Hi everyone,
Just wondering how big the training classes are that you all go to. There must be about 25 to 30 dogs at ours, and we seem to spend a lot of time sitting and waiting our turn - all good practise for Sparky sitting still and being patient, but just wondered if this is the norm?
Cheers
Tracy

I must admit that does seem rather alot!! We have on average about 8? If that sometimes!

Hi Tracey,
We're the same at Diesel's class there's normally an average of about 15-18 dogs. We spend most of our time sitting around, as she gets us up in two groups, but I don't know whether it has any impact on Diesel as he just want's to play with every other puppy.....he's such a distraction :) :)  It's graduation on Wednesday too....so we'll see whether or not we've to go up a group after the holidays or stay in puppy class.
Although, we did join a couple of weeks into the group starting....that's our excuse and we're sticking to it ;)
Sharon
XX

Ours sometimes is as low as 4. Most is ten - which is too many as we are in a small hall. Yours sounds far too many - I'd find another class if you can - how much do you pay ? We pay £2 for 3/4 hour and ours are IPDT trainers.

Daisy

Edited to say that our class is not for puppies - youngest dog is mine probably, 18 months. If yours are puppies, then it is way too many.

Hi again
Thanks for your replies - the club is for all-comers from "first time out" pups to adult dogs - there are two trainers and we are in two groups. We pay per dog - £3 for an hour and a half - and follow the Kennel Club Good citizen awards (at which Sparky recently did his best to show us up!) The trainers are friendly and helpful, and believe in lots of treats, which was why we chose it - locally it was choice between this one, or the one run by a man who advised me on the phone to "buy a choke chain, love, and practise showing him who's boss" when Sparky was 12 weeks old!!
However - have found another - quite pricey, but sounds as though it might be more suitable, though it means an hour long car journey first. If anyone can recommend another in the North West - please let me know!
Thanks again
Tracy

There are 5 in our group, but we are puppies!  Its a clicker training course and cost me £50 for a six week course.  We also do a kind of puppy party/socialisation thing at the local vets and that will last six weeks too.  I use her clicker there, but the couple that run it have never acknowledged it and nor have the other puppy owners!
Sarah

Just about to start a course with my new pup, there will be 3 in the class but she does take up to 4 for the puppy clicker training. Think she will take more in the next class I believe up to 8.

It varies a lot but i think between 5 and 8 is the average, but i once had a class by myself (well and the dog!) because no one else could come. It's brilliant because you get almost one to one attention occaisionaly.

Hello,
We go to a training school at our vets in Frodsham (nr Chester) if that is close to you.  There are normally a max of about 10ish dogs, but if the weather is bad then there are only a few of us as the class is held outside in the vets car park.  The classes are held on a Sunday morning and are about £30 for an eight week course, the name of the vets is Ashcroft Vets.  Email me if you would like any further information at lallen@electrowatt-ekono.co.uk

Thanks lins!
I think Frodsham would just be a bit too far though - we live up in Leyland, so I'd have to negotiate the M6 for a bit too long, I'm afraid. The one I'm thinking of is near Southport.
Tracy

Hi Tracy,

How far would you be prepared to travel?
There is an excellent one in Colne Lancashire, max of 5 in puppy class and 10 in teenagers/adults. They are held in seperate halls and trainers are members of APDT (?-can't remember which order the letters go)
Jan

Thanks Jan - Colne isn't bad, as I'm not far from the M65. I'll have another look on the APDT site and see if I can find it - if not is it OK if I email you direct for more details?
Tracy

Hi Tracy,
The name of the lady running the class is Jean Baldwin, Sheila Lord runs the puppy class, they are both listed on the APDT site. Classes are held on a Wednesday evening at Colne Baptist Church.
Both my bullmastiffs went and loved it.
I think the present course will be just about finishing so you could maybe get on the next one which will probably start early January. I'm thinking of taking Leo (my pup) back just to re-enforce what he learned. Ellie who is 3yrs old went for a year from being 12 weeks old and is now an extremely well behaved and obedient dog.
I go to ringcraft just outside Preston and it takes me about 30mins down the M65 so its not too bad a run. If you need any more info please feel free to email me jancx001@aol.com
Best regards
Jan

We have anything up to 25 with 2 trainers doing the kennel club good citizen training.  Barney is the youngest at 15 weeks and gets very frustrated having to sit for most of the hour whilst everyone gets a turn at up to three exercises. I would have preferred either a puppy only class or a smaller one, but these were not available in the area.  I pay £3 for an hour and I can't say that we get much attention except when it comes to his turn (and he always gets 'stage fright' and wees on the floor!!)

Lornas class sounds about the same as ours, we spend ages sitting waiting, youd think Dylan should be brilliant at doing that now the amount of practice he gets lol. We're in a school hall split down the middle with chairs, I guess theres about 12 - 15 in our class. Next week we're having a doggy Christmas party, I cant wait for that, always thought Dylan was a bit of a party animal hehehe........now wheres that tinsel to put on his collar lol

I managed to find a class for Lily which is local to me and only costs £2 for 45 mins (although money isnt the issue :D ) the trainers are all APDT trainers and the puppy playgroup (Lily has been kept back due to her deafness - I call it a remedial class :D :D ) only has about 6 puppies in it and the trainer knows all of their names.  Lily is doing really well - shame the same cant be said for when she is outside the class :rolleyes: 

Glad things are going well for you and Lily :)

Lindsay

Thank you, she is a good pup really we let her off the lead now and she tends to keep an eye on us and 9 times out of 10 she comes back when we give her the sign -- but when she sees a rabbit its another story :D :D  She loves running in the sand on the beach and she adores playing with other dogs, it really is a joy to watch her knowing that she is deaf and might not have got the chance to lead a normal life.  Sometimes when she is harrassing other dogs and wont look at me for a sign I end up calling her name even though I know she cant hear me - its saves face with the other dog walkers who are cutting you dirty looks because you arent calling your dog away :D :D

Claire :)

Perhaps your dog could wear a collar/bandanna/T-shirt with "I am not naughty but deaf" on it?!

Thats a good idea :) you would have to be a fast reader though, those lanky lurcher legs dont stand still for five seconds before they are racing off again in hot pursuit of imaginary bunnies :D

My local class has a maximum of six puppies.

thats a good idea, but to make it easier to read get a cape, a bright coloured one with black writing on it, 'glow walkies' do a lightweight flouresant cape, we have them at work for our dogs in training for when we take them into the town, ideal for all weathers :)