Hello I've been taking 21 week old puppy to a puppy class, but I'm wondering if its not worth it. I've been training him, heel, walking on lead, recall from Pippas book, and he's not perfect but progressing. In the classes he is the largest dog by miles, most are 10 weeks, old, I did check with the trainer if she wanted him to come to that one as he was 20 weeks when starting. He is very excited meeting new dogs, even though he has met lots, so he is excited in the class, calms down eventually, but the dogs are not allowed to mix in the class at all so he is constantly trying to go to the other dogs throughout. Also while I have picked up a few useful tips, because I have been training him a certain way to heel etc, the trainer's way is different and I don't think its helpful for me to change what I have been doing now. But this means he is not very good at doing what she asks so I just end up annoyed at the classes. Doesn't help that I find her a bit rude, she criticises you before even saying hello. So do people think its worth persevering with this class? My plan is to do more obedience classes but ones that are with other dogs his age, and I'll check that the dogs are allowed to meet each other. thanks
If she was rude to me, no. I don't pay people to be rude to me, but help me train my dog. You could find another trainer who is better. That is only my opinion, other members my think different.
If you don't like the trainer or her approach to training then it might be better to find another class. However I do think it's quite useful to have sessions where your dog focuses on you, rather than mixing with the others, as it provides the opportunity to train with distractions in a controlled setting. I took a break from KC bronze classes when Molly was about 9 months old as she found it too difficult and did gundog classes instead for about 6 months. Later we went back and did bronze, silver and gold, so reason you have to keep going to the same class.
If you're not happy with the trainer do some research and find another as it's important that you comfortable with them and amble to work effectively with your puppy. Many puppy classes discourage puppies having a play session in class time and it is more beneficial for a puppy to learn to settle and work when there are other dogs and distractions around and the earlier they lead that the easier training classes become. My trainer allows no meet and greet or play in her classes and her clients don't expect it. Good luck with the search for a new trainer if that's what you decide
I would agree with Cath - there is no way I'd pay someone to be rude to me! But, as Joy said, it's useful to have the opportunity to work on your dog focussing on you around other dogs, so even if you end up going to classes and sitting apart, working on having him do the drills you do with him and not being allowed to play, then I'd say that there's a benefit in going. I never attended training classes with my two, because there is nothing like that around where I live. I know people on here have had mixed encounters, with their boisterous, over-friendly/excitable Labs, and so you'll probably get differing opinions on whether the classes were of any use. Personally, though, I think it would have made certain aspects of my dogs' lives a lot easier to manage had we had regular exposure to other dogs at a young age, and would certainly have helped me proof my cues in the presence of dogs. It's a very important lesson that other dogs being around doesn't necessarily mean it's play time.
Puppy classes are really useful, our pups go right up to 14 months and do bronze, silver and gold KC tests. The classes really focus behaviour training, I think. But if a trainer were rude or officious I would find another class, for sure.
PS not letting the dogs socialise in class is a good thing, Labs really need to learn that they can be around dogs yet not playing with them. ...
I do agree that not playing in class at all is best. I know someone who insists their dog has to get to say hello to all the other dogs 'so then she'll settle down'. It's super annoying, because I don't want my dog to have to say hello before he'll settle down. I like classes, I think they are a really good thing. A bad class though, which you don't enjoy and where you don't like the trainer doesn't sound worth it at all, so I'd look round for something else.
We have a 'sniffy corner' at puppy class. Each owner takes a small dog blanket. As we arrive, we put the blanket down in the corner. Each dog is taken to have a good sniff round the blankets. That way they get all the information they need about who is in class without chaos reigning. If dogs get close and start hoolying the teacher reminds us 'no partying' ...
I think consistency is important and you should stick with the methods that you are comfortable with. If you are unhappy with the class then I would look for something different.
Thanks for all your replies, I hadn't appreciated that it is better if the puppies aren't allowed to to mix and that is useful to get him to try and focus on me in the presence of other dogs. I'll keep going but try to do some of the drills that I've been doing with him.
