Puppy Parents ›

Frequently Asked Questions

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What should I look for in a good trainer and a training program?

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) sets the standards for professional dog training and they say it best! To see what APDT recommends, click here.

How is a puppy parenting center different from a general
dog training company?

Wonder Puppy’s puppy parenting center specializes in puppy-hood, or dogs under the age of two. By specializing in puppy-hood, Wonder Puppy can focus on the needs of puppy parents and offer more early learning services than the average dog training center (i.e. pick-a-pup seminar, drop-off nursery program for puppies as young as 8 weeks of age, etc). We are also well equipped with all of the trainer-recommended tools that a new puppy parent will need. Wonder Puppy is a one-stop-shop for everything that is needed before and after you get your puppy!

What makes Wonder Puppy’s trainers and programs
the best choice for me and my puppy?

Qualified Trainers

Wonder Puppy is staffed by Certified Pet Dog Trainers (CPDT’s), as well as trainers and interns who are working towards becoming certified through the Certification Council of Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT). The CCPDT represents the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the world’s largest international dog training association. The APDT is an advocate for trainer continued education and the use of ethical training techniques and business practices.

Reward-based, Leading Edge Methods

We use only gentle techniques and tools and never use mental or physical intimidation. The only type of punishment we will teach is a neutral “time-out.” At Wonder Puppy, we will show you how your leadership can be established through bonding with your puppy, setting consistent boundaries, and reward-based training.

Our trainers will teach you and your puppy using leading edge training methods, as our trainers are committed to continuing their education and updating their methods to keep up with the latest in scientific research.

Flexible School Options

Wonder Puppy offers a variety of training service options! Click here to visit our Puppy School page.

Puppy Supply Store

Wonder Puppy has all of the trainer-recommended puppy products that you will need before and after getting your puppy. You can find our products on-line or in-store.

How early should I start socializing and training my puppy?

You want to start socializing and training your puppy is as soon as you bring your puppy home. The biggest impact you will ever make on your puppy is between 7-14 weeks of age, during the Imprinting Period. It is the time to carefully introduce your puppy to the world and show him/her that it is a safe and fun place to live. Although your puppy is more vulnerable to disease at that young age, you can take your puppy to lots of people places and places where there are other familiar, healthy puppies and dogs.

Is it safe to bring my puppy to your facility if his/her puppy vaccination series has not been completed? What are your vaccination requirements?

Yes! The risk of contracting disease is less than the risk of developing behavioral problems due to lack of experience from socialization and training during the critical period of brain development. To read what a well-respected veterinarian has to say about the safety and importance of early socialization and training, click here.

To come to our facility, we require that your puppy has had at least one set of puppy vaccinations, and prefer a second set. To make our facility as safe as possible for you and your puppy, we sanitize our surfaces for the common puppy diseases, with kennelsol. However, if your puppy has been under-vaccinated, your puppy is sick, or you are simply uncomfortable with exposing your puppy to other dogs at such a young age, we can make arrangements for private training sessions to make sure you and your puppy start off on the right paw. In any case, you should not wait to start socialization and training — we will find a way that works for you and your comfort level!

What kind of training methods and tools do you use?

There are many training methods that work. Our methods are always carefully chosen to ensure that they are safe, fun and effective for long-term training success. We use only gentle techniques and tools and never resort to mental or physical intimidation (ie no chains, squirt bottles, shaker cans, jerking, physical force, etc). The only punishment we will teach is a neutral “time-out.”

At Wonder Puppy, we can show you how to establish your leadership role through bonding with your puppy, setting consistent boundaries, and reward-based training. We will show you how to use management to prevent “bad” puppy habits and how to clicker train to encourage “good” puppy habits. Wonder Puppy can help you and your puppy learn through success!

I don’t want my puppy to perform only when I have a treat… Will that be a problem with your methods?

No! For all of our basic skills, we use methods where the behavior happens before indication of earning a reward. As your puppy’s learning foundation becomes solid, we also work to effectively lessen the use of treat pouches and lessen the amount of food treats in training.

How can I make sure that my puppy doesn’t become overweight from eating lots of extra food treats?

Weight increase should not be an issue. We highly recommend that you decrease regular daily meals by the amount you are substituting with training foods.

We also recommend using natural, healthy treats. Most of the treats we use and recommend are actually holistic types of dog food.

What is a clicker and what is clicker training?

A clicker is positive reinforcement training tool that has a button that makes a “click!” sound when you push it.

Clicker training is a type of dog training that uses a clicker and treats to provide instant feedback about good behavior. When the “click!” sound is consistently followed by food, it becomes a meaningful to the dog; the dog learns, “when I hear the “click!” there is a treat on the way!” In turn, this provides you have an effective communication tool to instantly mark good behavior—clicking marks the behavior and treating rewards the dog for the behavior that was clicked. In a short time, your dog’s brain will recognize the muscles that are acting at the moment the click happens. Your dog will begin to enthusiastically repeat the behavior in hopes of more clicks and treats.

Does the clicker tell my puppy when I want him/her to do something?

