What do people actually think of puppy classes?

[Tara]

Hi,

I'm curious to get people's take on puppy socialization classes. I took Tara to one and I'm not sure whether to take her back again.

Before the class she was well behaved on the lead for a puppy. Interested in dogs and people but didn't bark or pull towards them. More interested in me and focused on my face and expression.

During the class she discovered how much fun the other pups were and that everyone she bounced would give her food. She went from looking at my face to see what I wanted to looking at my pocket in case a treat would appear.

Now on the lead she barks and lunges at any dog she sees and tries to jump up at everyone who passes.

It would seem a step backward rather than a step forward to me.

Opinions welcome.

[Moobli]

As with all dog training classes, so much depends on how they are run.

Could you tell us a little bit more about the class you attended? How many pups attended the same class? Were they all of a similar age? Was the class a "free for all" or was there some structure to it?

I do think well run puppy classes can be useful, as you can socialise your pup in a safe and friendly/fun environment with pups of a similar age. You can start to teach your pup to learn with distractions and it is also great to hear how other people are getting on with their pups - share worries/problems etc. However, the emphasis is placed on "well run". I have heard too many horror stories of these puppy classes being a free for all, where the pups just rough and tumble with each other, with little interaction from their owners - or even worse, puppies of all ages and sizes mix and they can have scary and bad experiences.

It is about time we saw more pics of Tara too

[jc24965]

I'll let you know after I've been. I'm going more for the socialisation with other dogs than anything else but hoping I'll pick up some useful hints and tips and maybe make some new friends along the way.

[Fi1805]

I think it depends on how the class is run. I took Isla to puppy classes for socialisation more than anything else because I wanted her to learn to focus on me despite other dogs being present.

The kind of exercises we did were things like walking your pup to heel whilst weaving in and out of a line of all the other owners and pups. We also did things like loose lead walking towards a partner and stop level for a couple of seconds chat and then move off again.

They did emphasise that we were not there to allow our pups to play with each other, they were there to work! I'm not really sure how other companies plan their classes.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Moobli

As with all dog training classes, so much depends on how they are run.

Could you tell us a little bit more about the class you attended? How many pups attended the same class? Were they all of a similar age? Was the class a "free for all" or was there some structure to it?

I do think well run puppy classes can be useful, as you can socialise your pup in a safe and friendly/fun environment with pups of a similar age. You can start to teach your pup to learn with distractions and it is also great to hear how other people are getting on with their pups - share worries/problems etc. However, the emphasis is placed on "well run". I have heard too many horror stories of these puppy classes being a free for all, where the pups just rough and tumble with each other, with little interaction from their owners - or even worse, puppies of all ages and sizes mix and they can have scary and bad experiences.

It is about time we saw more pics of Tara too

I agree, when Jackson was a proper puppy (I miss those days) he went to classes, at the beginning of the class we would let all the dogs off their leads and he would plough off and play, the owners would all mill round the outside of the fenced off area and chat for a few minutes then everyone would call thier pups back. Then after this we would do some individual recalls, the tunnel (tubey thing) and some basic heel work. All the time imbetween putting the dog into a sit next to us.. I used the class mainly for the socialisation to be honest as its so very very important.

I can see two sides to the treating by others, obviously its not always desirable but your dog will always be pleased to see others.

[nisbreagha]

I pretty much agree with what everyone else has said, you need to do your research on the classes before you go much like buying the dog a good class should be more than willing for you to sit in on a class or two so you can see what they are like and what youd be expected to do. Maybe you should look about and see what else is available if you don't like this one.

[LOVEGSD]

I too agree with the others, I think they are important and so valuable if you get the right class. I think puppy classes need to be structured and not a free for all....x

[Tara]

It was pretty much a free for all.

Various ages of dogs with a couple of altercations breaking out. Us humans just milling about with no idea if what to expect.

All chucked a clicker and told to get pup to sit click and treat.

Got told off for Tara walking on my right. She does that as there aren't any pavements for over 2 miles where I am so we walk the roads facing traffic. It annoyed the trainer that when she insisted on taking my lead Tara automatically lined up by her right leg.

No dogs were stopped from leaping up on people. Two kids were there and Tara love jumping on them.

It was chaos.

I think my next nearest class is about 3 hours drive away and of course 3 hours back. Just not sure if it will be worth the effort. After all the beach is only half an hour away in the car.

[LOVEGSD]

I would be avoiding these classes like the plague tbh.....this sounds like a total nightmare being run by people with no clue! You could be doing more damage than good by going imo.

As for the trainer getting funny about Tara walking on your right, that's just odd, it doesnt matter what side your dog walks on and in fact at my training class you are actively encouraged to be able to walk your dog on both sides.

[Lutgard 1]

Done the puppy class with the Boys and didnt with Link.
Link is more attentive and confident!
I do however take her to an adult class now not a puppy class and she is coming on leaps and bounds.