What would you look for in an obedience class?
Question by chowchow155: What would you look for in an obedience class?
I have been training dogs and teaching obedience classes for many years now, but I always like to revamp my classes with new ideas. It’s important to me to provide a class that people enjoy coming to with their dogs and a class environment that is fun for the dogs and owners to learn in.
So, those of you that have attended obedience classes, what types of things did you enjoy learning with your dog? Were there any exercises or games you found most helpful?
Was there anything that you wish your instructor had taught you? Was there anything that you didn’t like about your class?
After finishing your (however many) weeks of classes did you feel accomplished? Why or why not?
How many levels of training classes did you take your dog through?
Thank you for your answers. They will be most helpful. 
I would be most interested in hearing about any games you might have played in obedience class. I like to keep things fun and up beat while training. Thanks!
Best answer:
Answer by Leo
I look for results in my dog’s behavior. I also prefer small classes.
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My youngest lab and I are in training now. We did the first training class which was kind of boring for him and I because they taught things like sit, down, stay, etc which I had already taught him. Then we took the next class which changed to Rally Obedience at the last minute. I have to tell you – we have had so much fun! We are now on to Intermediate Rally Obedience class.
I felt accomplished when Guinness would obey a command – immediate gratification! I do wish my instructor had shown me how to do the “place” command. Now that I know it – it’s wonderful.
Hi! I used to train dogs professionally & all three of my dogs are trained to high levels. They also do Agility & other dog sports. Well, when I used to join for classes with my 1st dog, there are trainers that are wayyy too strict. Some too serious, some talked too much till the class ended, some were too rough at handling other people’s dogs & some that were tooo boring & that made my dog super bored in class. There’s just nothing fun. It’s all robotic. So when I used to train Pre-Novice & Novice classes, I always made sure it was fun everybody, After the classes ended, everybody will get 5 minutes of tricks demonstration by my talented dog & I will teach them new tricks. They will also get to show off once their dog have learned it & that MOTIVATES the students! I also praise the students alot for the right things they do. Last time, I hardly got any praise, Everything I did was wrong which I totally disagreed & that brought me & my dog’s spirit down & then we decided to stop. People really enjoyed my classes because it’s fun. It’s not all robotic & army-like. I hate it when my trainer says, “jerk your dog hard if it does not go down within 3 seconds!” I hate that. I mean for me, as long the dog is doing it & doing it right, I am happy. My 1st dog Amber is in Intermediate level, my other two are in Novice. Amber, my 1st dog is the youngest Golden to have reached to Intermediate level in Malaysia at 2 years of age. We did alot of positive training. Anyway, so try adding some fin tricks session at the end of each class. People really do wanna learn. They find is really interesting & that’s what motivates people. Just teach them simple tricks like shake, weave or whatever!
I’ve taken dogs through basic training, attention training, therapy dog training, agility and flyball.
I prefer a trainer that uses positive reinforcement. Had one trainer who, without meeting a single dog, required everyone to use pinch collars. Not a big fan of that training method unless called for.
I also like a trainer that is experienced, or at least familiar, with various breeds. I’ve dealt a lot with people who just work with herding breeds. I show up with my Sibes and they don’t have a clue how to get through to a northern breed. Trainers that are open to learning about, and adapting their methods to, breeds other than their own are hard to come by.
I recently took a new puppy to a family dog class. I haven’t been to a training class like that in over 7 years. I was amazed at the new things they teach. Most particularly, coming up with an emergency recall word. It is an interesting idea and very nice to have.
Something we work on in flyball is social passing. I think more trainers should incorporate that into regular family dog class. All the dogs and handlers line up. First person in line walks past all the others. Those in line have to keep their dog’s attention on them, not the dog passing them. It would be so much nicer if more people taught their dog this before taking it out in public where they’re going to see other dogs.
I also like trainers that give homework. It’s one thing to tell people that they need to practice between classes, it’s another to give them something to work on and then check it during the next class. And trainers that give handouts. In classes I’ve taken in the past there weren’t a lot of hand outs. Now it seems like every class has a folder of information you can take home and peruse at your leisure.
Trainers that are willing to communicate via email are also very nice to have. That way if you’re working on something and have a problem you don’t have to wait until your next class. Some trainers and/or schools have email lists you can sign up for and send your emails out to everyone. Very nice to be able to share ideas with others.
Any trainer willing to learn and not just stick with one way of training is a good trainer, IMO!
I have taken two dogs through a total of three Basic Obedience classes. After fostering several out of control dogs, my male decided if they didn’t have to mind, neither did he, so we went back to basic obedience. All classes lasted 6 weeks.
My second instructor also offered 2 hour brush up and practice sessions on the weekends which were totally drop-in and free form. Dogs at all different levels attended, from basic obedience to agility.
I like classes with several dogs, at least three or four so my dogs can see that other dogs also have to mind.
After the basics, things I found useful included:
a really hard “leave it” (the instructor placed her cat and its food dish near the dogs)
the command “settle” to calm an excited dog
hand as well as voice signals
My first instructor was very gentle – clicker/treat training. It worked for my female but my male still had attitude a too much of the time. My second instructor was no nonsense and for him it was much more effective. He minds and is more respectful now. After the first class, he never did learn “down” for example He refused so the instructor gave in. The second instructor said that is not acceptable and insisted he learn. I find that the down command is a very useful tool in demonstrating leadership. When he is doing something naughty, I can stand and glare and he will stop what he is doing and go down.
