Puppy training begins the moment you bring your new puppy home. Every year more than 5 million pets are euthanized in this country, mostly by owners who got off to a bad start with a new pet. Our puppy preschool program was established to help reduce this statistic and assist you in raising a well mannered family pet. At National K-9 we want to teach new puppy owners how they can influence and shape the behavior of their growing puppy. Whether or not you are enrolled in formal training, you are still directing behavior and establishing patterns in your dog's life. By not teaching or not setting limits your puppy understands, you are possibly contributing to future behavior patterns. Puppy preschool is designed to teach owners to better understand their puppy’s needs, establish effective communication, curb behavior problems, and to show owners how to properly socialize their new puppy.

Our puppy preschool program places a heavy emphasis on setting limits that your puppy can understand and on proper socialization to assist your puppy in the transition into a domesticated lifestyle. It is the first 16 weeks of a puppy's life that is most critical. It is in this period that most puppies can develop up to 90 percent of their attitudes toward people, other animals, and their environment. Our program is also designed for each individual puppy allowing you the one-on-one opportunity to ask questions that apply specifically to your puppy of our professional trainers.

It is crucial that you begin an educational program with your puppy at an early age. Between the ages of 7 and 16 weeks, dogs begin to form attitudes and opinions that will last a lifetime. Puppies should begin preschool as close to eight weeks of age as possible, yet no later than 14 weeks of age. This early start is so important in preventing future behavior problems.

For $59.00 you will receive one private consultation, an informational packet, and three puppy group class sessions. Upon completion of our preschool program, your dog will be better prepared to participate in formal obedience training. Please note that while we accept any breed or mixed breed of dog for puppy preschool, they must be healthy and have proof of all required vaccinations. The cost of puppy preschool may be applied toward any of our advanced training programs upon completion of our preschool program. Call our office at (614) 864-8808 to make arrangements to enroll your puppy.

The first step in National K-9’s Puppy Preschool enrollment process is to call and schedule your one-on-one private puppy consultation with one of our certified trainers. Since all breeds were bred for different qualities and have varying personalities, this private consultation will allow our trainer to evaluate your puppy’s personality type and temperament. Our trainer then will be able to offer you direction on raising your puppy’s personality type, breed, and temperament. During this consultation we will also offer behavior counseling in regards to house training, play biting, chewing, jumping up, walking on a leash, and answer any other questions you may have regarding your puppy. You will also be provided with an informational packet full of material that will further assist you at home. After your private puppy consultation, your family and your new puppy will be invited to join our weekly group sessions.

Our small, weekly preschool sessions allow for personalized attention and your questions about your puppy to be addressed. Through the guidance of our staff and the participation of other puppy owners, you will learn a great deal about socialization, confidence building, proper handling, basic problem solving, and other owner-educational topics.

We will discuss a variety of owner - educational topics each week that will help you raise a happier and healthier pet. During these discussions you will learn the basics in dog care, including setting up a pet first aid kit and the introduction of basic grooming practices such as nail trimming, teeth brushing, ear cleaning, coat brushing and more.