Are Dog Training Classes Worth It

Dog training classes are not so popular because many pet parents prefer to train their dogs at home without help from professionals or hire private instructors instead of group classes. They believe that classes aren’t worth it and too expensive. This article will highlight what to expect in dog training classes to help you decide on whether they worth the time and expenses.

Why You Need Dog Training Classes

Puppies are cute but can be quite a handful. They can chew your furniture or even tear your house apart in a flash. Your shoes aren’t safe, neither are your houseplants. Your puppy can also change the smell of your carpet temporarily if your potty training fails. In this case, you may need dog training classes which include socialization and obedience classes to teach your puppy adult manners. Are such pieces of training worth the cost? Here are the basics of the different programs.

Socialization Training

This type of training helps the pup to cope in crowded places away from familiar faces. Socialization training is essential to allow the pet to strive in such environments. This means that the dog owner is advised to visit more crowded places rather than shy away from them. Puppies are introduced to such places in the first weeks of training. The main goal of socialization classes is to prepare the pet for the world. Also, it allows the pup to know other breeds, adapt to different environments and life-threatening situations, and correct undesirable behavior.

Most pet owners adopt them at a tender age of 7-8 weeks. At this point, they may have had a chance to socialize with other puppies. This should be continued for one more month. This training is time-sensitive because it becomes useless when the pup is 12 weeks old.

Obedience Training

A dog owner can do obedience training at home, but most of the techniques rarely ever work. Some of these techniques are also questionable. One example is buying a shock collar. This does not make you a professional trainer. It is very possible to train your puppy from home, but it is better to enroll to professional dog training classes.

During these classes, dog learns to obey most common commands, such as:

• sit
• stand
• down
• stay
• wait
• release
• come
• roll over
• settle
• heel
• take it (or bring it)
• drop it (or leave it)
• go to bed

Also, behavioral training addresses some issues, such as:

• barking
• peeing
• chewing on and eating something unwanted
• accepting a leash
• listening to you

The professionals here emphasize minimizing pressure on the dog and encourage the participation of the owner in all stages. The training is done in a way that the dog is praised and rewarded for good behavior with lure, such as treat or toy. Also, the dog is not punished for mistakes.

Agility Training

Depending on your training goals, you can also try agility classes. The course that includes jumping and passing through different obstacles will help to keep your dog fit, increase his endurance, improve coordination and strengthen muscles.

Are Dog Training Classes Really Worth It?

Any training for your pet can be worth it depending on how you perceive the investment. Most of the time, they pay off in the future. In other cases, the dog is kept busy and the risk of anxiety and depression is reduced greatly. This is very common during the first year of a dog’s life.

As you need primary education, your pooch also needs training classes. Even though there is nothing wrong with basic home training, opting for dog training classes can go a long way to ease your life. If you don’t have time to handle basic level training for your pet, then it is safer to let professionals do the job. After all, having a dog with aggression issues isn’t is not admirable at all.

Dog training requires commitment and patience. As long as you want a well behaved and healthy dog, you need to train. If you lack the experience, dog training classes will give you your money’s worth. They offer skills that motivate and encourage the dog to be respectful and obedient.

Research has shown that dog training classes are effective and also essential for socialization. If you opt for them, your dog will have lots of positive experiences. They will develop the character of the pup and also build confidence.

Most dog training classes take around 15 minutes each time. This is because most puppies and dogs generally have a short attention span. Since they are easily distracted, the sessions should stay below 15 minutes daily. If training sessions are too long, it would be counterproductive, because dogs will start to make mistakes and have a hard time following up.

Good classes also assign homework. This is very important part of training, because your dog cannot progress without repetition and practice.

Final Thoughts

Dog training classes teach obedience and socialization. This is not compulsory for all dog owners but highly recommended for people who want well-behaved pets and can afford to invest in professional training for the dog. Classes are a lot better than home training. They help you build better relationships between you and your canine companion. They also save your time and efforts that would have been used in training the pet alone. Dog training classes are especially recommended for the new owners.

Professional trainers use strategic organization to offer solutions that work for different pets. In this case, only a selected few are involved and each dog is worked on individually despite being in a group. This method helps keep all dogs focused on specific exercises instead of the generalized curriculum of a group training, so most of them tend to have a lot of fun.

Before going to a class, don’t forget to check for vaccination and cleanliness requirements in your group, so as not to put your family member at risk of a kennel cough or virus.

Dog training classes worth it, so you can sign up. If you opt for this method of training, find a trainer that starts with training obedience. After teaching obedience, other parts of training can come in. After completing the beginner’s program, you can try out all that you learned. As you do so, it will be another opportunity to bond with your furry little friend.

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