Comments on: Dog training?

By: Dog Trainer

Dog Trainer — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:41:02 +0000

Go to your local pet store, Petsmart offers classes for puppies and will have classes starting at least weekly! The cost is very affordable, $109 for an 8 week course. Your dog will gain socialization skills and obedience commands, and you will learn about dog behavior and how to deal with misbehaviors.

By: kal

kal — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:48:30 +0000

Your puppy is at the age where it needs socialization with as many different puppies and people and environments as possible. Doing at home training for the next 4 weeks will end that opportunity forever (prime socialization ends at around 16 weeks). You would be better off finding a puppy socialization class now and doing basic obedience when he gets older (at least 6 months). Monthly group classes for life sounds like a way to get the money up front, hope people drop out (most will) and/or go out of business shortly so that you pay and no money is refunded. I would be very wary of a deal like this.

By: Anne

Anne — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:23:04 +0000

$495!!! PetSmart it only costs $108 and your pup will go see a trainer every week!

By: Breezeylady

Breezeylady — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:52:43 +0000

I have done both the in-home training class for my problem rotti mix when it was a risk to bring him into a class setting, as well as the group training classes for two of my current dogs. A puppy in-home class seems like a bit of a waste. One of the important reasons for enrolling your puppy in class is socialization. Although a puppy can learn at 15 weeks, you are not getting the benefit of interacting with other owners and dogs. How long are the sessions in the home? I would think carefully about this.

The once a month for life deal is not going to keep you on track with your training, so you will need to be very self-motivated. The organization of this class does not seem ideal.

By: Orphen

Orphen — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:06:54 +0000

Congrats on your Cairn Terrier ^,^ (ive got a westie, theyre decended from the cairn)
I would suggest looking around locally, maybe ask at local pet shops.
When i was training my dog it was $10 registration (lifetime) then $5 each week (training was once a week) and ran for 8 weeks
Hope this helps and all the best

By: ☼Hello Sunshine☼

☼Hello Sunshine☼ — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:49:29 +0000

I think you should keep looking. A lot of training clubs and trainers will offer annual memberships (like mine) where you have access to the trainer, etc, for an annual fee. I like this idea, because it gives you the choice of doing just the class, or taking on the membership and moving at your own pace, having access to the trainer, and doing as many levels as you like for one year.

Try and find a trainer that offers 8-10 weeks group courses in Novice 1 obedience, one day/night per week. This is ideal, because you get to meet with the group once a week and have any concerns addressed, helping to ensure consistency and an appropriate pace.

Good luck!

By: Bozema

Bozema — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:41:15 +0000

It sounds like a very good program, especially if you have a puppy under 16 weeks that can’t be in a group class until puppy shots are finished. Personally, I don’t think you have to do that much unless you want to. I have trained my pups under 16 weeks at home myself and then signed up for a traditional 6-week beginning dog class after that and have done intermediate class for one dog that needed more. I have also had a trainer come in-house and work with a dog on specific issues and taken refreshers as needed.

By: ChasingE

ChasingE — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:25:15 +0000

No, go to your local animals shelter, mine has 9 weeks lessons with professional trainers for 50$, and my border collie is awesome

By: michael g

michael g — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:51:04 +0000

Id keep looking around………….

By: Jenea G

Jenea G — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:44:38 +0000

I’ve heard very good things about PetSmarts training courses, and they are WAY cheaper than that.