When to start with a trainer?

[Brewzer1818]

Here is my situation. Luna my pup is thirteen weeks old. We had one formall puppy class with a bad experience (details can be seen under finding a good trainer.) I consider myself to be reasonably intelligent, and have trained 3 labs before. Although it has been about 12 years. I have ordered the training series from Michael Ellis, and plan to begin with that as soon as it arrives. We already have a good foundation started with working on: watch, sit, down, leave it, out, and loose leash walking. Have not started a formal heel,or stay. Socialization is not an issue, as I work from home, and take her most everywhere with me. We also have a large park across the street from my house where we go and play with familiar dogs.

Never having had a GSD before my question is this. As long as we continue to socialize, train a couple of hours a day, and continue to make progress, am I doing us any harm in not starting a formal class right away? At this time I have no plans for show or sport (other than recreational to keep her happy and healthy). My main goal is to have a happy, healthy, well behaved, family pet, and daily companion that I can take everywhere with me.

Unless you all suggest otherwise my plan is to continue to work with her on building a solid foundation, then start with either a more formal class or find a private trainer when she is a little older. (Sooner of course it we run into difficulties due to her stuborness, or my lack of abbiliy)

Thank you all for your input. This is a great site with a wealth of information.

[doggiedad]

my boy was ina puppy class at 10 weeks old.
i did the normal socializing several times a day.
i didn't start any formal training untill my pup was
4 months old. this is the second time a trainer
told me to bring the pup to them at 4 months
old to begin training. before going to classes
(private trainer) my pup knew a few things.
i like private lessons in the begining. i go to
group classes when i start having some control
over the pup. i add in the distractions later on and slowly.

[Shavy]

I think the real reason people take their puppies to puppy classes is for the socialization. It sounds like your dog is getting plenty of that, so I wouldn't think it would be necessary, especially since you're working with him at home.

[martemchik]

Formal classes are just a way of adding controlled distractions. You can train all you want at home but when your dog gets out in the real world if it is not used to the distractions of other people or other dogs then it all goes out the window. In a class setting the other dogs are controlled (hopefully) and your dog starts to understand that no matter what, it should listen to you. I've also found it helpful to see where other people are making mistakes and learn from them rather than starting my own bad habits. A trainer will also help you understand your bad habits, and although you might be fine with making those right now, once they are pointed out you might think otherwise.

[Dakotasmom23]

If you are working on training in a public area with lots of distractions, then no, I don't think group classes are absolutely necessary. It can be hard to duplicate that environment however, which is why I'm doing a group puppy class with my 14wk old girl, even though I've trained other dogs for many years. It also depends on the dog's temperment too. I had a rottweiler who I never took to any formal training at all; yet he got his CGC and therapy certification all on the first try. But he was confident and 100% handler focused.