puppy parties

Re: puppy parties

Kayleigh Charman — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 17:25:35 GMT

Hi Lucy!

Could you possibly send me some info too?

My details are

Kayleigh Charman

Temple End Vets,

43 Temple End,

High Wycombe

Bucks

HP13 5DN

Thanks!!

Kayleigh x

Re: puppy parties

Lucy Brett — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:11:31 GMT

I'm afraid the webinars are all fully booked, but we will run more.

I know I have a vested interest, but I have just come back from BSAVA and spent and entire evening talking about puppies after the behaviour study day.

I honestly believe that by far the most important thing to help the owners understand is that they need their puppies first experiences to be positive and who to go to if they are having problems or if their puppy is showing either fearful or aggressive behaviour. Puppies do not grow out of behaviour problems as most owners seam to believe.

Ideally owners need to be told this at first vaccination, by the time they come to puppy classes it may be to late. Lots of damage is done by owners who think they understand socialisation but end up overwhelming the dogs. This is as bad as no socialisation at all and is very hard to put right.

At the end of the day very few puppies die or are rehomed as a result of fleas or worms, but unfortunately 18 mouths is the most common age for a dog to be dumped on a charity. Remember that behaviour problems are still the most common reason for a health dog to be put down.

You have lots of opportunities to talk about fleas, worms and diets and very few to talk about behaviour. Please don't forget it. OK I will stop ranting now. I get very emotional about these things.

If anyone thinks anything else should be done please, please let me know. I am getting involved in the Blue Dogs Scheme and will be doing more with the charities in future but I want to make sure anything we do about awareness building is relevant for your in practice. Let me know if you have any bright ideas.

Sorry for ranting!! I realise I am preaching to the converted.

Lucy

Re: puppy parties

tigerlily1985 — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:32:51 GMT

Hi Lucy

We're planning on setting up puppy parties too, could you please send me the info...

Tori

Maple cottage veterinary surgery

26 cambridge road

milton

CB24 6AW

Thanks :o)

Also how can i participate in the webinars by CEVA?

Re: puppy parties

Claire Kellett RVN — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:04:00 GMT

Could you please send me the info too lUcy.

Claire Kellett RVN

Vets 4 Pets,

Old School House,

Town End,

Bramley, Leeds

West Yorkshire,

LS13 4BN

Also could you message me more info on the webinar

Thanx

Re: puppy parties

alexandra leckie — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:56:21 GMT

Could I also jump on the bandwagon please!

Calder Vets Brighouse

25 Huddersfield Road,

HD6 3RQ

Thanx,

Alex

Re: puppy parties

Haley Thomas — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:41:10 GMT

[quote user="Lucy Brett"]

Yes, will do. We are also running a webinar on the 20th April on puppies if you are interested.

Lucy

[/quote]

Where can I find the information for this webinar?

Thank you

Re: puppy parties

Lucy Brett — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:12:17 GMT

OK! x

Re: puppy parties

maz84nz — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:18:20 GMT

we're starting puppy parties next month any information would be great!

Mhairi Fergusson

Links Vets, Alderston Field, Haldane Avenue, Haddington, EH41 3NQ

Re: puppy parties

Lucy Brett — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:48:11 GMT

Will do!

Lucy

Re: puppy parties

Elisha — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:13:46 GMT

Hi Lucy,

Is it possible to send the info to me as well?

My address is:

145 Knocknalyra

Ballina

CoMayo

Ireland

Many thanks!!

Elisha

Re: puppy parties

Lucy Brett — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:07:55 GMT

Yes, will do. We are also running a webinar on the 20th April on puppies if you are interested.

Lucy

Re: puppy parties

Victoria Nielsen RVN — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:36:51 GMT

Hi Lucy,

Is it possible to send info to me as well? I'm planning to set up puppy parties soon and would love any info etc!

My address is:

Victoria Willingale

Medivet Risedale

4 Risedale Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP3 9NN

Thank you!!!

Re: puppy parties

Lucy Brett — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:10:45 GMT

Hello all,

Yes, I am happy to send the info we have. Just send me your address.

Lucy

Re: puppy parties

Skeelish — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:13:05 GMT

I agree a free for all is a big no no in terms of social behaviour development - this can actually make dogs behaviour worse if their first major encounter with other dogs was a free for all.

Def allow a couple of similar size and behvaed pups off together, then put back on leads then allow another two until all the pups have had a play time with at least another puppy. Pups also need to learn that they cant just go bombing over at the sight of another dog.

If these first interactions go well, perhaps have a second go with more pups.

Also dont allow owners to re-assure nervous pups who hide behind legs/chairs! advise them to praise/reward them when the pup has a little adventure out.

Worth discussing DAP products - perhaps speak to the CEVA rep and ask for puppy party discounts to encourge sales. This can also be done with other puppy related products (clickers, kongs, wubbas, dental products, flea, worming, brushes....) Your vets may want to offer a discount to people who attend the evening on these products. We do a 6 month 10% discount on all preventative health care and puppy food.

Re: puppy parties

Sue Cox — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:23:00 GMT

Hello!

