Puppy Trainning ~ Classes.

[Giro 2,648]

Has anyone on here attended organised puppy training classes??

 

I for one have never attended any and my dogs have come up to scratch.

 

 

I have been considering going with my young pup I have on at the moment, as I recon it won’t do any harm with socialising with all sorts of different dogs.

 

 

Obviously Classes may vary but what’s the general agenda?? Lead walking, sitting and staying??

 

 

I might go along and have a look see what it all about…

 

 

Anybody else gave them a crack ??

[Rake aboot 4,936]

Yeh, my missus talked me into talking one of our spaniels to a local one,, but after the basics, it was all about obedience show type guff,, so gave it a miss

 

To be fair though, the basic traing advice was pretty good. I would say they could be worth a visit.

[Bosun11 537]

Over the years, I have often thought about it but never bothered, like yourself Giro, I think i've always done a decent enough job myself. Those thoughts have long gone now, what could they teach me that I couldn't get from somewhere else and apply it anyway and why would a trainer of none working types bring to the table for my worker? If I needed advice on any aspect of training I thought I couldn't get then maybe yes, i'd look for a 'suitable' trainer.

 

If, for whatever reason, I thought I couldn't get the most (basic obedience) out of a dog, then yes, I would consider it but for anyone who may be going down this rout, remember, it's first and foremost YOU who needs to be taught and then pass that info to both your current and future charges.

[Giro 2,648]

Aye other than the exposure to a mass of dogs in a controlled environment, I can’t see many more benefits..

 

The little dogs doing all the basics and walking well on the leash..

 

Wonder how many working lurchers would be there not many lol will be unruly poms or shitzues

Edited January 8, 2013 by Giro

[patterdalejoel 669]

took my grandparents mental patterdale...wasnt so much about the trick but taught him whos in charge, he is a lot more obedient now and he realised he wasnt invincible after being taught who was boss by some husky x's.... it did him the world of good, he is still unpredictable but a lot more easy to control and obedient, and knows he isnt head of the pack anymore. i know it isnt an example of a puppy, he was about 2 yrs old, but i mamaged to get silver level

[Giro 2,648]

What sort of stuff did they have you doing ??

 

I would be going for Gold level :laugh:

[whippet 99 2,613]

do they train them how to course.........lol

[Giro 2,648]

If only :laugh:

[beast 1,884]

i took my first pup when i was a lad and it was ok if you wanted to do kennel club type stuff but not really what a working dog owner wants. good as you said for getting control while a load of other dogs are about. nowadays a lot of training classes are focussed on clicker training and using it to do those dancing-with-dogs tricks, quite interesting but questionable use. all depends who the trainer is, a good one will know there business and offer good advice, a bad one is crap. and most are bad. at times when i have wanted advice or tips i have approached gundog trainers i know, not always spot on advice but at least aimed in the right general direction

[littlefish 587]

Well, reading some of the very frequent repetitive queries on here regarding dogs with little recall and social skills with other dogs etc, i would say a lot of people would have a lot to gain from attending training classes. The ones i have been to have been provided an invaluable chance to mix with other dogs under controlled circumstances and to practice manners, control, recall etc. As was said previously, one of the main purposes of these classes is to train the handlers - particularly people with little previous experience of owing a dog and no idea of what to teach the dog or how to teach it. I've never seen a dog leave behaving worse that it did when it arrived.

[Country Joe 1,411]

my Wife wanted to take the whippet, I wasn't keen, didn't see the point.

Told her he would be up against Collies labs ect, and not to expect too much being a sighthound,

Anyway i got dragged along, and it was okay, taught recoll, sit and stay, etc etc.

What surprised me was how well the Whippet did, he was up there with the top three,

it was not expensive, and did the dog no harm.

[Giro 2,648]

I am going to go for a look,tomorrow will let you know how I get on

 

Better get some shit bags and some treats :laugh:

Edited January 9, 2013 by Giro

[littlefish 587]

my Wife wanted to take the whippet, I wasn't keen, didn't see the point.

Told her he would be up against Collies labs ect, and not to expect too much being a sighthound,

Anyway i got dragged along, and it was okay, taught recoll, sit and stay, etc etc.

What surprised me was how well the Whippet did, he was up there with the top three,

it was not expensive, and did the dog no harm.

 

That is a very inspiring read. Folks shouldn't look at it as 'being up against collies, labs etc', but instead as an opportunity to improve your dog's behaviour and confidence. It is not a competition - unless you do get bitten by the competition obedience bug..............then we could see you at Crufts, showing up the collies and labs........stranger things could happen.......

[Country Joe 1,411]

Hi Littlefish,

Maybe I could have wordrd it better, I was just surprised how clever Whippets are, being a sight hound.

I know on a hunting site, obedience classes would be laughed at.

But the course was cheap, was good for the dog.

And have to admit, much to my surprise, I enjoyed it.

[hutch6 550]

Training classes are great for the dogs but if you've never been they are also good for your own training methods (providing you go to the right classes i.e. no smacking or forcing or using negative reinforcement methods with prongs, lead jerks and spray collars).

 

Not only does your dog learn the basics whilst there it learns them under an intense environment with loads of other dogs and people as distractions where as when you train at home you probably do it in a quiet environment with just you and the dog, you then take the dog out and wonder why it runs off to other dogs or gets distracted easily. In such a busy envrionment you get the focus from the dog that is key to the relationship without much effort at all.

 

What you learn as a the dog's trainer is technique and timing. Get these two basic things right and training has a very fast snowballing effect in that it may start slow but as soon as the dog learns one thing the rest follows very quickly.

 

After the training class the dogs are usually allowed to have a good romp around together so they get a bit of socialisation as well.

 

You want to make sure that you find the best motivator for you dog though so yes, it may be littel food treats or it could be a rag toy for a game of tug or just a simple stroke. I don't like training classes that work on the principle that food is the best way to motivate every dog becasue every dog is different. My first trainer learned that when my collie wouldn't do anything for food but would do anything you asked for a chuck of a frisbee. He took my collie saying "He'll work for food, you don't need the frisbee flying across the hall" and then failed miserably to get the dog to do anything for the food.

 

The ulitmate training classes are held outside where not only are there other dogs and people but different smells, birds, sounds, cyclists, runners etc which all work with you in getting your dog to focus.