Training classes

[lizzybeth727]

I'm going to start teaching group training classes in the next couple of months, and now I'm in the process of designing the training class curriculum. It's a beginner level obedience class, but I'm trying to focus it more on the people who are actually serious about training and have aspirations for doing more work with their dog.... Basically I DON'T want John Q. Public who only wants his dog to quit mouthing and peeing in the house, and doesn't care about the rest of training.

Anyway, my problem is, I'm trying to decide whether to have dogs attend the first week or not. The whole thing will be 6-7 weeks, 1-1 1/2 hours per week (that's still in the planning stages as well). It will be, of course, primarily clicker training, and I want to focus on a lot of capturing and shaping behaviors, and minimal luring. So, the first week will be a lot of explaining and demo-ing how the process will work, and I'm just afraid that the dogs will only be a distraction and will be too much trouble for the amount of practice they will get to do in class. But, how do most people feel about not bringing their dog to training class? Would they feel like they'd be wasting their time?

I have taught training classes for several years, and did do one curriculum where people didn't bring their dogs the first week, but that was about 3 1/2 years ago, and I don't remember well enough to know if that would be a good idea to do again. Any of you who have been to or taught training class, have an opinion???

 

[Dekka]

Will your prospective clients have any pre existing clicker skills?

If not I would do a dog free first session where they learn about clicker training and can practice on each other.

 

[Pam111]

The training class I went to, we did not bring the dogs the first week. The last one I looked into was the same way. I think it's just fine. Like you said, the first week you want to discuss things, explain what will happen, demonstrate, etc. and the dogs are a distraction.

 

[lizzybeth727]

Oh good, I would rather not have dogs the first week. No, presumably they will not have had any clicker experience, so I will definately have to spend a lot of time explaining that.

Still open to suggestions, though, keep 'em coming!

Ok, so how do you feel about 1 1/2 hour classes? The classes I taught and attended before were all 1 hour classes, but it seemed to me like one hour went by fast. But do you think that 1 1/2 hours is too long for people or their dogs?

 

[elegy]

i think you'd be better off not having dogs the first week since there's a lot to learn, and managing dogs can be a huge distraction.

do you have flexibility as far as time? my rally class this time around has frequently run to an hour and a half, but a lot of that time is waiting for your turn on a course. in a class that is intense and we're actively working most of the time, often my brain and my dog's brain is fried by the time an hour rolls around. i guess it depends on how much downtime there is in the class.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I don't have dogs the first week.

 

[noodlerubyallie]

DMOTC has no dogs the first week of puppy/beginner classes, so they can let John Q Public know the rules and expectations. I think it works out really well.

 

[Kayla]

I agree with everyone else, the first week is a great time to go over the ground rules for your class, practicing clicker skills without dogs, if you get a chance I think going over emotional signals with the clients and telling them how to manage there dogs in the group environment ( suggest clicking and treating for being calm, bringing chew toys, crates (if you have the space for them in your class)

How exciting for you to be able to design the whole cirrculum, let us know how it goes

 

[lizzybeth727]

Yeah, I'm pretty excited about being able to design the whole thing, it's a great opportunity.

 

[dr2little]

I used to hold the first class with only the owners present but now, with the exception of my GROWL class, I always have the dogs come on the first class.
For puppy class, one week makes such a difference in development that I don't want to waste any opportunities at safe interaction. I do prepare all of my owners properly during the phone registration though so that I can ensure that the first class goes smoothly....another reason that I never take registration over email or online. Most puppy classes are only six weeks in length so only having 5 weeks where the pup can experience this group activity is just not enough IMO. Having done it both ways, I really prefer this way as by week 2, pups already have some history under their belts and the learning happens more quickly without the normal 'first week' jitters. This has also allowed me to teach 16 different commands in my puppy class, something that I would never have been able to do with only 5 weeks to work with.

