 |  |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Have you joined us for a Sunday hike with your dog yet? This will be a great one, and the weather's supposed to be grand. Blueberry Mountain is a moderate hike with some nice views and some water features on the way up, including Rattlesnake Pool. The link to trail info is below. Driving directions are easy (see below).
http://www.rei.com/guidepost/detail/maine/hiking/blueberry-mountain-via-stone-house-trail/38176
Click the link and you'll see! This blog was written and the accompanying video made about one year ago. We've made several improvements to our playground and our indoor space in the interim. We LOVE our school!
http://south.wcsh6.com/news/families/why-nursery-school-works-puppies/65890
About Our Program
There's only one canine nursery school in Maine. It's JUST for puppies, and it's US - Dances With Dogs! We believe that puppies need the safety and nurturing of a carefully supervised, puppies-only environment so that they can build confidence and learn pro-social behavior and manners.
At Dances With Dogs, pups learn appropriate behavior through social interaction with a pack of similar age/weight pups. Pups are well exercised and get to play in a state-of-the-art playground designed just for them. There are tunnels, ramps, boulders and stairs for climbing on and hiding behind. There is a tree hang-out for lounging. A huge sandbox takes up one corner of the playground, with ample space and depth for digging and hiding bones! In warm months, there's even a wading pool for water fun! Just a ½ mile from Mill Creek in South Portland, the ½ acre property is fully fenced and includes additional interior fencing and a multiple gate system to provide further security.
We also have an indoor classroom where pups can romp and play and run, as well as rest and nap at various times of the day and especially in inclement weather. For parents, we have a resource room full of useful information including training articles, brochures and business cards from a variety of small businesses serving the greater Portland dog community.
Your pup will be supervised at all times while in our care and basic manners will be practiced daily. A detailed progress report will be posted to the website at the end of every school day which will include info about your pup's development and social skills as well as lots of stories about what goes on in our pack each day! As part of the Dances with Dogs family, you will be supported in all aspects of raising your pup to be a healthy and respectful member of your family.
MONDAY and WEDNESDAY are Puppy Nursery School days. Pups should start school as soon as possible after being adopted by their new families, preferably prior to 16 weeks of age. We have a weight limit of 28-35 pounds for large breed pups, so it's very important to start them early so they can benefit from many weeks in the program before weighing out. Small breeds and toy breeds may stay in the program for many months. Pups may start as soon as they've had their first set of shots, including the Kennel Cough (Bordatella) vaccine - which you have to specifically ASK for from your vet.
On days when your pup is not with us, we offer Puppy Home Visits. We can come to your home to check on your pup, provide a potty break, snack/meal/water, and some games and exercise while you are at work during the day. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon visits are available...just ask if you need the service!
We also provide a Dog Bus service for customers who can't get their pup to school in the a.m. or pick them up by closing time. Use this service as-needed to be sure your pup can benefit from class here at DWD!
We encourage owners to sign up for a set of home-based training visits or a basic obedience course with a local trainer as soon as possible after acquiring their pup! This way, you'll learn how to encourage positive behavior and discourage unwanted behavior and extend your pup's learning beyond school. Consult with the DWD Pack Leader for a list of reputable local trainers who offer classes in the community or at your home 1:1.