Benefits of Small Group Puppy Classes

Belinda, owner and trainer at Treat Play Love, has been running puppy pre-school classes for over 15 years. Prior to establishing Treat Play Love in 2013, she was running these classes in her role as a vet nurse in different veterinary clinics. The experience of operating group puppy classes over so many years has given her a unique insight into what works well and what doesn't, with the experience of the puppies and the humans in the class being her top priority.

Puppies have the room approach and retreat as they feel comfortable

The number of puppies in a puppy class can profoundly impact the class experience for all involved. Over the years, Belinda has run classes with as few as 3 puppies and as many as 8 in a single intake. In a large space, ideally with an additional trainer to assist, and providing all puppies are confident, happy, and find transitioning between play and settling easy, a larger group class can be a lot of fun.

The reality is that the space available for group puppy classes is often restricted to a veterinary waiting room or similar, with a single trainer assigned to run the program. This means that, with a larger number of puppies, limited space means pups and their families will be seated very close to each other. If (or, more likely, when) a pup in the group is finding the proximity of other puppies overly exciting or frightening, there are few options for giving them the space needed to feel safe and comfortable.

Some puppies need a little extra support to thrive in a group setting, and their human family members will need advice to help them support their puppy, too. This takes time and attention from the trainer, which can be stretched thin in a larger group. One higher-needs puppy in the group can leave everyone (puppies, clients, and trainer) feeling that their needs aren't being met in the class.

At Treat Play Love, we limit our group puppy classes to just 4 pups per intake. In our large class space, this allows each pup and their family to have plenty of room to settle and focus while they learn. Additionally, we have barriers available if a pup needs some extra support as they learn how to transition between settling quietly for a break, training with their human family members, and playing with their new friends.

Treat Play Love has a large class space, especially renovated for group puppy classes

Our small group size allows Belinda to make adjustments to the course content from week-to-week, ensuring each family is receiving information and advice that is relevant and helpful to their personal puppy goals. Every family has different wants and needs when bringing a puppy home. Our goal is to support you with knowledge and skills that you can continue to use as you teach your new puppy how to thrive in your home and lifestyle.

Hosting a group puppy class that offers an safe, comfortable, and fun experience for all participants is our priority. We're committed to ongoing trainer education to ensure we can best support our students with modern, friendly, and effective training strategies and advice. Positive reinforcement training is not just for our furry friends - we all learn best when new skills are broken down into small, achievable steps.

If you would like to learn more about our group puppy classes, you can check out our Puppy Training page or get in touch via the Contact Form.