Failed basic obedience class:(

I really don't think you should be upset...

I teach Puppy & Beginner classes at PETCO. In the Puppy classes we introduce "heal" and loose lead but it's not required in order to move onto the next level. The only difference between Puppy & Beginner at the moment is we don't expect your puppy to be PERFECT and we teach less Moving Behaviors and more Stationary Behaviors.

My dog is 1 year old and STILL has issues with "heal" unless I make a strong note of it. Puppies just want to run run run run run play play play! I always recommend people to play and exercise with their dog before coming to class. This will let out all the pent up energy and the "need" to lunge at other dogs for play. 

We also have meet and great before each class and let the dogs smell each other, and we also have a break mid-way.

Edit/Add:

Also I would not be too ashamed if your puppy wants to be with you verses doing a "stand/stay". I ENCOURAGE puppies to come. The last thing you want is a puppy getting loose and running away from you into harm. I enjoy teaching the puppies to become VELCRO with great recalls before we move onto "okay now stay away from me"

She passed her puppy class (at a different center) which was more about socilization as you said.  But this obedience class was so serious. The dogs were never allowed to play with one another & anytime we finished an exercise the dogs had to sit by us.  I think since this is an obedience club for the state & they do competitions all the way up to rally that the seriousness shows even in the basic class.

 I felt so bad in this class because I had to contstantly yank on my dog to heal or to sit when we were listening to the teacher.  And then you see the other dogs who automatically sit when their owner is standing still or the dogs who come to the command "front" instead of "come" & those dogs would automatically sit once they came to the owner, where as I would have to tell her to sit once she came.  *Coming was the best thing she did.

Sounds more like one of our Intermediate classes.... That's when we "expect" a certain degree of obedience. (i.e. Sitting/Laying beside owner/handler)

But even still my Basic classes are fun! This when we begin to introduce games & agility options.

I do believe it has to do with what you said:

brandy76

I think since this is an obedience club for the state & they do competitions all the way up to rally that the seriousness shows even in the basic class.

People who come to my classes are just Dog owners. They don't want troffy dogs, they don't want little soliders... they just want a fun-loving companion who can follow basic obedience commands.

I vote switch facilities! And also that is a lot to expect out of an 8month old puppy. Kayla was such a little spazz at 8months. With proper clicker training, patience, and practice she is just now finally becoming truly obedient.

Can some 8months old dogs do it? Yeah I'm sure some can handle it... but after reading this I get a sense that your dog is a fun-loving little comedian who just wants to be loved and played with. She's probably bouncing around like "mom! look at all these silly doggies! hehe!"

You are so right, when an instructor approaches she just wags her whole body & can't contain herself to sit down.  Before I got her I read up on all the obedience levels & was gung ho about going to the highest level, but now i'm having second thoughts.

 Does she have to pass basic obedience to do the CGC test?

brandy76

 I felt so bad in this class because I had to contstantly yank on my dog to heal or to sit when we were listening to the teacher.  And then you see the other dogs who automatically sit when their owner is standing still or the dogs who come to the command "front" instead of "come" & those dogs would automatically sit once they came to the owner, where as I would have to tell her to sit once she came.  *Coming was the best thing she did.

The fact that you had to constantly yank on the dog to heel or sit indicates a flaw somewhere in the training program. If this was a competition oriented training club, the others in class are possibly more experienced with dogs, have possibly titled previous dogs, and are coming to class already knowing how to train their dog and the instructor is mainly just there to call them through exercises. I would look around for another instructor. I have had puppies do well in basic obedience classes, sometimes the puppies even do better than the adult dogs. In puppy classes, I allow some socialization (play). In a basic obedience class I don't because there's a wider age range and temperament differences don't generally allow for it. But in a basic obedience class, I don't expect a dog to come to class knowing how to sit quietly and how to heel. By the end of the classes I have taught this, but even after 6 or 8 weeks of classes, I don't expect it to be mastered ~ that's what the intermediate class is for ;).

In my basic class I introduce heeling, but I don't require it for graduation. I do require loose leash walking. I don't require an automatic sit, I require a sit on command and I allow minor assistance with achieving it. I also take into consideration the progress the dogs have shown in each class. If an owner has difficulty during the actual graduation exercises, but prior to that I had seen consistent results that were in line with what I require for graduation, I'll generally make allowances accordingly. Everyone has an off day, and I know who has learned what was taught and who hasn't, I know who has worked in between classes and who hasn't.

brandy76

 Does she have to pass basic obedience to do the CGC test?

Here is my thought on the whole thing. We all want a dog that behaves and is a pleasure to own/be around. Here on the forum (since it is a DOG forum) you will find a lot of extremes and people really into training, activities, and what they do. Which is great! More power to those people.

For the average dog owner (and I tell this to my clients on the first day) is classes are a privilage and option, not a requirement. I have known many obedient dogs who never step foot in a class ever in their whole life. I also know people who have passed the CGC Test without ever attending a CGC class.

At PETCO before you enroll in the CGC Class you must have at least completed our Beginner/Basic Obedience class (or paid one hour session with trainer to analyze dog).

If you want my honest opinion on that... it's a scam. We want your money. Don't let anyone fool you otherwise. And of course another part of it is we don't want a puppy that is far behind distracting the class the whole time.

Right now I would take what you learned from both of these classes and work at HOME with her. Practice Come, Sit, Down, Stay on your own terms. Get to know her. She's starting to "become her own" and you'll really see her personality shine. The best thing owners/handlers can do is bond with their dogs and learn what works best for THEM (and you).

