Several dogs. Several owners. Meeting for the first time.
Dogs are nervous and wary of each other.
Owners are nervous and worried they won’t do well.
Four weeks later – several dogs, several owners.
Proud dogs, proud owners.
Calm dogs, calm owners.
It’s amazing how much can be accomplished in just four weeks. Both dogs had a real handle on all the basics they need to progress to more advanced obedience and happy, peaceful lives.
Working in a group with the distractions of other dogs and people, new smells and sounds all around, make classes so much more productive. And fun!
Check out local classes and meet with the trainer. See if their training methods dovetail with your vision of how you want to relate to your dog. Ask these questions: What method of training is their expertise? Then decide for yourself which method you want to pursue. What is their background – are they certified or licensed? Are they familiar with your breed or set of issues? Do they follow a set pattern each week for every dog or do they customize depending on a dog and handler’s needs and best path to learning. Do they choose the dogs and handlers in each class or just sign people up according to scheduling. Visit the training facility and see if it is clean, has no odor, separated from dogs not in class, large enough for the size class offered and a pleasant place to work.
Then go for it and keep learning together!
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