What To Expect At A Dog Training Class

Are you ready to start training your dog? By enrolling in a dog training class and having a professional dog training specialist assist you along the way, you and your dog can get the feedback and assistance you need to achieve your training goals more rapidly. There are many different kinds of dog training classes, depending on your needs and your dog’s needs.

Any aspiring dog trainer must use positive reinforcement in all dog training techniques. Never use negative reinforcement to train your dog or to modify their training. Suppose you have any questions or requests for training on choosing a trainer for your dog. In that case, your veterinarian is a fantastic place to start.

What separates private dog training classes from group ones?

In private dog training classes, which are one-on-one sessions with a dog trainer, you and your dog are the only students. You might be able to take these private classes at your trainer’s physical location or a dog training facility if they have one. There is a lot of scheduling flexibility with private dog training classes. Instead of following a set curriculum, your dog trainer will make a training plan for you and your dog based on the skills you want to teach them.

Private dog training classes are suggested for:

  • Busy schedules that make it difficult to attend a weekly class on time
  • Including your complete family in your dog’s training
  • Specific behaviours that you’d like addressed in addition to basic obedience, especially ones that only happen at home (such as counter surfing or door dashing)
  • Complicated behavioural issues such as resource protection, behaviour, or fear-based behaviour

Group dog training classes are sessions organized with several dogs and their owners, with one dog training per class. In some classes, assistant trainers may help the primary trainer and the students.

Group classes for training dogs follow a set curriculum based on the class type and level.

The dog trainer will normally go over a few different cues each week. They will first discuss the behaviour, then demonstrate it (sometimes with their dog, but more commonly with a student’s dog), have everyone practice it, and finally offer feedback. You will receive homework from practising before the next group training class at the end of each weekly lesson.

Group dog training classes are great for:

Dog training classes: what you’ll learn in each kind

Group dog training classes cover a lot more than just the fundamentals. Even though many dog owners sign up for puppy classes or basic obedience 101, there are numerous activities you can perform in a group dog training class to increase your dog’s skills and have a lot of fun.

Here are some examples of the different types of dog training classes:

  • Puppy play dates and socializing activities. Your puppy will learn basic manners and how to act around other dogs in these classes.
  • Simple obedience. You will learn the most common training cues, such as sit, down, stay, come, leave it, drop it, and leash walking manners.
  • High and middle degrees of obedience. These classes raise obedience to a new level by making the basic cues more difficult by including more challenging behaviours with greater distractions, such as heel, emergency drop, or retrieve. In addition to helping dog owners prepare for dog sports like rally obedience or competition obedience, these classes are a great way to keep your dog mentally prepared and strengthen your relationship.
  • Canine Good Citizen training and certification provided by the AKC. If you want to learn more about therapy dog work or if you want your dog to be a well-behaved canine ambassador, think about enrolling in a CGC class. Your dog will practice real-world training scenarios. At the end of the course, it’ll be judged on its socialization with people and other dogs and its basic manners, impulse control, and composure.
  • Obnoxious canine or rover. These classes are made especially for dogs that, when being led, growl, bark, or lunge at other dogs or people. These classes are well-planned, have small class sizes, and give these dogs and their owners a safe place to work on changing their behaviour.
  • Dog sports. Enrol in a dog sport class if you want to use your dog’s instincts! Your dog can participate in a dog sport depending on what they like to do.

Where can I locate dog-training classes?

Many large pet stores hold dog training classes in their facilities and have teams of in-house dog trainers on staff. Few locations provide dog training classes, and many dog trainers work on their staff. Even if they don’t have a physical location, freelance dog trainers could teach group classes at nearby parks or community centres.

When should you start taking dog training classes?

It’s never too early or too late to start training your dog. Enrolling in a group dog training class is a great way to build a relationship with your new dog or puppy and instil positive behaviours early on. Even if you’ve had your dog for a while, enrolling them in a training class is great since it will keep them entertained and improve their quality of life.