Is it better to continue Obedience Classes or just train her myself?

[meldleistikow]

Keep going. It is definitely not a waste of money. I think they are fun, an excellent way to socialize your dog, and a good way to build your bond with your dog.

[selzer]

I know what each class I put my dog in will contain because I have been there and done that ten times over. And yet I continue, because I have not necessarily been there and done that with this dog. Yes, you can train your dog at home, but you cannot manufacture a Giant Schnauzer flip flopping next to your dog during a stay command, or puggle giving pug snorts and sounds. Of course you will work with your pup every day, even if you are in classes, but the class does two things for my dog that I alone cannot do:

1. Provides continued socialization, with dogs and people, working around distractions.

2. Provides a set of eyes that can see my body language and how my dog reacts to my body language, and suggestions to improve upon my technique with this dog in response to that.

A good trainer in a group class atmosphere is ideal in my opinion, definitely worth paying for the extra classes. Your pup is 16 weeks old, there is still a ton of socialization and regular training required.

Classes keep some of us honest. Not everyone needs classes to get their butt off the couch and work with the dog, but some of us might do quite a bit of backsliding if we know we don't have to take the dog anywhere.

Classes are also a good way to have a good time with dog people and stay up to date with dog-issues in your area. If possible accept the invitation to go out after class for a burger, or make the invitation. We try to keep it cheap, Micky D's, Booger World, or Wenchies. But usually once in a season we usually either go to an outdoor grille with the dogs, or we go to a nice place for dinner. Friends on the internet are cool, but they can't tell you that the local meat locker sells a bag of scraps for two dollars.

With each pup, I usually do the following sequence:
Puppy 6-weeks
Basic Obedience 6-weeks
Advanced Obedience 6-weeks
CGC Classes 8-weeks -- last week is the test
Rally/Advanced Obedience 6-weeks

Then I usually title them, and then take a break with them, signing them up for an agility course or an advanced obedience course, or even basic again in a few months.

In that first year I might have gone through 6 or 7 classes with them. But then, I usually do not do a lot of training during the week.

After the first year, I can pretty much take them to a show after six or eight months of doing nothing with them, and take 1st or 2nd place in an advanced rally class or obedience class. I take my time with the basics, but they seem to get them down solid.

[OriginalWacky]

Originally Posted by selzer

I know what each class I put my dog in will contain because I have been there and done that ten times over. And yet I continue, because I have not necessarily been there and done that with this dog. Yes, you can train your dog at home, but you cannot manufacture a Giant Schnauzer flip flopping next to your dog during a stay command, or puggle giving pug snorts and sounds. Of course you will work with your pup every day, even if you are in classes, but the class does two things for my dog that I alone cannot do:

1. Provides continued socialization, with dogs and people, working around distractions.

2. Provides a set of eyes that can see my body language and how my dog reacts to my body language, and suggestions to improve upon my technique with this dog in response to that.

I so agree with both of these. I know I'm a pretty good trainer (not an expert by any means), and I can teach my own dogs how I want them to behave at home etc. But if I want to advance past just basic manners, I do need some help, AND having an outside observer see what I'm doing helps me fine-tune things with my dog(s).

A good trainer in a group class atmosphere is ideal in my opinion, definitely worth paying for the extra classes. Your pup is 16 weeks old, there is still a ton of socialization and regular training required.

Classes keep some of us honest. Not everyone needs classes to get their butt off the couch and work with the dog, but some of us might do quite a bit of backsliding if we know we don't have to take the dog anywhere.

I admit that I have in the past gotten pretty lax, and it shows - but if I'm in a class, I'm more likely to put a little more effort into it. Now, I'm probably not going to be so mellow about it, because I have so many more expectations of my dogs, but looking at my past, one might not know that.

Classes are also a good way to have a good time with dog people and stay up to date with dog-issues in your area. If possible accept the invitation to go out after class for a burger, or make the invitation. We try to keep it cheap, Micky D's, Booger World, or Wenchies. But usually once in a season we usually either go to an outdoor grille with the dogs, or we go to a nice place for dinner. Friends on the internet are cool, but they can't tell you that the local meat locker sells a bag of scraps for two dollars.

Somehow I never seem to wind up in a class with people that are interested in being friendly, but I'm hoping that changes when I get more involved locally. We have some new places in our area and I'll probably be exploring them to check 'em out... and now that I have a dog that I plan to title in some way, that will likely put me in contact with some folks that could become friends.

