Those who attend dog training classes???

CAYLA

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Can you tell me how much you pay and how long the class is? and what is covered in the class (training wise) and is there A joining fee or do you just go/join a class and start paying normal training session fees?

Thankyou for your help (if you gave it lol):D
 
Think you need to specify what sort of training you are talking about. I would pay one price for puppy socialisation, working through the KC Good Citizen range, another for specialist gundog/working trials/agility training and yet another price for behavioural remodification. Also, group or one on one?

What the content is/duration is depends on the objectives and the dog.
Sorry, prob not the answer you wanted. :confused:
 
It was last year but for puppy socialisation we paid £35 for an 8 week course, she has put this up to £45 as she found people would attend this and not progress further.

I did the bronze award and again, that was £35 for 8 weeks. She has kept that price for the bronze, silver and gold 8 week courses.
 
Think you need to specify what sort of training you are talking about. I would pay one price for puppy socialisation, working through the KC Good Citizen range, another for specialist gundog/working trials/agility training and yet another price for beh

behavioural remodification. Also, group or one on one?

What the content is/duration is depends on the objectives and the dog.
Sorry, prob not the answer you wanted. :confused:

Oh yes good questions:o

I suppose I mean puppy /socialisation classes? (multiple puppies)
Then adult (obedience) classes = (what is covered in the good citizen)? although I am aware this can often involve some certificate handed out and a dog that is still as badly behaved and an owner that is still as clueless) but obs there must be some good ones :p

Not agility or behaviour (I already do this on a one to one basis) not agiltiy:eek: behaviour:D
 
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Puppy socialisation course is £5 a week for six weeks, that's one hour's session a week plus a 20ft long line to keep and lots of printed literature. They cover watch me, down, sit, stay, come, leave it and polite doggy greetings.

Agility is £5 per hour, I am allowed to take two dogs for my fiver. :p There are a max of five in a class, a one to one session is £10 per hour.

They do workshops every few months which are two hour sessions each covering a different problem, Dax has done the recall one and Ricoh the leash reactivity one, there's also loose lead walking etc., it's £35 for the two hours to again include a long line (discounted if you already have one).

One to one home callouts for specific behavioural problems are £40 per hour plus mileage if outside a certain radius. Dog walking £10 an hour, pet sitting £15 per day or £100 per week.

No joining fee unless you count a deposit for the workshops. :)
 
It was last year but for puppy socialisation we paid £35 for an 8 week course, she has put this up to £45 as she found people would attend this and not progress further.

I did the bronze award and again, that was £35 for 8 weeks. She has kept that price for the bronze, silver and gold 8 week courses.

Thankyou, very helpful. What did the trainer cover in the class? and how long did a class last and where there other puppies or was this one on one?
 
Puppy socialisation course is £5 a week for six weeks, that's one hour's session a week plus a 20ft long line to keep and lots of printed literature. They cover watch me, down, sit, stay, come, leave it and polite doggy greetings.

Agility is £5 per hour, I am allowed to take two dogs for my fiver. :p There are a max of five in a class, a one to one session is £10 per hour.

They do workshops every few months which are two hour sessions each covering a different problem, Dax has done the recall one and Ricoh the leash reactivity one, there's also loose lead walking etc., it's £35 for the two hours to again include a long line (discounted if you already have one).

One to one home callouts for specific behavioural problems are £40 per hour plus mileage if outside a certain radius. Dog walking £10 an hour, pet sitting £15 per day or £100 per week.

No joining fee unless you count a deposit for the workshops. :)

Thankyou.....that was very helpful and just what I was looking for:)
 
Our puppy classes were £40 for 8 weeks. The good citizen classes are the same price but I think we are doing 9 weeks this time. The content of the GC course is on The Kennel Club website.
 
OK, around here you can pay up to £10 a session for pupply socialisation and KC award courses; generally, no joining fee but you pay up front for a course of 10-12 sessions.

Courses have between 3-10 attendees (depending on how lucky/unlucky) you are; some have assistant trainers to aid the main trainer and they all have a variety of surfaces.....some horrible slippery wood and others purpose built granulistic.

The Good Citizen content is here: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/3691 Although I agree with you that it can mean diddily squat!
 
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The classes I took Evie to were £40 for a 10 week course, each course covered one section of Good Citizens, this however is linked to a local college and is subsidised. The classes Pickle goes to cover the same Good Citizen stuff but are more pricey, £7 a class.
 
Thankyou, very helpful. What did the trainer cover in the class? and how long did a class last and where there other puppies or was this one on one?

