Puppy Training Classes

[loopylol]

I am seriously considering puppy training classes for Sally.  She will be starting at the end of this month for six weeks (total cost only £15), sounds great value to me.

Has anyone took their puppy to training, and if so, did it make a difference.


see Sally at www.sallyandblossom.piczo.com

[Cob-Web]

I think puppy classes are essential - the puppy learns to socialise with other dogs and people, and the puppies family learns how to teach the pup good manners and basic obedience, so everybody wins 

I took Molo to classes that worked towards the KC Puppy Foundation Assessment - although we "successsfully achieved" the award, it wasn't the reason we went - I learnt techniques at the classes for teaching him, and he learnt how to mix with other puppies and people

This summer we went to more classes, even though Molo is now two - they were clicker classes, where I learnt how to clicker train; I'm hoping to go back to the intermediate clicker classes in the autumn, too 

[Joules]

Yes, training is a must I think.  The first classes tend to be just for socialisation and the later ones to actually learn commands.  The main thing was to teach me how to go about training my dog.  They don't actually learn much at the class as you have to do lots of training at home to get any results!  Be prepared to commit a lot of time to training in the first year - I am sure it will be worth it in the end though!! 

[scooby]

I'll be taking Bailey to training for socialisation but hopefully to help him become a good little well trained boy too!!  I'll be going to a 7 week course (1st week without pup) which will cost £32 and includes the KC puppy assessment.  If it all goes well hope to take further courses with him too.  Think its a really good idea and £15 sounds like a bargain!

[cazza]

Yeah I think it's a must

Just wish I had taken Fern earlier,  :embarassed:but nearest classes to us were 36 miles away and I didn't want to take her that far in the summer months with the heat we had   

So now the cooler weather has arrived we start the first set Wednesday. Ours are £5 for yr membership and £1 per class and they are usually in a block of 8.

[tadobunny]

We start on tuesday. The course is 6 weeks and i got them in lou of payment for face painting at a blue cross event! (BARGAIN!!)

I am taking both boys but to seperate classes on different days, i think it'll be good for them to have time apart and have some

time socialising seperatly. I can't wait!!

[Brimbeck(Dyllan)]

Dyllan starts his class in October he will be 13 wks old. I only have to go to the next village 
Hope he is going to be an

[AnnieM]

We missed out on puppy school, because we couldn't find any near enough at the right times, so ours are starting obedience classes in two weeks, they are costing me £64 each for 8 weeks and I am taking them seperately on two different days.  I think £15 sounds fantastic. 

[Blinky]

This is interesting, because I just booked some puppy classes today, £45 for eight weeks.  Sounds quite a lot to me, but the bloke said they're KC registered and they come highly recommended, so we're going to give it a go.

[Neville]

Hi - maybe assuming something here, but are you going to My Pet Stop at Denton?

We finnished our course about 3 or 4 weeks ago there and we are now considering the next stage, but it doesn't start for another 3 weeks.

I found them invaluable for Neville - first week he stayed under the chair, by week 6 he was full of life and confidence too!  He received a teacher assessment and a certificate.

We also have been to swimming class there.

Enjoy the classes.   They are also a great way of socialising your puppy

[CraftySam]

Hi - maybe assuming something here, but are you going to My Pet Stop at Denton?

We finnished our course about 3 or 4 weeks ago there and we are now considering the next stage, but it doesn't start for another 3 weeks.

I found them invaluable for Neville - first week he stayed under the chair, by week 6 he was full of life and confidence too!  He received a teacher assessment and a certificate.

We also have been to swimming class there.

Enjoy the classes.   They are also a great way of socialising your puppy

   I was just going to ask the same thing! The cost and location gives it away!!!

I went to puppy classes at MyPetStop in Leeds both with Max and Barney.  I find their classes excellent, though I'm sure alot depends on the individual trainers.  Puppy classes are invaluable to socialise your puppy.  As I'd done the puppy course with Max 10 months earlier I knew what was covered and had taught him alot of it before starting class, but getting your puppy to follow commands at home and in a training arena with lots of exciting puppies around are two different things! So as well as socialising your puppy you are also teaching/conditioning your puppy to respond to you when there are so many exciting distractions around. So I would definitely say puppy classes are essential. 

Barney finished puppy class three weeks ago and started Junior Club the week after finishing puppy class.  MyPetStop Leeds are changing the structure of their training with effect from next week.  I believe there will be a Puppy Intermediate course for Barney. For older pups there will be a Junior Course.

Max went to Junior Club up until a couple of months ago when he got too old to go, and went on to do Training Games, which Sapphi did too (as well as Flyball).  To replace that the new class is Adult Club.  There will also be various levels of obedience and agility courses.

I've found continuing training has definitely helped and made a big difference. With Max I continued and with Sapphi I didn't. Sapphi went to puppy class elsewhere and did a couple of sets of classes after that when the training centre said that was the end of courses available.  I found that Max responds to instructions more reliably and quickly than Sapphi. At the beginning of the year we started taking Sapphi to Flyball, which she loved, though it took her a while to grasp it, bless her! We decided to take her with Max to Training Games and we've seen a big difference in her.  So I'll be taking both to Adult Club and probably obedience too.......... I think I better take my bed!!!!

[cazza]

This is interesting, because I just booked some puppy classes today, £45 for eight weeks.  Sounds quite a lot to me, but the bloke said they're KC registered and they come highly recommended, so we're going to give it a go.

The classes I'm going to go up to Kennel club good citizen award. (So i assume they are KC registered something I must check on when I meet this week to register)  They also do agility classes and advanced compition groups and flyball

[Cob-Web]

This is interesting, because I just booked some puppy classes today, £45 for eight weeks.  Sounds quite a lot to me, but the bloke said they're KC registered and they come highly recommended, so we're going to give it a go.

The classes I'm going to go up to Kennel club good citizen award. (So i assume they are KC registered something I must check on when I meet this week to register)  They also do agility classes and advanced compition groups and flyball

Try not to read too much into the fact that classes are KC affiliated; it just means that the class is registered with the KC and this is no guarantee of quality Although all the KC Good Citizen classes work towards the same goals, the methods they use to get there varies significantly 

Far better to get recommendations, and go along and watch a class to see whether you are comfortable with the trainers and their methods 

[loopylol]

Yes it is the My Pet Stop in Denton, I rang yesterday and she starts her course on the 27th September for six weeks.

Can't wait to take her now, as I can see small signs of training within one week at home.  She weeks on her wee mat constantly and now again poos on it although she does prefer the floor for that, once she did it outside.

At night, I sleep on the sofa, and when I say "go to bed", she walks slowly with her head down and goes in her bed and goes to sleep.  This has happened several nights running, so I am really pleased with that.

Thanks for the replies.
Lorraine

take a look at Sally on www.sallyandblossom.piczo.com

[cazza]

This is interesting, because I just booked some puppy classes today, £45 for eight weeks.  Sounds quite a lot to me, but the bloke said they're KC registered and they come highly recommended, so we're going to give it a go.

The classes I'm going to go up to Kennel club good citizen award. (So i assume they are KC registered something I must check on when I meet this week to register)  They also do agility classes and advanced compition groups and flyball

Try not to read too much into the fact that classes are KC affiliated; it just means that the class is registered with the KC and this is no guarantee of quality Although all the KC Good Citizen classes work towards the same goals, the methods they use to get there varies significantly 

Far better to get recommendations, and go along and watch a class to see whether you are comfortable with the trainers and their methods 

This one has been recommended, by breeder and vet, so i'm assuming with two recommendations it should be ok, but am going this wed to see the class in action and decide if I will go to this one or find another.