I don't know if anyone else has trouble finding a good training class in their area. Over the years I have taken my pups to a variety of places but have been very disappointed in the standard of the training. I have only ever wanted the basic pet obedience, nothing fancy, but I always seem to spend a lot of the time just hanging around waiting for the next bit of 'action'.
Last night I attended the second week of the puppy class and we probably only did a maximum of five different things in the one hour session. It's no wonder the dogs find the smells on the floor a lot more exciting.
I know that the person who takes the training has been on numerous courses and seminars so I thought she would be quite good but she gets some of the most basic stuff wrong. She'll take someone's dog to show them what to do and she'll say to the dog 'Are you going to do a sit for me ?'. Who can blame the dog when he says 'No, thank you. I don't think I will today, if it's all the same to you'.
I'm sure there are some good trainers out there - perhaps I've just been unlucky.
Joyce

Joyce hi I just arranged for freddie to go to classes in september
ZAC we have given up on him i think he was damaged at birth but Freddie is showing
great potential so good luck .I paid £60 for six lessons .

Pat xx

Hi Pat - £10 per lesson ?!! Seems quite steep, but perhaps this is what the really good trainers charge. I only paid £28 for 8 lessons. A case of you get what you pay for I suppose. :)
I just wish I had a better choice in my area.
Hope Freddie does well.
Joyce

I think you've struck it very unlucky Joyce.
Dog training should be a lot of fun for both the dog and the handler - attending seminars and courses doesn't necessarily make a good instructor if they don't have the skills to put it all together.
Keep looking :)

Very true, Lara.

Training classes in my area are usually £1.50 - £2 per class. Most have a one off joining fee of a few pounds.

i thought this was a little steep but he was the only one around and I wanted to give
Freddie that little bit extra, for me really he is already neally Zac size so he may get bigger then poor Zac and I think he will be the Alpha dog .

Pat xx

Pat

I think we need to be clear that we are talking about obedience training here - not ringcraft which does tend to be much much cheaper. I paid about £7.50 per night for my obedience training. The instructor needs to make you aware that at the sessions you are not training your dog but that you are learning how to train them and it is you that is being trained. When you leave the class - you then take that learning away and put it in practise on a daily basis with your dog so that when you return the next week - your dog is starting to do as you command (hopefully:D :D :D). The trainer will then assess the progress that has been made and determine whether the class is ready to move on to something else.

To learn five things in one night is quite a lot. Dogs are like children they only have so much capacity to learn at anyone time and if you go too fast they will forget something in favour of something else and you'll have to go back and start again from where they have forgotten. It toook us two weeks to cover five things, First week was heel, sit and down, then we progressed to stay and turn and come - all attached to the lead. By the end of 7 weeks we could, if we'd put the work in at home, do heel work, down stays for up to a minute and recalls. It's so easy to rush ahead but without getting the basics firmly embedded in your dog - you'll take one step forward and two back.

Having said all that, it is important to find a class that you are comfortable with and where you feel the training delivered is something that you feel you can take away and use.

hth - jmho

Pam n the boys

I agree Pam, about making sure that things are learnt properly and the importance of not overloading with too many commands/instructions etc. But I still feel that a lot of puppies and young dogs get bored either repeating the same exercise over and over or waiting for the next bit of action to start.
I often find, when I look down at my little pup, that he's curled up and gone to sleep ! :)
J:)yce

Hi Joyce

I have taken my Terv to lots of classes, basically for socialisation as much as anything, and we have paid usually £4 - we did pet obedience, as in sit, down, loose lead walk, come, sit to greet, relax for examination, etc.

We were shown how to do stuff, and then expected to practice at home. A puppy will often go to sleep 'cos it is knackered with using it's brain. It may even be a good sign, as even just being in a new environment with new scnets, smells,people, and being expected to learn too is just sooooo tiring LOL!!!

If you go to many classes, they will offer "Obedience" which tends to be lots of walking up and down, folowng commands, heel, etc. Most pet owners don't want this though, i know i didn't.

I personally feel it sounds as if you have a good class - the only thing wrong may be that either you expected different (ie a tad more "regimented" :D ) or else that the instructor has not got the knack of actually passign across information. People may know a lot but being a good teacher and having the ability to communicate is a skill not all of them have.

If you have seen the more advanced classes, ( do they offer a Good Citizens as that is a good test, but is pet orientated as you probably know) or seen the way the instructor's own dogs are, that is a good thing to consider.

