Why We Don’t Allow Dog‑Dog Greetings in Puppy College
We know it can feel a bit counter‑intuitive — after all, puppies + other puppies sounds like a recipe for fun. But there are some really important reasons why we don’t allow dog‑dog greetings inside the Puppy College venue, and why this rule is in place for every group class we run.
Our goal is simple: to make Puppy College a place where all dogs feel safe, supported, and able to learn.
Below we explain the thinking behind the rule, so you understand that it’s not about being strict for the sake of it — it’s about setting puppies up for long‑term success.
1. Our puppies are past the critical socialisation window
All puppies attending Puppy College are over 3 months of age. This means they are past the critical socialisation phase, when puppies tend to be more flexible, bouncy, and forgiving of new experiences.
At this age:
Some pups are confident and very social
Some pups are more cautious, sensitive, or unsure
Our responsibility is to ensure that every puppy in class feels safe and supported. Allowing in‑class greetings can easily overwhelm more nervous pups, which can chip away at confidence rather than build it.
For very social puppies, Puppy College also provides an important life lesson: not every dog (or person) is their best friend. Learning to focus on their guardian, even when other dogs are present, is a crucial skill — and one that helps prevent frustration, over‑excitement, and reactivity later in life.
2. Why we use barriers in class
You will notice that we use barriers during Puppy College. We know some guardians may wonder if they’re excessive or unnecessary, so we’d like to explain why they’re such an important part of Puppy College.
The barriers are not there to hide dogs from each other. Dogs are highly aware of other dogs through smell and sound alone, so we’re not trying to pretend the other puppies don’t exist.
What the barriers do is reduce visual overwhelm.
For many puppies, constant visual access to other dogs can increase arousal, trigger frustration or anxiety, and make it much harder to focus and learn. When puppies are visually overstimulated, they’re often pushed over their threshold — and learning simply can’t happen in that state.
By reducing visual stimulation, we help puppies feel safer, stay under threshold, and better engage with their guardian, setting them up for calmer and more successful learning.
Importantly, we don’t avoid exposure altogether. We practise skills in front of the barriers, so puppies learn that they can see other dogs and still remain calm, thoughtful, and responsive — a skill they’ll need in the real world.
Because Puppy College runs indoors, we’re able to train in all weather, ensuring consistency and avoiding cancellations. The trade-off is that we’re limited in how much physical distance we can provide between dogs. Barriers help create that sense of space when physical distance isn’t possible. If group dynamics allow, barriers are removed in lessons 4 and 5.
If you feel your dog would benefit from greeting other dogs, you’re very welcome to arrive 10–15 minutes early and allow greetings outside the venue with dogs who are also keen to interact. At the same time, we must respect the guardians and dogs who want Puppy College to be a calm, confidence-building space focused on learning.
3. Dog‑dog greetings on lead are risky
All dogs are on lead in class. This is a big part of why greetings are not allowed.
On‑lead greetings often involve:
Tight leads
Limited ability for dogs to move away
Increased frustration and pressure
This is a risky combination. Dogs who feel uncomfortable can’t remove themselves, and young dogs often have low frustration tolerance and impulse control. In these situations, snapping and scuffles are far more likely — even between dogs who are otherwise friendly.
There’s also the practical issue of leads becoming tangled if dogs attempt to play, which increases the risk of injury or panic.
4. Different sizes, ages, and play styles
Puppy College is for pups 3-9 months of age, which means that the groups include:
Different breeds
Different sizes
Different ages
Very different play styles
Not all play styles are compatible, and even well‑meaning play can go wrong quickly — particularly if a larger dog accidentally knocks or injures a smaller pup.
In a group class setting, with unfamiliar dogs and limited space, it’s simply not a safe or fair environment to allow play.
5. Puppy College is not a playgroup or daycare
Puppy College is about building skills that last a lifetime:
Focus
Calm behaviour around distractions
Confidence
Strong engagement with you
Being a social dog isn’t just about playing with every dog you meet. True social skills are about remaining calm, confident, and polite when walking past other dogs and people, and knowing when it’s appropriate to play.
While play skills are important, they cannot safely be taught through on‑lead greetings with unfamiliar young dogs in a class environment.
If you’d like your puppy to develop good dog-dog play skills, we strongly recommend:
1:1 play dates
With dogs you know
Who are polite and well-matched in size and play style
This helps your puppy learn to be a polite, thoughtful playmate — rather than one who assumes every dog is there to play.
Respecting the rules keeps everyone safe
We ask that everyone attending Puppy College — and any group class — respects these guidelines.
They exist to:
Protect puppies from conflict or overwhelm
Prevent traumatic or scary experiences
Support confidence, calm, and learning
When we all work together, Puppy College becomes a positive, empowering experience that sets dogs up for success well beyond the classroom.
