Puppy parties...

Re: Puppy parties...

Ceri Boyd — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:22:43 GMT

I love running puppy classes but we do ours on a 4 week block basis and whichever nurse is on backshift take the class... myself and another nurse really enjoy it and I would say are good at it, however the other nurses aren't as bothered and I sometimes find our classes don't really have any direction with puppies running about mad & owners not really listening :/

Re: Puppy parties...

Zoom Zoom — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:25:48 GMT

Yeah I'd love to know to. Just ran my first class this week, little mad and owners turned up early but apart from that all left smiling! Was impressed at how good the puppies were and the owners for asking plenty questions! Have found Sarah whiteheads book on running puppy classes very useful.

Re: Puppy parties...

Cassie Gough — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:26:30 GMT

Hey

Just wondered where you get the erica peachy booklets from. I am trying to start some puppy parties and these sound useful!

Thanks

Re: Puppy parties...

Vicky RVN — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:59:22 GMT

Thanks everyone!

Re: Puppy parties...

Emma Purnell — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:55:00 GMT

I think I put up our Socialisation (and habitulisation but it was too long to put on!) charts for Puppys and Kittens in the Wiki - I will check and pop them up if they are not already there. They might give you a few ideas.

Re: Puppy parties...

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:43:05 GMT

ooooh I forgot about the tick sheet, we do that too, we also give out the wee booklet by Erica Peachy, called Good puppy,its great, it has everything in it about pups, ie mad half hours mouthing etc.

Re: Puppy parties...

les punton — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:08:10 GMT

we have a variety of toys (that we stock) to show the owners kongs etc - tend to sell a few at the parties.

we also have a tick sheet for the owners to take away with things to socialise, such as

people with glasses

pushchairs

children all ages

buses

hairdryers etc

get them to bring it back at 2nd party - however some people become competitive.

Re: Puppy parties...

S-J — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:47:14 GMT

i run one in bury if thats any help, needs to have had all vaccs but be 4month or under

Re: Puppy parties...

humanenurse — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:24:09 GMT

Sounds great! We need to take our puppy to one for socialising. Is/does anyone run one in a practise in the north west, pref north manchester?

Re: Puppy parties...

Vicky RVN — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:21:41 GMT

We are only keeping our talking short, like you said not talking about life cycles or anything (cos if i were an owner i wouldn't be interested!), just talking about risks and our protocol for treatment.

I like the idea of letting similar sized pups off, that's what i saw done and it worked very well. We could do pass the pup when we're talking about handling and grooming, owners can do it while we're doing it on a stuffed dog.

Thanks!

Re: Puppy parties...

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:11:20 GMT

Oh you have to do party games,people get bored very easily I have found at puppy parties especially if its only talking, plus the pups get bored too.

I would suggest you make your topics short, and after each ask if there are any questions, then move onto the next topic.People dont really want to listen to the life cycle of the worm, or flea, etc, just tell them what they carry and any potential zoonoses that usually has them buying the flea/worm tmt, also tell them how much a dental cost and they are usually buying up all your toothpaste too.

You could also cover your picking up poo with the worm topic.

I usually let off the wee dogs together, and the big dogs together, and any wee shy ones get off on their own for a mooch about until they are a bit more confident.

The pass the puppy is also to help us as professionals, I have them pass the pup, and the new person looks at the teeth, in the ears, touches the feet etc, to get the dog not only used to another person, but also to all the prodding and poking, which in the long term helps us later on if they happen to come in for any checks.

Remember to have bathroom breaks and water out for all the dogs too..... you probably know that already

Re: Puppy parties...

Vicky RVN — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:01:51 GMT

We aren't doing party games, pass the pup sounds good for getting them used to other people. What other games have you done/seen?

Re: Puppy parties...

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:59:59 GMT

I love pass the pup too, I dont that at my last puppy party and it went down a storm

Re: Puppy parties...

Mac Feather — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:57:16 GMT

I like pass the pup! except i want to keep em all!

Re: Puppy parties...

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:55:41 GMT

Good luck,

what party games are you playing?

Re: Puppy parties...

Vicky RVN — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:51:22 GMT

There will be short breaks between each topic (they will get bored of listening, we will get bored of talking!) for pups to have a play. We are having rule that pups are only let off lead when we say so, this way we can restrict it so there aren't a load of bouncy confident pups scaring a timid one who is cornered under the chair). Have seen one party where they were all off...it was a tad crazy! And have seen one where it was controlled, two off at a time to allow them to get used to each other and then when going well more let off.

Re: Puppy parties...

Vicky RVN — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:48:44 GMT

It will be a two class course.

Class one:

legal (dangerous dogs act and picking up poo!)
insurance
basic training (bite inhibition, chewing, jumping up, toilet training)
exercise
grooming and handling

Class two:

preventative healthcare (vaccination, flea and worm tx)
neutering
teeth cleaning
feeding
obesity
poisons

Re: Puppy parties...

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:43:21 GMT

Hi Vivcy, what are you going to cover in the party?