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Puppy obedience classes aren’t always necessary, but they are a good means of teaching your dog the things he or she should know to insure a good relationship between you and man’s best friend.
Some folks are cut out to do their own training. However, if you are not experienced with puppy training, seek help from qualified persons. Your veterinarian can make recommendations. Other dog owners are a good source of information. It is important to choose someone qualified. Just as you want the best education you can get for your child, you should seek out the best for your puppy. The lessons learned during the puppy stage will shape the dog’s behavior for life.
When choosing a trainer, look for one that is professional and certified. While canine obedience schools often rely on trained professionals, pet stores may not be as choosy.
When choosing a puppy training school, go there and watch what happens. Sit in on a training class so you can see the methods the trainer employs. You may have to sit through classes at more than one school in order to choose a class that is best suited to your puppy.
When shopping for a basic training class, make sure the one you choose uses positive reinforcement methods of training. The atmosphere should be open, friendly and welcoming to you and your puppy.
If the school site is not clean and sanitary, move on to the next one. Many diseases that your puppy is susceptible to are carried by other dogs and are transmitted through feces.
Find a trainer that you can communicate with. It is also important that your puppy likes the instructor.
While it is good to put your puppy in an obedience class with other dogs in order to promote good socialization skills, it is best to choose a class that is not overcrowded. You and your puppy will need adequate space in which to work on training commands.
A good dog obedience school will employ trainers that are willing to work with you and your puppy on a one-to-one basis if necessary.
Most obedience classes are offered once a week for several weeks. The length of the average puppy training session is one hour. While this may not seem like much time, shorter sessions work better because your puppy concentration span is short.
When training a puppy, it is important to realize that you have to reinforce what he or she learns at obedience school. Your puppy learns by repetition, so it is important that you take the time to work with the dog on a daily basis throughout the week.
Once your puppy graduates from doggie kindergarten, you may choose to seek further advanced training instruction. If you intend to show your dog, advanced training will be needed. If your puppy isn’t going to be strutting around the show ring, you need to analyze the need for further training.
