Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 12:56 pm Post subject: Thoughts on puppy class please?
Hi LF
As the title says, would appreciate your thought on this...
I just called a local training school and spoke to a trainer about taking Harvey there. They train using operant conditioning and use food rewards so that's good, but have a few concerns from the phone conversation.
Firstly, after asking which dog breed I had and colour he was 'yellow or black', I said neither he's chocolate and her response was 'arh you have to be careful with those as chocolates can be naughty'.
Then when I explained he's house trained and food manners are good. He can sit, down, stand, plus his stay and recall are coming along well, he's even staying when out of sight a short time which personally think is brilliant.... she said I shouldn't be doing that and I'm doing too much.
I said that I'm going to be taking him gundog training and she said 'not yet you wont be', to which I replied yes I will be, I want to take him to a lesson soon so I can learn what to do and not to do with him so he doesn't pick up any bad habits.
They run a 12 week puppy schedule which is for socialisation, house training tips, health advise, and basic commands. Then a young dog class which starts to concentrate on leadwork, sit-stay etc. I asked whether he could be fast tracked to the young dog class if he's covered everything in the puppy class as I don't want to waste this valuable time going over old ground and was told 'NO, he'll have to do the 12 weeks as its not fair as puppies are like children and shouldn't be rushed. I explained I don't rush him and we go at HIS pace.
Then when she asked where I lived and was told I was in the next town she pointed out there was a training school there as well
It's made me wonder whether i'll be wasting my time going over there to watch, any thoughts?
In the first, someone that is a negative nelly can be a right blooming put off! But she makes some valid points. I hate the "oh chocolate" attitude as its incredibly unfair. Imagine if someone said that about a curly headed kid, or and asian child or anything of that ilk. So I can understand why your bristle is up!
As far as gundog training at 12 weeks is concerned, she's partially right the pup doesn't need a formal class at that age and you aren't going to get much by going along with him to a group lesson at this time. Certainly take some advice from a gundog trainer, but lesson so young will likely be wasted for now.
The main reason for me for going to puppy classes isn;t to learn sit, stay down etc to my mind its the socialisation. Its one thing for him to do all these things on a one to one basis with your in your garden or at your local park/walk. Its a completely other thing to do them in a group situation with distraction and other dogs misbehaving.
So to my mind I would ignore this woman! She's got too rigid a notion about what you should be doing when! Thats none of her business! Curriculum based teaching for a dog doesn't allow for any individuality! So this week we are going to learn X, next week Y. What happens if half the dogs haven't cracked X yet?!?!?! Its just not flexible for my liking.
Anyway. My advise and I'm like a stuck record in this! Is to chill!!! Its not a competition for how fast you can do "stuff" with your dog. The likelihood of overwhelming yourself and them is high I've been there done that with Hudson! Educate yourself in what you kinds of things will be useful for gundoggery and work on relationship recall etc with your pup. Find a nice village hall informal puppy class type affair and use it as socialisation for your pup. I think I only went to about 3 puppy classes with Zephyr, probably more with Pasco and even more with Hudson.
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I agree with Feebarn on this. I think it is important to go to puppy classes for socialisation, and also like she says, it is one thing for your pup to do all those clever things at home, but with distractions it's a different story.
Take advice from a gundog trainer, but just concentrate on establishing a solid sit/stay, recall and heel and work in a bit of fun retrieving, chasing after a tennis ball then bringing it back to you.
If you are initially not happy with this woman then go somewhere else, I reckon if you did turn up you would have a negative attitude towards her to start with which does not make for the best training state of mind. I took Bodie to a lovely church hall obedience class and have been through 2 other gundog trainers before finding someone I really like and who helps me and Bodie to make progress. Take your time, enjoy your puppy and find someone who you really click with.
The naughty chocolate comment did annoy me somewhat.
I can see her point about the gundog training but as she cut me off with 'not yet you won't be' I wasn't able to finish and explain it was for me to learn what to do and not to do with him and for him to meet the trainer, not a group class as such.
He went to a puppy party last week and was completely focused on me doing sit, down etc while all hell was breaking loose behind him so I know he can do commands under distracting class conditions. I just don't want to sign up for a rigid program working on stuff for months that he can already do that's all. It's not that I want to rush through everything.
I wont be going there now anyway, didn't like how the conversation went and can see me disagreeing with her at the class which is no good so looking elsewhere.
I agree with Feebarn on this. I think it is important to go to puppy classes for socialisation, and also like she says, it is one thing for your pup to do all those clever things at home, but with distractions it's a different story.
Take advice from a gundog trainer, but just concentrate on establishing a solid sit/stay, recall and heel and work in a bit of fun retrieving, chasing after a tennis ball then bringing it back to you.
If you are initially not happy with this woman then go somewhere else, I reckon if you did turn up you would have a negative attitude towards her to start with which does not make for the best training state of mind. I took Bodie to a lovely church hall obedience class and have been through 2 other gundog trainers before finding someone I really like and who helps me and Bodie to make progress. Take your time, enjoy your puppy and find someone who you really click with.
I know it's important to take him to socialise but not at the expense of the training methods imo. He's already doing what he has learnt under distracting environments while visitors are round and was very good at the puppy class last week so don't think it'll be like starting again.
Not sure about my negative attitude but judging by the conversation I think her negative attitude would cause more problems.
Thanks for your thoughts, i'll find a decent class for him
Thanks Sam, I've got another trainer that was recommended so going to try her first.
The thing that would bug me is sitting in a class for 3 months which takes him up to 6 months old going over basic stuff that we've covered because other owners didn't make the most of their puppies early weeks/months.
Don't get too focused on levels and achievements. Just go with the flow and enjoy the puppyness. Soon enough he'll be a big lad. I try and concentrate more on manners than anything. House rules as it were when they are wee. Recall being the biggest of the lot!
Just for comparison a lot of the serious gundog trainers/competitors don't really do much training with their pups at all till they are 6 months old! As a pet dog, you just wouldn't want that as you have to live in the house with him!!!
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