Inner west: Free puppy training classes to be rolled out after Covid bad behaviour uptick

A Sydney council will soon roll out free puppy classes to combat a rise in bad behaving Covid puppies, with one vet sharing his golden rules.

There’ll be free admission to an exclusive ‘finishing school’ for puppies in Sydney, with one council set to roll out dog classes to combat an increase in poor behaviour due to an uptick in ownership during Covid.

The Inner West Council recently voted unanimously to support and encourage responsible dog ownership in the local government area, including free puppy training.

It will be the only council in Sydney to offer free classes.

The council will trial the free puppy classes after local services and vets reported a rise in surrender requests due to behavioural issues, stemming from lack of proper training.

“I know that lots of families across the inner west are dog lovers and new dog parents, and that’s something that we want to encourage,” Councillor Chloe Smith said.

The initiative from the Inner West Council hopes to make its many dog parks more friendly and safe. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

“There has been a huge rise in dog numbers, but that’s been accompanied by limited access to proper puppy training and limited opportunities to socialise.

“Unfortunately, what we’re now seeing as an unintended consequence is a rise in behavioural issues from that.”

The council is currently exploring how best to conduct the classes, with Cr Smith eager to roll it out as soon as possible. She also noted how the significant cost of puppy training could be a barrier for some people, which is why she’s elated that council is looking to run the program for free.

Inner West Councillor Chloe Smith with her now nine-month old puppy. Picture: Supplied

“Cost can be a real barrier to people seeking out training,” she said.

“It can cost almost $300 to register a dog to undergo a training course, and that is a barrier that we want to address.

“As a council, I think it’s important we take a proactive approach, rather than waiting for problems to arise, and see what sort of common sense, cost-effective measures we can introduce to support responsible dog ownership.”

Dr Sam Kovac, founder of Southern Cross Vet in St Peters, said he’d noticed a rise in both adoptions and anti-social behaviour.

“Our case load has increased by about double, we’ve seen people adding to their pack by getting a ‘dog for their dog’ and equally people who never have had a dog, adopting for the very first time,” he said.

“I remarked during a recent walk with my corgis at Sydney Park – hardly any of the dogs knew basic obedience and they were all over the place on leads.”

Dr Kovac said the clinic’s prescriptions of prozac – an antidepressant used to treat behavioural disorders in dogs – had tripled in the last two years.

“That is a clear sign of dogs being in distress through insufficient training leading to bad behaviour that challenges the human-animal bond,” he said.

Dr Kovac welcomed the news inner westies could soon have access to free classes.

“It is also great that these events will bring to the forefront the importance of socialisation, as to have a cohesive urban environment that is safe and less stressful you need to have well behaved dogs,” he said.

As well as the free puppy classes, the council will also conduct an audit of patrols for education and enforcement, and all signage pertaining to on and off leash areas, prohibited areas, and dog etiquette and safety at local parks.