Pup training sessions at home V's Group class sessions

Hi All

We'll be picking up our Leonberger pup at the end of Feb. I have two children and my husband is at work during the day and most puppy training classes are at a very difficult time in the evening which would be very difficult to get to with regards to my husband getting home from work in time to take over with the kids so Pup and I can go to classes.

I can't seem to find any weekend classes in Surrey but have found some really interesting behaviorists/trainers who do the classes at your house and the upside is they can start as soon as pup comes home rather than me having to wait for last vaccinations before attending classes with other dogs.

I just wondered what opinions are on this? Is it more important to go to a class so that pup has that exposure to other dogs (although obviously he will be exposed to other dogs on walks etc) does anybody has any experience with this sort of training in the home? all help advice greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Socialisation for puppies is absolutely critical and the safe environment of a well run puppy class is an ideal place for you and your puppy to learn. In addition, your puppy will learn to concentrate on you which will be very important as he grows up and starts to become more independent and the distractions at class are an important part of that education.

You don't say whether this is your first puppy but you will find great support and encouragement amongst other handlers at a puppy class which is very useful.

If it at all possible, my advice would be to try and find a local course. You could ask on Obedience UK if any other their members know of any suitable classes.

I personally prefer the class simply to give the puppy a controlled training environment, they kind of get their head in the game so to speak and then you can bring them home and practice. It also gives them the chance to socialise nicely if the class is organised well and a chance at some point to go offlead in a safe environment in a good class.

I would also advocate if at all possible the kind of place that can also allow you to train outside as well and has an indoor facility for some work and really bad weather, this is slightly more natural than village hall type places.

The style of trainer and attitude of the trainer is also important but that would be too if they came to your home.

I think also hearing from other people and seeing their puppies learning gives you a good feel to see how well your puppy is doing etc, what is reasonable to expect etc, from a real dog point of view not just a trainers view. The issues they have etc all help to build up other strategies for use away from the class as the trainer helps them you can store the info for use later should you need it etc, all things you cant get if they come to you.

I was discussing this with a fellow trainer the other day - She reckons puppy classes are not good as the pups find it really hard to concentrate and cannot signal properly.
(Which I might agree with to a point)

I am now in a position to be able to do a 1-2-1 before people join a course - so this is the way we work. Every pup has a 1-2-1 in which the pup can play about in the training room (usually with Zeff!), and I can discuss with the owners any problems they are having or are worried about. We also talk about the issues they will have when they join a class (distractions etc) and how best to deal with it. We initially train the relaxed down and some basic distraction stuff.
the idea being that (hopefully) when the pup then comes into the situation, the owners have already started the training.

I do think it is important for pups to learn how to relax in the presence of others and because of that, I do think a good puppy class is useful....BUT....I suggest people do not loose sight of why they go - you go to train your dog how to behave, IMO, it is better for the trainer to have to repeat things a few times and for you to concentrate on your pup, that for you to listen intently to the trainer and your pup to start attention seeking exercises.

I have had some people who have chosen to go down the 1-2-1 route - although - as I always have my dogs with me - there are still dogs for the pups to work around.

Oh dear -I seem to have waffled - sorry!

i do 1-2-1 puppy training.

Obvisley every trainer is different but with my training

You get 1-2-1 attention,
you can concentrate on things you need to
You can learn to control & train your pup in a realistic envroment, where you NEED him to be responsive, "not just at school"
I can socailise if required.

At a class,
Often the naufghtiest dog gets all the attention
you folow class sylabus
Theres lots of distractions, which can hinder learning

To add on a six session course id be looking to do 3 inside the home & 3 outside.(with a normal pup!)

You can also start earlier, before jabs etc!

I guess again that this is largely dependent on the exact training environment and how many pups and your pups level of distraction.

With Rolo a lot of the first puppy classes were conducted outside and with a puppy easily distracted by sniffs we had to work to focus him, but this was much to ours and his benefit at the time, it certainly wasnt impossible and the trainer worked in short bursts giving the pups time to be distracted etc and refocussing. But not all classes are like this, some are puppy pandemonium and so I guess it depends on the quality/size of the class and the pups temperament.

I was very fortunate i believe in the class we found, some of the others around here would have led me straight to one to one training! So I would investigate both and as you say the option to do both is definitely there with such a young puppy.

thanks so much that's really helpful.

Yes it's our 1st dog which is why I'm particularly interested in the advice of experienced dog owners.

I've decided on a great 6 week course in Guildford at the weekends which focuses on positive reward based training which I feel suits my personality and ethos as a family.

This may be a stupid question but what is Obedience UK?

Visit their website

http://www.obedienceuk.com/

There is also a forum for people new to dog obedience.