We believe training your dog should be fun and enlightening for both you and your dog. We strive to build the owner-pet bond.
Training Pups Dog Academy was established in 2011 by Susann Brits a Veterinary Technologist.
We were blessed to have 4 different venues in and around Pretoria until 2023 when Susann relocated to the East Rand to pursue her dream job as a Veterinary Pharmaceutical Sales Representative. During 2023 Susann spent her training time on her own puppy Zena while looking for a venue in the East Rand.
In January 2024 we re-opened our doors this time at Impala Park Pre-Primary School on the corner of Ridge and Elizabeth Road in Impala Park. We are very thankful to the school for allowing us to use their fields.
At Training Pups Dog Academy we only use force-free methods and advocate positive reinforcement methods. Our approach to training aids in building the owner-pet bond.
Currently, Susann is the only KAD (Kids Around Dogs) accredited trainer in Africa. KAD stives to educate pet owners as well as children on how to act around dogs, with the main aim of preventing dog bites. KAD assists parents with children who have a fear of dogs, to overcome this fear as they believe every child should be able to experience the joy dogs bring to our lives.
Susann is also an accredited IMDT (Institute for Modern Dog Trainers) dog trainer.
We pride ourselves in giving the highest standard in training to ensure our clients and their dogs live the best lives possible.
Assisting clients in choosing the correct puppy to suit their family needs, puppy-proofing their home and setting up a housetraining schedule.
The idea is to set owners up for success before they get their puppy, or immediately after.
Other concerns such as jumping and nipping can also be addressed.
This course is open to puppies between the ages of 8 wks old - 5 months at the start of the course.
Our 1st class is an introductory class without puppies to ensure all our puppy parents are on the same foot when class starts.
We teach basic cues like:
SIT, DOWN, WALKING ON LEASH, STAY etc. We also focus on preventing issues like JUMPING and NIPPING.
Hills accredited puppy course.
This course is aimed at puppies who missed the opportunity to go to puppy class as well as older dogs, with no prior training.
Our 1st class is an introductory class without dogs to ensure all our dog parents are on the same page when class starts.
We teach basic cues like:
SIT, DOWN, WALKING ON LEASH, STAY etc.
IMDT (Institute for Modern Dog Trainers) accredited course.
Assisting clients in their own homes with their individual training needs.
This course consists of 10 x 45 min individual sessions, where we assist children in overcoming their fear of dogs.
KAD (Kids Around Dogs) accredited.
Various school talks are available:
* Pawsitive Choices - teaching kids how to behave around puppies / dogs
*The Biteside - teaching parents the warning signs to a bite and how to prevent it
All proceeds from these talks go towards Rabies vaccines for local shelters.
A week ago it was the end of the world as I knew it.
I was running around and playing with my brothers and sisters when a family came to meet us. They looked at me, picked me up and even pulled my lip up and inspected my bite. I felt like a lamb being led to the slaughter.
Once they put me down they picked up my sister and did the same to her. My mom seemed nonchalant about everything going on around her. I turned my back and walked towards my brothers where I decided to lie down for a nap. The one lady approached me, I turned around and exposed my belly to show her I'm friendly. She reached down and gently started rubbing my belly. It was love at first touch for both of us.
She picked me up and held me in her arms. I attempted to lick her face when i heard her telling my human dad that they will take me... Take me where?
As the words escaped my lips she turned around with me in her arms and walked towards a car. (I've been in a car once before when I got my first puppy vaccine)
She climbed into the car with me still in her arms and said goodbye. I was a bit confused as to why I was the only pup to enter the car, but enjoyed the cuddles so much that I wasn't too concerned. The car started and we slowly pulled out of the driveway of the place I have called home for my entire life.
As the wheels turned my eyes started drooping and I dosed off to dreamland. When I woke up I was all alone in a strange place. Nothing looked or smelled familiar. There was a big water bowl and a green food bowl. My tummy turned as I thought about food. It felt like an eternity since my last meal.
I got up and sniffed my way over to the food bowl. What a strange-looking food bowl. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with the memories of my siblings and myself eating out of one large food bowl back home.
Back home I had to gulp my food down before any of my siblings could get their filthy paws on it. Feeding time was always a speed eating competition and I was the master.
I peeked into the food bowl and my nostrils were filled with the exciting aroma of a home-cooked meal (chicken and rice mixed with kibble). I poked my nose in and attempted to grab a bite. The more I tried to gulp the less food I was able to gulp up. What a weird bowl. One of the ladies looked at me and giggled. She said the "slow feeder seems to be working". What the fudge is a slow feeder?....
Susann's dog journey started off in high school, where she worked at a veterinarian during school holidays. After varsity, she did a short stint in an animal pathology laboratory but yearned for animal interaction. She then lived out her passion at a Kennel & Cattery where she was able to care for animals as well as observe their behaviour. It was during this time that she established Training Pups Dog Academy and she has never looked back.
Susann mostly enjoys working with "problem" dogs and educating owners. She spends her free time reading, listening to music, doing hikes and just being herself.
Although Emily is still in Primary School, she has an immense love of animals. The highlight of her week is being able to spend time with the puppies / dogs at Puppy School on a weekend.
She has recently trained her own Doberman's and even gave her younger brother some tips on how to behave around their pups Diesel and Roxy.
Emily is seen here handling Zena (Susann's dog)
