New to Dogtopia?
Your puppy Guide
A well-balanced puppy needs safe socialization right from the start. The first year of their life is critical. Did you know that puppies go through FIVE different development stages? A significant amount of a dog’s behavior and personality is determined by their experiences within the first year. Socialization should begin as early as 8 weeks old as well as exposure, in a positive way, to new sights, sounds, scents, and more. Use this socialization checklist as a guide!
Puppies are welcome to utilize Dogtopia’s regular daycare and boarding services and their first play with us is FREE. In fact, check out this article from our blog, “What To Expect For Your Puppy at Dogtopia Daycare.” In addition to our basic services, we also offer a few puppy-specific resources to help support you and your puppy’s needs as you navigate the most critical time of their little lives! Check out this Dogtopia Difference Guide to see what sets Dogtopia apart from other daycares!
Ready set puppy! Play Club
Ready SET Puppy! is Dogtopia’s puppy-only play club with a focus in social enrichment training (SET). We are proud to be one of the few daycares in the Madison area offering a puppy-only playgroup with structured learning curriculum! Ready SET Puppy! exposes puppies to situations that they would encounter in the real world, but in a nurturing and fun environment and under the supervision and guidance of a professional. Each class features learning in healthy social behaviors, crate comfort, settling excitement, and exposure enrichment in one of five categories: occupational, physical, sensory, nutritional, and compassionate handling. Ready SET Puppy! is a great way to prepare your puppy for daycare and other social experiences.
Our puppy club meets Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. with the last hour an open social hour for both puppies and parents alike. Puppies aged 8 weeks to 1 year are welcome as long as they are current on age-appropriate vaccinations. Separate groups will be created when necessary for the safety of smaller and younger pups. Sign up for any dates that work with your schedule, no minimum class requirement. Classes are limited to two groups of 10 puppies. Cost is $38 per class.
Puppy Skills Training Class
Puppy Skills is Dogtopia’s group dog training class for puppies and their parents focused on building a solid foundation of skills that will easily translate into your day-to-day real life. Alternating socialization experiences, skill building blocks, and playtime will help you build skills to proudly show off your puppy’s brilliance.
This six-session training class is offered every Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. on a rotating basis. Pick your start date (any Wednesday) and you’ll be enrolled in the following 5 sessions for a total of 6. Puppies aged 12 weeks to 5 months are welcome as long as they are current on rabies, Bordetella, and Distemper vaccinations. We also recommend the Canine Influenza vaccine and an annual fecal floatation. Classes are limited to six puppies and their parent(s). Cost is $35 per session.
Happy Grooming Training
Every breed needs regular care. It’s important to introduce the process of bathing and wellness care (nails, teeth, ears) early on, but in stages. Dogtopia’s Happy Grooming private dog training (1:1) program will help you and your puppy get used to the use, sound, and feel of different grooming tools, leading to a confident parent and a confident, well cared for, pup. A good reference for regular wellness care is this article from Care.com “How long does it take to groom a dog? All the details” featuring our very own Groomer, Alex Bordona. As Alex points out, “Grooming can be stressful for dogs, especially if they are not started at a young age…All of our tools are sharp – and dogs move.” Whether you bring your pup to a groomer or care for their needs at home, a puppy who is accustomed to regular wellness services will be less anxious and safer.
This seven-session private training program is typically scheduled around you and your pup’s availability every other week. Flexible scheduling and weekly payment plans are available. All private training programs include 60-minute sessions with a CPDT certified Dog Trainer, report cards for every session, video capturing your dog’s learning, shared portal for homework review, handouts and resources for continued learning, and a follow up consultation with your trainer. Dogs of all ages are welcome as long as they are current on rabies, Bordetella, and distemper vaccinations. Initial workshop with the Trainer is $20, which may be credited towards your program. Cost is $130 per session.