We are actually starting to run puppy parties tonight!! We have put together a party bag for this one but not for the next one so any freebies would be greatly appreciated!!

Sue Cox

Overdale Veterinary Centre

New Market Street

Buxton

Derbyshire

SK17 6LP

Or if anyone else has any ideas of where to get freebies from? We have got some stuff from Hills so far, but thats it! Cheers!!

Re: puppy parties

Sue Logan — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:08:44 GMT

Hi Lucy

Just read your post. I am also starting parties in January. I would be grateful if you could also send me what CEVA produce for puppy parties too. My address is Premiervets, 2 Aberconway Road, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, LL19 9HH.

Thanks very much

Regards

Sue Logan

Re: puppy parties

Katie Tallett RVN MBVNA — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:52:45 GMT

it is ideal to let 3 pups off together as this way, 2 will interact whilst the other has a break and a mooch around. this way it is less 'full on' and is less likely to be too much for the pups (especially the less confident ones). we do 2 week classes with the basics (fl/wm/neut/ins/feeding/id chip) we do health check demos and basic training demos. also a practice tour. the 2 week class costs £15 but we do offer this with and extended clicker training course for £40 for 4 weeks (inc clicker, goodybag, money off hills and neutering and id chip). we found that when they were foc everybody booked in and then 1 person turned up! we also changed the name from 'puppy party' to 'socialisation classes' to make it a bit more seriously sounding so that ppl turned up and didn't worry about paying £15 for a 'party'. i have to say, if you have anyone who would do it, the clicker classes are so popular we generally run 3 or 4 classes a week!

hope this helps, any questions, feel free to grill me!!

Re: puppy parties

Maisy — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:51:25 GMT

If you have a small class, then letting the pups off lead together briefly in a controlled way gets all the boisterous behaviour done and dusted before the class starts. Again though it does depend on the puppy so shy ones may not benefit from this, unless all pups are similar in sizes. Otherwise it can be good if carried out correctly for the pups to learn their limits around other dogs.

Re: puppy parties

Vicky RVN — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:50:14 GMT

I would def say a free for all is a no no...unless you want total chaos and fighting puppies! I've seen it done both ways. We let off a couple of puppies that will suit each other at a time (watch how they are before letting them off to decide who to let off together). When the puppies got to know each other better and were a bit more under control and less excited we start to let more off, but if it gets too mad put some back on. When i saw it done as a free for all and don't really think the puppies benefited, particularly with the nervous puppies when you get confident pups throwing their weight around.

Re: puppy parties

lesley Aylett — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:55:52 GMT

thanks everyone. I kinda thought i would do a set of four classes and two topics each class but i just wasnt sure about the puppies interactions, should you let each one go and say hi to others sitting with their owners and change around until each ones been round the circle or just do a free for all in the centre of the ring?

Re: puppy parties

Lucy Brett — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:11:50 GMT

Hi,

If you can send me your address and I'll send you what CEVA produce for puppy parties.

Lucy

Re: puppy parties

Maisy — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:39:39 GMT

Puppy parties are great fun!

Class size is important to consider, keep it to around 4-6 puppies per class. Too many and you risk all puppies having far too much fun playing, and not much being learnt! Or the lively puppies may domineer the shyer ones.

Around 45 minutes per class is good to ensure you keep attention spans. Pups attention doesn't last too long when they're little, and chances are any longer classes esp on evenings, the owners won't either.

I tend to let pups play first, as this generally tires them out for a bit, with another play at the end. If you have a shy pup, let them sit a little further out of the group but still close enough for interaction on their own terms. You don't want to force them to play, but at least they can build confidence gradually.

What sort of things do you want to cover? A topic or two per week can prevent owners being bombarded with information. Fleas/worms/vacc/feeding/microchipping are good ones to go with but simplify it where possible. Not to belittle the clients, but if they are trying to control pup and children, they may not take a lot of it in. I gave out an information pack at the end of the course (which was four weeks) which covered all of this if they wanted to read back on it later. Plus the pup got a little certificate which owners like!

Pass the puppy can work two ways. It can be beneficial to most, but if you do have a scared puppy it may make the problem worse. With each puppy normally bringining 2-4 humans, its a lot of handling to take in when the puppy is frightened. Again though, allow the confidence to build first. When doing this encourage the owners (esp at home) and others to do mini healths checks:ears, paws, mouth etc. If you have time and maybe a willing vet to get each owner and pup into the consult room so the pup can meet the vet and just get a treat. Get them into the habit of thinking the vets is a nice place where they don't get poked and prodded all the time!

I normally gave out packs that I made up with food, toy, treats as well as free insurance (if pup has seen the vet already). Although you're at a charity, Petplan may help you with this.

Also you may want to consider charging a nominal fee for the classes. Will you be running a course of classes? Free classes sometimes mean people book and just don't turn up! Charging, and getting them to pay first normally keeps people to their booking.

Good luck!

Re: puppy parties

Vicky RVN — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:10:42 GMT

What do you need to know? I've recently set them up with one of our vets.