[jkat]

Originally Posted by FirstYorkie

I highly recommend puppy classes! It's been a wonderful experience for Joey and I.

But, you do have to do your homework first. You want to make sure that the trainer uses positive methods and you want to find out how she handles socialization. Off-leash free play is potentially dangerous for small dogs mixed with large dogs.

Joey is the only small dog in our class - all the others outweigh him by at least 40 pounds. BUT, our trainer doesn't allow off-leash play. She uses a specific greeting ritual which is done entirely on leash with the dogs well controlled.

If the trainer does allow off-leash play, I'd want to find a class only for small dogs.

Good point!