I have never in 16 years ever attended a training class for my Labs and have had the 'normal' teething problems but have always ended up with very well trained , well mannered girls.

I have never even thought of going to training classes as never felt the need.

Is it just novice owners that go to trainers and if so is it therefore more about training the owner than the dog ?

Just interested in peoples experience and opinions on this !

Thanks

Lucy

I've taken my dogs to training classes when they've been older just for fun. When Holly, springer, stopped enjoying it, I stopped going.

I think they are there for the novice dog owner but you do see a lot of experienced owners going as well.

Helen

I always take new pups to training classes, mainly for socialisation reasons, but also because, although I have a good idea how to train my dogs (experience and training books) there are always new ideas and different ways to deal with problems. I normally take them to obedience classes for a year or more - depending on how much we are both enjoying it - and then go on to agility which we all enjoy much more!

A good training class will keep making you want to go back and learn more and more, get a bad one and it can put you off for life!

Hayley

Hi Hailey

I think it is me as I have never gone to the Parent classes either as have always felt I am capable of bring up babies and dogs my own way ! :) Has something to do with hate people trying to tell me how to do things ! :)

I see the point of socialisation but have always socialised my girls when out and about and with other doggie friends :)

I just have never felt the urge to go to one :)

Lucy

i go to mainly socialise mine with other dogs and people because when out we often come across other dogs ollies 17mnths old had him as a rescue about 2-3mnths ago he loves it and the other dogs

I've been going to training classes for 4 years - they always say that it is really to train the trainers, rather than the dogs :D

Lots of people in my classes have been going for many years - partly because it is fun, it is good socialisation for the dogs and it also stops the dogs (and owners) getting lazy :) If classes aren't fun, then I don't think that they can be much good. The trainers are a bit like therapists as well - a shoulder to cry on when things aren't going too well :(

Most of our trainers join in the classes when they are not actually training, so they must think that it is good for their dogs too :)

Daisy

I need as much training as possible, possibly years, my dog is fine its just me. He had his first certificate yesterday and won the down and stay. He was there for a staggering 15 minutes, 12 of those he fell asleep not bad for a very bouncy 6 month old boxer.

Im with you Daisy training got me through the adolecence stage .I woulent have been commited enough to keep up training without the encouragement and advice i get at training.Mines an only dog and as far as im concerned she needs as much socialisation and mental stimulation as i can give her.There does seem to be a hard core of regulars at our club and i do fear its the ones who really need the help that give up too soon.

We have a very nice man that I meet on walks sometimes - as his two Dalmatians bounce all over my two, he explains that they used to go to training classes, but the dogs didn't learn very much, so he stopped going :D

Daisy

Maybe they wern't listerning Daisy

I would always attend a class with puppies for socialisation, because good classes will do "pass the puppy" etc and i feel that with my breed, BSDs, who can be a bit shy, this contact with strangers is ideal. And as others have mentioned, adolescence can be a trying time and sometimes just seeing others with similar problems can be so calming LOL!

I also really love classes, meeting all the other people and talking dog stuff, :) and met 2 reallly good dog friends through classes.

Some things you can really only do in a class situation, unless you are extremely lucky, such as agility.

Lindsay

Congratulations Emma and Bradley :) What was your prize?

hi emma
wow thats good can't even imagine my 6 month old boxer standing still for longer than 5 mins how did you get him so well behaved mine is as mad as an hatter!!

I found attending training classes brilliant socialisation for me and my dogs! They both love it and ii enjoy it just as much. It helps me as it gives me a focus - they set homework each week which gives me something to work on, otherwise i would probably just drift along. Training classes are good for teaching the dogs to behave amongst many distractions. I met a lady walking an 8 year old GSD as we were coming out of puppy class with 2 other owners. One of my friends was talking to her and she said they weren't doing too well because of all the distractions. This GSD owner said that she used to go but she had the same problem but she just gave up and trained at home. However when another dog came along her dog approached it and she said " i have to let her say hello first and then call her other wise she won't come." so actually she didn't have that much control. If that dog was not keen on other dogs she could of had a fight on her hands.
As for only new owners going to training, thats not the case with my training school. We have several breeders attend with each new dog, many owners who have owned dogs for years and we used to have a guide dog in training with us. Sometimes it is nice to have some one to consult if a problem arises, just so you don't feel alone.

Emma, that's fab! Bradley must have a mutant gene (I didn't know Boxer pups could do still). :D

Jo

I find it a bit harsh of you to suggest that the only people who go to training go because they are not capable of doing it themselves!:D Guaranteed they are a great resource for the novice owner, but there is much more to it than that. I too can rear a pup successfully, I dont go to class because i NEED to, but go to class for the fun of it.....we enjoy it and i find it stimulates my dog more than just boring training in the home. its somewhere we can go together, and is a fixed time for us to share. we have fun doing tests, and meeting dogs and doggie people. There are not many other places you can take dogs of an evening, so any kind of dog club would suit...ringcraft, obedience ....its a hoot!

I would agree with that. I was (still am I suppose) a qualified instructor and took classes for some years from puppies to problems. I still attended training classes, I enjoyed them, it gave me encourgement and I often learned new things to try in my own classes. When the KCGCDS came in it gave me something to work towards with each dog and when that was expanded to the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards it gave me things to work for with dogs at different levels. Training with other people is fun and educational.

SB

Hi pinkladies

I wasn't suggesting it was only novice owners, I was asking hence the ? as was interested why people go :)

I do realise people go as they enjoy it but it is just not for me :)

Lucy

Hi new on here, anybody know of training classes in the wirral area
Thanks

Hi Tillymint, welcome!
Look here for APDT training classes.

I took Diz when we had her and Cas too. I also take the pup as it is good socialisation and also it is good to get them working for you with distractions and in a different place.
Gina

Hi Lisa, I regularly go to gundog training classes. I can do it alone, but I need to see their reaction when other dogs/people/noises are around. You can't do walk up on your own. I have a wonderful time and so do the dogs. I get to go to some wonderful countryside estates and land that I would never otherwise see. I've made a lot of friends and there are social events for humans as well. There are always other people to ask things - a lot of the people involved with gundogs have done a lot of breeding and competing over several years and have so much useful advice to pass on. I may sound a bit sad, but training classes are an important part of my life. I can also help out now I have more experience, so even if it's just throwing dummies or making tea I still enjoy myself. On a lovely summers day I was next to an elderly lady with her lab and she said 'I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon'. That's just how I felt. I will continue to train my labs, and any future labs I have because I just love it.
:) Lorna