CockersOnline Forum

Cocker Specific Discussion => Behaviour & Training => Topic started by: vicky106 on May 25, 2011, 08:37:21 PM

Title: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: vicky106 on May 25, 2011, 08:37:21 PM
Hi,

I've just come back from Peppers first training class, or rather my first training class as it was theory without the doglets tonight!!.

All i can say is argh!! ..... will i ever be able to teach her the basics in 6 weeks to pass the class???......

Has anyone else had the "argh" moment and got any good advice for me? ;)

Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: Sara750S on May 25, 2011, 08:57:40 PM
 :005: we went to our first class tonight too - phew I am exhausted and so is Toby!
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: vicky106 on May 25, 2011, 09:10:37 PM
Bless him, how did it go?........
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: Sara750S on May 25, 2011, 10:34:27 PM
It was good but where as Toby will do pretty good recall off the lead.... he wasnt having any of it in the class!
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: Manster62 on May 26, 2011, 08:10:03 AM
Dylan was the opposite at puppy training last year - he was as good as gold (a real teacher's pet!  :005: ) during the classes, but wouldn't repeat it when we got him home!  :shades:
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: Pauline T on May 26, 2011, 11:00:12 AM
Don't dispair. My memories of our first 6 - 7  puppy classes some 5 years ago are horrendous,I used to go home with a headache. Charlie just thought it was for him to socialise, which was all good, but sit, stay,recall, heel all went over his head !!

He was much better learning at home without distractions, it all came good and here we are now with a wonderful well behaved ( well most of the time !! ) dog.

Good Luck.
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: Mudmagnets on May 26, 2011, 11:48:41 AM
 6 weeks - That sounds a tough target.   :-\  For all new pups (& their owners unless they have been training before) going to puppy classes can be a confusing, exciting time. The different sounds, new puppy friends to meet,  etc., and anyway all pups - like children learn at different speeds. Most in our puppy classes are there for 10 weeks at least....and some longer than that. 

Like Pauline, I took mine to classes and joined in, but did the stuff at home where it was quieter, then progressed to outside in the garden....feel sure to that it took longer than six weeks tho.

 Do you pay up front for six classes and are then expected to pass and move on?.
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: Juno on May 26, 2011, 11:58:06 AM
The classes we've signed up to are an initial five week course, then it's extended for any of those who wish to stay on and complete the KC awards (definitely us!).

We don't start until mid June but will be interested to hear how Pepper's first attendance goes!  Good luck!
 :D
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: *MaryG* on May 26, 2011, 01:58:53 PM
I went through a huge panic half way through my classes with Pepper, feeling a complete failure and taking any criticism very personally, I  shared it all on this site! However we turned a corner and by sticking with it we learned a lot. Pepper was soooo excited the first few weeks and we both came home shattered!! I followed some advice on here which was to take high value treats and sit on a chair at the end so he was less distracted by other dogs which really helped. I thought everyone else at the class was fine but actually everyone has good and "bad" weeks, so try not to panic! Good Luck! ;)
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: vicky106 on May 26, 2011, 03:24:53 PM
Quote
Do you pay up front for six classes and are then expected to pass and move on?.

Quote
The classes we've signed up to are an initial five week course, then it's extended for any of those who wish to stay on and complete the KC awards (definitely us!).

That's exactly it, pay up front for a 6 week course in the basics which i'll need to pass to then go on to the rest. Pepper needs to be able to master the basic 5 - sit, down,recall, stay and heel.

I think in 6 weeks i might just crack the "sit" and "down"  :005:
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: Sara750S on May 27, 2011, 08:28:03 AM
I think in 6 weeks I might just be able to convince the training lady (who is lovely) that Toby is not usually a whirling Tasmanian Devil at home!  >:D :005:
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: vicky106 on May 28, 2011, 08:11:50 PM
hehe, i know i've certainly got my work cut out..... surprising how Pepper seems to forget her name as soon as we cross the front door step!. Recall??... not a chance at the moment!.
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: Joelf on May 28, 2011, 09:18:33 PM
I'm afraid that Spike, our lab, was cerebrally challenged when he went to training classes, especially compared to all the very sharp collies that would do the obedience exercises stuck to their owners legs.....D'oh, poor Spike never really stood a chance!! :shades:

However, Domino, our cocker, was a totally different kettle of fish; he is very intelligent and was the quickest in the class to pick up any new exercise.
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: vicky106 on May 28, 2011, 09:22:58 PM
brains and beauty looking at the pic! :luv:

I'm hoping that Pepper will "grow" into her intelligence and at 12 weeks it's still a bit early!  :005:
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: Mudmagnets on May 28, 2011, 09:37:49 PM
brains and beauty looking at the pic! :luv:

I'm hoping that Pepper will "grow" into her intelligence and at 12 weeks it's still a bit early!  :005:

Give her time, she'll get there, Just remember to be patient and consistent. :angel:
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: vicky106 on June 09, 2011, 03:07:40 PM
Well, first class with doglets too last night as the other have been "theory".... and guess what?, she was the little star of the class!. She did everything perfectly first time - obviously its been too boring at home with no-one to show off to!....


Next week its a 5 second "stay", recall at greater distance and short walk to heel......which in our case may well be a "walk of shame" as heel is just not in her vocab!.

Very proud of her today though!
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: Juno on June 09, 2011, 03:15:09 PM
Oh well done Pepper! :luv:  What a mean mum ever doubting your abilities ;)

What did the first class involve?  Ours has been pushed back a week to 24th June - grrrrr! 
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: Gwynnie on June 09, 2011, 06:30:19 PM
Bertie is currently 9mths and on his second set of training, more outdoor work eg your dog sitting by your side quietly while you talk to someone or you sit outside at a pub/cafe and your doglet lies down by your side not making any move to nick that chip hanging off your plate :005: :005:

We found that our dog was the only one that barked throughout the lesson, he was of the opion that he could do it, had done it in class so why did he have to wait while the others did it  >:D

Suffice to say our trainer said she could stand with her back to a room of dogs on her training and tell if there was a Cocker there :005: :005:
She has 2 Spaniels of her own and Bertie is putty in her hands   :luv:
Title: Re: First dog training class..... argh!!
Post by: vicky106 on June 11, 2011, 02:59:06 PM
The first class was really a test of the "homework" we'd been given in the first two weeks  i.e getting the dogs to sit, down and wait. The trainer also put the dogs through a bit of a test as to how they'd react to being approached by her  - to see if they would jump up at her and then she took the dogs away on thier leads to test if we could call them back to us!.

It was good fun really as Pepper was so good and chilled out compared to the other dogs who spent a lot of the time barking/whining and trying to dig the floor up! :005: