Welcome to Puppy Kindergarten

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Brie the French bulldog and Luca the Doberman play-wrestle on the floor until they're separated by their "parents."

A veterinary student approaches the pups in a pointy black witch's hat as other class helpers use canes and walkers to acclimate the dogs to new experiences.

Welcome to Debby Miller's Puppy Kindergarten.

Amid tangling leashes, Miller uses her pet psychology expertise to teach Scarlet, Buckeye, Dooley, Brie, Luca, and their owners.

In some ways, the class is just like kindergarten for children: There is playtime, talk of separation anxiety, and cheese and peanut butter to snack on.

But there is a decidedly canine feel. A bag of Bil-Jac treats sits on a table. And puppies occasionally playfully bite one another.

Miller, who teaches in the Psychology Department of The Ohio State University at Newark, has a calming effect on the pups and owners in class.

"We try to give the owners tips about how to train new behaviors and how to prevent some behaviors from occurring in the first place," she says.

The puppies are 8 to 16 weeks old, young enough to learn behaviors that will govern how they act for the rest of their lives.

"During this time period you can have the most influence of a puppy's behavior and what they'll be like as adults," she says. "If they miss normal experience during this time period they will never reach their full potential."

"They need to have positive, non-traumatic experience with different races and ages and genders of people and different animals and different places. They have to get used to everything to be healthy companion animals later on."

In class, vet students help Miller teach commands ( "sit, down, come, stay, watch me") and a relaxation massage. They supervise puppy playtime and take the puppies to exam rooms, to get them used to being handled by a vet.

Chris Warrington is a third-year student focusing on taking care of small animals as a vet.

"I think it's a great opportunity to learn a skill that we'll be able to use when we get out in practice for all the owners who come in with questions about their new puppies and training," Warrington says.

One thing he will be able to pass on to his patients is the value of consistency.

Says Miller: "It is important to be clear and consistent with your dog. If you pet your puppy (positive reinforcement) when she jumps on you, then you should also pet her when she jumps on you at her adult weight of 90 pounds, muddy and wet, with you dressed in your best outfit. You are the one who taught her to jump."

Related links:

The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine

The Ohio State University Office of Outreach and Engagement

The Ohio State University at Newark

The Ohio State University Department of Psychology

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Miller's advice:

"To teach a dog a new behavior, associate that behavior with pleasant consequences. If you want your dog to go in his crate, leave food treats in the crate, so he is positively reinforced for entering."

"Food treats are great tools for initial training because they are easy to deliver immediately."

"Timing is very important in training. If you ask your dog to 'sit' and she sits and then stands up to take the treat, you taught her to stand. The 'stand' is what she was doing when she received the positive reinforcer."

"The best dog trainers teach dogs rewardable things to do that prevent misbehavior. For example, teaching a dog to sit to greet people prevents the dog from jumping on people."

"To prevent destructive chewing, stuff a Kong, Busy Body, processed bone or similar safe toy with food treats. Your dog's toy is now more attractive than your furniture."

"A problem with punishment is that it does not give dogs any information about what the correct behavior should be. In addition, it often only works when you are watching. The best punishers are 'remote' and not associated with people. Coating chair legs with a bitter taste is an example of a remote punisher. Your dog experiences an unpleasant taste when he chews the chair (punishment), it is immediate (good timing), and he will not associate any negative emotions with you."