Clicking doesn’t tell your puppy when to perform a behavior – that is what a cue/command does. The click only “marks” a behavior, conveying to your dog that, “Yes! That is a good behavior,” at the exact moment it happens so that your puppy knows exactly what is being rewarded. In other words, the click doesn’t cause the behavior; the behavior causes the click.

Why click? Why is it better than using my voice?

The click is useful because it is…

Precise: marks the exact moment the dog performs a behavior you like
Fast: processes instantly (faster than words)
Unique: only heard when something good is about to happen
Consistent: always sounds the same
Safe and Forgiving of Mistakes: won’t set back your training or damage your relationship with your dog.

Clicking also creates…

A “bridge” of time for reward delivery: the marker gives you time so that you don’t have to rush to get the treat to your puppy.

Focus, enthusiasm, and creativity: Clicker training creates a safe, nurturing learning environment with clear communication that will bring out the best in your puppy.

I don’t want to have to carry a clicker around with me all of the time. Will I always need to have it with me?

No! The clicker is simply a communication tool that is used when you are working on new skills or spiffing up old ones. If you don’t have it on your when you are working with your puppy, you can still use your voice (“Yes!”) to mark good behavior.

What type of training services do you have to offer, and how do I know which one is best for me and my puppy?

Wonder Puppy offers a variety of training options! You can click on each of the services below for more details:

Public School
Private School
Boarding School

Here is how you can determine which type of service is best for your situation…

Public School might be a good choice, if:

  • You want to train in a group setting.
  • You are able to make a multiple-week commitment to attend regularly scheduled classes.
  • You are on a money budget.
  • Your dog is healthy, people-friendly, and dog-friendly.

Private School might be a good choice, if:

  • You prefer full one-on-one attention from the trainer.
  • You want training that is completely tailored to the needs of you and your puppy.
  • You need a flexible training schedule.
  • You want in-home training.
  • You have a dog that has special needs or health issues.
  • You have a dog that is emotionally over-reactive (ie barky; aggressive; overly-hyper; overly-shy; or overly-stressed in new environments)

Boarding School might be a good choice, if:

  • You want Wonder Puppy to do most of the training.
    (*however, we will provide you with homework and involve you in one or more follow-up sessions, for consistency).
  • You want extra mental enrichment and/or supplemental training for your puppy.
  • You need to leave your puppy for any period of time and you want to rest assured that your puppy is safe, nurtured, and practicing his/her training skills.

I have questions about puppy classes…

What basic training skills and social skills do we learn in
puppy class?

In “Good Puppy” Class, you will learn…

Basic Skills - name recall, sit, down, gentle, drop, take, come, walk with me, and go to your bed.

Social Skills – self-confidence around: strangers, other dogs, new sites, and sounds;
increasing comfort with being left alone and being handled; softening the mouth/bite and giving up valuable resources.

How many weeks does puppy school last?

 

The first level (Good Puppy) lasts for 8 weeks, second level (Great Puppy) lasts for 7 weeks, and third level (Wonder Puppy) lasts for 6 weeks.

What if I want to take a group class but I would have to miss one or two weeks?

Of course it is ideal if you can be at all of the training sessions. However, we realize that that is just not possible sometimes. Wonder Puppy’s policy on absences is to give you up to a year to make up the missed class in a future training class that has available room, free of charge. That being said, if you know ahead of time that you are going to miss more than one or two sessions, we recommend registering only if you plan on scheduling private make-up sessions.

Can I observe a group class to see if it is right for me?

Absolutely! We want to make sure that you are where you need to be. To observe a class that is currently in session, please contact us at: casey@wonder-puppy.com.

Can I bring other members of the household to class, too?

You bet! We encourage you to bring all members of the household, including well-behaved children ages 6 and older. Having everyone involved in training will put everyone on the same page and support consistency in your puppy’s training.

What do I need to bring to puppy class?

Bring To Class...

leash — 6ft flat leash; no rectractable leashes
harness and/or collar — no choke chains or prong collars
treats — variety of high value, pea-sized yummies
treat pouch – pouch attaching to you
clicker — provided in class
bed — small blanket, towel or mat
toy — plush or tug type
water & bowl
…and an exercised & hungry pup!

Do you have more advanced classes?

Yes! We have 3 levels of foundational training… Good Puppy, Great Puppy, and Wonder Puppy. We also have mini-courses on specific topics.

How do I sign up for training?

To go to the registration page, click here.

Where are you located?

1500 NW 18 th Ave, Ste 117
Portland, OR 97209

We are located at the corner of NW 18 th Ave & Quimby, in the ActivSpace Center behind the Sultan Cafe. Our retail store is open Mon-Sat 2pm - 6pm.  The store is also open while school is in session and by appointment.

What puppy training books and start-up products do you recommend?

For recommended training books, click here.
For recommended training and care products, click here.

Can adult dogs come to Wonder Puppy?

Yes—It is never too late to teach an old dog new tricks! Although we specialize in puppy-hood, there are many great benefits to practicing foundational skills with your older dog and we would love to have you join us! We welcome dogs of all ages