SOCIALIZE HER MORE. My biggest pet peeve are owners more worried about the dog sitting, healing, rather than not barking at strangers or being calm and submissive during chaos. A well socialized dog is a more obedient dog than one who knows how to follow commands but attacks other dogs/people.

Another great resources are books! I buy all of my clients books & manuels... clickers & guidelines.... (corp. trainers have a budget! so if your not getting benefits and free stuff I'd be very skeptical about the place)

Ultimately you know your dog the best. You know what they think is fun, what they can handle, and you will KNOW when she's ready for the next step (if you choose!)

Think about what your goals are with her; work together; and then go from there.

corgipower

brandy76

 

No. She has to show up at a CGC testing to do the test and she has to pass the CGC test to have the CGC title. She doesn't *have* to even attend an obedience class to do a CGC test.

But if she doesn't heal properly or do a down stay for longer than 30 seconds is it even worth it?  I read some of the info about CGC & it was about handling strangers which she can do great

brandy76

But if she doesn't heal properly or do a down stay for longer than 30 seconds is it even worth it? 

No. Don't take her for her CGC until YOU have taught her all that she needs to do in the test. Use whatever methods you want. She doesn't need to go to class again. Just work with her at home on the stuff they taught in class and then, when she has it down, take her for her test.

Our Basic Obedience class doesn't have a "play time" either. I don't think it's necessary to have that as part of the class. It's still fun for us all, but the dogs are always leashed. I think that's responsible because not all dogs in a class will be well-socialized.  

brandy76

corgipower

brandy76

 

No. She has to show up at a CGC testing to do the test and she has to pass the CGC test to have the CGC title. She doesn't *have* to even attend an obedience class to do a CGC test.

But if she doesn't heal properly or do a down stay for longer than 30 seconds is it even worth it?  I read some of the info about CGC & it was about handling strangers which she can do great

Sure, she could take Brandy to try for the test, but I would do some more training first. I guess I'm cheap. If I pay for the test, I want to make sure she passes. LOL

corgipower

brandy76

corgipower

brandy76

 

No. She has to show up at a CGC testing to do the test and she has to pass the CGC test to have the CGC title. She doesn't *have* to even attend an obedience class to do a CGC test.

But if she doesn't heal properly or do a down stay for longer than 30 seconds is it even worth it?  I read some of the info about CGC & it was about handling strangers which she can do great

Sure. The CGC isn't about *obedience*, it's about manners. The dog doesn't have to *heel*, she has to loose leash walk. She doesn't have to do a *down stay* she has to stay in place where she was left. She has to do a sit and a down on command - minor guidance and more than one command is allowed - and she has to stay in the place she was left, but she is allowed to change positions. It's not a rigid test, and the worst that can happen is she doesn't pass. Then you know what she needs to work on, and you try again after some more training.

Exactly... but honestly... ask yourself why you want to take the CGC test anyway??? If you don't take it, it doesn't make your dog any less of a dog.

Just love your dog for the wonderful little ball of furr she is! (as I can tell) I think she's doing well for her age and temperment; the only thing I suggest it have a little more playtime & exercise and see if that changes anything. A tired puppy is a good puppy! hehe...

brandy76

But if she doesn't heal properly or do a down stay for longer than 30 seconds is it even worth it?  I read some of the info about CGC & it was about handling strangers which she can do great

She doesn't have to heel or hold a down-stay for the CGC.  You have to do a loose leash walk, but the dog can be on either side and step ahead or behind as long as it's not pulling on the leash.  You have to do some stops and turns during this test, but it's not a formal heel.  For downs and sits,  the dog has to demonstrate a sit and a down, but not stay.  You will have to leave your dog, walk 20 feet away, and come back to your dog.  The dog can be in any position as long as it stays put.  There's also a come, but someone can hold the dog's leash so there's no stay required for that.  There's a 3 minute leave, but again the dog is tethered or another person holds the leash.  She will have to meet another dog face to face.  At the training facility I go to the handlers walk towards each other with the dogs on their left (outside).  They stop, ask the dogs to sit, shake hands, then go on.  So the dogs are walking at each other but end up sitting 5 feet apart.  For meeting a stranger, your dog just has to stay relatively put.  She doesn't have to stay sitting, she just cannot jump up on the person or pull away from you.  The person will pet her, look in her ears, brush her back, and touch her paws.  My dog Coke rolled over on his back b/c he wanted a belly rub and that was a "pass" b/c he stayed in one spot and accepted the stranger's touching. 

I guess my opinion is always, "It's not the dog's fault that it didn't pass the class."  The dog isn't the trainer -- you are.  If your dog didn't pass, don't blame your dog.  I would say that you likely didn't do quite enough work at home between classes.

We tell everyone that your dog will NOT be trained in 6 or 7 weeks if you only work on stuff in class.  You must work EVERY DAY on the skills being taught.  You cannot make excuses for your dog.  If your dog is jumping and pulling at the leash, correct her.  It's not that difficult.  If your dog is performing unwanted behaviors it is because you have not taught her what is correct.

Again, not the dog's fault.  I don't know if I'd go with the recommendation that others are giving -- to just train her yourself at home -- because obviously that wasn't working for you before.  I'd do another class (right away) and listen to the instructor.  If you don't understand something, ask for help.

To answer another question -- if your dog can't pass basic obedience then I'm guessing she wouldn't pass CGC, either.

I don't mean for this to be harsh -- I just get really tired of hearing people in our classes blame their dogs for their own lack of training.  The "but oh, she's so cute and just wants to have fun" gets old, too.  If you want your dog to be cute and fun and don't care about corrections, why did you take the class in the first place?