Puppy Playgroup
Let your puppy socialize and burn off energy during safe, carefully monitored puppy playgroups!
When and Where
Ruff Translation is running Puppy Playgroups on Thursdays, 7:00 - 7:45 pm. The location is a private residence in northern Vacaville, off the Midway Rd exit of I-505. The address will be emailed to you after you sign up and pay for your first playgroup.
Each playgroup costs $30, or you can purchase 4 passes for $100. You then have 6 weeks to use up the 4 passes.
Why
The benefits of attending a puppy playgroup are:
learning and practicing good social skills with other dogs
meeting new people, often including children
learning polite greetings with those people - not jumping up or barking for attention
seeing and interacting with new objects, in a new location
associating the car with traveling to a fun event, not just to the vet (see here if your puppy gets carsick)
having a thoroughly tired out pup afterwards!
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and many other behavior experts, recommend that puppies get out for socialization starting 1 week after their first dose of the DA2PP/DHPP vaccine.
“Because the first three months are the period when sociability outweighs fear, this is the primary window of opportunity for puppies to adapt to new people, animals, and experiences. Incomplete or improper socialization during this important time can increase the risk of behavioral problems later in life including fear, avoidance, and/or aggression. Behavioral problems are the greatest threat to the owner-dog bond. In fact, behavioral problems are the number one cause of relinquishment to shelters. Behavioral issues, not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years of age.”
Who
Requirements for attendance
Puppy must be at least 1 week post first dose of the DA2PP/DHPP vaccine (given at 7-8 weeks).
Puppy must be kept up to date with their continued vaccine schedule, per their veterinarian’s guidance.
Puppy must have a clear fecal result from their vet, performed between coming home and their first playgroup. (This is often done as a routine part of a first puppy exam, to check for worms and giardia.)
Puppy must not have recent or current diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, wheezing, or lethargy.
If your puppy is showing any of these symptoms, do not attend until you get an all clear from your vet. You can choose to receive a refund or apply your payment to a future session.
I do not have a set cut off for when pups will grow out of the class - it depends on how roughly they are starting to play with the other pups. For larger breeds, this is often around 4 months. Smaller breeds can often play nicely with puppies for longer.
If you sign up for a future date but in the interim we decide that your pup has aged out, you will receive a refund for unused passes.
What
What to expect
The floors are cleaned before every class with KennelSol, a cleaner that is used by many vets, groomers, and kennels. It kills bacteria and viruses, including parvovirus. All toys and bowls are washed between classes.
I will have x-pens set up for newcomers so that we can divide up the puppies as needed. There will be a range of sizes and personalities in class, and my #1 priority will always be that this is a safe, pleasant experience for every puppy. We will split up puppies or let them all run together based on how comfortable they all are with each other.
There is also a fenced outdoor potty area that is only used for the puppies and vaccinated adult dogs.
This is not a drop off event - you will monitor and work with your pup during the playgroup.
We will switch between playtime, exploring and socialization, and short training sessions. Examples of exercises are puppy-appropriate agility equipment, going up and down pet steps and ramps, handling by both owner and strangers, "rev and settle" exercises, eye contact and focus, and polite greetings of humans and dogs.
You will be learning all about different play styles, how to tell what your pup is "saying" and whether they are having fun, and when to intervene vs let things play out.
What to bring
Record of your pup's most recent vaccination - make sure to bring new ones after every round of shots! You can email them to me or bring a hard copy.
Record of your pup's clear fecal results from vet (no giardia or worms).
Some tiny, high value treats. Give your pup a smaller dinner than usual before class.
Have your pup on a harness and leash no longer than 6' (no retractable leashes).
How
Simply click the button below, select a date, and then follow the prompts to create a new account in my client portal. You will receive an email with the address for the playgroup within 24 hours. Email me if you have any questions about registration or the playgroup itself.