Why Don't They Go Straight to...

Thanks, been looking around at classes and your right 11-12 weeks. I've signed up!!![][]

Some people live in rural areas where puppy class, dog parks, even trainers are not even remotely close.
 
Our first dog went to puppy class and basic obedience. I loved class, and so did Sampson. It was worth the time and money. We moved to the country and got Shaq. Our nearest vet is almost 100 miles away. (That is EACH way. Roundtrip 200 miles.) Any type of dog training is even further away. I would have loved to take Shaq to puppy class, and did consider signing up anyway. DH and I decided that 9 weeks of driving almost 300 miles, plus the time spent in class was not possible. We do our best with at home training. Shaq and marley have acceptable behavior, but class would have refined it.

Most 1st time puppy people really don't have puppy classes on there to do list prior to getting their dog. It is a relatively new idea - that everyone should attend these classes. After all, how hard is it to raise a cute little fur ball? People have raised dogs for ever without classes. It's after the fact that people realize that it is not as easy as it sounds and just telling your dog "NO" doesn't work.
People end up with a problem they don't know how to approch and end up on a forum like this. Usually wanting to know "is this normal?", "why isn't he housebroken?" etc. That is when they find out about obedience class and all the benifits. Many people just think classes are for 'problem' dogs or clueless people.

The bottom line is, the reason people don't go to puppy classes is the same reason people don't go to parenting classes!

I have taken my dogs to classes, but I think that it is a good idea to come here and ask for a second opinion. A lot of people have taken their dogs to places that practice Ceasar Milan techniques and then they come here for advice and find out that it is totally off!  I know that since coming here and reading all of those random questions has really helped me to realize that what my trainer was teaching me with Duke was WAY off!  
I think that it is great that those posters are coming here and looking for advice. A lot of people would just say screw it and not care... and end up giving the dog to the pound.

Diego's been to puppy k, grad puppy, and now he's in agility.
 
I like to get people's opinions. Different things work with different dogs and different breeds. A choke might work for a gsd, but isn't need for the sensitive collie for example.
 
I've gotten some good advise here too...re: nutrition and training.
 
Also, you might find that there are many different training styles and you decide that you don't like the person you're paying. Casey was trained under a rather harsh hand and I wouldn't go that route again (11 years ago). Diego is being trained w/ positive reinforcement and the clicker.
 
But for heaven's sake people...get your pooches to puppy school! []

We didn't go to puppy classes because they didn't have them here when she was a puppy. We even looked for them because she was a little demon when she was a puppy. Luckily we have a library and so she knows the basic commands from that, but I think she still needs socialization.

Shelby is the first dog I've owned that I've taken to obedience classes. She graduated Basic Obedience and now she's in Graduate Beginners and she's signed up for another class in October. The main reasons she's the first dog I've ever taken to classes were lack of a car and availability of classes. Even now that I have a car, finding classes can be hard. I have an odd work schedule. My day's off are Sundays and Wednesdays and prior to my sister being laid off of work, I used to babysit during the day and I work nights. A lot of classes in my area(and I'm including surrounding burbs) have classes on Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings. Those days are out for me but luckily I was able to find a class that was on Wednesdays and now class on Tuesday mornings. Her next class is on Wednesday nights. I can honestly say that what I learned in class as opposed to online is different. You're able to "see it in action". Plus it's a great way of socializing the dog with other dogs too. Sometimes dogs can act completely obedient at home but when they get around other dogs, they get so excited. Shelby is like that. Sometimes, I have to get her to really concentrate at obedience class because she acts like she's never seen another dog before. While I think dog message boards can be a great place to get advice, as some of them have very knowledgeable people and dog trainers, I don't think they should be a substitute for going to classes if they are available in your area. []

I think it's something that a lot of people just don't think about, unless they wind up with a dog who has major behavior issues. They don't realize that even fairly well behaved little pooches get a lot out of going to class.

