Safe, Positive, Calm

Social 1

socialization sessions for ages 9+ weeks (see below for details)
please note - 1st visit must be before 5 months of age

Cost: single session $40 | 4-session package $150

Wonder Puppy socials are perfect for helping
optimize your puppy’s social comfort and calmness - the foundation for everything else in life! We focus on building confidence and impulse control through healthy interactions with other dogs, as well as positive and calm exposure to people, sharing resources, grooming, handling, and different sights and sounds. You will learn how to read and advocate for your puppy and encourage good social habits for a lifetime!

We use our signature WoGo® training to help puppies learn to play and communicate well—and to connect with you when they’re excited or nervous. Our classes are grouped by puppy size and age:

Tiny Tykes pups 0–12 lbs. | until 6 months of age

Lil Tykes for pups 12-25 lbs. | until 6 months of age

Big Tykes for pups 25–55 lbs. | until 6 months of age

Tiny Teens for pups who have graduated from Tiny Tykes | 6-10 months of age

Please Note - Tiny Teens is only for well-socialized puppies who have attended at least 4 of Wonder Puppy's Socials. New students who have taken their puppies to other hands-on socials with similar programs are welcome - Please call the office to confirm that this prerequisite has been met (503-697-PUPS). For everyone’s safety and success, this class is NOT appropriate for puppies who display hormonal, anxious, fear, and/or reactive behaviors in social groups. If we observe this, we will recommend alternative services to promote more behaviorally beneficial interactions that will help your puppy to become their very best!<3

The goal: To have confident puppies who can have fun, slow down, read body language and respond appropriately to other dogs, people, and whatever they happen to encounter in life!

To maximize learning: Take this class with Skills 1 as early as possible! According to the Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, it is essential to begin socialization before being fully vaccinated in order to prevent fear, anxiety, and aggression later in life. By 14 weeks of age, 90% of your pup’s brain is done developing so we highly recommend attending this class twice per week until your pup turns 21 weeks of age.

Important Notes
:
First Time Sessions are 1 Hour (50 minutes of group time + 10 minutes with your trainer) For your first visit, you will get about 10 extra minutes at the end of class for support in understanding your puppy’s social behaviors. Together, you will log observations from class and your trainer will help you to build a socialization and training plan that’s tailored to you and your puppy’s level of confidence, preferences, and needs!
Each puppy is unique! Some puppies don’t like playing with other puppies in a confined, indoor space. This is not uncommon and is a-okay! If your puppy indicates that they prefer playing with fewer dogs, older dogs and/or in a natural setting, we’re happy to recommend alternatives and give you credit for any unused social credits.

  • class is 50 minutes in length, led by a professional trainer with up to 5 puppies

    if it's your first time attending, plan to stay for up to 10 minutes after class for assessment and to build a socialization and training plan that's that's tailored to you!

    activities include puppy playtime, relaxation, a worldly socialization topic of the week, and opportunities for practicing proprioception development on play equipment, and play and training time with humans.

    you will learn the play stages to track your pup's social progress

    all other groups are designated and divided by puppy size

    sometimes puppies graduate sooner than 6 months due to individual rates of development

  • your puppy should start early as possible, from 9 weeks of age. Once your puppy turns about 20 weeks, we watch for them to begin to age out of the groups. Each puppy gets tired of the younger puppies in their own time. Some like to leave early and some want to stay forever. We are likely to discuss graduating from the regular groups anywhere between 4.5-6 months of age. This age limit is for the safety and well-being of all puppies

    your puppy is welcome to join us once they have been in your home for at least 10 days and are up-to-date on their vaccines for their age

    your puppy may NOT attend if they go to dog parks or non-puppy-specific daycare

    your puppy may NOT attend if they have had any diarrhea, lethargy, coughing or sneezing within 24 hours before coming to class (we will give your credit back to you if you let us know at least 8 hours in advance)

  • a semi-hungry, semi-exercised, pottied puppy

    a puppy who does NOT go to dog parks or non-puppy-specific daycare AND has not had any lethargy, coughing, vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours

    a puppy wearing both a collar and a front-clip harness (harness preferred, not required)

    high value treats to practice connection around other puppy and to promote calmness

    chew items or food puzzles for your puppy to eat/chew/lick to settle-in calmly at the beginning of class and during breaks

    a tug toy to build value in playing with humans

  • We allow children ages 6 and older to attend accompanied by an adult. Children under 6 must have a second adult dedicated to their supervision

    Children must be able to remain calm, sit in their seats and follow directions, and wait to approach puppies unless having permission from all parties involved.

    For more information about kids and puppies click here!

  • All class credits must be used before your puppy exceeds the age limit for each type of social service; any remaining credits are forfeited when your puppy ages out of the service. To make sure you will be able to use all credits, we recommend scheduling well in advance. If you are unsure you will be able to use the class credits within the age limit, we recommend that you opt to “buy as you go” and purchase single classes as you plan to attend. 

    • Cash Refund Window: Cash refunds will only be provided when requested within 72 hours of purchase AND when requested 12 hours prior to class start time.

    • Cancellation due to illness: If you or your dog is sick in the within 24 hours prior to your service, please cancel and notify the office to determine if accommodations can be made.

 

sign up

book your class below

We highly recommend scheduling well in advance (click the calendar week by week for future sessions) to use up your credits before your puppy ages out, as there are no refunds for unused sessions. Otherwise, we recommend paying as you go!

For safety purposes, puppies who go to dog parks or non-puppy-specific day care may NOT attend. Puppies who have had any diarrhea, lethargy, coughing, or vomiting in the last 24 hours may NOT attend.

Use this age calculator to double check your puppy’s eligibility for classes.

 
 
    • If you’re in the first position on the waitlist and a class spot opens, you’ll automatically be enrolled and you will receive a text and/or email notifying you. Auto enrollment stops 8 hours before class.

    • If you opted out of email and text communication, you will not receive a notification. Instead you can check your schedule from your online profile or through the Wonder Puppy app.

    • Get the full scoop on our waitlist policies. In order to be added to a waitlist, you will need at least 1 unused Social Puppy credit on your account. You can sign up for as many waitlists as you want so long as you have at least 1 credit! If you don’t get off of the waitlist, let us know and we’ll give you a refund!

    • If a class is FULL, the roster and the waitlist are both full.

  • Use the calendar tool below (underneath “Find a Class”) to scroll between weeks!

  • classes are held in Studio 102 on the corner of NW 18th and Quimby next to the Sultan Cafe. We are at the top of the wheelchair ramp

    please help us be good neighbors by avoiding lingering on the raised walkway to discourage puppies pottying on the sidewalk

    parking is on-street only. Parking in the lot may result in being towed