Dog Training - A Vital Component of Your Dog's Life
Recommended Answer:
There are actually some very good dog training videos out there that I'm sure you would be able to train your puppy with. However, there are distinct advantages to taking classes. Your dog will be around other dogs, and it's always good to socialize early. Plus it's nice to actually have a trainer in person to answer questions, whether about technique or just dog stuff in general. It's good that you are aware of the importance of training. You and your dog are going to be great together.
Dog Training - How to Potty Train Your Dog & End Your Frustration - It is Easier Than You Think
- Either way would work, however by taking your dog to a class, you are socializing him and training him how to behave around other people and other dogs. Hopefully a class instructor will use positive methods when teaching. I suggest you go and observe a class before signing up for one.
You can then decide if this is something you want to participate in without spending the money only to find you don't like what the instructor is telling you to do.
I've used both methods with my training, and I like the class situation the best, but I follow it up with videos taught by trainers whose seminars I've attended. Here's a good training site for positive training;
http://www.r-plusdogtraining.info/ - A class with a real trainer is better. Lots of reasons.
Especially for a puppy, socialization is SO important. Puppy classes are FUN! You and your pup will learn the basics of obedience training and have a blast doing so. Even if you only take one or two sets of puppy classes, you will have a strong foundation upon which to build the more advanced and complicated obedience commands.
Also, a trainer can observe the way you command and reward your pup, and can correct where necessary. So much of basic obedience is correct tone of voice, body language, and timing ... the trainer can help you fine-tune all of those. - Training class pros:
Your dog benefits from socialization with other people and dogs.
Someone is there to help you and answer your questions
Trainer can guide you through the training process with hands on help
Training class cons:
It costs more than a video
Video pros:
You can train in the comfort of your own home
It's cheaper than a training class
Video cons:
It's harder than you think to follow the training steps that are given in a video
You can't ask the person in the video for help
You will be less likely to stick to a video training regimen than you would a class - It's best to take your dog to class. In class the instructor can show you how to do it right.
Make sure, that you sit in an watch a class before joining. You want to see how the instructor interacts not only with the dogs, but also with the owners. You can find local obedience clubs thru the AKC http://www.akc.org
With a video, while you may get so good ideas, you don't know if that particular training is right for your dog. You also don't have anyone to correct you when your doing something wrong. - If you have a puppy and are enrolling in Sirius Puppy classes, get the DVD, too. You can start working with the DVD at home before the pup is old enough to begin classes (at age 12 weeks) and have a head start on the class plus better control over your pup. It really helps and it's a great way to get started.
Otherwise, it depends a lot on the quality of the classes or the DVD you are considering. There are good and bad available in both. If you aren't going to puppy classes, please reconsider. Your dog needs the classes. If your dog is too old for puppy classes, then call the places you are interested in going to classes at and ask if you can watch a few lessons before you enroll. See if the instructor explains clearly what to do and how to do it. See how dogs are handled in the class. Talk to some of the best and worst students after class to get their opinions on it. Ask yourself if you want to train your dog with those methods. Think it over carefully.
There are many different approaches to dog training. You don't have to use a choke chain. You don't have to ever yell NO or use force. Dog learn remarkably well from force-free methods that use positive reinforcement. The best of these is called Clicker training. - It all depends on how your puppy responds to training...I was able to train my APBT perfectly fine at home and even had him CGC certified and we are working on his therapy dog certification...however my other dog, I ended up having to take her to classes as she just wasnt responding to me and it helped having that little bit of extra guidance. I would suggest trying on your own and if that doesnt work, sign up for classs.
- Getting a Video isn't good because you really don't know if your doing it right. And you might be doing more harm than good. And it doesn't tell you if your doing it right or not.
I would say taking a puppy to class is betting because you can meet other puppies, the trainer can show you want your doing wrong. and Teach you to do it right. And you will come out a lot better in the long run.
No comments:
Post a Comment