Having said that, if after giving it more of a chance you still don't feel it is right, try a different class maybe? We all lhave to get on with people and you may "click" better with a different instructor :)

Lindsay

I was refering to Obedience classes, in a group class, not private lessons!

Hi , My 'pet' boy Junior, got a modelling assignement a few years ago, just before his 1st birthday. They needed some basic obedience training, inc. a reliable sit/stay, so off we went to classes. (I had only ever done ringcraft before, and not with Junior) It cost £2.50 per lesson, with various ability levels in the room , sometimes all working together, sometimes in our individual ability groups. It was fun, the dogs loved it, (He took a cake for his birthday party) and he learned sit/stay, recall, down, retrieve and heel both on and off the lead - passing out of beginners into intermed. before any of the other new starters. We never managed a reliable down/stay - he just lost interest and stood up!We went for about 8 sessions, practicing at home in between. I now recomend this lady to my local puppy buyers, such sensible, straightforward training methods, and all the dogs took to her straight away. Perhaps it is just the case of finding the right trainer, and I hit luck first time out.
Gwen

Hi Pam thank you, You are correct it's for when I take freddie out I want to have full control of freddie he is very good now but I have kept this to basic not running or pulling on the lead sitting at the road ,But would like to train the down method and just make him stay and sit and be good if another dog shows aggression .

I find you very knowledgeable on this board and even use your advise you given to others
so a big thank u Pat xx

Pat

You are very welcome - glad to be of help:)

Pam n the boys

Hello Joyce,

Sorry to hear of your frustration and disappointment. Perhaps if you suggested a couple of areas that you could comfortably travel to, folk here might recommend Classes which they attend, and give you a few details of what they do? Then you might have a few more choices to select what you feel most suitable for you and your young dog. What age is the Pup?

Denise.

Hi Denise,
The training class we go to at the moment is about 14 miles away (I live a few miles south of Chester). Having taken different dogs to classes over quite a few years, there has only been one that has come anywhere near my expectations of what good dog training is all about. Perhaps I am expecting too much but I just know that my dog, and probably others in the class, would benefit from a bit more stimulation. He's not a young puppy - almost 10 months (for various reasons we haven't been able to attend classes sooner) - so perhaps, mentally, he's at a different stage to the younger ones. Talking to some of the others in the class, a lot of them have dogs which pull when out on their walks, but we have not practised any loose lead training at all yet. Perhaps we could talk to the trainer next week to see if we can do more relevant stuff.
Thanks for all the comments etc.
Joyce

Hello again Joyce,

Thanks for responding, I hope that someone on this Site, might be able to recommend a Club nearer to you around the Chester area - good luck.

I had to smile at your first Message, i.e. dog being 'asked' to do something. This is something I make clear with my handlers and dogs, never 'ask' the dog (that way you give him a choice)!!!

I was rather surprised that you have a 10 month old dog in a 'Puppy Class' - surely you would do better in the 'Beginners Group'?

You must however (as I'm sure you are aware) find the right Instructor with the methods that suit you, in order to put your trust in that person and PROGRESS!

So wishing you luck, keep us updated.
Regards,
Denise.

Hi Denise - Buddy is in the puppy class because they don't run a separate beginners' class. Having had experience of most of the classes in this area, I think the only way I'll find what I'm looking for is to move house ! :) A bit drastic, even for us, who will do almost anything for our dogs :D
Thanks again
Joyce

Hi Joyce,

What a sad reflection on dog clubs, that someone should feel unable to find a Club that does not offer training or Instructor that you can feel inspired and confident with! - (It's obviously not due to a lack of Clubs in your area either - as you say you have visited a few).

Keep asking around Joyce, (maybe even put a poster up at a couple of Vet Surgeries, asking for recommendations) - there may be a Club out there, UNregistered with the KC or APDT that is just right!

If ever you move again, check first about dog clubs in the area, otherwise don't move! (only kidding) - at least I think I am!!

All the very best,
Denise.

