Puppy Classes

Well thank you guys for being so welcoming

Can I now get your opinions on puppy classes and general puppy training? So as not to mislead anyone I am a trainer/behaviourist so have no issues finding a class for pupstar when she arrives but am wondering your opinions?

Do you bother with pup classes (after all you all seem a knowledgable bunch)?
If so at what age do you start?
What do you look for in a class?

Thanking yous

i love taking fred training, i only wish there was one closer to me so i didnt have to rely on the OH being at home to take me ...

i started pretty late with fred, he was 8mths when he first went training, i wish i had taken him sooner tbh

the only thing i look for in a class is a good trainer and people who are willing to train and not muck about

Both Marley and Kala started puppy classes at 12 weeks old. In my opinion I think its very good especially for those who arent knowledgable in the basics of training a dog to sit and down starting heelwork etc and its amazing how many dont know!! Both Marley and kala were doing this at 7 weeks old so puppy classes were a breeze to them but my main reason for going was for early socialisation

marley sailed through his KCGC bronze and silver awards and would do every exercise in gold apart from letting me go out of sight for 30 seconds in the long down stay!! being a proper mummys boy he wanted to know where Id disappeared to!! Then he was poisoned by someone on the beach and took a long time to get over it. when i did take him back he just didnt want to be there and it was a waste of time and money, he could still do the exercises but there was no way he would let me out of sight.

kala was a real clever girl, no word of a lie Sue had her sitting at 4 weeks old when we went to choose our pup!!!! she was the smallest of the litter and Ed fell in love with her straight away! Sue said she would be a clever girl and she wasnt wrong!! kala did her puppy classes, then did her 8 weeks of bronze and sailed through that wondering what all the fuss was about! she did 2 weeks of silver classes and in the third week the trainer said she was too good and they put her through a silver test, she sailed through it and although they thought she was a bit young for gold classes they thought it would be good experience for her. We were in gold class for 2 weeks and they announced that they were doing a test the following week, they said to bring Kala along it would be good experience for her......she was the best dog on the day and did everything perfectly, she had passed her Gold at only 9 months old!!
I did start platinum classes with her but then had a nasty fall fracturing my coccyx and I havent been back since its trying to get motivated to going back!
I think training classes are very good but in my opinion has to be carried out every day not just on class days. Even when we take our two out we incorporate fun time with a bit of training too and they love it.

I have to say Marley has been very challenging and is still very challenging at times!!! kala is a dream she just loves to please If I dont get back to platinum class im really happy the way she is with her personality she is such a happy loving girl!

Thanks for the replies, so what are your faviourite activities within a pup class, am thinking of baby, baby puppies here all starting under 20 weeks.

Is it general obedience type of work or fun stuff also?

Julie

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......she was the best dog on the day and did everything perfectly, she had passed her Gold at only 9 months old!!

What a cool dude

personally i would prefer obedience .... but learning tricks would be a great class to go too :2431:

Perhaps I should also explain myself better, at our baby puppy class we do the obedience things but also play pass the puppy (so everyone gets cuddled lots!) a fancy dress night for owners on week three, for fun but owners are encouraged to wear high viz jackets etc for socialisation etc and also throw some tricks in.

It's not all fun and the obedience is there plus home work sheets like breed sheets to complete to make sure owners understand their breeds needs.

I guess I am asking if that type of class would appeal to you guys or not and seeing if there is anything I am missing?

sounds like youve got it all sorted :2431: ... where are you lol, daisy would love it, im still waiting for my vets to get in touch about daisys puppy party, ive been in and asked bloomin twice

come to think of it im still waiting for freds invitation and hes 3 in a few days :2431:

we have done those thing at puppy party's we have been to and it's great , getting other people to go over your puppy , cuddles like you say, i give people a socializing sheet and local training school number when they get a puppy from me, the only thing that i have got more wary about now i'm older is letting people give your dogs treats , my next pup if i ever have another will be taught no if anyone tries to feed it, what will marley getting poisoned and i have known of dogs at shows getting them same , so if a dog wont accept food from strangers it won't get hurt, only my opinion

fred has been taught not to take treats from people he doesnt know... he looks at me or turns away!!

that is great ,

he learnt it at training, and its stuck ever since, so i never forced him to take the treats if they were offered :2431:

Yup we never allow owners to give others treats, the poison threat is one thing but quite aside from that I do not wish to teach dogs that strangers provide tasty food! Last thing I want is three and a half (Sonic) GSD's that mug every stranger for treats! Can you imagine my lot running up to Mrs Smith with her cockashon thinking that food was on offer????

We also provide a 46 page handbook at our pup class, everything from mouthing to toilet training to health, vaccs, first aid etc etc Makes us a lot more expensive BUT I really don't believe in doing things by halves. Education is often lacking in the dog world so we try to cever everything.

I have just had an email from someone that started class with a 10 week old Border Collie, delightful. They have rehomed it already and want their money back for class. I am sick of people impulse buying puppies without thinking

Have not responded yet as I am too mad, the poor pup.

i didnt take blaze or skyla puppy classes (we rehomed bingo when he was 3) but thats cuz theres none near me i wish their was classes near me tho

That's a shame, it's at least nice to have the opportunity. Of course there are some naff classes about too, there is one locally to me that has 20 plus pups in one hall. That scares me somewhat.

I usually start my pups at the bronze class about 12-14wks and they love it but i do it for socialisation more than anything else. OTher breeds and people.
Every pup i keep goes through it now...

we taught kala food refusal from an early age she wont take treats from anyone apart from family and friends but she will still look at me for the nod that its ok. she backs away if anyone else tries to give her anything our vets have to give me the treat to give her when we go there.

My dogs wont accept treats from other folks but i didnt teach them it they have just always been like that... weird really...

3 of mine won't take treats either but Misty will take them from anyone and everyone

Thanks guys, always nice to get others opinions, just in from a fabulous puppy class and a new combined Clicker Rehab Class for dogs with aggression problems. All went well and it was lovely to see sensible owners develope good handling skills despite their dogs having problems and also having a bit of fun with their dogs.

Seems like many view pup classes as a socialisation experience? Of course I am guessing most of you have other dogs or have had dogs before so the actual obedience training you already know.

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OTher breeds and people.

Interesting ^^^^

I have concerns over all breed clubs and the fact that pups early on are only meeting pups of similar size etc