PUPPY COURSES

[Cob-Web]

Rachael, we have everything from  huge flat coated retrievers to a the tinyest of cocker spaniels and many other breeds, our gun dog training is a real mixed bag. They are all PETS who's owners like gun dog training as apposed to any other training available 

Ah, the classes must be different where you are........our local gundog club runs puppy classes before any gundog training is offered     the gundog training run here is held outside, where there is a lot more space for the dogs to interact in, too 

In the clicker classes I went to when Molo was older, there were dogs with a wide variety of temperaments; one or two were dog-reactive, one was terrified of other dogs coming close to them, and even Molo had to be trained behind a upturned table for the first week in order to keep him focused on me    These dogs definitely weren't "equal" and letting them off-lead to socialise in a training hall would have been a nightmare 

[Cazzie]

Rachael, we have everything from  huge flat coated retrievers to a the tinyest of cocker spaniels and many other breeds, our gun dog training is a real mixed bag. They are all PETS who's owners like gun dog training as apposed to any other training available 

Ah, the classes must be different where you are........our local gundog club runs puppy classes before any gundog training is offered     the gundog training run here is held outside, where there is a lot more space for the dogs to interact in, too 

In the clicker classes I went to when Molo was older, there were dogs with a wide variety of temperaments; one or two were dog-reactive, one was terrified of other dogs coming close to them, and even Molo had to be trained behind a upturned table for the first week in order to keep him focused on me    These dogs definitely weren't "equal" and letting them off-lead to socialise in a training hall would have been a nightmare 

Our classes training are fairly new, and all the people who come at the moment do not have young pups, but we have expanded our classes because of the now high demand as there was nothing in this area to cater for people who wish to be involved with Gun dog training. We will be in the new year starting other classes catering for all needs 

[*kimbo*]

Zara is heading off to puppy school the middle of this month its a course of 8 1/2 hour sessions which is good for me as Zara has the attention span of a small peanut!! I am really looking forward to going.

[Cob-Web]

Our classes training are fairly new, and all the people who come at the moment do not have young pups, but we have expanded our classes because of the now high demand as there was nothing in this area to cater for people who wish to be involved with Gun dog training. We will be in the new year starting other classes catering for all needs 

Slightly off-topic, as I'm not planning to join specific gundog training anytime soon -  but what sort of qualifications should someone look for in a gundog trainer, and what training organisations can they join? 
Presumably, the APDT Trainers Assessment would be equally as relevant to Gundog training as it would for "pet" training classes (especially as the dogs are first and foremost pets) - but are there any specific training organisations that trainers in field/working skills can join?

[Top Barks]

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 

I don't think that is too out of line as long as you are getting someone good.
I think it is worth charging a bit more as it gives the client more incentive to attend the lessons.
There is a guy near me who charges £45 for thirteen weeks and all I can say is how many dogs are in the class to make that pay.
Puppy classes aren't for every one and indeed I do a 4 lesson puppy package that follows pretty much the content of The KC puppy foundation scheme.
I have seen to many novice owners with stressed dogs at puppy classes where the trainer does not know what they are doing. Not to say they are all like this.
Mark

[Cob-Web]

I don't think that is too out of line as long as you are getting someone good.
I think it is worth charging a bit more as it gives the client more incentive to attend the lessons.

Don't you risk pricing yourself too high and putting people off attending at all, though? 

There is NO WAY I would pay for that much for group lessons, no matter how good/qualified the trainer; it works out at £12.50 per class, and I'd invest in one-to-one training instead, as imo, I would get better value for money 

[Top Barks]

You don't know what I charge for one to one
It's irrelevant anyway cos i don't do classes only one to one.
People round me would pay it if they were serious though.
mark

[Aearoniel]

The 1-2-1 where I go is £50 for an hour(£70 is it is a behavioural 1-2-1 and the first one of any 1-2-1 has to be theory, IMHO not worth it as I know how I want to keep my dog in my home and all I want to learn is how to train her more than the basic sit), I much prefer paying my £12 for 90mins where I'm in a group with 4 other dogs. plus if your paying for an hour 1-2-1 realistically how much of that time is your dog paying enough attention to really get it? Another good thing in group classes no matter the price is that you can watch other owners and see how they do it if how you have done it isn't getting the results.

[jarbaha]

yes i too think puppy classes and training classes are two different things too.
all puppies need quality socialisation form a young age, and do need to let of some steam playing off lead with other puppies ( in a controlled enviroment  ).

i think trying to train a puppy at such a young age, to sit, stay, down, ect, is maybe asking too much, as puppies have a limited concenration span  , at a young age, and could become bored,by asking too much of it!!

definatley do puppy socilistaion,this is a must for all puppies. and do the training after the puppy socialistaion classes , when a bit older.

