Training Class

[Miss Poohs]

I have been recommended  a training class for Rufus so I called the organiser to get the details, but it seems that the next new starts class doesn't start until November, and it's full - which means Ruffy won't then get a place until Feb   .

I took Vahri to a class a while ago, but it was just a rabble and she hated it - it was wall to wall dogs - get my drift??!

Is it better for me just to continue to try to do basic training with Ruffy and wait until Feb, or should I look for training class who can start him sooner?

I stay in West Dumbartonshire incase anyone knows of a  class in my area I haven't found out about    

[sportsmonki]

Sorry, I dont live near you, so cant recommend a class nearby.

I can only share with you what I did for Storm, who also had to wait a while to get into a good training club because it was full.  I took her out socializing almost every day, sat outside the village pub with a cola, etc.  Put her in positions where she would meet a lot of people and dogs.  I trained her at home in the basics, so by the time she got to class she knew a lot already.  I also found a small club where people paid weekly to go.  It was not a particularly good club, but not bad either and it made do until there was space for Storm to attend the club I really wanted her to go to.  Rufus has longer to wait than Storm did though, so perhaps you could attend the puppy socialization classes at another club, and then the Foundation class at the club recommended to you?

Hope that helps somehow,

sportsmonki

[PennyB]

Ruby went to puppy classes that were quite useless for us. She was well socialized from 8 weeks old and so I needed a hand with training. After the puppy class disaster a couple of months later I booked some 1-2-1s with a trainer where you can do a lot more as you're the only one there. Also it didn't work out too expensive in the end as I didn't need to go to the same number of 1-2-1s as I would've done in a group situation.

[Birtles]

good point Benny, quality rather than quantity eh, the local clicker class here does block sessions of 8 (no places til Nov), and registration fee etc basically over £50, I think if you got 4 or 5 one to ones it may cost the same but you'd get alot more out of them.. I have experienced one dog training class a few times and they concentrated on agility which I found a total waste of time, 1hr lesson consisted of at least 30mins socialisation (broken up), then if there about 10 dogs in each class your lucky if you get 5 mins to yourself! whats the point.  Luka goes to the park every day for an hour and meets loads of dogs to socialise with and he has training every night with us (in the process of trying to clicker train). huge waste of money these classes are IMO.

[subeeloo]

..........our training class have too many of us in it . Sammy gets too distracted as there about 10 or 12 of us in the puppy class .  I'm beginning to think we made a mistake by going in the first place .  They are highly recommended to whoever I have told where we go, but there are too many of us to get the message through our babies.  So what now, persevere and don't  pass the tests we have been given, or just don't go altogether? Sammy takes no notice of what I have been told to do with him, but he does listen to the commands i have taught him . He still pulls on his lead when we go out, but it is gradually stopping, but only a little....  

[PennyB]

..........our training class have too many of us in it . Sammy gets too distracted as there about 10 or 12 of us in the puppy class .  I'm beginning to think we made a mistake by going in the first place .  They are highly recommended to whoever I have told where we go, but there are too many of us to get the message through our babies.  So what now, persevere and don't  pass the tests we have been given, or just don't go altogether? Sammy takes no notice of what I have been told to do with him, but he does listen to the commands i have taught him . He still pulls on his lead when we go out, but it is gradually stopping, but only a little....

10 isn't a bad no. in a class and the point of puppy classes is often socializing pups and getting across the basics which you and your pup will learn over time. It takes time to learn these things and there's no rush as your pup will get there in the end.

The other point of doing these things in a class situation is that there are distractions, and you learn to focus your dog as time goes on so ignoring these distraction (and I don't mean in  a few weeks; focusing a cocker is one of the hardest things to learn I found). Lets face it most of us don't walk our dog in isolation and so these distractions will occur in real life and at least in a class it is a safe environment to learn.

I continued with Ruby after the handful of 1-2-1s to go on to the group intermediate class with the same trainer.

[Laura]

I still take Brogan to training classes - even though we do training daily at home.   The classes are a great way to test him out in distractions and to make me work much harder at handling him.  The classes out on the common really test me to the maximum as I have other dogs and the environment working against me - hard work but fun (especially when I make a pratt of myself acting all silly and using my squeaky voice to get his attention)    ::   There is nothing like a class environment for showing up the weak areas and what needs working on!!

