-- with Megan Meginley, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist

To help puppies and their owners learn good habits for a lifetime of wellness and good behavior, we offer Puppy Preschool Classes here at AMC with our fantastic Animal Behaviorist, Megan Meginley.   Our focus is on understanding how our dogs learn and using this understanding to prevent (or end) problem behaviors and to promote good behaviors.

Megan uses reward based training methods, with treats and lots of praise. Megan teaches owners how dogs learn and how to use this understanding to prevent future behavior problems and reinforce good behaviors through the use of "operant conditioning" to mold behavior. Operant conditioning is a sound scientific method of behavior change that involves the use of positive (or, to a lesser degree negative) consequences to reinforce (or discourage) behaviors. Properly applied, these methods will also establish a foundation of security, respect and trust. Positive reinforcement methods allow us to teach our puppies basic obedience commands (Come, Sit, Stay, etc.) as well as open the door to allow us to teach our dogs virtually anything else.

These Puppy Preschool classes are open only to puppies who have received a veterinary exam at AMC and are current AMC patients.

Owners will learn how to help their dogs become calm, confident, obedient and cooperative. We will learn how to avoid accidentally teaching our dogs the wrong thing and we will learn how to make sure we are allowing our puppy to grow into a secure and peaceful dog by avoiding instilling fears or rewarding agression.

Megan is a talented and experienced certified applied animal behaviorist. She has a masters degree in animal behavior and is currently completing her PhD in animal behavior in the psychology department at WVU, with a research interest in dog behavior.

Megan has extensive experience providing behavioral counseling and has made huge differences in the lives of many AMC clients who have faced behavioral difficulties. In addition to her work through AMC, Megan provides private counseling through her own private practice and is involved with various dog groups around Morgantown. Megan also teaches animal behavior classes in the psychology department at WVU. (One of her students this semester taught his guinea pig to play a multiple note song on a toddler's toy piano! I've got to see that on you-tube!)

Each week, in addition to the behavioral instruction and some classic obedience training with Megan, Animal Medical Center staff including veterinarian Dr. Steve Zucker and our excellent nurses will offer education and answer questions about basic wellness issues including dental health, parasite testing and prevention, vaccination recommendations and other important health issues.

Class Structure

• Behavioral Lessons from Megan
  • Positive behavior techniques
  • How to get the good behaviors you want
  • How to prevent or stop the bad behaviors you don't want
  • How to raise your dog to be confident, calm, secure and obedient
  • How to prevent fear and aggression
  • How to teach your dog almost anything using sound behavioral techniques, with heavy emphasis on praise and rewards
• Discussion of Health and Wellness Issues
  • Intestinal and external parasites and their prevention
  • Heartworm -- protecting your dog
  • Vaccines -- making the best choices for your dog
  • Dental health & tooth brushing
  • Nail trims -- how to
  • Q & A with Dr. Zucker
• Basic Obedience Exercises (Sit, Stay, Down, Leash Walking, Come, etc.)
• Classes Limited to 6 Puppies
• Puppies Aged 3 to 8 Months
• Six Weeks of Instruction (Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00)
  • First week is without puppies! Megan teaches YOU!
  • Weeks Two to Six include the puppies and the owner(s). You teach your puppy!
• Guidance on selecting training tools, collars and leads. 

Who, Where, When, How Much?

These classes are just for puppies between 3 and 8 months of age.

Class Times: Mondays, 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Class Location: Animal Medical Center, 460 Hartman Run Road

Cost:  $110.00 (plus tax) 

Requirements:

• Recent veterinary exam at AMC and a current AMC patient.
• Wellness health care up to date (see below)
• Advance Registration required. Written records of all medical services provided away from AMC must be delivered, faxed or mailed to AMC for our review prior to class. 
• Advance Payment required to ensure your space in the class.

Upcoming Sessions

• February 11 - March 17
• March 31 - May 5
• May 19 - June 23
• July 7 - August 11
• August 25 - September 29 ** Labor Day is Sept. 1. That week, we'll have class Tuesday September 2 instead of Monday September 1
• October 13 - November 17  

* Additional sessions to be scheduled starting approximately every other month

* Classes with fewer than three enrolled puppies will be combined with an upcoming session (or provided a refund if preferred). 

Health Requirements for all Puppy Preschool Classes

• Proof of Vaccinations (including Bordetella) Required
  • At least 3 DAPP (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza combo) vaccines need to have been given after 6 weeks of age, 2 to 4 weeks apart and with the final shot given at 14 weeks of age or older.
  • One Rabies vaccine needs to have been given at 12 weeks of age or older.
  • One Intranasal  Bordetella Vaccine needs to have been administered OR a series of two injectable bordetella vaccines (2 to 4 weeks apart) needs to have been completed. The bordetella vaccine needs to have been administered at least 2 days prior to the first class!!
• Parasite Control Required
  • Puppy must be free of fleas, ticks and other parasites
  • Puppy must be free of intestinal parasites as evidenced by meeting at least one of the following conditions. (Optimum care requires all three conditions.)
    • My puppy has been dewormed by a veterinarian
    • My puppy has had a "negative" fecal exam at a veterinarian
    • My puppy is taking a monthly heartworm preventative (Interceptor, Sentinel, HeartGard or Revolution)
• Your puppy needs to have a current veterinary exam and be free of any potentially contagious illnesses or parasites.

For Questions and Reservations

To enroll: Use our enrollment e-form if you are ready to enroll!

Contact us if you need to check on your puppy's vaccination and wellness status or to schedule an appointment to update any needed services or if you have any other questions or if you are ready to enroll. Call us at (304) 292-0126.

We hope our puppy classes help participating puppies to grow into well behaved dogs with good wellness habits that will last a lifetime and help protect their health and happiness for years to come.

You may also enroll on-line. 

We hope our puppy classes help participating puppies to grow into well behaved dogs with good wellness habits that will last a lifetime and help protect their health and happiness for years to come.