Doodle Prep School
Here At Smeraglia Kennel, we realize that while very exciting, bringing a new puppy into your home can be a frustrating and a life-interrupting event. You want a new puppy, but you are worried about all that comes with getting a new puppy, including the initial upset of him being away from all that he has known. Crate training and house training, chewing on your belongings, jumping on your children, and the puppy nipping, are all totally normal new puppy issues and valid new puppy owner fears.
Rest assured, we can now offer you a solution with our varied Puppy Prep School Programs. We know that the first few days, weeks, and months of your puppy's life are critical for his happy and healthy development, as well as a lifetime of harmony in your home.
Our Doodle Prep School is a unique training program that was created exclusively for our clients, to help new puppies make the transition from their mother and litter mates to a family environment. Doodle Prep School is designed to allow you the best of both worlds. You can get a new puppy without all of those new puppy issues. Your puppy, instead of immediately coming home to you, will live with a licensed trainer and her family first, and their household pets. Once there, the trainer will work with your puppy and get him ready to come home to you at a point in the training process of your choosing. We offer a few different programs that can be custom tailored to meet your family's individual needs for training and timing. The length of your puppy’s stay depends on your personal needs as a puppy owner. All programs include regular updates, training supplies, and ongoing Vet care to insure that your puppy remains up to date on vaccinations and de-wormings while in our care. The programs also include consultations with the trainer both during your puppy's' stay and after arriving in your home. We also provide a DVD video of your individual puppy and his training instructions so that you can continue his training after he goes home to you.
Our trainers are an outside third party with whom we have built a trusting relationship. Our trainers will provide you with an objective evaluation of your puppy’s physical and mental soundness specific to your needs. The ultimate goal for us and for you is for there to be a perfect match with each new puppy to their new family. The trainers are at the kennel on Thursdays in order to pick up puppies for training and return puppies to the kennel for Friday shipping. In person pickups are done by appointment so that the trainer can meet with you and go over all questions and material learned while in training. The number of puppies attending prep school at the same time is limited in order to maximize each individual puppy’s time with the trainer. Because of this, early enrollment is recommended for both Two & Four Week Programs.
Two Week: Doodle Prep Schnool Program - Price: $900
The goal of the 2-week program is to introduce your puppy to life away from the kennel, to become familiar with a family atmosphere, and to be imprinted and started on all aspects of training. This program is perfect for clients who would like an objective evaluation of their puppy. It's ideal for those who want a huge leg up on training but would like to do most of the training themselves. This program is best suited for those who do not want to, or cannot handle those first very messy and noisy days of crate training. This program is not for anyone who wants a completely trained puppy. This is an introductory program only.
Puppies that have attended for two weeks have just been introduced to the potty training process and are beginning to understand manners and what is expected of them. They will require a great deal of attention to continue the potty training in your home, as well as reinforcement of all the rules we have been working on with them.
This program is an excellent jump start for potty training, obedience and manners, and can be easily continued by those that have prior experience in puppy training.
With the 2-week program you will receive a crate, chew toy, collar, and leash along with instructions and support on continuing the following training that has been done.
- The initial adjustment away from the kennel setting, which is more dog oriented, to a family home setting which is more people oriented. Most puppies come home ready to instantly bond.
- The crate training, meaning in most cases your puppy can hold potty and remain quiet overnight and for a few hours during the day.
- Your puppy will be on a schedule of eating, drinking, and going potty to make house training much easier. You will receive a copy of this schedule.
- Problems such as jumping up, mouthing (puppy nipping), chewing, etc. will be worked on and usually pretty well under control at the end of the two weeks.
- Your puppy will know the 3 feedback words of good, nope, and okay to aid in communication.
- Your puppy will be familiar with the taking and following treats and wearing a collar and leash. Many new puppy owners do realize how important this is in the training process, and that this does not come natural to a puppy. It must be taught before the puppy can progress in his training.
- Your puppy will be introduced to and be comfortable with the training obedience commands of knowing his name, sit, down, leave it, stay, come, loose leash walking, touch, and ringing the bell. ( This aspect of the training is not complete but is made much easier due to the familiarity with the basic training concepts.)
- Your puppy will be introduced to basic grooming and maintenance such as brushing, ear cleaning, nail trimming, and teeth brushing.
- Your puppy will receive socialization throughout the day with children and other household pets.
Four Week : Doodle Prep School Program - Price: $1600
During the four week program the puppy will receive all of the benefits of the Two Week Program. This program is designed for the novice puppy owner. It's ideal for those that want an all inclusive program that will render a well trained family member. Due to the extended length of the program the trainers will be able to work with the puppy more in-depth. They will have more time to get to know your puppy and fine tune the skills that were introduced in the first two weeks.
- Each puppy will have a strong more solid understanding of appropriate household manners such as not walking between your feet, jumping up, or destroying inappropriate objects.
- The puppy will be further along in the house-training process, and your puppy will be put on a personalized schedule that mirrors your own, which will allow the house-training to run more smoothly in your home.
- More practice to maintain consistent results with the obedience commands, Attention (his name), Sit, Touch, Leave It, Down, and Come.
- Puppies in the 4 week program will have the benefit of additional socialization, which means a more well-rounded puppy.
- Upon request, puppies in this group can also be introduced to the bell as a means for signaling the need to go outside to potty.
Please keep in mind that it is not possible for a puppy to be 100% reliably house-trained until the puppy has matured, which is usually between the ages of six to eight months,, if you desire a 100% house trained puppy will little or no work on your part, then you need to consider our mature dog program. By following the rules set out in the 4 week program accidents should be minimal after the initial transition period of three to five days.
Doodle Vacation Programs - Price: $450/week
For the person whose schedule requires that their puppy stay a little longer than the programs run, we do offer extended programs. The fees are based on a weekly rate, and during this time your puppy will receive around the clock supervision and maintenance of the skills learned inDoodle Prep School. Your puppy will also remain up-to-date on vaccinations and can even be spayed or neutered if requested if they meet the age requirement. Spay and neutering is an additional fee.
This also applies to any puppy that has left our Kennel but needs to return for limited boarding, due to travel or job demands of their family, all dogs returning are required to have a state Certified health Certificate.
Please Schedule these weeks early as we have limited space.
Reservation can be made by contacting our Doodle Prep School Office 251-960-1311 or emailing us.
Maturity Doodle Program - Price: $6000 (does not include cost of dog)
This program takes the puppy to maturity, which is usually around the age of six to eight months. This is perfect for those who do not wish to deal with the puppy stage at all. From this program you can expect the following behaviors.
- Your dog will be completely crate trained and completely house-trained, including ringing a bell to go outside if requested by the new owner.
- Your dog will exhibit good manners and be consistent with the obedience commands Attention, Come, Sit, Stay, Leave It, and Touch.
- Your dog will also be CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Certified.
- Your dog will come to you spayed or neutered, micro chipped, and will have received all age appropriate vaccinations .
- The new owners will also receive one professional photo session for a keepsake.
- To make for an easier transition, your dog will spend time in the homes of both trainers so that his ability to transition will be tested prior to going home.
Therapy Doodle Program - Price: Available upon request
This program is perfect for the person that wants a trained therapy dog ready to visit such places as Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Women’s and Children’s Hospitals, and Schools. The dog will be trained and certified to the specifications of the Delta Society Pet Partners Program. comes complete with an I.D. Card and Insurance for visiting the facilities. Your dog will also be ready to test for the Read Program once the dog has been with you the required amount of time.