Some things I wish we had learned:
the “off” command. I taught it myself, but it is so useful to have because I don’t want my dogs jumping on people, especially children.
the “drop it” command. I also taught this myself. If the dog is trying to eat something unacceptable I need to have them spit it out
I just finished a beginning obedience class with my new dog and I really enjoyed the class. First, the trainer and her assistant were very friendly and approachable. I didn’t feel silly asking questions that I’m sure they’ve been asked a million times. Secondly, I enjoyed the opportunity to continue practicing the same skills from previous lessons. Other classes I have taken simply move on without any review/practice from previous lessons. The other thing that I really liked was the instructors made the rounds as we were all practicing, and as dogs improved on one skill, they offered distractions. For example, after working on a recall for a few weeks, on the last day of class we had to call our dogs away from the instructors who were holding hot dogs. They also offered a variety of ideas/solutions to common distractions (in our area it’s squirrels) and problem behavior. I would have probably liked more focus on problem behaviors rather than straight obedience, but I understand that it’s hard to practice working on that when you’re not inside your home. Finally, the thing that I liked most about the class was that they threw a few tricks in there. It was fun to get away from the traditional (sit, stay, down) and it also help build up enthusiasm about their special “tricks” class. On the last day of classes, although we did our typical review and practice, we ended with games. The first game focused on the dogs doing a repeated cycle of “down,” “sit,” and “touch” (when your dog touches his nose to your hand). The other game asked us to get our dogs to wag their tails the most. The games were a great way to end the class, and at the end of the class, they handed out awards like “most improved” and each dog got a “cookie” and a free toy. Although the toys were inexpensive (and they warned us that they may fall apart easily) I thought it was a really nice gesture and allowed me to leave the class on a very positive note.
I have no idea how much of that you already do, but they were aspects that I enjoyed and appreciated the most. Hope that helps!
Hi chowchow,
I too teach classes and privately, both regular and competition level obedience and am a CGC administrator. As well I have taught and competed right through UD in AKC and UKC.
As well, I and my gang compete in agility, show and hunt.
I have and still do attend others obedience classes for my own dogs even though while training at home I still do employ mostly my own methods.
A couple of the biggest things that I find taking classes is that so many instructors today take the approach of demonstrate the exercise once or twice and have the class do it. Those that can`t get it right are just passed over as many instructors just move on to the next exercise to teach. Many times the classes are just too large.
Personally I look at it this way, my clients spent their hard earned money and deserve to be taught and understand what I am teaching so I limit my class sizes to 12 and take a hands on approach working with each individual making sure that they can demonstrate the exercise to me with their dog. That and the use of handouts at the end of each class guarantee`s to me that the student understands that weeks exercises and can go home and successfully teach it to their dogs. Personally I think that many teachers in today’s schools would have far more success if they applied the same methods to their students.
My other big pet peeve is that instructor`s have forgotten how to teach the clients how to have fun with obedience, it being far too regimented as it almost seems like Heaven forbid they should run over the allotted time of the one hour class.
Where as I employ methods that keep tails wagging and smiles on faces.
Just something as simple as when teaching a proper Heel with attention making it fun for the dog by teaching a in and out spin move that is baited while Heeling along. Just watch the attention you get doing that little fun thing!
Or playing the “find my eye`s game” to help with attention.
Or even when teaching Recall having clients that have slower moving dogs on the return throw a motivator like a ball between their legs to
get their dog to come in nice and straight quickly and happy.
I believe in having fun when teaching and competing and have left the ring on many an occasion to applause and folks coming up to me asking “how did you make it that much fun” while they are all nervous waiting their turn or disappointed by their performance.
Having confidence and making it fun for your dog is what I teach and preach.
I have yet to take or participate in another instructor`s class where I thought the class got what it paid for in regular obedience.
Sure they all got their diploma`s but most said they would want to do the class over as they missed too much.
What lacks in most schools today is total participation by everyone.
I tell everyone day 1 that I am hands on and will call them out to be part of the class doing away with shyness and non confidence.
After about the second week you can always see the confidence in their eye`s and eagerness to learn.
Another thing I preach is “Smile and stay light hearted” most the first few weeks have to force it but as they become more comfortable learn that their dogs are far mor apt to please them when being that way.
Communication, confidence and fun are key.
Their is so much more I could delve into but, I guess I could go on forever
Hope this helped
Good Luck and God Bless
I have never taken an obedience class with my dogs. I am considering taking one with my husbands puppy. I guess the thing I am having problems with is that I cannot find people in this area that can answer just a basic question about dogs in general. Often times I am telling my vet the answer. I would look for a trainer that has back up plans to the back up plans. I don’t like people with the attitude that their way of doing something is the only way to do something. Something that might work with my dogs, might not have any effect on your dogs, and that doesn’t mean either of us is wrong. What I would like an instructor to help me with is this puppy gets locked in on something and the only way to get her attention is to pick her up and remove her from the situation. Which of course is not teaching her that a behavior is wrong. She isn’t responding to commnads, sounds, hand signals, she is a hunting breed and she seems locked into her obsession, no matter what she is doing. I have bought 3 books on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and I don’t know anymore about this breed than when I started. She is good with potty training and leashes, and most things, I just can’t seem to snap her out of a bad behavior, or get her attention, in order to correct it. It is odd, because she doesn’t respond to praises either, so I can’t always motivate her with treats. I think the thing I try to focus on when I mentor others is that they may not have had a dog/puppy before, so I try to give them as many options as possible, and explain why I do what I do, so it makes sense to them.
a little anatomy and dog psychology lesson. i like seeing the trainer’s dog.