With each pup, I usually do the following sequence:
Puppy 6-weeks
Basic Obedience 6-weeks
Advanced Obedience 6-weeks
CGC Classes 8-weeks -- last week is the test
Rally/Advanced Obedience 6-weeks

I think this is almost exactly what I'll do with Koshka - we're in the puppy class right now, and I might do another puppy class closer to home, and keep him in pretty much constant training classes for several months. I'm thinking Rally sounds like a great way for me to 'break into' showing my dog. I'm also fairly sure I'm going to take both my dogs through a Really Reliable Recall class, because that's something I want to have reinforced very strongly.

Then I usually title them, and then take a break with them, signing them up for an agility course or an advanced obedience course, or even basic again in a few months.

In that first year I might have gone through 6 or 7 classes with them. But then, I usually do not do a lot of training during the week.

After the first year, I can pretty much take them to a show after six or eight months of doing nothing with them, and take 1st or 2nd place in an advanced rally class or obedience class. I take my time with the basics, but they seem to get them down solid.

I really think that working on getting a VERY solid base with the beginning stuff makes a huge difference down the road. Now that I'm actually working with a specific goal in mind for Koshka, I'm finding all the holes in my training with Krissie (who we admittedly were lax with, and spoiled a fair amount), and we're working on those too.

[Rua]

Thank you all for the good advice. I did a bit of research and found an excellent trainer who happens to be in my area.

He's very highly recommended and is very well experienced specifically with GSDs. I had a great chat with him today and he's invited Juno and myself to come over to his facility to check things out and get her used to the other dogs before we begin her first five week course in March.

I would have started sooner, but he's completely booked out until then. Wish I'd had known about him sooner. Ah well! Such is life.

[Zoeys momma]

You know I think I understand where you maybe coming. I took my pup to her first group class. Big problems in a sense. They were on their 5 th lesson
7 and they graduate

The trainer was going over what they have all been taught so far
1.Leave it- ( by placing treat in hand- close it , let sniff- then when she stops mouthing it, say take it good girl) and give it to her
2. Name game- holding treat- follow treat say name and bring to face- eye contact, give treat
3. Sit- and this was when I was like? Huh? These puppies are all 16-17 weeks old, training luring them into the sit position- treat above nose and back slowly over head..( u mean they don't know sit yet)
4. Next week we will begin working on down
5. Existing door- place dog in sit and say wait wait- while opening door, step out of door then say come.
6. Come- going outside- having dog with someone else..run away- and then yell come with ethusiam and run back- important to get the dog to come to u.


Uhhhhh... Then it was playtime
Oh my zoey can't play with them because the trainer said zoey being younger and not litter mates- not a good idea

Uhhhhh..isn't that what I also paid for

So I must say to me all that should have been taught the first week of a class - go home and work on the above. By the 5th week..shouldn't they have down, stay, wait, come, leave- taught- but obviously a work in progress and they should be on..heeling and differences in drop, leave, give, bring etc..

Iam not sure what I just paid 370.00 for and not very happy

Hugs

[Anthony8858]

FWIW... Kira walks with me like a champ. HOWEVER, when the trainer asked me to do figure eights, she was not happy with the way I was handling her. This is something I never would have figured on my own.
I had no idea, there were certain head and shoulder movements associated with proper turning and leash handling.

As you progress, you'll learn something new every week.

I say STAY, and continue to learn, even though it may be redundant.

[OriginalWacky]

The trainer was going over what they have all been taught so far
1.Leave it- ( by placing treat in hand- close it , let sniff- then when she stops mouthing it, say take it good girl) and give it to her
2. Name game- holding treat- follow treat say name and bring to face- eye contact, give treat
3. Sit- and this was when I was like? Huh? These puppies are all 16-17 weeks old, training luring them into the sit position- treat above nose and back slowly over head..( u mean they don't know sit yet)
4. Next week we will begin working on down
5. Existing door- place dog in sit and say wait wait- while opening door, step out of door then say come.
6. Come- going outside- having dog with someone else..run away- and then yell come with ethusiam and run back- important to get the dog to come to u.

That sounds right on track for a beginning obedience class. I know taking our dogs through their first classes, we generally started with name recognition, and the Leave It the first week. The second was usually Sit, and further work on the name recognition with eye contact. By the third and fourth weeks we were working on Down and Come, and starting loose leash walking.

Uhhhhh... Then it was playtime
Oh my zoey can't play with them because the trainer said zoey being younger and not litter mates- not a good idea

That sounds kinda strange - we have dogs of all sizes and ages in our Puppy K class, and just observe closely and make sure nobody has the chance to get bullied or be a bully.

