Puppy Preschool

Applications are currently closed.

Applications will reopen soon for our August program intake (Tuesday 27 August to Tuesday 17 September 2024), to be held at Marrickville Library Pavilion function room.

Companion Animal Services will be overseeing these trial classes, facilitated by a certified trainer from DogLOGIC.

To be eligible, you must:

Reside in the Inner West Council local government area
Own a puppy aged between 8-14 weeks (as 27 August 2024)
Ensure your puppy is microchipped
Be able to prove your puppy has had their first vaccination (minimum C4)
Be committed to attending every Puppy Preschool class you are enrolled in (one class per week, for four consecutive weeks)
Consent to photos being published in Council's promotional and educational materials, including social media

If you believe you meet the above criteria, submit your application using the form below. All submissions will be received by Council's Companion Animal Services for consideration. Successful applicants will be notified 2 weeks prior to classes commencing.

My puppy resides in the Inner West Council local government area*

Please note that only pets that reside in the Inner West Council area are eligible to enrol in the Puppy Preschool trial.

Your full name*

Your residential address*

Email address*

Mobile phone number*

Puppy’s microchip number*

Puppy’s name*

Puppy’s date of birth* Please note that puppies must be aged between 8 and 14 weeks on 15 June 2024 to be eligible.

My puppy has had its first vaccination (minimum C4)*

Please note that your puppy must have had their first vaccination to be eligible.

Please provide vaccination details*

This application form is for our August intake, to be held on Tuesday evenings.

I am available and committed to attending all 4 of the weekly, TUESDAY evening Puppy Preschool classes from 27 August - 17 September 2024*

Classes will be held once per week for 4 consecutive weeks on a Tuesday evening

I consent to photos being published in Council’s educational materials, website and on social media*

Please note that you must consent to photos being published in Council's promotional and educational materials, including social media, to be eligible.

In 50 words or fewer, explain why you are an ideal candidate for our free Puppy Preschool program.*

List three (3) things you hope to learn from this Puppy Preschool program.*

Attach a photo of your puppy (optional)

After clicking the "submit your application" button below, your submission will be sent to Council's Companion Animals Team. You'll also receive a copy of your submission at your nominated email address.

Council's Companion Animal Services will review all applications. Successful applicants will be notified at least 2 weeks prior to classes commencing.

Mandatory field(s) marked with *

Questions?

Please direct any questions to Companion Animal Services via email at puppypreschool@innerwest.nsw.gov.au

Puppy Preschool - facilitated by our certified dog trainer, and Companion Animal Services

Puppy Preschool is as much about educating your puppy as it is about educating you as the owner. This structured course, facilitated by our certified trainer from DogLOGIC (Cert. IV Companion Animal Services) provides important socialisation experiences and early training opportunities, in a controlled environment. Puppies that attend a structured weekly course, perform better in response to commands, and are more comfortable around new people, as compared to puppies that only attended a ‘puppy party’ type gathering.

Program structure and delivery

4 consecutive weeks’ total duration
Classes will be one hour in duration, held once per week in Marrickville
There will be two separate groups offered. Saturday sessions will take place at 10-11am, from 15 June - 6 July. Tuesday sessions will be held from 5-6pm, from 27 August - 17 September.
All Puppy Preschool classes will be facilitated by a certified DogLOGIC trainer, with Council Companion Animal Services staff in attendance.
A structured curriculum has been developed by our certified trainer in consultation with the Companion Animal Services team, in alignment with the principles of positive reinforcement and force-free handling, guided by science-based best practice.

Rationale

Council’s Companion Animal Action Plan 2019-23 (CAAP) details the way Council, and Council’s Companion Animal Services, intends to manage cats and dogs over this four-year period.

Inner West Council’s Companion Animal Services is guided by the Actions in the CAAP to plan and implement responsible pet ownership education initiatives, to benefit the safety and wellbeing of pets, pet owners, and the wider community.

The CAAP provides 15 responsible pet ownership education Actions that are reinforced through the delivery of a Puppy Preschool program, to Inner West residents.

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