dog training classes

snookey

Hi we are looking for dog training classes in Liverpool. Have you a good training class in your area and what is the cost.

UKTigerlily

You could look for a class that provides the Kennel Club Good Citizen Awards, I think if you go to the KC website you can do a search for ones local. APDT website will also have trainers/classes in your area. The class locally to me is £5 a session & the slightly further away KCGC is £35 for each course (Bronze, Silver & Gold)

krlyr

Try the APDT website for local trainers. Members of the APDT have a "pledge" as such to follow modern, fair training methods - no shock collars, water pistols, etc. (which are old methods that can produce a quick fix but often don't have a lasting result)
http://www.apdt.co.uk

Remember that a decent trainer will be happy for you to go along and watch a class before you hand over any money.
This may be worth a read
http://www.apdt.co.uk/choosing_dog_trainer_uk.asp

Caroline_a

If you want a dog who is just a good family pet, then the Good Citizens classes are brilliant. Formal (competition) obedience is more exacting, but you could start a pup with Good Citizen as it will give you most of the basics even for formal obedience.

Also it's a great way to meet dog walking mates - I met one of my (now) best friends there - we walk our dogs together who just luurve each other!

PuppyLove_2

Funnily enough we went to watch a Kennel Club Good Citizen Awards puppy training class last night and we start the new class in 2 weeks!

It looked brilliant, and my pup loved just being there to watch as he got to meet lots of other dogs, although he was a bit put out that he couldnt join in!

Mine costs £55 for a seven week course, at the end of which you get the bronze award. You can then carry on and do the silver and gold.

Mind you i was getting nervous with my pup playing with the big dogs, he was rough playing with an 8 month old german shepherd and a 5 month old rotweiller! Im always convinced they're going to eat him, the funny thing was that after playing with these dogs he then got bitten on the nose by a Jack Russel! :rotfl:

krlyr

PuppyLove wrote: »

Mind you i was getting nervous with my pup playing with the big dogs, he was rough playing with an 8 month old german shepherd and a 5 month old rotweiller! Im always convinced they're going to eat him, the funny thing was that after playing with these dogs he then got bitten on the nose by a Jack Russel! :rotfl:

Not to rain on your parade but do remember that while socialisation is important for puppies, it's more important that it's the right kind of socialisation. I messed up and did the whole "puppy party" thing with my dog, where two young Akita puppies jumped all over the other dogs and played really rough. It was just their breed's playstyle but it made my puppy nervous (and she was one of the biggest there, being a GSD). At that age, a negative experience can cause serious problems so try to limit the playing in class to dogs that you know are fine, and also use it as an opportunity to teach your dog to learn to be around dogs without playing the whole time - you don't want a dog that cannot be calm around other dogs, or you'll have problems like it creating havoc in the vet waiting room trying to play with poorly dogs, running over to other dogs when it's off-lead (and remember that not all dogs appreciate another dog bowling over to them) and so on. Not saying he can't play at all, but he needs to learn that play is on your terms, not his

moomin5

Most recent adult beginner class was £60 for 2hr behavior/training talk and 5x1hr classes which was a bit pricer per class than others but were very happy with it. There was only 6 people in the class so trainer & assistant were able to give more 1-2-1 and we got though lots in the time. It was held in an indoor riding school so people had plenty of space and generally it had calm relaxed atmosphere plus trainer would put up visual barriers & help those dogs which were causing a bit of a nuisance explaining behaviour & solving issue quickly. It was clicker based which i found the dogs picked things up much quicker than previous class and it was simpler for me to break things down. It wasn't a KC good citz, but actually found it more useful as wasn't spending time going through lots of stuff we can do or know about already because the content was more flexible.

We did do a KC bronze GC class elsewhere about 3yrs years ago which was £50 for 10x1hr, with 12 dogs held in a scout hut it was a bit cramped & the shiny floor caused some sliding. It was reward based but i found the trainer was ok rather than great as didn't do anything about dogs that barked over the instructions or offer alternative methods to try. On plus side very few people had ID on dogs which GC highlights, which i thought everyone would know about TBH:o.

Both were listed on that APDT site, but some have trainers address as area not where classes are actually held so we wouldn't have picked our current trainer based on that, as it was we'd googled classes then researched a bit further.

Definitely go along to watch to see their training in action and if it will suit you, first class we went to was advertised in local paper i'd rang up and was told it was reward based, but it turned out to be very old school with choke chains recommended and a lot of forcing and no treats. We walked out after trainer manipulated a pup into a down and told owner to hold it in position while saying "down", was very glad to have not paid them any money, though wouldn't have subjected my dogs to the classes it even if i had.

Sorry bit wordy but hope it highlights some of good & bad points at least and not to go simply on most affordable.

Caroline_a

I do think that one of the good things about the Good Citizen is that, along with teaching general obedience, socialisation and good behaviour, the owners get to learn about dog care too. Some of this might sound very basic stuff, but as moomin said, not everybody knows these sort of things, as we often see on this forum.

If nothing else, it can generate discussion with people who have more experience chipping in with their previous experiences, etc.