So I must say to me all that should have been taught the first week of a class - go home and work on the above. By the 5th week..shouldn't they have down, stay, wait, come, leave- taught- but obviously a work in progress and they should be on..heeling and differences in drop, leave, give, bring etc..

Seriously? You think they would be able to work on ALL of those in ONE WEEK? You not only have to teach the dog what you want him to do, but you need to practice, A LOT, to teach your dog manners etc. Sure, *some* dogs might be able to learn 6+ commands in a week when they are little, but not every dog learns at the same rate, and just knowing what the command is doesn't mean they will do it in different circumstances.

[Zoeys momma]

No not the first class...u misunderstood...

I came in on the 5th week
What I listed was what they did in 5 weeks

I must have been misinformed what classes were like.

5 weeks have gone by
I came in on the 5th class

Does that mean that what I missed was
The first week for an hour was the name game??
Second week- for an hour- leave it
3rd week- sit for an hour
4th week- for an hour - come

I came in on the 5th week
What I saw in that session- was exactly what I described

Yes, I would assume with 5 classes..their would have been more
And yes- the puppies are all the same age

Except mine

Thank u

Third week-

Originally Posted by OriginalWacky

That sounds right on track for a beginning obedience class. I know taking our dogs through their first classes, we generally started with name recognition, and the Leave It the first week. The second was usually Sit, and further work on the name recognition with eye contact. By the third and fourth weeks we were working on Down and Come, and starting loose leash walking.



That sounds kinda strange - we have dogs of all sizes and ages in our Puppy K class, and just observe closely and make sure nobody has the chance to get bullied or be a bully.



Seriously? You think they would be able to work on ALL of those in ONE WEEK? You not only have to teach the dog what you want him to do, but you need to practice, A LOT, to teach your dog manners etc. Sure, *some* dogs might be able to learn 6+ commands in a week when they are little, but not every dog learns at the same rate, and just knowing what the command is doesn't mean they will do it in different circumstances.

[Cassidy's Mom]

It was $370 for a 7 week class?!?!? Even around here that would be expensive. The most I've paid is $200 for a 6 week class, and I've spent as little as $120. And you shouldn't have to pay full price for joining the class in the last 3 weeks.

If your puppy is more advanced than the rest of the class, think of ways you can increase the difficulty and continue to challenge her - use your imagination! My puppies were always advanced for the classes we were in because I started working with them from the time they came home, and continued working diligently on our homework every day once we were in classes, and anything else I could think of to teach them. It's still an opportunity to work with your puppy in a very distracting environment. If they're still luring into a sit and you're past that point, work on your sits with a verbal cue instead of a lure. Work on duration, on position changes between sit, stand and down.

[Zoeys momma]

Thank you Debbie
I was just confused how to practice what I need to there with my pup- when we are all seated with the dog beside us..the trainer went around to each person and then showed the luring move.

I had assumed classes were- we all stand up together and work on our dogs...and such.

Yes- I did come in on the 5th class ..I purchased 7 sessions
My first one was with the owner and we were alone- she mostly talked and asked me what or any issues I may be having with my pup- she showed me- "with me- off leash...

Second was what I spoke about above..
I get another private lesson ...2 more group
Let's see - maybe they will be giving me more privates to make up for the 7 sessions?

Yes..I will work on things- just worried iam getting my dog confused between what I expect from her..drop, leave it, and give techniques
One trainer said- u place the treat in front of them and lure them away from an object- say leave it and then give treat

Guess the hand - smell- leave and take then must be the foundation

Just more disappointed in no other puppy socialization...that to me is a bummer

But thank u so much for your kind words of advise.

I really appreciate it

Originally Posted by Cassidy's Mom

It was $370 for a 7 week class?!?!? Even around here that would be expensive. The most I've paid is $200 for a 6 week class, and I've spent as little as $120. And you shouldn't have to pay full price for joining the class in the last 3 weeks.

If your puppy is more advanced than the rest of the class, think of ways you can increase the difficulty and continue to challenge her - use your imagination! My puppies were always advanced for the classes we were in because I started working with them from the time they came home, and continued working diligently on our homework every day once we were in classes, and anything else I could think of to teach them. It's still an opportunity to work with your puppy in a very distracting environment. If they're still luring into a sit and you're past that point, work on your sits with a verbal cue instead of a lure. Work on duration, on position changes between sit, stand and down.