Bailey also attends a puppy social group/training class immediately before Brogan's class  - I think Brogan enjoys this group as much as Bailey does  He's allowed to join in as well
 

[speedyjaney]

We still take both our to 'puupy' class....they started when they were around 12 weeks old and they are both 13/14 months now  
We also weren't sure what we and the dogs were getting from them....but once they both got to 8 months or so we noticed they were sooo much better behaved on the park....or anywhere than any other dog/puppy we met.
It may seem like its not goin in but they are clever puppies and want you to think they arent learning anything.
EG - Jessie refused to DOWN until she 6 months even for food but when asked to sit she would down on purpose just to test me. She def knew sit as she only behaved like this at class lol
I dont think training ever stops....we treat our wednesday nights as the doggies night out to meet their mates and learn new stuff and go over old stuff  
Cheers
Jane and JessieCocker and SaffiWestie x

[subeeloo]

.....our classes are also on a common, there are about 6 of them in all.  We put his name down in May for the August  class as that was the only free one we could get on. I enrolled him at 14 weeks old, so he was almost 6 months when we went. I think he was too old to learn what the others of 15 weeks have now picked up
   or am I just  overreacting?  We've never had a dog b4, not even as a child, so it's as new to me as it is him. He does ok at home, but whenever another dog comes along etc. he's off like a bullet, same at class, with him being so near to other pups in class, he just wants to play and sniff and rollover all of the time. He's great when the trainer gets hold of him, apart from the last time , but with me he shows me up as being a right numb-skull......    

[Laura]

I enrolled him at 14 weeks old, so he was almost 6 months when we went. I think he was too old to learn what the others of 15 weeks have now picked up

Bailey was 15 weeks when we started training classes - although I have been training him at home from the word go.  He used to be a doddle to work with dropped instantly into a down, sat when asked, heel to a finish position, walked with a lovely loose lead etc now he is 21 weeks old and that little independant brain is starting to work!!  Chuck in a few male hormones and a couple of distractions and now we have our work cut out!!  I'm sure everyone loved it when he completely ignored me at class this week - now he has upped the stakes and I am going to have to work very very hard at being interesting - they are far from being too old - bit like the toddler happy to do jobs for a sweet - all of a sudden they start to grow up and want pocket money, late nights up, new clothes - a 10p mix of sweets doesn't work quite the same - and walking along with mum holding hands is so boring when you can dash off and play with your friends Lose your inhibitions, arm yourself with some high reward treats  and have fun - dogs don't learn much when they are stressed or bored.  Unfortunatley for us - the younger pups are still happy to work for a little bit of food.  I'm now having to jump around like a looney and talk in a silly voice :: I provide the free entertainment!!  A sense of humour is the greatest tool when training a cocker!!

[Laura]

He still pulls on his lead when we go out, but it is gradually stopping, but only a little....

This one's to make you feel better - Bailey as said in my previous post up until now has always walked along at my side lovely - lead has always remained loose - in a week he has turned into a monster on the lead.  He tries to dart forward and is all over the place - my little boy is growing up.  When I don't have time now to do the stop every single time he hits the end of the lead (which is now all the time) I am using a Halti with him.  Such a difference a week can make and in my case - not for the better..........yet    

[subeeloo]

..........thanks Laura, that has put my mind at ease, but it's still very frustrating... .  When you said about the kids and how they were to how they are now, it made me understand it more. My two take some pleasing also   !!  You made me laugh when you said about the sqeeky voice and the running around like a looney.. ! Saw myself there!!
My husband has just taken him out and he rang to say that Sammy has just sat down and won't budge and asked me what to do, I wanted to double up in laughter there and then, but I just said to him to walk the opposite way and then he'll come  He is more used to me taking him out as my husband works away for weeks at a time, and HE is the one who has to be trained again, not Sammy...  

[Laura]

My husband has just taken him out and he rang to say that Sammy has just sat down and won't budge and asked me what to do, I wanted to double up in laughter there and then, but I just said to him to walk the opposite way and then he'll come   He is more used to me taking him out as my husband works away for weeks at a time, and HE is the one who has to be trained again, not Sammy...

Hee hee hee - now it's my turn to laugh   Hubby did the same with Brogan when he was about 6 months old (he works away for weeks at a time as well) - only he was ignoring Chris big style - we had walkie talkies at the time and he got me to shout Brogan for him over the handset     His very own remote control dog Worked on that occasion because Brogan was clearly very gobsmacked hearing my voice and me not being there!!  Was even more amusing to watch from my bedroom window

And yes it is very Frustrating - with a capital F!!!  I walk my boys together but most the time I take them out individually....... they are so much easier to train that way - with emphasis on easier not easy!!

[Laura]

Janice have you had a look at these sites
APDT trainers

dog training

The first link are members of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers so should therefore only use very positive methods of training.

Don't know if any are near you - we weren't in luck when trying to find a clicker trainer - have stuck to a normal training class but I can use my clicker there.   We do most of our training ourselves though - and use the classes to add controlled distractions.......and to show myself up occasionally with the help of my dogs  

Edited : as linked the wrong site to the wrong name sorry

[Miss Poohs]

Thanks for that link - most are too far away from me - but there is one in Cambuslang, which may be close enough to help, if I decide to try a few 1-2-1 sessions.

Thanks

Janice