Finding a Good Trainer or Classes
I bumped into a nice lady and her exuberant 7-month old pup on a walk the other day, and we got to talking about puppy training.
There are so many choices now, for the new dog parent. From individual trainers to training facilities to classes at your local pet store, the options are plenty. You can even find lots of great training books and DVDs and do it on your own.
Whiskey at his PetSmart graduation
But I’ve found that there’s nothing like a class to get you and your dog motivated. Not only is it easier to learn from a real live human expert, but it’s really good to expose your dog to all that other stimuli while they are learning: other dogs, noises, people, distractions.
I’ve worked with lots of trainers over the years and have to say, the best time both I and my young dog, Whiskey, had in training was at PetSmart. Really! PetSmart. The class was taught by Ryan, and it was just the right size (anywhere from 4 to 9 students in our classes). The methods were all based on positive, current training methods. That means treats (at least at the beginning), using body language to help communicate, and celebrating your dog’s natural learning. We had a great time and Whiskey graduated at the top of each level (he took Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced level classes). To this day, Whiskey whines with excitement every time we drive down the street near PetSmart.
That’s how training should be. Yes, we’re pack leaders. But learning is accomplished best when it’s in a happy environment. Of course there are times when strong, sudden messages need to get through (“Don’t go near that snake!”) but save those for when they’re really necessary—-not when teaching your dog to sit!
I really like Cesar Milan’s training, too, but often see people misusing it. While Cesar stresses “CALM ASSERTIVE” I think most people, especially in the midst of problems or frustrations, forget the “CALM” and only use “ASSERTIVE.” The result, as I’ve seen it, can become bullying. And I don’t think that’s what Cesar is all about.
When you are considering working with a trainer or taking a class with your dog, ask to observe one or more classes. Don’t take your dog. Just yourself. See how the class is taught. Observe things such as:
• How crowded are the classes?
• Is the instructor knowledgeable about current, positive methods?
• Are choke chains or pinch collars used or recommended?
• How are the dogs reacting?
• What’s the mood like? Is the atmosphere scary or are the dogs and their humans having fun?
By watching a class or two, you can really get a feel for the training style and then make a good decision about whether it’s a good fit for you. (And avoid wasting money and time if it’s not).
And you might want to check out PetSmart. Whiskey and all of us at DogParent give their training classes two paws up.
The Dog Parent Philosophy on Training
Although it didn’t seem like it at the time, I guess I should now consider myself lucky that I didn’t grow up with dogs. Sure, there were neighborhood dogs and cats who I knew. But our family was, per my mother’s request, a pet-free zone. Ultimately, I wore Mom down and I did manage to keep a fish tank with neon tetras for quite a while.
But the good part of growing up without dogs is not having an old-school set of rules in one’s head about training. It blows my mind to hear some people still mention “putting his nose in the poop” as a method of house-training a puppy. Yowza. Thankfully, we know a lot more about how dogs think now, and modern training methods are humane, effective and can even be fun for both the dogs and the people.
Here at Dog Parent, we will regularly feature news and notes, suggestions and tips, and links to great products that are in line with a positive training philosophy. We’ll bring you good training knowledge to help you and your dog enjoy each other’s company even more. And while training techniques will vary, ours will always be positive.
We take our inspiration from our favorite trainers, like Patricia McConnell. “The Other End of the Leash” should be required reading for every dog parent. A great read and an enlightening look at how your dog thinks, and why taking that into consideration makes for really successful training and relating. We’ll be reviewing more of her books in posts to come.
Another all-time favorite of ours is Turid Rugaas. “On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals” is nothing short of life-changing! Ms. Rugaas, a trainer in Norway, has studied dogs closely and documented the intricate ways in which dogs use body language to communicate with each other (and us!) at a very sophisticated level. By learning what your dog is saying with his body, you will have a new relationship with him.
When visiting shelters, I have used body language (ie. yawning, looking away, pretending to be interested in something on the ground in front of the kennel) and the reactions I have received from dogs took my breath away. I actually got a double take from one dog! The dogs would be quiet and fascinated, looking at me as if to say, “You speak our language?”
Our angel, Poco, modeling his Grandpa's glasses.
We hope you’ll enjoy digging into our training sections as much as we will enjoy bringing them to you. Look for videos here, too.
