Dog obedience classes?
#240866 - 01/23/06 01:50 PM
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michele
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 6886
Loc: southeastern michigan
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Harley is 18 weeks now and I'm thinking about taking him to dog obedience classes. I found a place that uses positive reinforcement techniques only and they have a class starting 2-15. The classes are 90 minutes each and it is once a week for 6 weeks. The price is $239.00 OUCH! I've never had a dog before so I really don't know how to train one. Harley is a good dog, I've taught him to sit already, he comes 98% of the time when I call him and he is fully paper trained. I take him to work everyday so I need him to mind me, which he does pretty well now but I don't know if as he gets older if he will start to get a mind of his own kind of thing? How important and how useful are these classes? Its a lot of money but I can pay it and still pay my bills without too much of an issue. I guess I'm just looking for peoples opinions who have taken there dogs to these classes before and was it worth it?
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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That seems pretty steep! Have you checked out prices at your local Petsmart? A lot of people attend only one class and sort of take over on their own. It's not like your darling fluffball is going to be a giant when he grows up. You don't need a trainer to take over training for you, right?
I say if you're going to do it yourself anyway, just get a good book or two and read it. You'll want to potty train him (tho I think Harley's already paper trained, right?  ), and to leash train him. Also you'll want to teach him basic commands, but that's easier than you think, it just takes 20 minutes and a bag of treats.
I wouldn't pay that kind of cash to do something you can do yourself. Unless it's absolutely necessary that he be able to fetch you a beer out of the fridge and dial 911.
~nelly~
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GOFERIT!
#240872 - 01/23/06 02:12 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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We took Max to puppy class, and it was the best thing we ever did for him. He graduated "with honors"!
You realize, of course, it's not the dog that needs the training; it's the owner. They teach you how to work with the dog, then after he "graduates," then it's up to you. You have to reinforce what they taught you in class.
We worked with Max for a very long time after he graduated. The cost may seem like a lot to you now, but if you continue working with Harley, you'll see a huge improvement, and then the money will seem trivial, compared with the fantastic obedient dog you'll have.
GOFERIT!
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I would definately go. They are so much fun and teach the dogs important skills like how to socialise with other dogs etc.
It would be especially useful for you as you need Harvey to be well behaved at work and it would help minimise the teenage rebellion period that is yet to come.
Getting the basics in at an early age is soooo important and it's better to do the training around other dogs than at home, as there are more distractions.
Working in a kennels I have seen so many small dogs that have not been trained because of their size and I think they have really missed out. There was a tiny chihuahua (sp?) and a Great Dane at my friends training class, which show that size doesn't matter!
OK I'll get off my soapbox now!!!
Catherine
BTW price seems a bit steep. We paid £65 for 6 weeks and we go to the most expensive classes in the area.
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Well worth the money and the time. My hubby and I both went so that the dog would listen to both of us. You have to be willing though to do all they tell you to do. I remember taking our golden around the perimeter of our front lawn over and over and over again until he understood that he could only stay on our lawn. It worked but you have to spend time doing it. I'd recommend it highly!!!!
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~~~Lisa~~~
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Hi Michele,
I am debating taking Annie to obedience classes, too. She is 2 yrs old and is a very good dog but just needs to know some commands. She has also been barking a lot. I think it might be a good idea and have heard lots of good things about dog obedience. It is important to get a good trainer, though, I have been told.
Anyway, I'm thinking about it, too.
Good Luck
Barbie
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I'm trying to get my beagles to tell me when they need to go outside. I need to teach them this before we move into our new house. (The door that they will go out is not within our view when we're in the living room). So I'd like for them to bark on command when they need to go potty.
I tried to train them to speak (bark) with a treat. They sit (the one command they do know!), but they just stare at me when I say "Speak." I bark at them, and they look at me like I'm crazy.
I know they don't understand English. How in the heck am I supposed to teach them to bark on command? Barking at them is definitely not working---and I'm sure my next door neighbors in the apartment are wondering what I'm doing barking!!!
Any ideas?
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I have no idea, BL, but I know it can be done. My sister's dog lets out one woof to go out, and one woof to be let back in. I think he came already trained that way, but I'll check with her.
Good luck!
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Christine
Those who can do; those who want it done better teach.