Thats expensive for training classes, we have several good ones in my area most are £1 for 1dog or £1.50 if you take two thats per night and its only once a week, k.c. affiliated. There is another one that does obedience and its £20 for I think its either 6 or 8 weeks I cant remember.as I dont go to the obedience ones its ringcraft I go to. Puppy classes at the vets are £1.50. a night once a week

Toby and I started back at our Obedience training tonight. It's £5 to join, then £1 a week. They do a beginners class and an intermediate/advanced class (that's us! always good for a laugh!) The trainer's been running the class for 20 years and has said they're starting a 3rd class as there's so many people on the waiting list to join!
It's relaxing and informal and we do sit official road safety tests. Needless to say Toby's not passed that yet! He's too intelligent and wants to finish the move before he's told! He was really good tonight, did everything great. The summer break must've done him good!
The training I go to is listed on the Scottish Kennel Club site. Maybe the KC site list clubs too.
Dot

Hi guys,

Being as we are discussing training, can anyone out there advise any good puppy classes in the Horsham, West Sussex area.

After my puppy has been socialised I would like to start some sort of obedience or agility as a hobby, what would you Cocker owners out there recommend. A lady I was speaking too recently laughed when I said I wanted to do obedience or agility with a Cocker when I had read that they are quite good at this.

By the way, I am going to see the puppies tonight as they are now three weeks old. I am very excited!!

Thanks

Nicky xx

I'm sure someone from your area will be able to recommend some classes Nicky but don't listen to anyone who says Cockers can't do obedience and/or agility. Ok so you're not likely to see a Cocker in the competitive obedience rings at Crufts but you can say that about a lot of breeds! I know a lot of people with Cockers who do obedience & also have some fun with agility - I think both Derryn & Natasha do agility with their Cockers so I'm sure they'll be able to give you some tips :-)

Jane

Hi Jane

You are correct I do *try* and do agility!!! :D

Nicky: The puppies have to pass their domestic training course, this is usually after they have had their puppy course first: For instance, I have completed a puppy obedience course, then gone on to do the domestic obedience course., which you have to pass before you can become involved in anything else. I then tried the advanced obedience, but both myself and my dog did not like it...so we now do agility...the dogs have to be 12 months old, as I have said, passed their domestic course, you start in the newcommers and work your way up. Once they have reached 18 months they can start competing in competitions...now this is the Jersey GSD club rules, they may not be the same for clubs in the UK, but it gives you a guideline of what to do and expect.

I absolutely love agility, in fact I am going down the beach with my jumps, weave poles and tunnel etc tomorrow to do some with a friend, as we have no training now until the end of August. If I have missed anything out, I'm sure Derryn will fill in the gaps, I think she has been doing agility longer then me...good luck and you WILL enjoy it...

Cockers are not the easiest of dogs, I started in January and wouldn't let mine off the lead, as he has run off from me a few times, but I have found that she loves peparami (green one) and she is so intent on getting some that she comes back each time now...but she does concentrate so that is a bonus...whether she comes back tomorrow is a different matter !!

HTH

Natasha :D

Nicky

I agree with Jane. Cockers, love agility the obedience bit might be a bit tough - lol - but if you put the time and effort in a Cocker will train nicely. You'll need to find what motivates your pup - and that can be easier said than done. Many do well with little treats for rewards - only liver cake works with mine. They reckon nowt to getting a piece of kibble - lol. Don't start agility to early though - let your pup fully grow and his bones develop properly - but start obedience early with puppy socialisation and then obedience.

I'd love to find an agility class near me coz I think my Jasper would LOVE it - he is such an active boy.

Enjoy it - the classes can be great fun -we used to have a hoot.

Love

pam n the boys

Hello Nicky,

Glad to hear you are 'forward planning'! Work on your obedience first, to help you gain good control with your dog. Anyone who suggests to you that you cannot train 'this or that breed' is probably seeking an easy 'cop out' themselves for an excuse to not even bother to try!

Equally, you sometimes meet folk who say that Obedience/Agility/Showing cannot be mixed. At my Obedience Classes I have handlers that take part in Agility and Showing as well. So if you and your dog enjoy one or more of these activities, then learn, enjoy and progress.

I would only advise you when looking for a 'Beginners' Obedience Group (after Puppy Classes) - try to visit a couple, don't simply go to your nearest one. Afterall, the training of your dog is vitally important to you both, you not only need the right technique, but a Trainer who understands dogs.

Look and compare. Are you happy with the methods and the phlosophy? Do you feel comfortable with the Instructor? Watch the other handlers, how are they doing? (afterall they will reflect the methods being taught), Is the Instructor helping to sort handlers problems, Is he/she giving any other helpful advice generally (other than the basics), lastly, is there a good atmosphere at the Club, you and your dog want to enjoy your training.

With all good wishes to you and your future puppy, let us know how things go.

Kind regards,
Denise.