Emma Being Distracted by the Puppy Class Nearby
Two weeks ago Emma started her first ever training class, basic obedience. Since she just started it got me thinking about how you pick the right dog trainer/dog training facility.
Although this is Emma’s first class, we have been through 6 different classes with Bosley at two different facilities. A good training class can help socialize your dog, build confidence, enhance the bond between you and your dog and eliminate some behavorial problems.
Starting with the basics, any dog trainer/facility you consider should:
Now, you have the basics covered. A good trainer should be able to adjust their training style to meet each dog and their owner’s needs. For example, Bosley is somewhat stubborn and requires a firm and consistent training style. On the other hand, Emma is more sensitive and responds badly to corrections and needs much more positive reinforcement.
In addition, when choosing a trainer/training facility you also need to consider what your goals are. If all you care about is having Fido learn to sit, stay, and heel then there are a lot of options. For example, Bosley attended two classes, puppy and basic, at Petsmart! Those classes are good for general socialization and teaching the very basics but I would not recommend them if your goal is to have enter your dog into obedience competitions.
If your goal is to have your dog compete in obedience or agility you should look for a facility that offers a wide variety and levels of classes. The facility where Bosley has taken 4 classes and where Emma is currently enrolled offers a large variety of classes from puppy to advanced obedience and agility courses as well as the AKC K9 Good Citizen class. Their trainers have extensive experience in training and competing, anywhere from 10-30 years each.
So to conclude, you need to consider what your needs are, what your pets needs are your expectations are. One of the best things you can do is contact the various facilities and ask them if you can come by and observe their classes. Any reputable place should have no problem with this. This should give you a good idea of if the facility and trainers meet your and your companion’s needs.
Bookmark this on Delicious
Tags: dog training · dogs2 Comments
[...] Moved My Bone writes about Picking A Dog Trainer. This is an area we have a lot of experience and this article makes some great points including [...]
Thanks for participating in the Puppy In Training Blog Carnival. This is some great advice on choosing a dog trainer. We’ve been to many classes and trainers and some of the best we’ve found through referral. As you mentioned it’s really a good idea to try and observe some classes before spending your hard earned money.