Puppy training

[Dizzle]

We start puppy training this evening, my other half is the less confident handler of the two of us, he's not experienced around any animals let alone dogs (I asked him to hold my horse the other day, firstly I had to yell, 'by the reins' and I came back to find him holding my tb by the breastplate! FFS he's been around my horses nearly 4 years!!)

So, I was thinking about making OH do most of the handling? I've already taught puppy sit and down and he does do these for OH too now so I think it should be ok? Would it be better to let the trainer watch and correct him and I practice what we'd learned at home?

I'm thinking the lessons will be good for training the OH too?

 

[CorvusCorax]

To be honest I would send the OH without the dog for the first session or get him to watch you doing it, if he gets it wrong, so will the dog, if he has it clearer in his head, so will the dog, I would not be practising mistakes with a young pup.
Like FI while it is a bit more advanced than puppy classes, we make people do heelwork with no dog, lay then follow a track with no dog, which might look a bit silly but it means if they make a mistake the dog is not confused.

JMO though

 

[Spudlet]

At dog training classes, we don't train the dogs at all. We train the owners

Personally I think it's best if both partners do some of the training - both of you will have something to learn, so I'd alternate the handling between you, and both attend, so the one not handling can watch. However, if your OH is very uptight, that tension will make the dog play up which will be counter-productive and nobody will learn anything.