Dog Training

capt_jordi

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I am looking into getting into dog training professionally. I wanted to ask did you get your dog trained? If so where/how? And also how often it was and how much it cost (just a rough amount I dont want the exact amount unless you just want to give it!

Also this isnt something I decided yesterday! I've been thinking of it for a while and I already work with dogs daily and love them to pieces!
 

pipersjo

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I really need to take Oliver to a trainer! We have a dog club that does group classes around here but it is really expensive so I haven't gone yet. They are supposed to be really good so ollie will get there eventually. I have been able to teach him a few things but I don't have the facilities to teach him some things, ie "come"-- he can't be off leash anywhere around here.
 

momofmany

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I went thru formal training with the first 2 dogs that we owned many years ago. We eventually had 5 dogs at one time so had to learn how to control our pack. They've all crossed and we now have 3 dogs and we've trained them ourselves, with a little advice from Jan Fennell's books. Ours are very well behaved. When a repair man came to our home this morning, I told the 3 to sit and stay. When they sat in unison, the repairman looked at me rather shocked and asked me if I could train his dogs.

Find a trainer who focuses on teaching you, as you are the one that sets the limitations for your dog. A dog is only as good as their owner's expectations of them. Once you understand what you need to do, training dogs from that point forward is easy.

I have no idea what training costs these days.
 

sharky

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Most I have trained ... two I called in pros to help in home
 

plebayo

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When I got my first dog we did take an obedience class when i was like... 8 hahaha.

Now I train on my own.
 
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capt_jordi

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Originally Posted by Momofmany

I went thru formal training with the first 2 dogs that we owned many years ago. We eventually had 5 dogs at one time so had to learn how to control our pack. They've all crossed and we now have 3 dogs and we've trained them ourselves, with a little advice from Jan Fennell's books. Ours are very well behaved. When a repair man came to our home this morning, I told the 3 to sit and stay. When they sat in unison, the repairman looked at me rather shocked and asked me if I could train his dogs.

Find a trainer who focuses on teaching you, as you are the one that sets the limitations for your dog. A dog is only as good as their owner's expectations of them. Once you understand what you need to do, training dogs from that point forward is easy.

I have no idea what training costs these days.
I cant really just go take a class at petsmart or get a trainer for myself right now as I dont have a dog...
The thing is I will be teaching myself completely. I have joined a lot of different forums and sites for info though, including Assoc. of Pet Dog Trainers but I am waiting to get approved on there.
There are very very few trainers in our area. 2 focus on aggression in dogs and training guard and police dogs which I dont want to get into. 1 I do not agree with his methods or with his business and the other has not contacted me back yet...
I have read a lot of books and I'm ordering a bunch more from amazon tonight. Also a bunch of dvds.
I work with a large group of dogs every day and I am one of the few that have complete control over the dogs and I have worked with a lot of dogs while they are at camp to control some problems and the owners have said they were so much better when they started working with them back home. I think once I feel a little more comfortable I will ask a few owners at work or some friends if I can work with their dogs for a night or 2 just to see how it goes and hopefully start doing some group classes by time summer gets here.
 

momofmany

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Originally Posted by capt_jordi

The thing is I will be teaching myself completely. I have joined a lot of different forums and sites for info though, including Assoc. of Pet Dog Trainers but I am waiting to get approved on there.
There are very very few trainers in our area. 2 focus on aggression in dogs and training guard and police dogs which I dont want to get into. 1 I do not agree with his methods or with his business and the other has not contacted me back yet...
I have read a lot of books and I'm ordering a bunch more from amazon tonight. Also a bunch of dvds.
I work with a large group of dogs every day and I am one of the few that have complete control over the dogs and I have worked with a lot of dogs while they are at camp to control some problems and the owners have said they were so much better when they started working with them back home. I think once I feel a little more comfortable I will ask a few owners at work or some friends if I can work with their dogs for a night or 2 just to see how it goes and hopefully start doing some group classes by time summer gets here.
That is awesome that you have that experience in handling dogs. I was not aware of that. And kudos for taking the time to prepare yourself for a dog. Too many people don't do that.
 

wellingtoncats

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Mum & I have owned 6 dogs and we didn't get any of them trained. Should we have? Yes of course.

When I get my next dog I'll get her professionally trained.
 

nekochan

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I take my dogs to obedience classes so we can practice training under distractions and with other dogs/people around and to get feedback from a trainer. Most of the obedience classes I've taken have been through a local obedience club which holds classes for AKC obedience. The other classes I've taken (agility, flyball, therapy dog, etc) were at various dog boarding/daycare places that hold classes or at a park fieldhouse. I've also taken one class at a Petsmart, it was a "Clicker Tricks" class.
Most of the classes were about $90-120.
 

cococat

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I think dog training is a WONDERFUL idea!
It makes the bond stronger and as an added bonus the time you put in pays off for years to come and helps your dog directly.
I go to a training center, I never drop the dog off for someone else to train, as sometimes that training doesn't transfer to the real owner and a lot owners benefit from going thru the training with their dog, as each dog and owner combo is different.
Look here for a good center near you:http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/training_clubs/
 

lmunsie

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I highly recommend group training, I do a couple sessions with every dog, and all my dogs have always been well behaved. Your dog gets socialized, and the training basically trains you more then the dog, which is what we really need in the end! Your dog comes out trained and so do you, you just have the tough job of keeping it up when you get home!
 
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capt_jordi

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Great news!!
My stepmom has a friend that runs a kennel in SC and she gave us the number of a lady that lives around 15 minutes from me. She used to do private inhome training until she had some heart problems and now she doesnt train much, but she told me of another great lady a few exits up that does group classes and she told me to come by and she would give me some pointers and help train me and then this other lady will help me by just taking the class with my dads dog and getting some pointers from her too. I'm so excited!

And there is also a dog show coming to the fair grounds in a few weeks so I will totally be going to that and getting some pointers. Maybe even taking my bosses dogs and entering them in the trick contest lol!
 

faith's_mom

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I used to train with a dog club, and also wound up helping with that dog club eventually. Now I help people out privately when I can. I find I can help people and their dogs out pretty much anywhere, be it at work grooming dogs, or in the parks, or on hiking trails, etc.
 

neely

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Since we adopted our dog from a shelter and did not know his previous background we signed him up for obedience class. We were very happy with the class, learned all the basic commands, socialization, etc. However, I think it is important to reinforce what you have learned and keep the training current.
 
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