What is the best thing you ever learned in a group class?

This poster " kalik" could use some help!
 
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This may not be what you're looking for... but the best thing I ever learned in a group class (puppy K) was that no one's puppy was perfect and they are all at different levels of obedience and housetraining. On the first day of class the trainer had us go down the line and briefly explain the age of our puppy, breed, our experience with dogs (newbie or not), and how we were doing with training so far - successes, problems. Since I was a newbie that was very helpful & reassuring!

That what I thought was hyper- was not hyper at all. I thought my dog was crazy nuts excitable. Then I went to class and saw everyone else's dog. Mine was practically dead in comparison to those retriever puppies. I hug and kiss on her all the time and say thank you, for being such a calm dog.

Some things my trainer talked about that really stuck with me:
 
- Don't bother giving a command if you haven't got the dog's attention first (simple, but how many people keep repeating "sit, sit, SIT, siiiiiitttt" while the dog sniffs the ground).
 
- Set the dog up to learn the command - make sure they are going to do it. Don't ask for it if you don't think they'll give it to you.
 
I like how my agility instructor encourages us to use toys as rewards in class. I didn't think to bring a tug toy to a dog class before, but when you've been giving out treats like crazy a good 30s play session really gets the dog motivated.
 
 

As great as I think my trainer is and even though I still take courses with her, I've learned very little from group classes.  Unfortunately, Dodger has always been the best trained dog in the class, so we've been labeled as the one's that know what they are doing (HA). 
 
A game we played where the handler stood inside a hoola-hoop and sent the dog out to retrieve strange objects really taught me to watch my body language and trust my dog. All the handlers got down on their hands and knees, with their arms stretched out, pointing/waving at the items to be retrieved -their stress and voice levels climbing when their dog's didn't know what to do.  Dodger and I didn't have that problem but it made me evaluate my own handling and cut down on the amount of "hints" I was giving him before a command (it also helped me to cut back on repeating commands, but I still struggle with that).
 
But I honestly learned the most during the theory class for newbies to the school (our dogs stayed home, while  we learned about clicker training)... Watching my trainer use only the clicker to have her dog touch a specific target plate out of 3 and then change the criteria to touching the red target plate - was a light-bulb moment.  It really makes you realize how much you can accomplish when you teach your dog how to think.

ORIGINAL: Scout in CanadaI like how my agility instructor encourages us to use toys as rewards in class. I didn't think to bring a tug toy to a dog class before, but when you've been giving out treats like crazy a good 30s play session really gets the dog motivated.

 
Excellent point - and how true! Dodger was never toy motivated until I read Susan Garrett's article on creating a motivating toy. I never realized how important (and popular) tugging was until agility. 
In my experience, OB trainer's seem to prefer treats because it marks and rewards the behaviour instantly (takes less time). They didn't mention and some even discouraged tugging at the lower levels of OB/agility, because the dogs got too distracted/exciteable by another dog tugging.  I never saw toys in class (unless they were used for distraction training) until the highest level of OB and intermediate agility.     

Loose lead walking and focus on me in the presence of distractions (ie other dogs).  Built up to a point where everyone got a "down" and one person walked their dog on a loose lead among them....  The "downed" dogs learned to hold the down and the one walking about learned to focus on his owner and ignore the dogs around him..... Then someone else got a go at being the "walker".  It was great for the control we learned and for what it taught me about needing to be interesting to the dog to keep him motivated and keep his focus away from the distractions and on me.... and we had occasions where being able to do that was really practical and came in handy..... that was one useful exercise.

The best thing I ever learned from a group class was to not attend them until my dog is obedience trained in my home.I have observed group classes at Petsmart many times and as a professional dog trainer, I can say that group classes are a great way to socialize your dog with other dogs and humans.This is not the place to start obedience training. Yes, it's inexpensive and yes, it's fun. I have watched these training sessions turn into fiascos especially if the trainer is a new and inexperienced trainer. The dogs want to socialize and can't seem to focus on training and the dog owners want to talk about the cute things their dog has done. A dog is much more likely to learn when he is in his own environment with no distractions in the learning phase. Once the dog learns basic obedience and will comply 100% with distractions, then if you want to spend the hundred bucks to have your dog socialized, take your dog to group classes. 

Actually, I learned just the opposite.  Group classes with a competent instructor are one of the best places to learn obedience.  An experienced teacher will run a play group for puppies at the beginning, talk about normal puppy behavior, advise the class about proper socialization, warn them about the pups' fear periods, and ways to help the pups be successful.  The problem for newbies is finding that competent instructor.  Be prepared to do your homework and attend a class before you sign up.  Be sure the pups and people are enjoying themselves, but that the instructor is able to manage the class well, so that people and dogs are learning each exercise.  The problem with teaching pups at home first is that most newbies don't do nearly enough socialization with other dogs that are safe, and the pups may lose valuable time during the critical socialization period. JMHO
 

I think the socialization exercises we did were the only good thing in the one group class I took. We lined up in circles and rows and weaved our dogs inbtween the other dogs and handlers. This was a good exercise for Lucy, who gets too excited around other dogs. She had to sit or lay still whil other dogs went by her. And she had to stay in a heel why she was going by ther dogs.

Otherwise, the class was a typical yank & crank that she didn't respond to at all.

if you're looking for something to teach, we give commands from across the room in a sitting position on the floor after leaving in a sit/down out of motion. Including front and finish. Dog/handler execute as one-offs so remaining dogs have to hold their positions.  For the dogs that go on auto-pilot in the group class, this was a good brain brightener.

My Rottie, Rock and I are a certified Pet Therapy team.  We had to go to class for 8 weeks.  The best thing I had learned was how to read the stress signals Rock would give off.  Yawning, laying down and panting excessively.  Pet therapy is a very high stressed activity for both the handler and the dog.  I have been on hospital visits with Rock to where at one time he would be with a patient for 20 seconds up to being with another for 5 minutes.  Sometimes we put our pet's in stressful situations, and we need to be pro-active for them so we can get them out of those situations when it becomes too much for them.  Our dogs cannot speak, so it is up to us to watch for signals.  Please see Rock in his vest.  Thank you.
 

OT a bit but Well done you and Rock!  That'll make 'em look..... it's brilliant to see a badly maligned breed as a PAT dog.  He's a great ambassador for his breed.

ORIGINAL: Fawnice

My Rottie, Rock and I are a certified Pet Therapy team.  We had to go to class for 8 weeks.  The best thing I had learned was how to read the stress signals Rock would give off.  Yawning, laying down and panting excessively.  Pet therapy is a very high stressed activity for both the handler and the dog.  I have been on hospital visits with Rock to where at one time he would be with a patient for 20 seconds up to being with another for 5 minutes.  Sometimes we put our pet's in stressful situations, and we need to be pro-active for them so we can get them out of those situations when it becomes too much for them.  Our dogs cannot speak, so it is up to us to watch for signals.  Please see Rock in his vest.  Thank you.

I'm so glad you brought that up.  I have owned and handled three therapy dogs, and am a trainer and CGC Evaluator.  I so wish that more people understood canine stress, because I think it would help them do less punishing, and more training, in general.