Joyce

My situation is totally different.  Buster was a gift to my sister and I when we were both pretty young (I was 12, she was 6).  My dad never bothered with puppy classes, let alone any type of obedience class.  When he passed away 4 years ago, I took Buster to live with me at my mom's and he then came with me when I moved in with my fiance.  Max and Lady belonged to my fiance's mother and sister.  She also never bothered with puppy classes or obedience classes.  She passed away about three years ago, his sister went off to college, and he and I now have three dogs.  We are both just out of school, not making much money, and we have three dogs.  There is no way that we could afford obedience for our dogs...that's why I ask the questions that I do.  Plus Buster and Lady are 12 and their health is starting to go downhill (or at least it will in the next few years)  I'll need money for their vet bills in the future.  I do know, however, that when I am financially ready for another dog (after these guys, of course), I will enroll in some sort of obedience classes.  My situation just kind of sucks and I'm doing the best under these circumstances [].  My dogs are not the best behaved and when it comes to taking them places in public or not, I usually choose to not because I know they aren't properly trained.  So you live and you learn, right?

ORIGINAL: georgie4682

My situation is totally different.  Buster was a gift to my sister and I when we were both pretty young (I was 12, she was 6).  My dad never bothered with puppy classes, let alone any type of obedience class.  When he passed away 4 years ago, I took Buster to live with me at my mom's and he then came with me when I moved in with my fiance.  Max and Lady belonged to my fiance's mother and sister.  She also never bothered with puppy classes or obedience classes.  She passed away about three years ago, his sister went off to college, and he and I now have three dogs.  We are both just out of school, not making much money, and we have three dogs.  There is no way that we could afford obedience for our dogs...that's why I ask the questions that I do.  Plus Buster and Lady are 12 and their health is starting to go downhill (or at least it will in the next few years)  I'll need money for their vet bills in the future.  I do know, however, that when I am financially ready for another dog (after these guys, of course), I will enroll in some sort of obedience classes.  My situation just kind of sucks and I'm doing the best under these circumstances [].  My dogs are not the best behaved and when it comes to taking them places in public or not, I usually choose to not because I know they aren't properly trained.  So you live and you learn, right?

 
Live and learn, absolutely!  You are a wonderful person for keeping all 3 dogs and making sure they have a forever home with you.  

We went to puppy class...but they couldn't offer any solutions to the problems we were having...and I thought it was a good class with good instructors.
 
But you great people came up with a solution and I still thatk you forit.

ORIGINAL: labcrab

Live and learn, absolutely!  You are a wonderful person for keeping all 3 dogs and making sure they have a forever home with you.  

Thanks so much.  We are glad we kept them too, they make my life whole []

I've been to puppy classes, I loved them they really do give you a jump start on obedience & socialization which is awesome, my kids were involved also which made it fun for them too. I would wait until your series of puppy shots were very close to being done or until they were all done before I enrolled my pup.

I am just so curious, and always have been, about why people simply let problems go on and on, but never seek the help of a professional until they are ready to give the dog up, or it has already bitten someone.

In a lot of place, you basically have two choices. One is puppy classes of the pet store variety, many of which are poorly managed (taking place in a busy store, or with small kids running through, or with eight zillion dogs there and one instructor who can't even be heard over the barking), with inexperienced instructors, in settings that can actually put your dog at risk because there are dog-aggressive dogs that the owners can't control (which is why they're there) and the instructor is too overwhelmed or inexperienced or busy to keep an eye on everyone. Also, dogs that need the most work are often "flunked out" of these classes or asked to leave.

The other option is serious training, with a serious trainer, who teaches the owner to work with the dog on everything from sit and down and stay to heel, place, leave it, etc...but these can cost $750, $1000, $1500 or more. Which most people don't want to lay out if there's not a "real" problem. So they wait until they're ready to give the dog up, or the dog bites, or whatever terrible thing they need to have happen in order to be able to justify spending that kind of money.

Personally, I think everyone should invest in serious dog training, not just a basic puppy class. But I admit to being a bit biased! : )

And I think in an ideal world, dog owners should be able to buy a training package that includes private help, in-home lessons, group classes, etc.

Not that I'm averse to puppy classes -- some are great, and I highly recommend new dog owners take whatever classes they can -- but I have seen far too many that provided little more than a chance for puppies to meet other puppies and have play time. Which, again, isn't a bad thing, but certainly doesn't help with the more pressing problems.

Not that online message boards are the answer. But as an educational source, this place is actually tremendously valuable. And every little bit helps...

Jan

My dogs have never been to puppy classes, but I have spent years training dogs so know the basics and (I hope!) more.  We have always walked twice a day and every dog I have owned has bee a well-socialized, well trained girl.

Gyspy and I DID go to an advanced obedience class for fun because I wanted to do something just with her and not DSs and DH.