This is the third training class with my puppy I've been too. I have to say so far I'm really not happy with it. I choose it because it was on the apdt website. They won't allow my dog to use small dry food treats when I've explained that he doesn't in fact like any of the things they want me to take! hot-dogs, chicken, ham, cheese....
I know my dog is a bit unusual in that, but that's him and its pointless trying to train him with something he spits out!!! Also its all clicker training and I don't like useing the clicker. Over all they don't seem to do any handeling/ grooming excercises I'd expect and they only let the dogs socialise for roughly 3 mintutes at the end. Plus in a lot of classes I've seen you switch dogs and such for a tiny while to get your dog used to strangers - doesn't happen at my classes. I'm just not happy at all. Only thing is its the only class thats nearish me that's on the association pet dog trainers site.  Is there anywhere esle I can find gentle method class? :(

Oh and I forgot to add...

If I do find some where that maybe better. What questions would you ask before joining a training class to see if its a good one. There's only 3 more classes to go now anyway and so I want to find another after.

It's very hard to judge a class by asking questions on the phone - you can get an idea of how the trainer works over the phone, but the best way is to attend a class and watch........ Watch for flexibility of method - if one method doesn't work, or the owner is reluctant to use it, do they have other techniques up their sleeve?  Members of the APDT agree not to use certain practises, but that doesn't mean every trainer is going to use the same techniques or even be a 'good' people trainer - they may be excellent at training dogs, but lack the person to person skills that a trainer needs to train owners to train their own dogs........

I think that's the problem here. The trainer has no personal skills, she's a rather cold do as I say type person. And I'm a rather shy person so it makes it harder for me to voice my opinion.

Training around dogs is already part of the 'socialization' , are you in a basic obedience class or puppy kindergarten class?

Hi Becks,

I had a very very very similar problem.

I looked everywhere for a puppy training class for my Shar Pei boy, Harvey. I eventually got in touch with a lady who sounded great and really 'bigged' up her classes. (She worked for or was a registered trainer with the ADPT too).

We spoke for almost half an hour. During this time there was no mention at all of clickers (maybe I should've asked) and I was under the impression that a 'Puppy Socialisation Class' would be exactly that. Our dogs being able to mingle, play (maybe have the occasional ruck as you'd expect) and mix with other humans but that was far from the truth.

On the first night, the chairs in the hall were set in a U shape and we were told to leave at least three seats distance between each dog/owner. Of course, Harvey was going mental, as were all the opther dogs. With all the dogs in there he just wanted to get at them be it play or punch up or even sniff, and she wouldn't have it.

Then out came the clickers. My partner Dave has said to me before hand he was not prepared for Harvey to go to clicker training as he said it was stupid. So of course I was in a real dilema!

Don't get me wrong, Harvey did what he was told, but what dog won't when you're waving a titbit in front of their nose and asking them to sit? Dare I ask how a clicker achieved this miracle?!?!

I paid just under £80 for 5 weeks and knew straight after the first lesson it wasn't going to work.

The biggest waste of money! That £80 woyld've fed Harvey for a good couple of months, but hey.

Another thing that really frustrated me was the fact that everytime she did a demonstration and decided to use Harvey, if he didn't follow what she said it was a case of "Well he is a fighting breed dog and this is what they're like..." (Cheeky bloody moo)! - Maybe he couldn't stand your wart invested face (Deep breaths now :-))

So I fully sympathise with you my friend and wish you all the best in finding a new class.

In hindsight what I would do now would visit a class beforehand and go by reputation. Most vets also have a list of dog training classes too I believe.

Goodluck, Paul

I left my puppy training class after 7 weeks, and I was one of the long stayers.  The trainer had no person skills, she also had big breed dogs and completely looked down her nose at my yorkie, also she was frightened of him and stroked him with one finger in a very nervous manner. 

A lady turned up at class and was carryied her cocker spaniel out of the car, the instructor bellowed "put that dog down" right across the training area.  During a class I stepped forward when trying to teach "stay" instead of sliding round, she came over to me and said "that dog would be much better without you!!"  That became my last week.

Our dogs were never allowed to play together unless we arrived early, we never swapped dogs and she never used my dog for demonstrations, but she was always ready with the bitter apple spray if he barked!  10 people started there were 4 left at the end, but she had already had her money up front so I dont think they care who drops out.

alot of classes are "blinkered " to their own methods,surely you should be able to use any treat that your dog likes,are the clicker is going to be worthless?

They do say that with a dried treat by the time a pups done eating it it has forgotten what it was for in the first place as their attention span is tiny this is what i was told anyway we attend puppy classes and we switch pups ect but they only have 5 min playtime otherwise it would be mayhem with pups everywhere plus the fact we are there to learn how to train them :)

Hello all,

Just wanted to add another reason why some trainers don't really like owners using dried treats. Most puppies (not all!) will leave small crumbs when they eat 'crunchies' which then make it a lot harder for the person coming along behind them to get their dogs not to constantly sniff the floor!

Some dogs just aren't interested in using cheese, hotdogs etc as training tit-bits, youcan always try using small pieces of carrot, or cucumber!

