Transform the way your practice approaches early puppy experiences

This brand new course from Puppy School is a practical, knowledge-rich online course for veterinary professionals to make every puppy visit a confidence-building, behaviour-friendly experience.
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Why learn with us?

  • Behavioural insights from our team of Clinical Animal Behaviourists, Registered Vet Nurses and Animal Training Instructors (ABTC registered).

  • 50 behaviour handouts - both further learning and client handouts (many customisable - add your practice logo and details!)

  • 10 editable flyers, templates, forms and checklists to simplify planning and admin.

Your Learning Journey

    1. Happy planning: Module overview

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Words matter

    3. Benefits of running puppy socials

    4. Benefits for puppies pt.1

    5. Benefits for puppies pt.2

    6. Benefits for puppy parents

    7. Benefits for the practice pt.1

    8. Benefits for the practice pt.2

    9. Practicalities to consider pt.1

    10. Practicalities to consider pt.2

    11. Event ideas

    12. Practicalities to consider pt.3

    13. Booking Form Template

    14. Staffing considerations pt.1

    15. Staffing considerations pt.2

    16. Advertising your events

    17. Advertising poster/flyer

    18. Advertising email template

    19. Costs of running puppy socials pt.1

    20. Costs of running puppy socials pt.2

    21. Cost/Benefit Analysis Template

    22. References

    23. What did you learn?

    24. Got a question?

    1. Setting up for success: Module overview

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Layouts and facilities

    3. Preparing the environment for success pt.1

    4. Preparing the environment for success pt.2

    5. Risk Assessment and Accident Book

    6. Providing pre-event guidance notes

    7. Measuring success

    8. Potential goals to measure success

    9. Evaluation form template

    10. References

    11. What did you learn?

    12. Got a question?

    1. Event essentials toolkit: Module overview

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. What do you need? pt.1

    3. What do you need? pt.2

    4. Equipment checklist

    5. Is your plan in place?

    6. Puppy Event Prep Checklist

    7. What did you learn?

    8. Got a question?

    1. Socialisation savvy: Module overview

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Debunking socialisation myths: Myth #1

    3. Debunking socialisation myths: Myth #2

    4. Debunking socialisation myths: Myth #3

    5. Debunking socialisation myths: Myth #4

    6. ADAPTIL Junior puppy journal

    7. Debunking socialisation myths: Myth # 5

    8. Why socialise?

    9. A deep dive into the science of socialisation

    10. Socialising a litter of puppies

    11. Socialisation - getting it right pt.1

    12. Socialisation - getting it right pt.2

    13. ELEMENTS framework

    14. Sleep in puppies

    15. Understanding canine body language (Pt.1)

    16. Understanding canine body language (Pt.2)

    17. Pre-vaccination socialisation

    18. Using ADAPTIL to aid socialisation pt.1

    19. Using ADAPTIL to aid socialisation pt.2

    20. Additional ADAPTIL resources

    21. References

    22. What did you learn?

    23. Got a question?

    1. Puppy activity guide: Module overview

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Meeting people and puppy greetings

    3. Introducing a puppy to reception/waiting area

    4. Introducing a puppy to the consulting room

    5. Introducing a puppy to the weigh scales

    6. Introducing a puppy to restraint and lifting

    7. Introducing a puppy to formal handling

    8. Introducing a puppy to the consult table

    9. Introducing a puppy to equipment

    10. Teaching a settle

    11. Teaching 'hands come to give, not take'

    12. Teaching appropriate toy play

    13. Ideas for lesson plans

    14. What did you learn?

    15. Got a question?

    1. People friendly pups: Module overview

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Vet staff and puppies

    3. Positive meet and greets

    4. Being puppy's advocate

    5. On lead versus Off lead

    6. Stroking and petting

    7. Sniffing hands

    8. Teaching puppy parents about body language

    9. The Four F's

    10. How to respond if a puppy is worried

    11. Children at puppy socials pt.1

    12. Children at puppy socials pt.2

    13. Handouts for parents of young children

    14. References

    15. What did you learn?

    16. Got a question?

About the course

  • £249.00
  • 5 hours of CPD (plus bonus downloadable content)
  • Student support via email with a puppy expert RVN
  • CPD certificate and pin badge on completion

  • Online study

    Flexible, at-home study to fit your schedule so you can learn at your own pace

  • Lifetime access

    Once enrolled you will have lifetime access to all course content and additional downloads

  • Science-led

    Fully referenced and developed using scientific and experience-based knowledge from highly accredited professionals within the animal behaviour sector

Give puppies the best start in your practice!

This course has been specially designed to help you make the most of limited time with puppies in practice - supporting the development of well-adjusted adult dogs who enjoy visiting the vet, while also strengthening client trust and loyalty.

A comprehensive blueprint packed with behaviour insights and time-saving resources!

You'll gain the knowledge and confidence to run effective, welfare-focused Puppy Socials - rethinking what these sessions should include to truly benefit puppies. Learn how to encourage calmness and sociability, reduce anxiety and overwhelm, and tackle common behaviour challenges like barking, shyness and anxious behaviour. This course also covers essential business elements, including risk assessments, profit/loss, staffing, and event planning - ensuring your Puppy Socials are both impactful and sustainable.
I want to get started!

Authors

Gwen Bailey

Puppy School Founder and Director

Internationally renowned behaviourist, Gwen Bailey BSc(Hons), is Founder and Director of Puppy School. She is a Clinical Animal Behaviourist and Animal Training Instructor with the Animal Behaviour Training Council (ABTC), member and past Chair of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC), author of 14 books on dog training and behaviour, including The Perfect Puppy, and is considered one of the leading practitioners in her field.

Nicole Harris

Puppy School Behaviour Team

Nicole has been running Puppy School classes since 2009. She is an Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) registered Clinical Animal behaviourist and Animal Training Instructor and sits on the committee for the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC). She is also a certified member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians (FABC), a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and the Professional Association of Canine Trainers (PACT). Nicole creates and presents Puppy School’s twice-yearly puppy behaviour courses for tutors and associates.

Claire Luscombe

Puppy School Behaviour Team

Claire has played an important and innovative role in Puppy School since its inception, running classes for over 20 years and now helping to teach and educate our existing tutors and trainees. She is a Regional Manager for Devon, and Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) registered Animal Training Instructor and member no. 01336 of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).

Course Administrator

Frankie Lees

RVN

Frankie is a Registered Veterinary Nurse and works as a consulting nurse in a small animal veterinary hospital where she lives in Devon. Frankie qualified as an RVN in 2017 and then went on to complete the ISVPS Nurses Certificate in Animal Behaviour and a BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Animal Behaviour with Sparsholt College. Frankie certified as a Puppy School Tutor in 2021 and runs Puppy School classes weekly alongside her role as an RVN in practice. She is also a registered ABTC Animal Training Instructor. As course administrator, Frankie is available to answer any questions you might have about the course via email.

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