[Karma]

Our puppy course seems to give good all round package.  It is a 10 week course, where the first lesson was without puppies, so that the trainer could explain their training methods etc (ie all non-aversive, reward based training).  It also includes a free puppy-romp session (normally £5 - puppy romp is the opportunity to socialise and play off lead in a big field, with staff there to intervene for any problems - but owners not allowed to intervene or recall until the very end), and a 1:1 session, which we still need to book.... I think the the total cost is £80, but I think it is worth it, as they seem very good...

I love the puppy romp system - they also have a group for older puppies (though it doesn't progress on age, but on personality within the puppy romp - if the pup is getting too confident and boistrous it gets moved up to the next slot, which has similar aim, but you are expected to develop more control over your pups play....).  They offer follow on classes too, for more fun "tricks" and also do agility, which I would like to try when Honey is older and I am fitter!

They do encourage pups to start the training as young as possible, but don't expect too much of them... Honey is the oldest pup in her class, and she knows the stuff we are doing at present, but by starting from basics, she's learning to do them all with distractions around, which can only help her in the long run.

[Top Barks]

The 1-2-1 where I go is £50 for an hour(£70 is it is a behavioural 1-2-1 and the first one of any 1-2-1 has to be theory, IMHO not worth it as I know how I want to keep my dog in my home and all I want to learn is how to train her more than the basic sit), I much prefer paying my £12 for 90mins where I'm in a group with 4 other dogs. plus if your paying for an hour 1-2-1 realistically how much of that time is your dog paying enough attention to really get it? Another good thing in group classes no matter the price is that you can watch other owners and see how they do it if how you have done it isn't getting the results.

Good grief that is expensive,  for training I charge £90 for 4 1hour lessons and that includes a James Wellbeloved welcome pack worth over a tenner and we do what the owner wants to do and is important to them.
It is no good me teaching them to get their dog to do all sorts of fancy stuff if all they want is to have a dog that is well mannered, will come back and will walk nicely.
True you can watch others in a class but whose to say they are doing what you want correctly.
I demonstrate with my own and/or the clients dog so they can see how to achieve their goal.
mark

[Jeanette]

I don't think that is too out of line as long as you are getting someone good.
I think it is worth charging a bit more as it gives the client more incentive to attend the lessons.

Don't you risk pricing yourself too high and putting people off attending at all, though? 

There is NO WAY I would pay for that much for group lessons, no matter how good/qualified the trainer; it works out at £12.50 per class, and I'd invest in one-to-one training instead, as imo, I would get better value for money 

There is no way I would be able to find a private trainer for £12.50 per hour, the one-to-one rate is £45.00 for 1 hour to 1.5.   

[Jeanette]

yes i too think puppy classes and training classes are two different things too.
all puppies need quality socialisation form a young age, and do need to let of some steam playing off lead with other puppies ( in a controlled enviroment  ).

i think trying to train a puppy at such a young age, to sit, stay, down, ect, is maybe asking too much, as puppies have a limited concenration span  , at a young age, and could become bored,by asking too much of it!!

definatley do puppy socilistaion,this is a must for all puppies. and do the training after the puppy socialistaion classes , when a bit older.

Terri, Indie has the attention span of a gnat so will be interesting, she'll be probably be bouncing round the room as normal 

[Hurtwood Dogs]

I paid £100 (which included the trainer driving for well over an hour to get to me) for a 2 hour one on one for Storm a few weeks after I re-homed her with a chap who was head of a police dog training school and had a lot of experience with HPR's and behavioural problems within that group. I felt I needed someone who could tell me a lot specifically about that breed type also and for me it was worth every penny and gave me a lot of confidence with her and helped me to understand why she did certain things etc..

With Dave I paid £65 for 6 x 1 hour puppy clicker classes in a class of about 10 pups and the price included a 1 hour home visit to talk through exactly what I wanted to achieve with him and any problems I was having at home with him etc..

Both were, I feel, well worth the money.

Hannah x

[Cazzie]

Our classes training are fairly new, and all the people who come at the moment do not have young pups, but we have expanded our classes because of the now high demand as there was nothing in this area to cater for people who wish to be involved with Gun dog training. We will be in the new year starting other classes catering for all needs 

Slightly off-topic, as I'm not planning to join specific gundog training anytime soon -  but what sort of qualifications should someone look for in a gundog trainer, and what training organisations can they join? 
Presumably, the APDT Trainers Assessment would be equally as relevant to Gundog training as it would for "pet" training classes (especially as the dogs are first and foremost pets) - but are there any specific training organisations that trainers in field/working skills can join?

You need no qualifications to be a trainer of anysort, but I have found after searching for years that results speak for themselves. I vetted all the trainers I went to a was lucky to find someone who (qualifications can not achieve) is a man who has a natural god given gift to train dogs, who's dog work and live with him as they love him as he does them. Thats what I look for in a trainer