I've not done puppy classes or 1-2-1 sessions, so cant really comment on those. However, I did start Poppy with obedience and gun dog training classes at around 8 months, and found them invaluable, in particular for learning steadiness around other dogs.
@nicky I'm currently doing a canine behaviour and dog training course and was interested in your comments regarding your training class. 20 minutes at the start of your puppy class for play seems rather excessive and you mention that you are all talking to the instructor regarding problems faced during the week so how is the puppy play structured, managed and monitored as it is very easy for a puppy to become bullied. What basic "commands" are you learning during the class apart from sit, down and recall? I'm surprised you finish the session with another play for the puppies. From research I have done recently it would seem that your classes are heavily geared towards puppy play, which is all well and good but puppies learn good behaviours/manners from older dogs not other puppies
Karen, that's interesting, I hadn't really thought about training beyond this first few steps. I love the idea of gun dog training as she is from a working line. I definitely think we are going to have to work on steadiness around other dogs for a long time yet as she us so bonkers the minute she sees another dog.
I would really recommend gun dog classes - especially if you can find a good trainer. Some gun dog trainers use rather old-fashioned, punitive training methods, which I personally (and most on this forum) don't agree with at all. But if you can find a good trainer who believes in positive training methods, and a nice group, then I think you and your dog will probably get an awful lot out of it. I have found it has given me a tremendous bond with Poppy; we go to training classes almost every week and enter working tests and other competitions or exams. In addition, I have found a whole new circle of friends and actually my OH would say it has taken over whole aspects of our lives... If you look at the Gundog Club website http://www.thegundogclub.co.uk you will see that they do a graded training scheme, which is great as it gives you something to work towards.
Thanks for that link. We had our first puppy class today, and it was brilliant. We both loved it. I can totally see why you would carry on beyond the puppy months! I will definitely look at that in the future!
