Hi, I've just read an interesting thread on whether puppy classes are worth it and wanted a bit of further advice. My issue is that we can't make it to puppy classes for another 6 weeks, when Jessie will be over 5 months old as my husband currently has a 2 hour commute and can't get home in time to look after the kids. And I can't manage excitable puppy AND tired kids at a class! The lady that runs the classes has suggested that perhaps we would like some one to one sessions in the meantime, 2 of which would cost about the same as 6 puppy classes. I'm now wondering whether this might be a better use of money? I know Jessie won't get the experience with other dogs, but we can make it to the 'socialisation' element of the puppy classes, which the trainer offers separately before the class starts, so she can still get experience of this. We are doing well on basics with the clicker like sit and walking to heel without distractions, my issue is her reactions to other dogs which send her insane and throw all training out of the window! Is this better tackled in a class or 1 to 1? I'd really appreciate any thoughts. I guess we could go for the classes AND the 1:1s, but obviously don't want to shell out unnecessary money! Thank you sally and Jessie
I like classes - they learn to behave around other dogs. It takes time, but is well worth it. It's easy for them to do everything 1-1, much more is learned when they are surrounded by other dogs! But, until you can get there, why not find good you tube examples and do them at home? .
I think 121s are better for you learning how to train your dog, and classes are the only way to get your dog used to working around other dogs. Getting a Labrador puppy used to working around other dogs is a big challenge! But I do wonder if it's something that you just have to do and work through it.... These days, I still do both 121s and classes - I do a lot of classes because working around other dogs is Charlie's biggest challenge, so that's what we work on the most. I find I don't really need all that many 121s because I get so much stuff to train in just one 121 that it can take me months to complete and finish a behaviour that I've learned to train.
I think the ideal would be a few 1-1's to hone your training technique, I found in group classes this is quite difficult. however, you can't beat a well organised outside group class where you know your dog will learn some important social behaviour without the risk of irate owners and over zealous youngsters. Also, you know as the interactions will be controlled, they will be safe and stress free for your dog.
Sorry I can't really offer any advice either way. I didn't have any puppy classes in my area when Juno was little and the only training classes were held in a field on a Saturday afternoon waking the dogs around in a circle with some sit and recall. I had 11 sessions with a trainer to work on what I considered the important aspects of life with a dog particularly walking around town, markets, stopping for a coffee etc. I had the benefit that my trainer organised weekly walks for her clients so all the dogs had a great time socialising, and learning doggy manners, with a range of breeds and ages.
The key there is "well organised", unfortunately not all classes are well organised or well controlled.
I only took Sam to one puppy class, it was bedlam , just lots of pups tearing around , excitement overload for most of them , so that was that for me . He then had 1-1 with a local gundog trainer , not just gundog training but general , it was so much better for him, he ( and myself ) learned an awful lot in a short time .
The ideal is both. Use the group class to help your dog learn to pay attention to you in the face of distractions. I'm an instructor at my local dog club. I know all the stuff my dog could learn there and I could do it all at home, but teaching him on my own is nothing like teaching him in a group class. The group class situation is invaluable for learning focus and steadiness around other dogs - not just for your dog but for you too!
This is really helpful, thank you everyone. I think I am going to give the 1:1 a go as I feel I could really do with the tuition myself! I was also recommended a different class today by a puppy owner which is on a Saturday, which I think looking at the website I can start sooner, so I think I will give this a go as well. I also hadn't thought of looking on You tube. This sounds like a great idea!
I took Molly to puppy classes. They were held in the evening, after what would have usually been here bedtime, which was not helpful. Socialisation was limited to the mad dash as we all tried to get in the hall. After that we were sent to points well apart on the perimeter. We had one useless couple with their large dog. They seemed unable to grasp the instruction so a lot of time was spent working with them to the detriment of the rest of us. I don't think the instruction was very good. One member of my class lives near me with her cute little spaniel. At 2 and a half it is still scatty and pulls. My OH met a guy in the pub last night who remembered us from classes, he reports that he cannot stop their 2 and a half year old Lab from pulling. I have worked long and hard to achieve a dog that walks nicely by my side "most" of the time. My success came when I switched to clicker training, something not even mentioned at class. From a class of 6 that is not impressive. I don't think puppy training was my instructors real interest, I think it was just a way of subsidising the dog area he was really interested in. I had a couple of 1 to 1s with another trainer. I found it very useful to concentrate on me and my dog and what we needed to learn. It wasn't particularly expensive and I regard it as better value for money.
Hi, thank you for that perspective. Really interesting and helpful, thank you. I also felt the 1:1s looked really good value compared to the class. Really good point about the clicker training too. We have been having some success with the clicker at home and I have found a class where the trainer does use the clicker, so maybe this would be better for us. Also very good point about the evening class and tiredness, I hadn't even considered this!
Do you do you fly ball through your club? Unfortunately ours doesn't do fly ball (only agility, obedience and Rally-O) so I might have to look elsewhere (when Ella is old enough and reliable enough of course). In the meantime I've been looking at Rally-O as we have a different course set up each week to try and I know the novice level is all on lead. Do you have any experience with Rally-O?
Yes, we do Flyball through the club. I did some Rally-O with our previous dog. Just informal 'fun' competitions. I would recommend it - you learn lots of new exercises and can talk to and encourage your dog as enthusiastically as you like. Kind of a cross between obedience and agility!
That was the impression I got when I had a look at Rally-O. It does look like a bit of fun and I think it could add to our training. Hmm I'll try to pluck up the confidence to have a go around the course next week Wish I'd have considered flyball when choosing a club. Oh well, we've got a long way to go before Ella would be ready. I can just imagine unclipping her lead in that environment
@Emily I think you may be surprised, a few weeks back with how Juno wanted to say hello, let's play to every dog on the planet I never would have believed that she would now sit and wait for a cue to go play/say hello or sit and wait for us or recall instead. I think sometimes we worry too much about what our dogs might do rather than what they can do
Hi Sally. I've been doing both puppy classes and 1-2-1 sessions and they have both been beneficial in different ways. The puppy classes are great for Luna to play with the other dogs. The class is aimed at puppies, but the oldest dog there is around 6+ months - so still a puppy, but probably about the age of your dog when you get there. For the first 20 minutes or so, they get to play outside (the entire class is outside - brrrr!) and off lead which is lovely. It also gives us owners a chance to ask questions to the instructor and talk to each other about what problems we've been having. The rest of the class is going through basic commands which every puppy should learn, and then at the end, another quick play. We do lots of training around recall when other dogs are around The 1-2-1 sessions we've done have been good in different ways. We've had 3, but they have all been at home which gives us a chance to deal with problems specific to Luna being in the house - e.g. settling on her mat, jumping up on the table etc. The lady comes at night time, so my husband can also be here, while the puppy classes are during the day, so he has to be at work. We probably don't need both, but for us, it's working End of the day, it's probably about choosing the right puppy class or right 1-2-1 instructor. Nicky
Hi Nicky, thanks for that, really interesting! I think we will try both. We have classes starting on Saturday. So I am going to see how we get on and then perhaps have some 1:1s to target problems! I have no clue what I am doing as this is my first puppy, and feel I need all the help I can get! We have 2 kids, so I feel a real pressure to make sure she is well behaved so we can go out as a family and they can have friends over safely! X
