What to Expect from Training Class

[Mindy Miller]

We are getting a new pup, a husky mix, next week (she'll be 10 weeks). I've been doing lots of reading on huskies....we've decided to immediately start her in a training class. I have had 3 dogs in my life and have done well with all of them, but they were all little dogs. (a lhasa, a lhasa mix, and a terrier mix) I realize I'm in a different ballgame with a husky.

I found a place that uses positive reinforcement. They have several national recognitions for their training. They have several levels starting with puppy kindergarten for pups under 6 months old but at least 9 weeks. They encourage the whole family to participate to make sure everybody is on the same page. The class limit is 8 dogs. You can repeat the 8 week session at no charge if you wish. My question is, what should I expect as far as the trainers go? What should my reasonable goals be for our pup?
What kinds of things, other than the obvious, are unacceptable as far as training goes?

 

[LabMumSF]

In general:
- Look for trainers who rely on teaching methods that use positive reinforcement for good behaviour rather than punishment for unacceptable behaviour.
- Observe an obedience class without your dog. Are the dogs and people having a good time? Talk with a few participants and see if they are comfortable with the trainer's methods. In someone won't let you sit in, don't enroll.
- Don't allow trainers to work your dog unless they tell you first exactly what they plan to do.
- Avoid trainers who offer guarantees about results. These trainers are either ignoring or don't understand the complexity of animal behaviour.
- Avoid trainers who object to using food as a training reward. Food is a beneficial and acceptable positive reinforcement training tool.
- Look for trainers who treat both people and dogs with respect, rather than an "I'm the boss" attitude.

Here are some other articles that might be helpful on what to look for when choosing a trainer:

http://www.inch.com/~dogs/tips.html

http://www.dogplay.com/Behavior/class.html

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/dog_care/choosing_a_dog_trainer.html

http://www.apdt.com/trainers-and-owners/trainer-search/choosing-a-trainer.htm

http://www.doglogic.com/chooseatrainer.htm

http://www.dogproblems.com/choosingatrainer.htm

 

[Zoom]

First off, good for you for getting your dog trained early! People who wait until the dog is 6 months old to start basic obedience are just asking for problems (unless the dog was a rescue, in which case it couldn't be avoided). It's like waiting until a child is 13 before teaching it was "please" and "thank you" are.

If they are a good trainer, they will also recognize the fact that every dog and every owner is different. What works for one isn't guaranteed to work for another, and they should adapt and adjust to that fact.

A word to you: Be open to suggestion. Question things you aren't comfortable with, but unless you're going to Joe Schmo's school of Obedience or Petsmart, the trainer should have a good idea of what they're doing and why they are recommending what they are recommending. Also, feel free to come ask us! We have a lot of trainers on this board and can probably answer or help you with many/most of your problems.

 

[casablanca1]

What kinds of things, other than the obvious, are unacceptable as far as training goes?

For puppy classes, I'd be wary if the trainer had too much of a 'they're just puppies, here to have fun' attitude. Everything you do with your pets has meaning to them, and being allowed to run riot during puppy sessions isn't good for your dog, despite the awww factor. The classes are there for the pups to learn to get along, and I'd want a trainer to be alert and competent in managing puppy interactions.

They encourage the whole family to participate to make sure everybody is on the same page.

Maybe that works, but it sounds like a zoo to me. I don't know if I'd pay for that sort of thing. 8 dogs, say an average of 20 humans - that's pretty chaotic, especially for totally untrained puppies.

 

[Mindy Miller]

What kinds of things, other than the obvious, are
Maybe that works, but it sounds like a zoo to me. I don't know if I'd pay for that sort of thing. 8 dogs, say an average of 20 humans - that's pretty chaotic, especially for totally untrained puppies.

That is a very good point....something to think about. I can see good things and bad things with it. Having had a dog with my family and coping with inconsistencies in how I want her to behave versus the way my husband wants her to behave (and differences in opinions as to how to get her to behave in sed manner) paired with my son who thought it was great when she nipped at him as a wee puppy......they need more training than the dog will! How's that for a runon sentence!

I'm taking your advice, Labmum. I'm going to observe a class next Monday. I'm really hoping this is a great place because there's not much nearby.