Puppy socialisation there were at times 25 dogs, but mostly 20.
On the practical side, we did ........
basic (very basic) heel work
simulated meeting another dog. ie. went to talk to another handler and had to keep dogs attention until we said they could say hello.
Walking past a line of other dogs and keeping their attention.
She also asked us to do a trick with our dog each week as homework.
On the theory side, she did pretty much everything about being a responsible owner. Feeding, she fed raw, didn't preach about it though but advised us to look carefully at what we were feeding. Asked us to bring ingredient list of chosen food in and explained why it was rubbish! Collars, vaccinations, general care .. worming, fleas, nail cutting were all discussed.
TBH, at least half of each hour lesson was spent on theory, so I can kind of understand why she had such a big drop out rate going into the bronze level.
Thing is, what she told us was all useful but there were many people who weren't first time dog owners who appeared to be bored.

In the bronze, we were given this at the start of the course:
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/408

We also did extra bits, to keep the dogs and us interested. We did a bit of tunnel work, an emergency stop once we called the dog.

Everybody got a certificate at the end of puppy socialisation, regardless of competence. In the bronze, only I passed out of a class of 8 ;eek:. All the others failed on the sit and stay.

Hope that helps.
 
It's one hundred and summit or other for the year, which includes membership of a parent body and can be paid quarterly.

One weekend morning and one midweek evening, the weekends we can start as early as nine and not leave til three sometimes (that includes a lot of tea and nattering).

Ours are aimed at a certain discipline/breed/type specific with the aim of achieving qualifications for the dog, but people often come for basic obedience and socialisation and they get hooked :p some people come with a simple problem, a trainer will show them what to do, and we never see them again :p (one trainer has admitted they are awful at attracting new members - look, there, I fixed it for you - oh, wait, come baaaack!)
We allow two free visits before you are asked to join.

We do obedience, agility, tracking and protection but TBH only a handful of our members actually compete to high level.

Access to a number of trainers, who have trained dogs professionally for decades and/or who have competed to a high level, they are not paid, they just pay a nominal club fee, and I think that *really* shows in the training, there is no hard sell, they all have their own dogs too.
They'll call a spade a spade - if they don't think you or the dog has the aptitude, they will tell you and direct you towards a different discipline or different style of training.
'You probably won't be able to do X, but have a go at Y, it might be more suited'.

Access to fenced field with all associated equipment which we can use outside training hours if we phone in advance.

I've been a member for about three years and initially only went because I was at my wit's end with a dog-aggressive dog, he has since got his companion dog and tracking titles and is a much nicer dog to be around.
I've now got hooked, researched a bit and got myself another dog which I hope to take a little further.

What people might not like is that it is not regimented, there are no drills, no one shouting commands, we do that only every so often for a bit of fun.

Every dog is at a different level, so you take your dog on the field, if you need help, shout, if you want something, ask. Not forcing dogs and handlers of different talents/intelligence levels :p into one class.
We do group work where it is appropriate but it is not often needed TBH.
 
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Well I start mine next week and it will be £60 for a 10 week course. This is in a puppy class as, although mine is 10 mths (ok,so still a pup really) and knows a fair bit already, because she needs to build her confidence the trainers thought after our assessment on Monday (that was free) that she'd be better starting in that class.

I don't think that's bad really, there will just be 6 of us, the same 6 each week and the session is 30 mins long.
 
It's one hundred and summit or other for the year, which includes membership of a parent body and can be paid quarterly.

One weekend morning and one midweek evening, the weekends we can start as early as nine and not leave til three sometimes (that includes a lot of tea and nattering).

Ours are aimed at a certain discipline/breed/type specific with the aim of achieving qualifications for the dog, but people often come for basic obedience and socialisation and they get hooked :p some people come with a simple problem, a trainer will show them what to do, and we never see them again :p (one trainer has admitted they are awful at attracting new members - look, there, I fixed it for you - oh, wait, come baaaack!)
We allow two free visits before you are asked to join.

We do obedience, agility, tracking and protection but TBH only a handful of our members actually compete to high level.

Access to a number of trainers, who have trained dogs professionally for decades and/or who have competed to a high level, they are not paid, they just pay a nominal club fee, and I think that *really* shows in the training, there is no hard sell, they all have their own dogs too.
They'll call a spade a spade - if they don't think you or the dog has the aptitude, they will tell you and direct you towards a different discipline or different style of training.
'You probably won't be able to do X, but have a go at Y, it might be more suited'.

Access to fenced field with all associated equipment which we can use outside training hours if we phone in advance.

I've been a member for about three years and initially only went because I was at my wit's end with a dog-aggressive dog, he has since got his companion dog and tracking titles and is a much nicer dog to be around.
I've now got hooked, researched a bit and got myself another dog which I hope to take a little further.

What people might not like is that it is not regimented, there are no drills, no one shouting commands, we do that only every so often for a bit of fun.

