PUPPY COURSES

[DINGER]

HI ALL IVE BEEN THINKING OF TAKING MY PUP TO ONE OF THESE TRAINING COURSES AND JUST WONDERING AT WHAT AGE WOULD YOU TAKE THEM, ALSO ARE THEY EXPENSIVE AND DOES ANYONE RECOMMEND ONE IN THE NORTHWEST?

[Penelope]

I think puppy classes are a great idea!  Out of our 4 dogs, we have taken 3 to puppy class and you can definitely tell which one didn't go!!
They are great fun, good for socialising your pup with lots of different dogs and great place to meet other dog owners and discuss ideas/ problems.  We were allowed to go as soon as our puppy had its second vaccination but had to take proof of that to the club.
We pay £40 for a ten week session - half an hour per session - and it is great.  It goes on to the Kennel Club Good Citizens award scheme, but we did try a couple of duff classes before we found this one!
Living in the SE so have no idea what is available near you, but am sure someone will come along who knows!
Good luck

[Elmo]

im not in your area but i take Elmo to a class with a trainer with the APDT once a week. You sign up for a 10 week course and it costs £65. Each session lasts 1 approx 1 hour 30 mins and theres about 8 or 9 dogs in the class ranging from 16 week old pup to 3 yr olds. I would happily pay double as enjoy it so much and get so much out of it

If you go onto the APDT site they can recommend one in your area

[nikkij]

I think I started taking Alfie when he was about 3 months to our local dog training club.  He statred out in puppy socialisation, that was up to six months old, then it moves on to beginners, assessment and I think after that there is the kennel club awards.  We are currently in the beginners class, no sign of moving up just yet though 
It cost £10 for the first 6 weeks classes and after that £1.50 a week. Alfie gets sooooooo excited as soon as we get into the car he seems to know where he is off too!
I too am in the northwest, not sure where you are but this club is in Lancaster 

[Jeanette]

Hi, Indie starts her puppy training on Saturday coming.   Its best to register your interest now as usually training courses are in blocks so you will need to find when the next one starts after your pup has had his/her vaccinnations.   Indie is now 14 weeks old and this was the first available course.   We're not in the NorthWest so can't help there.   The puppy course for us has cost £75.00 for 6 weeks and I am hoping its worth the money.

[Cob-Web]

The puppy course for us has cost £75.00 for 6 weeks and I am hoping its worth the money.

OMG - what are you getting for that price ?  

I did the Kennel Club Puppy Foundation Assessment with Molo when he was tiny - I think he was 13 weeks when we started (we got him at 10 weeks and classes started not long after) but we didn't pay anything close to that much for classes, I think it was £5 to join the Canine Association and then £3.50 a week for a 10 week course 

After he got his rosette, he wasn't quite ready for the next class up (Bronze Good Citizen) so we had a break from classes and then took some clicker classes when he was about 18 months old; then we started agility 

[donna26]

where in the north west are you? i am in oldham and there is a good in greenfield saddleworth, and its not expensive

[Jeanette]

The puppy course for us has cost £75.00 for 6 weeks and I am hoping its worth the money.

OMG - what are you getting for that price ?  

I did the Kennel Club Puppy Foundation Assessment with Molo when he was tiny - I think he was 13 weeks when we started (we got him at 10 weeks and classes started not long after) but we didn't pay anything close to that much for classes, I think it was £5 to join the Canine Association and then £3.50 a week for a 10 week course 

After he got his rosette, he wasn't quite ready for the next class up (Bronze Good Citizen) so we had a break from classes and then took some clicker classes when he was about 18 months old; then we started agility 

The trainer has worked in the following:- A lecturer, Animal Shelters as the charity's animal behaviourist,  H.M. Customs & Excise as a drug detector dog handler,  Guide Dogs for the Blind as a puppy walker,  Hearing Dogs for Deaf People as a hearing dog trainer and worked with Dr. Ian Dunbar MRCVS as a Sirius Puppy Trainer, as quoted on her website.   I'm not trying to sell her.      She has also published numerous books.    She comes highly recommended by all the local vets.    I'll find out what its like on Saturday as definitely need help in training as Indie is our first Cocker.    TBH there was another puppy course on the other side of town and that was £65.00 for 6 week course so not much different in price.     

[DINGER]

IM IN BETWEEN BLACKBURN AND BOLTON

[Aearoniel]

Ours cost £12 for an hour and a half session, but in that we do obedience, mini low impact agility, searching, tricks and theory sessions including grooming and dog first aid so didn't think it too bad but £3.50 for a session sounds much cheaper!

[Cazzie]

Im not too sure about puppy classes  I went with Daisy and maybe it was just me but I found them useless, but did get a few good recipes  Im glad I dont have to take Otter to classes as he get loads of socialisation here everyday 

I think puppy classes (are you listening Mark)  Should have a revamp and new and better methods and ideas should be introduced, not too sure what but im thinking about it.

People that do go, whats the format now 

[Jan/Billy]

Billys beahviourist does classes for puppies , she is superb, but based liverpool way so maybe too far for you. It's about 40 mins for me, I live in bury.

http://www.fasttrackdogtraining.co.uk/

[kalami]

where in the north west are you? i am in oldham and there is a good in greenfield saddleworth, and its not expensive

I take Bella there mondays and / or thursdays, £2.50 an hour - obedience more than anything else - i'm the scruffy one being dragged around by a golden worker. I'm popular with all the dogs though because of the stinky tuna bread in my pocket.

[Jan/Billy]

We used to pay £6 per session ( pre Billys behaviourist days ) , but that did include a raffle ticket which 9 times out of ten meant we can home with a toy which we had won in the raffle 

[Colin]

I'd book your pup in for classes straight away. They are really worthwhile for all owners (even those that think they know it all ) and their pups, especially for the first time owner. At first you could look for socialisation classes, which are a lot more informal than training classes - some places will run them for pups not long after they've had their first vaccination. I know not everyone is happy about taking a pup to classes until they've had the all-clear from the second vacc but personally I think the benefits of early socialisation outweigh any health risks. Just be sure to check that only pups that have had at least one vaccination are allowed in though. As you homed your pup at 6 weeks I think he'd really benefit from having interaction with other pups as soon as possible.