puppy training classes

[*MaryG*]

Pepper is now 20 weeks. We have been going to classes for 4 weeks and I (and pepper!)find them really stressful.We practise all the tasks and do lots of training. he has improved a lot,but at the sessions he is a nightmare. He jumps around barking from the moment we arrive and ignores me a lot of the time.MY teacher says I have a very assertive dog! He plays lots with other dogs usually and is pretty good, will follow commands and is walking to heel (sometimes!).I find these classes so depressing but don't want to be missing bad behaviours i should be correcting. Does any one know how I can improve our times at these lesson? HELP!

[Top Barks]

Without focus on you you are going to struggle to teach your dog anything.
Do the classes let the pups just run riot?
I would want a quiet corner of the hall to work in or perhaps a barriered off area so it is less distracting for your pup.
If you are struggling then many trainers like myself offer one to one training.

[Karma]

I'm helping at puppy classes at the minute, and in every class there are 1 or 2 dogs who really struggle to focus in the class environment... so you're not alone.

As helpers we assist the owners with these dogs by trying to block their line of sight to the other dogs - and owners are encouraged to keep their attention through practicing the training or playing (depending on the dog!).  This week one pup had a rawhide bone the owners were encouraging him to chew on during any down time and we barely heard a peep out of him (a young bouncy lab who had been on a fortnight's rest due to a problem with his leg!!!!).  At the first class everyone is told to ensure they reward their dogs for paying them any positive attention during the puppy class (or for lying down calmly!) so that they find this just as rewarding as bouncing around!

He's not assertive, he's just excited and distracted by the environment...    Is there anyone who can go along to the classes with you, so one of you can be working with Pepper and the other listening to the instructions?? That way you will really get the most from the lessons, as it can be hard to listen and learn while trying to keep an over-excited pup occupied!!!  Also try to sit somewhere where you don't have dogs both sides of you - that way you are limiting the distractions!!!

Either that or look to some 1 to 1 lessons, as Top Barks suggests!! 

[Robbie34]

Pepper is now 20 weeks. We have been going to classes for 4 weeks and I (and pepper!)find them really stressful.We practise all the tasks and do lots of training. he has improved a lot,but at the sessions he is a nightmare. He jumps around barking from the moment we arrive and ignores me a lot of the time.MY teacher says I have a very assertive dog! He plays lots with other dogs usually and is pretty good, will follow commands and is walking to heel (sometimes!).I find these classes so depressing but don't want to be missing bad behaviours i should be correcting. Does any one know how I can improve our times at these lesson? HELP!

Tell me about it!  Henry is exactly the same.  However, we are making progress, and Henry loves the classes.  He can't get inside quickly enough.

[mooching]

MaryG, what kind of treats do you take with you to the class? Alfie was a bit excitable when we first started at puppy class, but increasing the value level of his treats helped a lot.

Does your class just have the teacher or are there any helpers? At the one we went to, one lady led the class and another 6 were present, and if one dog was a bit noisy one of them would come over and gently make a fuss of the dog to settle him/her down (and to reassure the owner).

[*MaryG*]

Thanks for the replies.It really helps. The emphesis of the class is very much on controlled socialisation (there are 8 puppies) so the idea is that your puppy gets used to doing things with distractions, as well as how to sit quietly next to other puppies. However most find that quite hard. Pepper was sitting quite well during "down " time but the donext to him was a lively dalmatian who was fed constantly.It would be great if there were some helpers around. My husband sometimes comes which is obviously betterbut we both find it hard.One of the activities Pepper finds hard is when the puppies are allowed to "play " togeather. He tried to take a toy under the chair yesterday but this was seen as possessive.I will keep trying, but one to one training may be better one day. Thanks

[Karma]

TBH I don't think that sounds like a great idea for puppy classes... how do they expect puppies to be racing around playing one minute and then concentrating and ignoring other pups the next??
And there is nothing overly "possessive" about a pup retreating with a toy - dogs aren't natural sharers, so it's a perfectly natural thing for him to do!!

At our puppy classes the pups don't interact with each other - there is a seperate opportunity for pups to play at the puppy romp they run - in a huge field so they can burn off lots of energy safely!! 

[mooching]

MaryG, that doesn't sound anything like the puppy class Alfie went to! I'd honestly suggest looking round for a different class, as the way this class is "organised" it seems that your pup is being set up for "failure".

[*MaryG*]

Thanks I haven't owned a dog before and am anxious to try and do things well. I find this site really helpful.I see now how confusiong the "play" time can be for pepper and will try to help him a bit more through it.  We only have 2 weeks left of this course and I will tryto be more positive and more realistic in my expectations (of both me and Pepper!). I will take some better treats and give Pepper more praise and find the quietest place to sit with him.Thanks for the encouragment.

[Miadanu]

I just wanted to let you know that we have the same issue with Merlin. He's so well-behaved at home and most of the time out and about (done a lot of distraction work with him).  However, once we get to the training class he is so excited and doesn't stoP talking Until very near the end of class.
We also have two classes left and he has improved with focus when the other pups are around but still very frustrated as we aren't allowed to let the dogs play. This does make sense as they are there to work and we are asked to walk them before coming to class.

There are controlled walk around the clock exercises for socialisation purposes and he finds focus when a dog is passing him really hard.  We sit right at the end and leave space between us and the next dog as well. One of us handles Merlin and the other spectates listening and watching so we can review at home. Hard to hear trainer over his noise most of the time.
We also use a variety of high-value treats as what he responds to one lesson he won't necessarily do so at the next, e.g. Not a hot dog fan prefers chopped sausage, sardine cake, dried liver.

All I can suggest is try the above and do lots of focus work around distractions. Good luck, it'll be worth it in the end (at least that's what I keep telling myself).

[*MaryG*]

Just to say a big thank you for all the support I have been given. Pepper and I  had a much better time at puppy class last night.We worked hard on the training in the week,and I took some high value treats ( he is VERY food orientated!) We  sat at the end of the row with Pepper and he was loads better. It feels like the training we have been doing has just made sense to him,and I am glad we stuck with it. He was given lots of praise by everyone and I was very proud of him.

[Pudding]

oh I am so pleased you feel better about the training now ... it should be fun for both of you

I make my own treats ...Liver Cake ...  if you would like the recipe let us know
it has worked very well for me I only use it when we are training

Keep going you are doing well... Puppys are never easy

[Miadanu]

Really pleased you've made such great progess   Merlin still struggles to focus at class (although he is marginally better at each one).  We're having a 1:1 session with the trainer tomorrow to get to the bottom of it and hopefully end up with the wonderful behaviour of the home exhibited in class (yes, I can dream ).