People who are new to dog ownership want to do it "right" from the very start.
They research the best toys, the best food, the best equipment for their dog. And then, once they have a puppy – and sometimes even prior to that moment – new dog owners are looking for a good trainer.
And at this moment they are being hit with a massive amount of services that are being offered “out there.” There are private lessons, board-and-trains; there are puppy classes, and socialization classes, and head start programs; there are group classes, doggy daycares, and dog camps. But how does one choose what is right for them?
I am sure I am not the first person to talk about these choices, and yet here is my perspective.
Pros of individual or private or one-on-one classes:
- They are good for people who cannot commit to regular schedule, such as shift workers
- They are great for fixing an existing behavioural problem as you get undivided attention of an instructor
- They are good for training a very particular behaviour that is not covered by most obedience courses
- Depending on your budget, they can provide a great flexibility with increasing distractions. By that I mean: you can gradually move from an environment with less distractions, such as your backyard, to an environment with most distractions, such as dog park
Cons:
- They are very expensive
- You do not get a benefit of training in close proximity to other dogs and thus have to work on neutrality towards other dogs separately
- It is harder to create controlled distractions, such as another person heeling with their dog nearby; or a dog in a long down that you need to pass while heeling with your own dog.
Board and train, pros:
- A great way to solve behavioural problems, as your dog will be worked by a professional
- Being outside of their comfort zone forces your dog to exercise new behaviours and get used to new rules
- If done properly, the results will be fast and very noticeable
Cons:
- Very expensive
- You do not see what is going on with your dog every day and do not learn from that
- You still have to learn how to access all the newly learned behaviours in your dog. The fact that they now know how to perform those behaviours does not automatically mean that they will do it for you
Group classes pros:
- You get to work among other dogs and people, which is a great way to learn how to deal with issues when distractions are present
- The level of distractions is easily adjusted and controlled by your instructor
- Group allows for manufacturing real-life situations which you might have found difficult to handle, such as a person with a dog approaching you and your dog going hyper (what do you do in this case?); or another person wanting to pet your dog without asking, and your dog not taking to it kindly.
- Being in a group encourages a certain degree of discipline, as you have to keep up with the overall pace
- Seeing how other people train helps you to get a perspective and tweak things in your own style
- This is the most budget-friendly training option
Cons:
- You do not get a lot of personalized attention
- Group classes are not good for extremely reactive or dog-aggressive dogs
For all types of training:
NO matter what you choose, you have to work on establishing communication with your dog yourself. There is no magic wand, and no instructor is a wizard, no matter how many certifications and achievements they have. Their job is to give you tools, and from there it is up to you how to employ those tools in your everyday life.
And do not wait too long to choose. It is much easier to prevent issues than to fix them. Contact us to learn about our programs and classes!