happening. The AKC STAR Puppy program is supposed to be the same material, regardless where you take it. The resources below are for St Louis, but if you live elsewhere, you can look for the AKC STAR puppy program.
For additional information about this program go to the AKC's website http://www.akc.org/starpuppy.
For pet owners in West County or South St Louis, a great resource is the Jefferson County Kennel Club. I've actually gone through their AKC STAR Puppy class with several of my puppies over the years. Classes are great, and they are kept small. This allows you to bring your puppy to a safe environment at a younger age. A new class is forming now and will start the week of February 15. When you complete this class, you will get a certificate (if you pass) and it can be sent to the AKC to be added to your puppy's registration.
JCKC Puppy Classes
- AKC S.T.A.R. PUPPY(Socialization Training Activity Responsibility)
The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy is an exciting new program designed to get dog owners and their puppies off to a good start. The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program is an incentive program for loving dog owners who want to take the time to take their puppies through a basic training class. This class will teach you how to best communicate with your puppy and provide an opportunity for your dog to socialize with other dogs. You will also be able to get information on all of your puppy-raising questions including housetraining, chewing, and most effective way to teach practical skills such as coming when called. AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy training is the natural lead in to the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program. ALL dogs under 1 year old are welcome to participate in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program including purebreds and mixed breeds.Start Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Time: 6:30 PM
Cost: $90.00 (6 week(s))
Limit: 8 dogs w/handlers
Instructor: Lynn O'Keefe
http://www.jckc.org/classes.aspx
Westinn Kennels, Wentzville
Another favorite training facility we go to regularly is Westinn Kennels, in Wentzville. They also offer puppy classes. They offer a puppy preschool and an AKC STAR Puppy program. My breeding program included a lot of the early developmental puppy lessons, so I really encourage you to try the STAR Puppy instead of the preschool class. These classes also start next week. The great thing about Westinn is that they have a lot more classes to choose from- day or night classes. If you live in St Charles or down 64, or don't mind a drive, Westinn has a lot of options. They also have great beginning classes for obedience, agility, scent work, and others. This is the place we began our dog sport journey with Lily Belle.
