training classes

[sweeps mum]

I have been going to local dog training classes for a couple of weeks now. My puppy was 13 weeks when I started. The session lasts an hour and involves the dogs and handlers walking in circles, turning into their dogs and away from their dogs. We also do sit, stay, lie down. At the end each dog /handler takes it in turn to weave in and out of the circle of other dogs. Do you think this is too long a session for a young puppy or is it ok? At the moment Sweep only has a ten/fifteen minute walk in the morning and at night. The trainer also recommends those collars with a piece of chain on, think they are called half check collars.                    

[Sarah_S]

our classes last an hour as well, but our puppyclasses isn't obidienceclasses, but we do introduce the pups to different things each time, sit, stay, retrieving, tracklaying, walking in/without leash etc. etc., but most of the time we spend on socialising and playtime. When they get older 6 month we have obidience classes.

We never recommend collars with chains or half chains to pups. When they start on obidienceclasses we talk about it if necesarry. Usually only  one or two dogs are adviced to use the collar but the owners are carefully instructed on how to use it.                    

[LindaW]

It does seem a lot for a young puppy to take in and half check chains are frowned upon nowadays.  Far better to use a Halti, Gentle leader or a harness if having trouble with a dog that pulls.                    

[Sheila]

I've got a place in a puppy socialisation class with Lottie starting in July.
There are no choke collars or half chokes used...it is purely getting them playing and mixing and using early training like sit and down etc.
They have said that they use clicker training aids, which is using small food treats associated with the clicker noise.

Back when I took Goldie to training, which was 9 years ago, we all used choke collars in the class. Never again!!

They have assured me that these classes are very different to how they used to be run, mostly play with some training mixed in.
I think that is plenty for young pups.                    

[Laura]

I have used a clicker with Brogan although unfortunately I am not experienced enough to clicker train properly - wish I was.  The results are amazing - wish you the best of luck with it - I would love to find a clicker trainer as opposed to training with a clicker - big difference between the two.  Didn't discover the clicker with Brogan until he was older - am going to try it from the word go with Bailey.   There are some great internet sites on the subject - I have so much to learn still.

http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/
http://www.clickandtreat.com/
http://www.dontshootthedog.com/
http://www.clickertrain.com/

to name but a few.                    

[Cob-Web]

Laura

I was lucky enough to work with a 'clicker trainer' a few years ago, but have unfortunately lost contact with her now.

She undoubtly saved the life of one dog that I introduced her to; a very bright 3 yr old collie cross bitch who was totally understimulated and had begun to nip children that she was playing with.

One week was all it took for her to covert this whirlwind into an obedient, responsive, beautiful animal who she brought to the office every day.

I guess with clicker training you really can teach old(er) dogs new tricks                      

[Laura]

I have never seen a clicker trainer at work - I have however read quite a lot now on this subject.  I love the fact that this method gets the dog to think for itself - this is where I probably fail - jumping in too fast with the answer.  I tend to lure a behaviour instead of shaping it - inexperience for you.  Brogan comes alive when I get the clicker out - training isn't a chore with it.  I have used it more for teaching tricks as opposed to your regular sit/down/stays etc but that is because the trainer I used to go to is not a clicker trainer and therefore I was unable to click in class.  I did use the clicker to teach him to stay still when cleaning his ears - he went from a complete loopy maniac to sitting motionless in less than 3 minutes!!  Seeing was believing!!  

On a forum I visited one of the girls was successfully clicker training her guinea pig to do all sorts of things!  Fascinating!

I am holding Brogan back now - I need to learn faster not him!!                    

[Sheila]

WOW......I'm really looking forward to my classes now. I have never used a clicker, they weren't around when we had Goldie. I had read a few things and decided that it sounded a good way to try.
Lottie seems bright and responsive, so here's hoping
I have already got the clicker at home, but haven't used it yet...mainly because I don't know what I am doing :roll: ......Let's hope we both learn from her classes                    

[Cathy]

Clicker Training is well out of the window for Jazz.

I got the wrong end of the stick when it came to clicker training....

However, Jazz has learnt to sit to one click, and laydown to two clicks. I was wondering if she would grip coming back to 3 clicks.. but by then reaslised i had got the training all wrong..

When my trainer mentioned about prehaps considering clicker training and I told her what jazz could do,  I was relived that she  laughed.                    

[Laura]

There are a few books on clicker training - I have one called

The Powers of Positive Training by Pat Miller

I love this book - covers all sorts of subjects not just basic training.