These fun, 50-minute sessions are designed to give you and your young pup the best possible start. During each session, your pup will get to see and gain confidence around other pups and people in a safe environment. PLUS, we’ll cover important puppy topics in each session. Our trainers will present the latest, research-based information and practical exercises on the most critical topics in puppy raising. These sessions are an ideal way to get early, positive socialization for your pup and to prepare for Manners 1 class.
Our Puppy Preschool sessions focus on passive socialization and providing positive, novel experiences. This will not include the puppies interacting directly with each other.
We recommend that pups start attending these sessions as soon as possible, after receiving two sets of vaccinations. Designed specifically for young pups, puppies MUST be 16 weeks or younger to attend these sessions. Ideally, your pup should attend Puppy Preschool sessions (at least one per week) until they age out at 16 weeks of age. Try to catch each of the five rotating topics at least once. Then, make plans to attend Manners 1 for training all the behaviors essential for a great dog. Rotating preschool topics:
- Leash Basics – Great Start for Leash Walking
- Puppy Biting – Puppy Biting and Handling
- Jumping – Jumping and Off Cue
- Drop-it – Resource Guarding Prevention and Trading
- Pups must be 9 – 16 weeks at the time of the session
- We require that your pup has a minimum of two sets of vaccinations prior to coming to WAGD.
- Puppies from the same household may not attend the same session
- $28 for each 50-minute session
If you took our Online Puppy Seminar, yay for you! We trust that you got some great puppy raising strategies. Note that you’ll create a different login to enroll in our in-facility classes. After enrollment, watch for a confirmation email with specific, detailed information.
Class Preview
Your Instructors
General Manager of WAGD and Nose Work Trainer
Brittany Wingfield ADT, FDM, General Mgr / Trainer
Brittany joined the What a Great Dog! Team in January 2017. She is the General Manager for our Frisco location. She also teaches Nose Work and Pet Manners. She enjoys teaching pet owners all about positive training, building relationships, and better communication between pups and their owners. Brittany Wingfield is an Accredited Dog Trainer and a Certified Family Dog Mediator […]
Pet Manners Trainer
Ashton Gray IAABC-ADT FDM
Ashton Gray joined the What a Great Dog! team in 2017. They are an Accredited Dog Trainer through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, a Certified Family Dog Mediator through Kim Brophey’s Applied Ethology LEGS Course, and an AKC CGC Evaluator. They studied under Michael Shikashio CDBC and completed his Aggression in Dogs Master Course in 2022. They teach […]
Pet Manners Trainer
Diane Cocchiara CPDT-KA
Diane Cocchiara joined WAGD in 2018. She teaches Pet Manners, Puppy Preschools and Private Lessons. She completed her Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations course in 2018 and WAGD Trainer Education Program in 2019. She now is certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers and an AKC Evaluator. Diane has two dogs of her own, Eugene a Lab/Hound […]
Senior Pet Manners Trainer
Kristi Bass CPDT-KA
Kristi joined the What a Great Dog! team in 2016. She is a Senior Trainer, teaching Pet Manners in both group classes and private lessons at our Frisco location. While working with dog playgroups in the daycare setting, she became fascinated by canine behavior. After 8 years in banking, she decided it was time to change careers. She completed the Karen […]
Pet Manners Trainer
Laura Arasmith Wilson CPDT-KA
Laura Arasmith Wilson is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. She joined the What a Great Dog! team in 2018. She teaches Pet Manners in both group classes and private lessons at our Frisco location. She also teaches our Enrichment Seminar: Beyond Squeaky Toys! In 2013, Laura graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin at […]
Pet Manners Trainer
Macy Holdrich
Macy joined What a Great Dog! in August of 2019. She completed the WAGD Trainer Education Program in 2020 and teaches Pet Manners at our Richardson location. She enjoys teaching clients how to build a relationship with their dogs using positive reinforcement training so that they can experience the joy of training together! Macy has a passion for positive, reward-based […]
Stephanie Schwanke
Stephanie joined What a Great Dog! in August of 2020. She is a shift manager and Pet Manners trainer in our Frisco location. If you have visited our retail store you may know her as “Aunt Stephanie”. All the pups know she’s always ready to give some extra love and treats, for good behavior of course. Before joining What a […]
Victoria Johnson
Victoria is a trainer for Manners classes, Puppy Preschool, Barn Hunt and private lessons at our Richardson location. After joining the WAGD team in 2020, she completed WAGD’s Trainer Education Program and the Karen Pryor Academy Foundations course. Absolute Dogs’ Pro Dog Trainer and Pro Dog Trainer Geek programs were completed in 2021 and she is enrolled in their ongoing […]