Puppy Socialization Classes

April did both classes when she was little, we enjoyed both of them.

I think the reason that might work with your fiancee is that most of the other dogs will have taken puppy class, and will be moving on to Level 1, so your dog might be behind. Where they will have learned a little already, your dog won't have. Other reasons are that it is best to start training as early as possible. You are already going to have to wait until April 15th, which is a little over a month away, and if you choose to go right to Level 1, that's another month without training. She will probably like going to training, and will be happier to go to more classes. She needs to socialize with other puppies, and learn how to play appropriately. It sounds like the puppy class includes some time for that, and I know the one Max went to did. I actually skipped Basic Obedience with him, which is what I assume would be the equivalent of your level 1, but it didn't include time for playing. The Puppy Class was for up 6 months, and Max just barely made it in. I thought it was a very worthwhile class, and I learned things I wouldn't have in Basic Obedience that were more specific to puppies. Also, because the training curriculum was mostly the same as what would be taught in Basic Obedience, and I was able to teach him the things that weren't included on my own, he didn't need the Basic Obedience class before being able to enroll in the Advanced Level which he'll start tomorrow.
The only reason you might want to skip puppy class is if it will be difficult for you to pay for both.

One benefit to puppy class is that everyone in the class is dealing with the same issues.
 
In basic obedience there is at least one dog aggressive dog in every class, one compulsive barker, one extremely fearful dog, etc. (not all in the same class of course).  This takes the trainers focus a lot of the time (especially if your dog doesn't have any of these behavior issues.  I think the trainers focus tends to be more evenly distributed in puppy class, and it prepares you with a better foundation for basic 1.

ORIGINAL: mrgmfoster

In basic obedience there is at least one dog aggressive dog in every class, one compulsive barker, one extremely fearful dog, etc. (not all in the same class of course).  This takes the trainers focus a lot of the time (especially if your dog doesn't have any of these behavior issues. 

Actually, my last session has one of each!  It was crazy!!  A barking Lab, a fearful Boxer mix and a terrier mix who was dog aggressive.  Thank goodness the other 5 dogs were good or I think I would have lost my mind!

I would definately go to the socialization class.  It can't hurt and every bit of socialization you get will put you in line for the next level.  (Pretty much echoing what the others have said I guess ...)

Another good reason to go to Puppy Kindergarten - you get a good foundation for training your puppy.  Lots of owners have potty training problems, food eating issues, etc and resort to the "old school" training techniques like smacking the puppy with a newspaper and yelling NO!
 
I know that kindergarten really helped me bond with Lenny and give me a positive way to puppy train.  My parents have a dog they raised with the old techniques, and he was extremely hard to potty train, was never crate trained and thus screams in the car and when left alone, and whines at every meal because he wants table scraps... and my dad gives in.  I knew that wasn't the kind of dog I wanted, and the class helped teach me the right techniques.
 
 

I skipped puppy class, and I regret it.  I think it would have cemented her socialization skills much more so than by what she received in obedience.  I don't recall what breed Roxy is, but my girl is small and the fact that the other dogs were of different socialization levels in Obedience, the big dogs put the fear of God into her.  We're having to work through her fear of large breed dogs.  Where I think if she'd learned that MOST dogs are good by playing with both larger and smaller dogs in puppy class, it would have helped. 
 
Basically - it makes a huge difference in their socialization, in my opinion.  I won't skip it again.

Go, go, go!!  You definitely won't regret going - you may regret skipping it though...

We started puppy classes 3 weeks ago.  I have already seen a huge difference in how Izzy interacts with other dogs and humans.  She is skittish and is slowly getting much better about this.  She has become really intrigued by the larger dogs in class and before she was freaked out.  She loves practicing the skills we learn each week too. 
 
We played pass the puppy last week which made me a nervous wreck.  She is the only small dog in the class so evertime she got to a new person they would go in for th kill and try to pick her up without giving her a treat or anything.  She would screem and hiss until they put her down...we got through it and I think it toughened she and I both up a little!  It was a great socializing exercise though.  You just don't get this kind of socialization in a controlled environment without taking a class like this. 

Thanks to everyone who responded.
 
I just signed Roxy up for class starting April 15th, they had a package where if I signed up for the Puppy Manners I got $25 off the next Obedience class. So we are going to do two classes back to back. I think it will really help her.
 
Cheers!

you CAN'T wait to socialize. There is a time cut-off after which it is practically impossible for a puppy to learn how to "speak dog" well.  Four months is already pushing it, and six months is too late. Of course you can (and should) have been and continue to do this informally, but you'll get a lot of helpful hints in a class setting.