For adult dogs, again except for GROWL class, I have everyone bring their dogs on the first class.
I only take dogs into my classes that I've met in either private training or through puppy class as most people who call for adult classes have 'issues' that they want to address. This does not mean that I turn dogs away from my classes but rather the dogs that attend are truly going to benefit from the group experience.
I set my classes up so that the first class, when there is quite a bit of information given, I break it up into segments with activity in between so that the dogs are more relaxed...as are the owners. Teaching owners/dogs relaxation exercises is just as easy on the first class as on the second and it gives more time for learning in the coming weeks.
I started doing things this way about 10 years ago and have noticed a big difference in where the dogs are at by week 6 just by having the benefit of that first class.
I have to add too that the owners prefer this to the 'no dog on the first class' rule that most schools offer in my city.

 

[assortedagility]

For my puppy classes, puppies are brought to the first class, because as Dr2Little already stated, one week can make a huge difference.

For my beginners, right now I'm allowing them to bring their dog. I think I like it this way, but have not yet had the first class without dogs yet to compare it to.

 

[lizzybeth727]

My classes will not be specifically "puppy" classes. I'm only planning one class per week, to see how I can handle it, before adding additional classes. The dogs in the class will be all ages, but probably the majority will be more than 4 months old, so as far as socialization goes, I don't think one week will make a huge difference.

Assortedagility, how many weeks are your classes? Anyone doing more than 6 weeks?

 

[TheGoldenRetriever]

First week no-dogs sounds like a great idea ...

a.) Prevents distractions while owners are trying to learn your methods
b.) Lets you more completely explain rules and class format
c.) Lets owners ask more questions, to make sure your class is the proper 'fit' for them and their dogs
d.) Cements in the owners' minds that group training classes are really meant to teach THEM how to train their dogs. I think many people, especially first time dog owners, think just attending class will teach the dog everything. They don't realize their dogs won't learn and retain much at all unless they do plenty of reinforcing at home.

One and a half hours of actual class time may be a bit much, especially for people who work full-time and have familes. How about timing the class from the time actual instruction begins ... while allowing 10 minutes or so at the begininng for the inevitable greetings, and maybe 15 minutes at the end for any follow-up questions? It comes out to the same amount of time, but perhaps less likely to turn some people away than saying "class is one and one-half hours". That could lead them to think they'll actually be there for closer to two hours.

 

[lizzybeth727]

Great points, Retriever, I particularly like "d.)" That is one of my main objectives in the class.

I think I've ruled out 1 1/2 hour classes (unless anyone's had really great success and wants to share), I plan on being available for questions or individual instruction 15 minutes before and after class (and no, I don't want to be there for two hours!), so hopefully that will be good enough for most people that we don't need to be in class for 1 1/2 hours.

 

[assortedagility]

Puppy classes are in 4 week sessions. Beginners obedience is a 6 week session. If I were to change the class to not bringing the dog on the first night, Id likely extend it to 6 weeks.

 

[Kayla]

d.) Cements in the owners' minds that group training classes are really meant to teach THEM how to train their dogs. I think many people, especially first time dog owners, think just attending class will teach the dog everything. They don't realize their dogs won't learn and retain much at all unless they do plenty of reinforcing at home.

:hail:

I agree sooo much with point d).

 

[arklady]

When I did group courses (and ran the municipal programs) I did NOT have them bring the dogs during the first class. I discussed rules, equipment, and then taught a class on behavior--they had a quiz after.

You can teach clicking by using a human guinea pig--it breaks the ice--and helps them become more skillful quickly.

 

[lizzybeth727]

I don't know about doing a quiz... doesn't that just make people nervous?

I'd love to play around with people training each other, I like the idea of pairing up and shaping a behavior. I also have the equipment to show video clips, so I'm hoping to be able to show actual dogs learning behaviors for the first time.

Arklady, how long were your classes?

 

[ihartgonzo]

TheGolden basically summarized what I was going to say. : D

My Obedience trainers (www.4pawsu.com) hold the first class without dogs, too. Honestly, I was a little bit bored, but only because I've been going there for years and I know it all already! It's a good time to go over rules... especially the BIG rule there, which is NO on-leash interaction between dogs. If they are complete strangers to clicker training, they will definitely need a lot of instruction on using it anyway, and they'll need the next week to load the clickers. ; )

I would think a quiz would be a little intense, too. Maybe just a "raise of hands" overview at the end, with plenty of print-outs and instructions for them to take home.

 

[sillysally]

I seem to have a different opinion than most here, but honestly I've never had a first class without dogs and would find it a little annoying, especially if it is not an absolute beginner class......