Every dog is at a different level, so you take your dog on the field, if you need help, shout, if you want something, ask. Not forcing dogs and handlers of different talents/intelligence levels :p into one class.
We do group work where it is appropriate but it is not often needed TBH.

Lol, it sounds like my mams last advanced obedience club (all breeds) many years ago:p more larger drinking and nattering, but intense individual training when the nattering stopped.
 
I am more than happy with my club. There are people who have left, because they were expecting to stand in a circle and be told what to do - I have nothing against that sort of class but our trainers do not train that way.
We also get people who have been asked to leave their classes because their dog was being a typical mouthy shep and it was sorted pretty easily and have come on in leaps and bounds.
 
Zak's was £60 for 8 weeks, basic obedience, walk to heel (which he never mastered but we spent maybe half an hour per class on practical activity, in turns, so not much at all, frankly). 6 dogs, mostly youngsters, Zak was 2nd oldest at 12 months. Trainer decided Zak was scary (he flinched back from her trying to pat him on head :rolleyes:) so everyone was scared of him as she kept saying how she'd use another dog as the example. Covered going through doors nicely, recall on a longline, physically checking dog, bandaging with vetwrap, a party trick (which I refused to do), leave command, being approached by strangers, lie, sit, stay.There was a behaviourist there, but she rarely helped. Granddaughter of trainer talked constantly in background do hard to hear trainer. I did it for socialization more than training. It annoyed me that our dogs all knew the basics but she didn't adapt het sessions to reflect that. Fee was payable up front or I would have gone elsewhere.
 
I have to say it is alarming me how many people "are being asked to leave class" because of their dogs behaviour, this is part of the reason behind me doing some research and thinking long and hard about a few things before I make a leap.
 
The obedience classes I went to had a one off lifetime joining fee (£20 I think?) then each class was £6. There was no set course or anything, you just turned up when you wanted. She ran 3 levels puppy (learnt basic walk on lead, sit, down, leave it, recall and socialising with other pups, although not off lead) beginner (where adult dogs joined and puppies moved onto where they went more advanced than puppy class like wait and recall at same time as other dogs, recall over food, down at a distance etc etc) and then advanced (where whole class would sit stay at same time then recall individually, heel work off lead and then scent work) Did lots of other things too I'm sure, those are just the ones I can remember.

We went for about 16 months before I left because although the no course thing was great to begin with, we had been in the advanced class for a good 6 months and not then progressed from the first move up because there was always new people moving into the class. But then he was 18 months and I wanted to start agility anyway (diff trainer)!! :) And all the obedience work he'd done really put a great foundation on it.

I would go back again though if I ever felt I wanted to, or when I get another GSP pup!! ;)
 
I have to say it is alarming me how many people "are being asked to leave class" because of their dogs behaviour, this is part of the reason behind me doing some research and thinking long and hard about a few things before I make a leap.

There were some VERY reactive dogs at our class!! Never asked to leave, but they did 1 2 1 with the trainers seperately too. I didn't think it was a bad thing for the non-reactive dogs to be "used" to other dogs flipping out. When you have a sensitive dog like mine, to begin with it used to really upset him and he'd have his tail rammed between his legs!! But he's just about ok with it now.
 
I have to say it is alarming me how many people "are being asked to leave class" because of their dogs behaviour, this is part of the reason behind me doing some research and thinking long and hard about a few things before I make a leap.

Have spoken to you about this already :rolleyes:

If a dog comes out of the car with eyes aflame and fangs bared and making a noise like Nick the Devil, someone will shrug and say, what's all that racket? And try and get it sorted out rather than freaking out and asking the tearful, at-their-wits-end owner to leave.

We've had some proper handbags at 50 paces moments but no dog or handler has ever received a puncture wound, touch wood. A lot of the time it is just noise and posturing. Which a good trainer might know ;)
 
I am about 95% happy with the class - the one thing it's missing is any sort of pushing, competitive element but as it was advertised as 'fun, have-a-go agility' I shouldn't really complain. :o The bloke who does the agility is fantastic, really lovely guy but I am sometimes left puzzled by his courses, we had one a while back which needed something like four changes of side and a really horrid weave entry, I'd rather concentrate on getting clears on full elementary style courses than breaking harder courses down into tiny chunks and just repeating short bits all the time.

I got a bit frustrated with the six week course I did with R because he was progressing much faster than the other two adult dogs in the group and as a result the others got a lot more time spent on them while we did heelwork in the background, with hindsight that was still pretty useful for him, at least he was doing it around other dogs without shrieking. :p

The general air of calm, positive, reward-based training is great, the main trainer despite being a collie person is also fairly husky savvy and has more patience with their ways than I do. It was essential that the training areas were totally fenced in and secure, it was the only place locally that could guarantee that, and she understood why I asked for confirmation of this about three times before I signed up. :p
 
Pip did a 6 week block of puppy school from as soon as her jabs were done which was £60 & worth every penny all the basics & socialisation. Just started another 6 week block this evening which based on clicker training. It's part of the puppy school franchise & our trainer is Shaun Kenvy & his wife helps too. Each session is an hour long with a max of 8.

