A new client of
mine had already been through another obedience
program with her dog, but you would not know it.
She said the classes were large, they used the
same technique on all the dogs and the people
teaching were far from encouraging. She had
problems getting questions answered and the
students did more walking in circles and getting
yelled at than they did trouble shooting and
learning. Many students left after just a few
classes and never returned. She finished the
program, as she had paid her money but felt like
she got little out of it.
Many dog owners I
speak to have said had they known what to look for
in a program, they would have done more research
and found better classes. Many people do not
know what to look for in a dog-training program.
They often assume just because someone uses the
title "Trainer" or
"Behaviorist" that the classes are
quality.
Just because someone has a flashy
ad or is listed on a website does not mean the
program is good. The average dog owner
spends more time picking out shoes than they do a
training program! This is not good.
The people you seek out to help you with your dog
or puppy can make all the difference in the world!
There are several
things to take into consideration when looking for
a program:
Class sizes: the
larger the classes, the less individual
attention you will get. Even if there
are helpers, you may not get the same
attention as in a smaller class. Classes
should be no more than 6 – 8 dogs.
Will the
instructor let you observe a class before you
enroll? If not, find someone else.
You should have the chance to observe the
teacher in action first.
Class sizes: the
larger the classes, the less individual
attention you will get. Even if there
are helpers, you may not get the same
attention as in a smaller class. Classes
should be no more than 6 – 8 dogs.
