Welcome to Puppy Preschool!
We're thrilled to have you and your puppy join us for this exciting journey! Puppy Preschool is designed to provide a fun and educational environment for both puppies and their owners. Understanding the importance of early training, our program focuses on building a solid foundation for a well-rounded, socially adjusted dog.
Our classes are made up of small groups of up to 6 puppies per group, so your puppy will be exposed to many different breeds and sizes of dogs in a safe environment without being overcrowded or over-stimulated. Play is supervised closely to ensure a positive experience for all.
What Puppy Preschool includes
Basic cues — sit, stay, come, lay down
Walking on a loose lead
Socialisation
Positive reinforcement training
Nutrition, health, growth & development
House & toilet training
Addressing problem behaviours
Basic first aid & vet familiarisation
Our Puppy Preschool runs monthly at Carlyle Vet Clinic, on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 7:15pm. The course starts with a pre-session for owners only — no puppies — so we can cover puppy body language, socialisation, and positive training techniques without distractions. Then four sessions together with your puppy, finishing with graduation at your final session.
4 sessions for $150. You'll also receive handouts summarising each topic — socialisation, positive reinforcement, nutrition, health, growth and development, and basic first aid — plus online links for further learning.
Why enrol in our Puppy Preschool?
Puppy Preschool isn't just a fun activity for you and your new puppy — it's an essential investment in their future wellbeing and your happiness together. During these crucial early weeks of life, puppies are like sponges, absorbing everything around them and forming habits that will last a lifetime.
By exposing puppies to various people, animals, sounds and environments early on, socialisation helps reduce fear and anxiety in unfamiliar situations. Well-socialised puppies are less likely to develop anxiety-driven behaviours like aggression, excessive barking or fearfulness — and they're more receptive to training and learning new commands.
Socialising with humans and other pets also strengthens the bond between you and your puppy. Positive experiences during socialisation build trust and create a relationship based on mutual understanding and respect.
Since classes are designed to be fun, your puppy will develop positive associations with the vet clinic itself, making future visits less stressful for everyone.
Unleash your puppy's potential!
FAQs
What is included in Puppy Preschool?
Our Puppy Preschool is held at Carlyle Vet Clinic on Wednesdays, 6:30 – 7:15pm. It runs monthly: a pre-session for owners only, four sessions with your puppy, and graduation at your final session — 4 sessions for $150. You'll cover socialisation, positive reinforcement training, nutrition, health, growth and development, basic first aid, and bonding activities, and you'll take home printed handouts plus online links to further learning.
How old should my puppy be?
Ideally your puppy will be between 8 and 12 weeks old at the time of the first class — this is a crucial window for socialisation and learning. They'll also need to have had their first vaccination and to have spent at least a week settling into their new family home.
Does my puppy need to be vaccinated?
Yes — all puppies must have had their first vaccination before starting sessions. This keeps every puppy in the class safe. If your puppy still needs a vaccination, just let us know and our team can help bring them up to date.
Is Puppy Preschool safe for puppies who haven't finished their full vaccination course?
We have a strict clinic policy that every puppy attending must have had their first vaccination, and we clean the class area before each session to maintain a safe environment for our puppy guests.
What do I need to bring to class?
Bring your puppy on a collar with a lead attached — no choke chains, corrective collars, slip leads or retractable leads. Carry your puppy in from the car park; once inside the clinic you can place them on the ground.
Pack some high-value treats — a food they really love, like cut-up sausage, cheese, or chicken/duck sticks or tenders (we also stock these in clinic if you'd like to grab them on the way in). A chew toy can be helpful for keeping your puppy occupied between activities.
Each week you'll find a mat set out in class — please settle your puppy there. That's their safe area to work from.
Should I feed my puppy before class?
It's best not to feed your puppy before class. Puppies with full bellies are more likely to want to sleep, while a hungry puppy is much more inclined to engage and learn for a tasty reward.
How do I book my puppy into class?
Email info@carlylevet.co.nz, phone us on 06 835 1096, or pop into the clinic. You can also enrol below using the form.