 

[Zoom]

Maybe that works, but it sounds like a zoo to me. I don't know if I'd pay for that sort of thing. 8 dogs, say an average of 20 humans - that's pretty chaotic, especially for totally untrained puppies.

Actually, it's good for a dog to be trained in those sorts of environments. It teaches the pup to listen and learn even with lots of distractions around. Otherwise, how do you know he's going to listen and respond in a crowded park or when coming across a group of people down the street?

 

[casablanca1]

How does a 10-week-old puppy have enough of maturity or language to
deal with distractions in any way beside becoming wildly excited? I'd maybe buy the distractions theory in the case of an untrained adult dog, but I think it's pointless in the case of puppies. Distractions from training are supposed to test something that's already in place - that he can maintain the bond of understanding that passes between you when you speak a command and he does it, even if there's a cat nearby, or another dog barking. Puppies are adorable, but they're incapable of that sort of bond - they're still growing mentally and emotionally.

 

[Mindy Miller]

All of the above is true. However, puppies are like babies. The sooner you start teaching them, the sooner they learn. It's an 8 week class...She'll be almost 5 months old when it's over.

I think it is very important for all members of a family to participate, unless your kids are really really young. I know from experience that if you aren't consistent with your training, you might as well give up. Inconsistencies are confusing and dogs won't learn.

I haven't even been there yet... I'll check it out on Monday. If it's utter chaos, we'll find something different.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I have taken several 11 weeks old puppies to training class. By that age, they learn similar to an adult dog. This was a TRAINING class, not a puppy fun class.

If proper positive and reward based methods are used, puppies can start very early. They are SO much fun to teach at this age, they are like little sponges soaking everything up.

 

[Mindy Miller]

I'm really excited to see how it goes. The only training class I've ever been to was a silly one at our little tech school. They attempted to teach dogs how to walk on a leash. She had us walk around in a big circle for an hour. I guess that's what you get for $35, lol.

 

[Zoom]

It's all about teaching focus from an early age. If you can teach a 4 week old puppy how to sit in a quiet room, teaching 10 week old puppy to focus on a piece of food isn't much harder. The owner (and the trainer) should establish the training ring (or parking lot or where ever) as a place of work and learning, not of romping. This is why I never let my Aussie play with other dogs at the agility ring; it's a work place. Conversly, I do very little training out at the dog park; it's a fun place. I do work on recalls, but that's a safety issue.

I'm getting the impression that you would be one of those people who would wait until 6 months before starting any sort of puppy training. Have fun with that.

 

[casablanca1]

I'm getting the impression that you would be one of those people who would wait until 6 months before starting any sort of puppy training. Have fun with that.

No need to be snippy.

 

[Mindy Miller]

We got her today. We found out she's only 6 weeks old, not 9. So I think we're going to wait until the next session starts to put her in.

 

[Mindy Miller]

Actually, we have to wait because the vet and the trainer said so. She hasn't had enough vaccines yet. I learned something I didn't know. When puppies have their first shot so young, there's a chance it didn't even take at all because of (I think)colostrum immunity (the mother's milk). So it would be very risky for me to have her around other dogs. The vet also recommended that we go ahead and do her bordatella (kennel cough) shot too.

I really thought she was 9 weeks old. It was a miscommunication between our friends with the puppies and my husband. (he has a funny way of not listening or hearing what he wants to lol) They offered to take her back until she's older, but she seems to be doing fine.

The next session starts in March. She will have had her 3 rounds of shots by then, so it'll work out fine.

 

[Gempress]

They are SO much fun to teach at this age, they are like little sponges soaking everything up.

I agree completely! It's amazing how quickly young puppies can learn. They are just as capable as adult dogs when it comes to learning. In my experience, they actually seem to learn faster. I think that the younger you start, the better.

Here are my dogs' training histories, for example (each session was about 15 minutes, and happened 3-4 times a day):

Zeus, started training at 8 months old: 1 week of sessions to learn "sit"
Tigger, started training at 4 months old: 1 day of sessions to learn "sit"
Odin, started training at 8 weeks old: 10 minutes to learn "sit" On a sidenote, he learned "down" 10 minutes later.

Needless to say, I'm a definate advocate of starting puppies on training as soon as you bring them home.