Obedience dog training is a great way to teach your puppy how to listen to you, how to behave, and generally how to grow up and mature into a well-mannered adult dog.
The easiest and cheapest way to start obedience training is to take your puppy to group training. The advantage of going to an organized puppy obedience class is that your puppy can interact with other dogs and learn critical social skills Best dog trainer Houston. The disadvantage is that you and your puppy may not get the individual attention that your puppy may need.
I have talked to many people, and heard many other stories, about pet owners taking their dogs to group dog training classes and they either didn’t get much out of it, or they were even asked to leave. This is because the dog trainer couldn’t help, or handle, the dog. These dogs really need one-on-one obedience training.
Some of the trainers that teach group classes don’t have much real world experience in training. But, you can find very good dog trainers at some of these classes though. No matter if you choose to go to group dog training classes, or if you prefer to have a trainer work one-on-one with you and your dog, you will follow the same steps in looking for and choosing a trainer.
- It is up to you to find out who is teaching the class, and to research this dog trainer. Look for a dog trainer that has many years experience, and find out what associations they belong to, and what certifications they have.
- You also want to ask for references. The more the better, and FOLLOW UP! Don’t just look at the list. Call people on the list and ask them questions. Were they satisfied? Why or why not? This is your dog, so you want a trainer who has very satisfied clients.
- Have a budget in mind, but don’t go by price alone. You get what you pay for. Find out what kinds of services they offer, and find out what training techniques they use. Are they humane, and are you comfortable with the technique they use?
- Ask to sit in on a training and watch them. If they won’t let you watch them in action, what are they trying to hide? If you can watch them, how do they interact with the dog? Are they successful with training the dog? Do they act comfortably and in control, or do they seem ill at ease, or do they get upset easily? You want a dog trainer that is ALWAYS calm, comfortable, and in control, no matter what the dog does. And believe me, dogs can really act crazy at times.
If you follow these simple steps, you should find a great trainer for your dog, whether you choose to take your puppy to a class training, or if you choose to use a dog trainer for one-on-one training. Good luck and good dog training.