Dog Health Questions: Petsmart or Petco for dog training classes?

I took my little girl, Ruby, to beginner classes at Petsmart. I loved the classes and she is a very smart dog because of them. We recently got a little boy, Wyatt, and I want to take him to classes as well. However, I want my fiance to go this time, so that he understands better and can be fully effective in the dog training. The problem is, is that we work opposite shifts and we may have to go to Petco because Petsmarts schedule is very full until April.
What are your experiences with Petco and do you think it would be a good idea to go there? I really enjoyed Petsmart and am sad we won't be able to go there. If you have had training experiences with both that would be great!!

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As a professional dog trainer for over 16 years, I have to tell you my strong opinion that you AVOID these group classes for obedience training.

These pet warehouses are there to get you to buy their products and hang around their strore. And their trainers are their employees...never forget they have an agenda.

Most of the trainers have very little education--if they had actual training and skills they wouldn't be there making just over minimum wage--trust me on this.

But even if they did have experience and talent...a group setting is a terrible place for learning to take place. It's distraction training and it is the LAST phase of training not the first. You wouldn't have your child try to do their homework in a toy store, would you? Of course not...the level of distraction would be too high! It's the same with dogs.

Having said that, these classes can be an excellent way to socialize dogs...but not to train them.

And while they appear to be cheaper than a professional trainer...you have to attend many more sessions to get the same results because of the poor learning environment--so you wind up spending MORE money for less training than you would with a professional.

Save your money and go to someone who actually knows how to train dogs. OR, read books and try to train your dog yourself. There is nothing they train at a Petsmart or Petco that you can't do yourself with a couple of hours of reading.

Good luck.

Top 10 Successful Dog Training Tips

• first you schould go to bolth places and bring your dog and talk to the trainers and see if your dog likes it there. it is important that your dog is happy when you train


• I'd just start training him until they have an opening


• petsmart absolutely


• I am a Petsmart Trainer and our program is great. But I agree that you really need to meet your specific trainer. Not all trainers are created equally.
  
  Petsmart is trying to save lives of animals and prevent them going back to shelters by making training your dog affordable and fun.
  
  Avoid any "send away" camps....
  
  If you go with a private trainer... ones who "claim" they have more experience... just remember they are basing themselves off their own standards and don't always train in a correct and humane way.
  
  If they put a choke or prong collar on your dog right away... they are sadly mistaking on their training techniques.
  
  Socialization is a very important part of a dogs growth and development. And group classes are a great way for learning. I teach both group and private, and the group dogs always tend to do better!
  
  Look for reward based training programs and just remember... your dog cannot speak English and are probably smarter than you think.
  
  I am not sure about what Petco trainers must go through to become a teacher so do some research and ask questions!


• I would go and meet the trainers, before signing up for the classes, if possible. Also, watch the trainers during a session, to see if you agree with their training.
  
  I know that where I live, the Petco trainers aren't that great, especially one of them, which is just borderline abusive!


• The best thing to do if you are unsure about Petco is to meet with the trainer and ask questions that concern you. Also see if you can sit in on a class, even if it is without your dog. That way you can get a feel for their training techniques, since you are already familiar with Petsmart.


• I have never took my dogs to training classes, but I worked at Petco for several years during my teenage years. It doesn't necessarily matter which place you go to. You just have to look at the actual trainers. Because all use slightly different technics and won't be the same from store to store even if you compared to different Petco's to each other. With my experience from the trainer at my store they were very good. Good enough I have never had to enroll my own dogs in training classes because I picked up so many helpful tips I could do it on my own. I am pretty sure you will have a good experience no matter which store's trainer you will pick.


• i would go...meet the trainers or maybe sit in on a class and see if you like it...if you do i dont see a problem in going...
  
  i am planning to take my yorkie, Petey, there as soon as i can


• I don't think PetSmart does that. Try PETCO!


• I think it would all depend on the trainer, make sure you see good qualities in the new one like you saw in the old one. And you can train your dog at any time, i just saw on myth busters where they trained two 7 year old malamutes (who have the rep. of being stupid and impossible to train).