So we got our puppy and now I want to sign up for training classes. With our last dog we went to Rockwood who are close by (we are in Cardiff) but I have been hearing about the Good citizen classes - there are classes for that close by too. So who would you reccomend? I liked the Rockwood classes 13 years ago but I do like the idea of the accredited course too. So reccomendations anyone?

I would always recommend a class where the trainer is a member of the APDT. The reason for this is because they have a code of practice and there are so many classes out there where the trainers are still frankly, dinosaurs.

www.apdt.co.uk

I expect there will be one near to you. If not, try to go on personal recommendation, although that's not always good, because someone could still recommend a class that is not good, but that they think is good, IYSWIM.

This may be of help:

http://www.apdt.co.uk/choosing_dog_trainer_uk.asp
http://www.apdt.co.uk/local_dog_trainers.asp

Sounds like a sketch on Harry Hill.........fight!!

Sounds like a sketch on Harry Hill.........fight!!

Hahaha...yea thats true, but not if your the innocent (at the time) pet owners or the dogs they ended up with

Nothing wrong with doing 2 puppy classes on different nights but I would go along to both, without your puppy, and see which you prefer.

Members of the APDT agree to train using their methods only, very  little knowledge or experience is needed to join the APDT. Quite often members of the APDT have limited knowledge outside of the APDT remit. Leave your dog at home and go watch a few classes to make sure the classes are well run, and handlers and dogs are happy no matter who or what  association they are affiliated with.

>Members of the APDT agree to train using their methods only, very  little knowledge or experience is needed to join the APDT. Quite often members of the APDT have limited knowledge outside of the APDT remit.

You said on another post that you are proud to be a KCAI accredited instructor, I suggest you read the KCAI code of practice, in particular:

not unfairly elicit trade or clientele to the detriment of others, be diplomatic in discussions to avoid criticising or condemning advice given / methods used by other Clubs / Instructors,

Naughty, naughty... Implyig that APDT members are lacking in knowledge & experience, is a breach of the code of practice you should be sticking to. That sort of conduct from an instructer doesn't look very good for the KCAI scheme atall does it :(

Code of practice (PDF) linked to from this page

I am sorry if my post implied that APDT members are lacking knowledge or experience - It was not my intention to do so. It certainly was not my intention to knock APDT or any other association.  The point I wanted to make (and I did it badly) you need little experience to become a member of the APDT & there is no way of knowing how experienced a member of the scheme is? So the best way to find any good training instructor is to leave your dog at home and go watch a few classes. Make sure they are using kind fair methods, talk to them about their qualifications to teach you to train your dog.  My apologies to members of the APDT it was a badly written post.

We have a member Lindsay and Mastifflover which in no way resemble your description Sheila Stebbing, especially the latter and the former I haven't seen posts from for quite a while.

A little introduction and explanation might be helpful.

>The point I wanted to make (and I did it badly) you need little experience to become a member of the APDT & there is no way of knowing how experienced a >member of the scheme is

I am also an APDT trainer and it is in no way true that you need little experience to become a member:  You need to have required experience to be able to apply, and you then must complete a written assignment and conduct a class watched by a panel of other trainers, who assess your training skills and mark you.  Following this practical assessment you then do a viva, where you are asked questions on learning theory by this panel.  You can only join if you pass all components of assessment.  Further info on the requirements can be found here:

http://www.apdt.co.uk/dog_trainer_membership.asp 

Yes, it's actually not easy to join these days, as Rabid says - to become a member you do need to know your stuff about all aspects of dog training :)

I'm a subscriber in fact, :) not a full member.

leave your dog at home and go watch a few classes. Make sure they are using kind fair methods, talk to them about their qualifications to teach you to train your dog. 

Agree, very good advice :)

Lindsay
x

It is very good that the APDT have changed their criteria to join, however it is important to remember the criteria to join the ADPT in the past has been very different and not all members have joined using the same criteria as is now in place. Experience & knowledge therefore may be limited in some members.

Surely what you are trying to say is that when looking for any training class it is best to check that all aspects of said class are researched before commiting to taking a dog to the class i.e. training methods and experience and knowledge of trainers.

No organisation has the monopoly on good training techniques, there are plenty out there who have great instructors as members; there are also great instructors that eschew belonging to any of them for various reasons.  So, go and watch first, and then make up your mind, wherever you decide to go! ;)

It is very good that the APDT have changed their criteria to join, however it is important to remember the criteria to join the ADPT in the past has been very different and not all members have joined using the same criteria as is now in place. Experience & knowledge therefore may be limited in some members.

But would that not be true of any training organisation? the APDT seem to be the only ones who are really stepping up the membership criteria and creating very good trainers. I know of several good people who are good at training and knowledgeable, who have failed a small aspect of the exam, so they are VERY stringent!

I know of no other organisation which insists on not just knowledge etc., but non harsh methods....