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best time to start obedience training?
by Amanda
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
Can anyone please tell me when is the best time to start training for obedience? Also, where is the best place to go for obedience lessons (i.e. Petsmart, etc.) and are there any good books, peridicals, or websites here I can learn more about it? Thanks!
DISCUSSION:
HI Guys, I was told the best time to start is now,the
younger the better. There is a A.K.C. site with names and
phone numbers for obedience classes. It is listed by state
I checked with private classes (30 bucks an hour) The A.K.C.
class here in Shelby NC are for 6 weeks on the weekend and
you join for $50.00 the advantage of the A.K.C. class is
there are more dogs and your puppy will learn social skills
needed for shows. I hope this helps. Bill$Pearl
As far as when to start obedience training, I start the day I bring the puppy home. Obedience training is really training for life. As for formal classes, I believe there are classes for pups as soon as they are fully vaccinated.
Bill&Pearl
Now is the time to start. Go watch a class you are interested in and decided if you like the instructors methods of teaching and treating the dogs. Find a class that uses positive reinforcement methods. I would not necessarily pick the class with the most dogs. Choose a class that has a lot of assistants along with the instructor. If you end up with one instructor and 30 dogs (i.e. Petsmart), you will only get 1/30th of the instructors individual time each week. Ask yourself if this is enough tiem to learn what you want and need to learn. Try to find a class that has at least 2 other assistants aside from the instructor. This way you will get some individual attention. If you can find one that has one assistant/instructor (or more) for every five students this would be excellent. In a large class with only one instructor, it is not uncommon for one or two people to take up all of the individual time of the instructors. A smaller class with 5-10 students or one with more instructors will still get your puppy the exposure it needs to learn how to behave around other dogs. Good Luck.
Mary
Hi Amanda, I believe the earlier you start the better. These little furbabies have a way of wrapping you around their little paws and early training shows them that you are the boss. I brought my Bailey to Pre-Kindergarden classes at PetSmart and it was great. She learned sit, stay, come, and down all which are the basics and then from there you can go further if you think its necessary. Good Luck and Congrats on your new baby!
Robin D.
Hi all! I think younger is better to start classes, but make sure your baby is up to date on his or her immunizations including Bordetella. (Sp?)Dani and Sam
Dani and Sam
Hi Amanda, Teddie started at 4 months old at Petsmart's puppy preschool. He learned to sit, come, stay, and down. In addition to basic commands, they gave hints on how to handle other puppy problems such as barking, potty training, and biting. Each time we were learning different commands such as sit, we were given a couple of options which might work better for our dog. Teddie and I were pretty lucky because we were in a very small class - 3 puppies to one instructor. It was a 6 weeks of one hour classes a week for about $30.00. Teddie loved going. It seemed he knew it was Tuesday and he was going with mom to play with his freinds. I really hate to brag BUT Teddie did catch on the fastest of the other dogs. One of the ladies in our class wanted to get a Maltese for her Mom because she was impressed by how fast Teddie learned and his great personality. It is really great to have a puppy that we have control of (most of the time) rather than a puppy who has control of us. It was alot of fun, a really great bonding time for us, and we learned alot.
Debbie and Teddie
Could someone explain what bordetella is? could not find an answer (archives)
Victoria
Bordetella is a virus also called "Kennel Cough", is contageous and commonly found where many dogs are housed or congregate. Most obedience classes require the vaccine before they let you enroll. I would not suggest enrolling where they don't require this.
Chris M.
When Moxy was just over 1 year old, we completed the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Program. In my opinion it was excellent as the focus was on training basic behaviors (sit, stay, come, be friendly to strangers) that create a dog that you and anyone you encounter can enjoy. I feel early training is vital and hear puppy classes are good. This was not available where I live but I did read a number of books to help me train Moxy starting when I first got her. My favorite was written by the Monks of New Skete and called "How to be you Dog's Best Friend" They also have a book called "The Art of "The Art of Raising a Puppy"
patricia and moxy
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