When is the best time to take a puppy class. We took Molly (now 1) when she was 12 weeks old and it did work well. Freya is less forthcoming than Molly and is now 15 weeks old and we're not sure whether to take her or not.

Is it worth just purchasing a good dog training book/vid and making sure she is socialised locally in the park?
And where is the best place to look for puppy trainers?

PS Freya is now walking regularly off the lead and recalls unlike Molly who we have (thanks for the advice - vistors Q) decided to keep on lesh as she just can't be trusted (bless her!!)

I know that the advice is always to find a puppy trainiing class and start going ASAP, but  I have found with some of my dogs that these classess are a nightmare !. My breed ( Belgians) are highly sound sensitive and a church hall or similar full of untrained barking pups actually made things worse. Now I do all puppy socialising either in my local parks, at  outdoor companion dog shows or take them along with me to our local open shows for people in the breed to 'go over' sympathetically. I practise basic obedience in the garden and whilst out on walks. When they are old enough I enter them at a few little shows with good indoor facilities until they are happy to feel relaxed in the noisiest most crowded kind of venues. Forcing an unhappy stressed pup to 'stand' whilst someone tries to open their mouth or trying to drag pups along the mat when they are too terrified to move is no fun (both scenarios are fairly common at ringcraft training ) .

I know that not all breeds or individual pups are like this so I would say be guided by your own puppy and make sure that any training you do is enjoyable and rewarding .

Yvonne