Any experiences with the Petsmart puppy training?

DitosDad · 01-06-2013, 09:24 AM

My puppy Rico is now 9 weeks old and before I even picked him up from the breeder I signed us up for puppy training classes at Petsmart. It was $90.00 with a discount for 6 classes. What are your thoughts on this? Petsmart?

**gsdraven** · 01-06-2013, 09:34 AM

Each store is different and really depends on the talent of the individual trainer. It's average for a pet puppy class and not bad to get started with socialization and basics.

Jax08 · 01-06-2013, 09:40 AM

I think it's hit and miss. Some people, including my boss, have taken it and loved it. The trainer was good. The next class he took, the trainer wasn't to sharp. I agree with Jamie that it's an average pet puppy class and a good start with socialization.

llombardo · 01-06-2013, 09:51 AM

I was very lucky with my trainer at Petsmart and I know it. She has 20 plus years training and she trains at a club to. All her dogs are titled and therapy dogs. I picked her and followed through with her completely with two of my dogs. She used signs, this gave us an idea about rally and she brought in agility equipment as a fun thing to do at the end of class. Her goals from the beginning are getting the dog its CGC and ready for further obedience and/or competition. She never said anything negative when I went to the GSD club and had to get a prong. She has always supported me and my dogs LOVE her. Over the summer we went to some events that she was at with her own dogs(2 Rotts and a Pug) and my GSD spotted her a mile away

So I'd have to say that my experience went way beyond just an average puppy class....she is great at what she does and I haven't been able to find anyone that I think is better then her.

Del's Mom · 01-06-2013, 09:57 AM

I have taken both my gsd's to puppy training. The trainer I have is great and has been training for over 20 years. He also makes himself available via email to help you with anything after your training is over. I guess it is probably hit or miss but that is my experience.

x0emiroxy0x · 01-06-2013, 10:27 AM

My trainer from Petsmart (we took classes two years ago) is now training police dogs for a living

He knew SO much about german shepherds and belgian malinois because they were his passion.

When I couldn't afford to pay for Intermediate class, he said I could come for free, as long as he could "practice' training Rocky after class. AKA I got two hours of free training.

Without him, Rocky would have turned out AWFUL. He helped us so much!

DitosDad · 01-06-2013, 11:48 AM

Awesome, great feedback! At least it sounds like it will be a good start and another chance for him to be around other dogs and people!

Phoebes · 01-06-2013, 10:53 PM

I like Petsmart. I went there with my Pomeranian puppy for their basic puppy class, she was somewhat of a nightmare when I got her (she'd snap, bark uncontrollably, attack other dogs...) and I achieved more with her there than I have with my German Shepherd after 7 months with an expensive "Master Trainer"
I should add that the German Shepherd had zero behavior issues when he got home.

KZoppa · 01-07-2013, 12:01 AM

its hit or miss. depends on the trainer and the experience they have or if they were just thrown into the 2 week class the store sends them to.

01-06-2013, 09:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
DitosDad Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 50	Any experiences with the Petsmart puppy training? My puppy Rico is now 9 weeks old and before I even picked him up from the breeder I signed us up for puppy training classes at Petsmart. It was $90.00 with a discount for 6 classes. What are your thoughts on this? Petsmart?

01-06-2013, 09:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
gsdraven Moderator Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mont Co, PA Posts: 5,423	Each store is different and really depends on the talent of the individual trainer. It's average for a pet puppy class and not bad to get started with socialization and basics. __________________ Jamie Raven (GSD) - December 8, 2007 Kaiser (GSD) - November 2009 Holly (GSD) - March 24, 2011 Best Paw Forward Life's Abundance

01-06-2013, 09:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 19,045	I think it's hit and miss. Some people, including my boss, have taken it and loved it. The trainer was good. The next class he took, the trainer wasn't to sharp. I agree with Jamie that it's an average pet puppy class and a good start with socialization. __________________ Michelle _________________________________________ Jax Von Monkeybutt, CGC Queen Banshee Boo Sierra the Undecided Cracker, The Great Shedder Rich N Handsome, "Red"

01-06-2013, 09:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
llombardo Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,978	I was very lucky with my trainer at Petsmart and I know it. She has 20 plus years training and she trains at a club to. All her dogs are titled and therapy dogs. I picked her and followed through with her completely with two of my dogs. She used signs, this gave us an idea about rally and she brought in agility equipment as a fun thing to do at the end of class. Her goals from the beginning are getting the dog its CGC and ready for further obedience and/or competition. She never said anything negative when I went to the GSD club and had to get a prong. She has always supported me and my dogs LOVE her. Over the summer we went to some events that she was at with her own dogs(2 Rotts and a Pug) and my GSD spotted her a mile away So I'd have to say that my experience went way beyond just an average puppy class....she is great at what she does and I haven't been able to find anyone that I think is better then her. __________________ Misty- Samoyed Mix Tannor- Golden Retriever CGC Robyn- German Shepherd CGC Cats-Thunder, Harley, Miley, Bandit, and Ferah RIP Boo..Black Lab "A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

01-07-2013, 12:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
KZoppa Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 16,298	its hit or miss. depends on the trainer and the experience they have or if they were just thrown into the 2 week class the store sends them to. __________________ The more people I meet and talk to,the more I love my dogs and their intelligence. Zena GSD 6/1/03 Shasta GSD 5/5/10 "Dax" Thor z vom Weberhaus GSD 3/18/2013 Riley GSD/BC 1/10/05-2/1/2013

01-06-2013, 09:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
Del's Mom Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Central Tennessee Posts: 62	I have taken both my gsd's to puppy training. The trainer I have is great and has been training for over 20 years. He also makes himself available via email to help you with anything after your training is over. I guess it is probably hit or miss but that is my experience.

01-06-2013, 10:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
x0emiroxy0x Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas! Posts: 1,483	My trainer from Petsmart (we took classes two years ago) is now training police dogs for a living He knew SO much about german shepherds and belgian malinois because they were his passion. When I couldn't afford to pay for Intermediate class, he said I could come for free, as long as he could "practice' training Rocky after class. AKA I got two hours of free training. Without him, Rocky would have turned out AWFUL. He helped us so much!

01-06-2013, 11:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
DitosDad Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 50	Awesome, great feedback! At least it sounds like it will be a good start and another chance for him to be around other dogs and people!

01-06-2013, 10:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Phoebes Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 73	I like Petsmart. I went there with my Pomeranian puppy for their basic puppy class, she was somewhat of a nightmare when I got her (she'd snap, bark uncontrollably, attack other dogs...) and I achieved more with her there than I have with my German Shepherd after 7 months with an expensive "Master Trainer" I should add that the German Shepherd had zero behavior issues when he got home.

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