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Ask Harley's vet if they have or know of any puppy parties. As Harley's responding well to your training what he needs is socialisation with other dogs, people and situations.
I wouldn't pay that much! Archie's classes are unusual in that they are pay-as-you-go instead of booking one block of classes, but that's b/ the instructors are so good there are always lots of people there. And they only cost 3 pounds per dog per class!
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Re: Nelly
#240999 - 01/24/06 07:12 AM
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michele
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 6886
Loc: southeastern michigan
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"Train him to fetch me a beer out of the fridge and call 911," TOO FUNNY!!!  I won't be showing him or anything but I need him to LISTEN and BEHAVE at the office. He does really well right now but I'm afraid when he hits the teenage mark, that he might get a mind of his own! The closest PetSmart that has classes is like 20 miles away, thats about 40 minutes of driving one way, a bit too far for me. I did find someone closer and a little cheaper that I'm going to check out Thursday night!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I found a lady that teaches classes out of her house thats right on my way home and its a tiny bit cheaper. She is starting a class this Thursday so I'm going to go check it out! The first class is for "mommies" only, no doggies. Will and I talked it over last night and agreed the money was probably worth it since he will be my furbaby for a very long time! I've never had a dog before so I guess I should learn the proper way to train Harley! 
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Will and I agreed last night that it was a good idea and I found a place thats a little cheaper and right on my way home! Harley is already pretty well socialized as he goes to work with me everyday and plays with everyone who comes in but I think its best if I learn to train him proper. He does listen pretty well already and I've taught him a few things but since Harley is my first dog and I plan on having him for a long time, I want to do it right!
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Will and Ia greed it was a good idea to go last night but I never thought of having WIll go to class also! I found a class that starts this Thursday and the first night is for the parents only so I'll be sure to ask about both Will and bringing Harley.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Re: Hi Barbie
#241007 - 01/24/06 07:22 AM
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michele
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 6886
Loc: southeastern michigan
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Yeah, Harley is also a very good dog but I agree, he needs to learn a few commands, the big one is STAY! He sits and comes pretty well but he won't do stay! I need him to listen to me at the office so we decided we are going to do it! My vet actually suggested a place and its right on my way home from work and the class starts this Thursday! I'll let you know how it goes!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Re: BL
#241009 - 01/24/06 07:25 AM
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michele
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 6886
Loc: southeastern michigan
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Someone suggested to me to put bells on the door you want them to go out and teach them to jingle the bells when they need to go outside! Its not really an issue for me as Harley will be little and I'm just find with him going potty on his wee-wee pads. I take him out when I can but our yard isn't all the way fenced in and we live on a busy road and shih tzu's are primarly indoor dogs anyway! I'm hoping this summer to get the rest of the yard fenced in so he can go out and play whenever he wants to.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I did check with the vet and she suggested a place thats right on the way home. Its still $215 for 6 weeks but I called 5 different places and they were all $200-$250. I think its awful steep too but I aguess thats the going rate here where I live. Harley is a really good boy and listens well but I guess the classes may be more for me than him! Since I've never had a dog before, I want to be sure I'm raising him right! 
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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That's how we taught our golden to go to the door and speak. We'd say speak before we let him out and he caught on. I'm wondering though if it will be tough for you since your dog isn't a puppy. Maybe not. Just repetition of the speak should work. However, my mom has a Bernese Mt. Dog and she's so dumb she won't bark no matter how hard to get
her to! Beautiful dog, but not too smart in the gene pool!
WE are actually loking into a Bernese and Golden mix. Dumb dog mixed with a smart dog. Should be interesting. I'm gonna do the same "speak" thing with it when we get it. Hopefully it works again. Good luck!
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~~~Lisa~~~
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Pack heirarchy
#241127 - 01/24/06 11:54 AM
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Nelly
Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 4381
Loc: Within stray mortar fire of DC
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Make sure to make him do a trick before he gets any reward. Like filling his bowl with food, then making him sit before you give it to him. It teaches pack heirarchy (you on top, him on bottom).
We enforce this all day long every day. If mr. dog and I go through the same doorway, I have to go before him. BF and I also eat first and then when we're done, then I put out food for the dog. He has to see us eating before him. Before he goes on a walk, we make him lie down before we put the leash on. That kinda stuff.
In other words, YOU are the boss!
~nelly~
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