There was 8 in our first class all had to be under 6 months - Pip (sprocker), Choc Lab, Italian Spinone, Jack Russell, GSD, Golden Retriever, Large Lab x & a Springer. We learnt by luring then hand signals then voice all reward based training. What we learnt was sit, down, stand, wait, stay, settle, off, watch & lots of recall. We all had to learn a trick for the last week too.

Tonight there was just 3, us, a staff & springer. Will see how it goes!
 
Thankyou BC (very helpful) infact all very helpful. Galaxy I see what you mean re your dog and other potentially aggressive/mouthy/hyper/distractive dogs. Provisions need to be made one on one or with the trainer and the trainers dog/s/ or other dogs (but not a "please leave"):)

Another question as BC brought up, are you training clases indoor or out and where are they held? as in field/community center/hired hall/hired yard?
 
Have spoken to you about this already :rolleyes:

If a dog comes out of the car with eyes aflame and fangs bared and making a noise like Nick the Devil, someone will shrug and say, what's all that racket? And try and get it sorted out rather than freaking out and asking the tearful, at-their-wits-end owner to leave.

We've had some proper handbags at 50 paces moments but no dog or handler has ever received a puncture wound, touch wood. A lot of the time it is just noise and posturing. Which a good trainer might know ;)

Ah yes...I remember. :)
 
I need to move up north where it i cheaper!!!!!!!!!!!


Spaniel gun dog classes-£20 for a hour and a half


Obedience walks- General sit, stay, recall with a few distractions, play times whilst doing a 2 hr walk £15 This is a god send for Teal as I was able to leave and re join the group whilst working with the trainer with Teals issues of approaching strange dogs.


Socialisation class at a different group £8/hour what it says on the team, in a room lots of dogs saying hi to eachother, BORING, even Teal had enough, used this for dylan a few times to work on recall.

Agility £12/hr

Dont even ask about riding lessons. Min £40 a hour.

Never paid for a set/ term of classes because of my work pattern doesnt allow, would prob work out cheaper.


Cayla on a selfish note, please do a 2 week bootcamp, I would definately come up from here for that. I will camp in your garden or sleep in the landrover or something :)
 
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Forgot to add, all of ours are outdoors, she doesn't 'believe' in indoor village hall type environments. :p It's held at an RSPCA centre with which the trainer has a mutual arrangement so a lot of the clients are people who've had rescue dogs from there.

Very reactive dogs are often worked around the periphery of the normal classes or incorporated into the special workshops, R was only mildly reactive and he was incorporated from day one.
 
. Galaxy I see what you mean re your dog and other potentially aggressive/mouthy/hyper/distractive dogs. Provisions need to be made one on one or with the trainer and the trainers dog/s/ or other dogs (but not a "please leave"):)

The trainer just carefully positioned the dogs so that they were all as comfortable as possible and didn't overface any of them. Think it's an education for the owners too that dogs can be mouthy sods but not actually do anything! lol! She managed to carefully monitor the time given to every dog, whereas the reactive dogs couldn't do the exercises that others were doing, adjusting things so everyone had a fair go doing what they needed to work on, and the reactive dogs weren't just sitting in the corner! She found things that they could do with dogs in the class that didn't mind!.

She hires village halls. :)
 
I am about 95% happy with the class - the one thing it's missing is any sort of pushing, competitive element but as it was advertised as 'fun, have-a-go agility' I shouldn't really complain. :o The bloke who does the agility is fantastic, really lovely guy but I am sometimes left puzzled by his courses, we had one a while back which needed something like four changes of side and a really horrid weave entry, I'd rather concentrate on getting clears on full elementary style courses than breaking harder courses down into tiny chunks and just repeating short bits all the time.

I got a bit frustrated with the six week course I did with R because he was progressing much faster than the other two adult dogs in the group and as a result the others got a lot more time spent on them while we did heelwork in the background, with hindsight that was still pretty useful for him, at least he was doing it around other dogs without shrieking. :p

The general air of calm, positive, reward-based training is great, the main trainer despite being a collie person is also fairly husky savvy and has more patience with their ways than I do. It was essential that the training areas were totally fenced in and secure, it was the only place locally that could guarantee that, and she understood why I asked for confirmation of this about three times before I signed up. :p

It must be in the more superior handling then, R was with a pro so he breezed on through;):)
 
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