Hope this helps

Ali :)

I've never heard of such rubbish, fancy dictating what treats you feed your puppy! Even the things they come out with at my club aren't that daft!! I am much more likely to drop bits of cheese or chicken on the floor than a small crunchy biscuit. I usually use smackos or chocolate drops with my puppy and cheese or mini pepperonis cut up with the 2 boys. Not that the puppy doesn't like the tasty stuff, but she's too excited even with the boring treats!! If your dried treats are small enough to crunch in a couple of seconds I don't see the problem.

But trainers usually know more than pet owners - so why can't they say what they expect in a class? :)
I would say dry biscuits are not likely to get the best out of any dog or pup in a class to be honest.

I would say it's important to see things from the angle of the trainer and to ask if things seem strange - there's usually a reason :)

Lindsay
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i agree lindsay in principal,but surely the best reward is what the puppy likes.
becks have you tryed livercake?

Agree with you there Michelled, I do think that sometimes though owners think they know what their pup likes but aren't willing to try trainer suggestions. The difference betweena dog working for a biscuit and one working for sausage slivers is not hard to see usually :P

Livercake - I have not yet met a dog that won't do anything for livercake... I think the actual making of the livercake is disgusting though, I refuse to blend raw liver :P

Lindsay
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I can beat that, I amended the liver cake recipe to make tuna and garlic cake as my boy loves fish. It smelled DISGUSTING!!!!!

we have a lady at our club that makes loads of different "cakes",& sells it too us,i buy bags of it too freeze,as i get through quite abit training & at shows.
i presummed the OP had tryed the "higher value" treats already,as suggested ,but the puppy turned its nose up?i could have read too much into that.

No michelled, I've not tryed livercake but I'm not sure he'll like it. I gave him cooked liver and he spat it out lol He seriously loves dry food treats ( james wellloved mini jacks Duck - which i break into tiny bits). However i have found something he likes that's not dry food. Veggie burgers :) Only thing is they break to bits a tad easy but it will have to do. He really wasn't too interested in the highly priced chicken I even got him. In yesterdays class the trainer got grumpy at me because she saw me sneak a dry food tiptit to him. So i said but he don't really like anything you like dogs to have here. She then pulled a face at me and went to prove me wrong. However Oscar spat out the hot dog she gave him and the cheese. :D

ME TOO! I went to training yesterday with sliced chicken and Oscar sort of liked it but still not as much as the dry treats. AND bits kept coming off and it was much harder to train him.

I've found another class now but they don't start for two months! :( However they are willing to let me in after I explained my problems with finding a decent class. So I guess I may as well see out these 3 more classes. *sigh* I did pay for it all in advance after all *grumpy face*

Hi Becks,

I really do think you should keep an open mind. There is obviously something in the class or something we don't know that has gotten your back up about the trainer (as mentioned in some of your previous post about clicker training, etc). So we are only getting half the story here.

When you go to a class you have to keep an open mind and LEARN from people that know more than you. The reason you use soft treats is because it's quicker and more enjoyable for the dog and there are no crumbs left for others to be distracted with. I cannot honestly believe that your dog does not like cheese, hotdogs, ham, etc!! You can train with the dog's kibble at home and where are no distractions.

If you do not clicker training - which you have mentioned in previous posts - the leave the class and go somewhere else. No point slagging off trainers in a forum unjustifiably.

Also, puppy socialisation classes are AT THE VETS and it is to get puppies used to other puppies and people before they are allowed out. In turn, puppy classes are to teach you how to control and train your puppy. It is YOUR responsability to go out there and practice and get your puppy to meet other dogs and get other people to handle your puppy.

GOOD puppy classes will not be a free for all in puppy play and will be strictly controlled - otherwise all the puppies learn to do is to get over the top and ignore their owners. Having spaces between the pups is setting you and your dog for success, so that he is able to concentrate on your commands, not on wanting to play with other puppies.

I really do suggest you change classes, for the benefit of you innocent trainer.......

Some puppy classes will do their best to combine socialisation AND training....

Patty I find your comments quite rude. There seriously is no other reason. The trainer tryed to get him to eat the things she wanted me to use last night, he spat them out. He seriously just don't like it. And with the chicken he quite liked it but he took a lot longer to eat it than the dry treats and left bits on the floor! Which droped in the lines of the flooring and put him off training, he was too busy licking the floor. When I use dry treats I chop them into tiny bits and he eats them far quicker than with soft foods. Soft foods he seems to have a problem with, this even goes for veggie burger that he does enjoy. He sits munching it. Even if its a very tiny bit you give him he takes ages to eat it and drops it a lot.  Plus talking to 2 other owners there, they are not happy with the trainer either and one has already left! I am not alone.

Don't be so judgmental!!! I have been to puppy classes in the past and been very happy with them. I'm not a diffcult person. If i was I would refuse to use the clicker there. I use it and do as she says because I like harmany in life. Not to say I'm a push over either but I don't like to be rude or pick fights, unlike some people.

PS. There are no such classes at vets near me! Theres not even a vet near me actucally I have to travel quite away. This is not a very dog loving area sadly.

Vets classes can be a nightmare, if run by inexperienced nurses (not all are like this but...)
I was very lucky at mine, but still all the pups ran riot and shy pups got more shy and so on... if the parties are controlled a bit, and pups matched, it's fine :)

Avoid classes like the terrible one near me, where the trainer drags shy pups out from under chairs and may even say they will be aggressive and should be put to sleep

Lindsay
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So its not a good sign my trainer draged him out from under a chair... thought not.  :(