How To Choose The Best Dog Obedience Schools
A search in your local shoppers guide or newspapers will yield dozens of ads for dog obedience schools that will help your new canine family member fit in with the other animals and people in the house. So how do you choose the one that is right for you?
You will find that there are several different approaches for dog training from using punishment techniques to a more positive, rewards based approach.
Most trainers will have chosen their own method to fit themselves and their clients. Positive approaches are becoming more and more common and this is probably what you will run into when looking for obedience schools.
Another factor is your dog, and it’s background. Is it a puppy, or a rescue dog with their inherent concerns? What is your desired outcome from training–basic obedience, as a pet for the family, show, tracking, or any other dog activities?
How do you find good dog obedience schools? First, remember your dog’s personality and desirable goals and why you need a dog trainer in the first place. Search local newspapers, shoppers’ guides and the internet. Other dog owners will be happy to recommend a wonderful trainer. Local kennel clubs and your vet will also know of many reputable dog training schools.
When reviewing trainer choices, use referrals and references for the best results. Then, attend one of your choice’s beginner classes to see his techniques. Positive methods are best. If he’s dragging a dog around by the collar, move on! Before asking for training at your home, remember that socialization skills are important for your dog, so it may be best to train elsewhere.
It is a great a idea to sign your puppy up for a play group to ensure it has proper socialization. However, if you have a rescue dog with aggression issues you may need more than just a regular trainer. In this case, you may need a certified animal behaviorist. Be extra cautious with aggressive animals!
Although there is a small percentage of dogs that will require a pinch collar for training purposes, a “Gentle Leader” head collar is often just as, if not more, effective for most dogs.
If your dog isn’t required for his first training session, don’t be shocked — it’s a good thing! Clicker training (or any positive training) needs a training session for owners so you learn to properly use the tools and to communicate effectively with your dog.
These are some ways to tell if the program is a positive training class:
1. The school, as a whole, will have a positive tone.
2. Training is based on offering your dog rewards during training is the key to reaching your desired goals, which along with praise, may include his favorite toy and doggie treats.
3. A slight whisper or shush noise is the only thing necessary to distract the dog and get the message across that his behavior is unacceptable. There isn’t much punishment, and unwanted actions will be stopped.
4. The method of dealing with undesirable behavior is to give the dog a command that he can not achieve while engaged in said behavior. For example, command him to “sit” to stop him from jumping up on guests when they first enter your home.
5. Patience to let the dog give the desired response is a key part of training.
There are other methods to training your dog that you can use in addition to local dog obedience schools. Hollywood canines get their talent by way of “clicker training”, a very effective and efficient means of training dogs. If you want to review other methods, there are plenty of credible websites and training books available also.
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