Halifax Veterinary Centre

Behaviour at Halifax:

We have close relationships with our pets. Our mission at Halifax is to enhance the relationship you enjoy with your pet. We aim to help your pet live a happier, healthier and longer life.

These older dogs have had the benefits of going to Puppy Preschool and the Canine Junior Clases in their younger days.

Often our pet's behaviour has more influence on our enjoyment of the relationship than any health issues our pets may face. Indeed the leading cause of death in dogs under six years old is euthanasia because of bad behaviour. So we take behaviour seriously and have a range of programs to make sure you start out right (Puppy Preschool, Junior Canine) and continue the enjoyment (Dynamic Dogs).

In addition we offer consultancy for all behaviour problems of dogs and cats with our behaviourist Steph Loader and our veterinary team.

Puppy Preschool

Duncan Graham of Halifax Veterinary Centre introduced Puppy Preschool to New Zealand in 1993. He had been studying veterinary dermatology in San Diego and became fascinated by the puppy classes he saw at the behavioural consultancy clinic next door.

On his return he started classes (originally called Puppy Plunket, to echo the care of the NZ organisation, the Plunket Society, that provides care and education for new mothers and their babies) modelled largely on the puppy classes Dr Kersti Seksel had started running in Australia. Hills Pet Nutrition saw the great benefits for pups and their owners and sponsored Duncan to run seminars throughout the country. The rest, as they say, is history. Puppy Preschools are now run in vet clinics throughout New Zealand.

It seemed a bold step in 1993. The parvovirus epidemic that first hit New Zealand in 1978 had led to the social isolation of puppies. Owners were encouraged to keep them at home until 16 weeks of age when they had finished a course of 3 or 4 vaccinations. For 15 years we as vets had seen the myriad of behaviour problems that this caused. The 6-16 week period is such an important time for learning and social development. Many puppies never became well-adjusted adults.

It did seem very risky to bring a lot of potentially vulnerable puppies together at a veterinary clinic. However new vaccines had been developed that were better able to protect puppies through this period of high risk and we were very vigilant to make sure all pups attending had been vaccinated with one of these vaccines at least once.

• We run the classes outside, summer and winter. We are blessed in Nelson with a climate that allows this. More sunny days than anywhere else in New Zealand, and particularly in winter. Only rarely do we need to move inside because of rain.
• We prefer larger class sizes of 12-16 puppies. The broader range of puppy sizes, breed types and natures make for a lot more fun and a varied social experience.
• We welcome all members of the family, from toddlers to great-grand-parents.
• Although there is a progression through the four-week course, we allow puppies to start in any week, as long as they are seven weeks old and have been vaccinated. Pups that miss a class can pick it up in the next cycle.
• With at least two trained staff in attendance there is scope for individual coaching alongside the group work.

Benefits:

• There a number of benefits to attending Puppy Preschool at Halifax:
• Early socialisation with a range of other dogs
• Learn up-to-date, gentle, incentive-based training techniques
• Your puppy learns basic obedience in a highly distractable environment, not just your backyard
• You get help and support through the many other trials new puppy owners face – sleeping through the night, toilet training, destructive behaviours and more
• With many members of the family attending you get consistency of the training message
• Children are encouraged to have control of the dog
• Free flea control and substantially discounted food are available courtesy of Merial and Hills Pet Nutrition worth $50 - $100.00
• The training information is available in free take-home booklets
• The focus is on fun for your puppy, you, and your family
• Graduating puppies get a discount off Junior Canine classes
• Most of all, you have the satisfaction of knowing you have given your puppy the best possible start in life, and laid the foundation for a long and mutually happy relationship. This is priceless!

When and Where and How:

Classes are held at Sunday mornings at10 a.m in the car park next to Halifax Veterinary Centre. Please call and enrol as soon as you get your puppy. You can then get a head-start by reading the training materials and coming along prepared. Bring a cushion, training treats and, in summer, a water bottle. We provide water for the puppies!

Cost: $75.00 covers the whole Puppy Preschool course

Some puppies hard at play while taking a break from learning:

                          Children love to be a part of the classes                               Classes are thirsty work

Junior Canine

Although many of our most important lessons in life are learned in kindergarten, none of us would consider our education over when we left kindy. Similarly for dogs there is still much to learn.

That is why we established Junior Canine at Halifax over a decade ago. There was a clear need for these high-energy, adolescent dogs to develop more life skills and for their owners to have the confidence that they had effective control of their dogs in public areas.

The five-lesson course takes place in public parks, in the Nelson CBD and at the dog-friendly Bramford Park. Exercises range from well-mannered leash walks along Nelson's busiest shopping streets to off-leash distance control at the beach. Again the emphasis is on using incentive-based training techniques so your dog enjoys being obedient to his/her owner and family.

You will also get help with some of the troublesome home issues of adolescent dogs such as destructive behaviours, separation anxiety and attention-seeking barking.

Graduating dogs get a discount off the Dynamic Dogs classes that they can now progress to.

When, Where and How:

Classes are held Sunday mornings at 11.30 a.m and meet at the Halifax Veterinary Centre unless otherwise arranged. It is important to pre-enrol.

Cost: $60.00 covers the 5 classes

Dynamic Dogs

We started Dynamic Dogs to meet the need many dog owners felt for a group training activity that was fun and stimulating for both dogs and owners, and which extended the boundaries in obedience and agility, but without the constraints of more formal or competitive training groups.

The key focus is having fun while learning new skills. Often there are team competitions with impromptu teams created – for example "All Blacks vs Barbarians" might pit all the black dogs against the rest in a run and fetch relay.

When, Where and How:

Classes are held on Sunday afternoons at 1.30p.m at the Botanics Park. Please enrol first at the Halifax Veterinary Centre.

Cost: $10.00 per session, or a 10-session card for $80.00