Has anyone ever taken their dog to the PetSmart or Petco dog training classes? Did you like them?

Posted on Sep 28, 2008 under Dog Training | 11 Comments

Which one is better? Is your dog still exhibiting training?
All the petsmarts in my area have turned to petcos, so I think they’re the same company. I’m going to the first puppy training class tonight, my dogs breed type needs the training, socialization and stimulation, otherwise I would have just used a good training book and done the exercises myself. If your dog is that type too that needs this (mine’s a jack russell terrier haha) you might want to invest in this too. If you don’t like the trainer’s methods, you can always get a full refund. But you have to register in advance for the classes because they only allow so many pups. They also guarentee your dogs training for a lifetime or money back. They said I will be able to walk my dog without a leash (in most situations) for life. The 8 classes where I’m going are $95 and 1 hr long. *****UPDATE**** Had the training class, there were 6 other puppies there ranging from 12 weeks to 7 months. It will be hard with the two 12 week puppies, not because they misbehave but they just can’t learn the same so young. Anyway, basically we met in a room and the puppies socialized. There was a blue pit bull, very beautiful who my dog bonded with maybe only because the 12 months bonded with themselves and none of the other pups were as friendly. While the puppies socialized the trainer introduced herself, said she owns 10 dogs, told us a little about vaccine importance and stuff we knew, said she could help us out if we wanted to show our dogs or do agility, then we went around the room introducing ourselves and saying the major things we hope to accomplish at the classes. Most people said to stop biting, but..they are puppies after all..well anyway, we learned the sit command and the “look at me” command.. Next week we’ll be in the back warehouse doing things with leash walking. So far, my thoughts are “well, this is nothing I couldn’t teach myself SO FAR..but my puppy enjoys the socializing and was happy, and I don’t know how to teach walking without a leash so I’ll stick with it.” They had older dog class after the puppies. Hope that summary helped..

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What do you guys think of Dog Obedience Training at PetSmart?

Posted on Jul 03, 2008 under Dog Training, Obedience | 10 Comments

Im interested in taking my dog to obedience training at Petsmart. If anyone has taken the classes Id like some feedback….. was it worth the money? did it seem like they were training your dog hands on? did the trainer personally helped with issues, or did he/she just basically read out of a book out loud to everyone? how did the trainer interact with each student? did it feel like a personal session or di it seem overcrowded and hard to keep up? thanks in advance.
It will depend on the specific Petsmart as it will depend upon the person they have hired as a trainer. I know some Petsmarts who have a person that has some clue and then there are others who use any little person that has some pseudo-’certification’ they have set up. I personally do not refer to their classes if there is any other reasonable alternative at all. I personally would drive a far distance rather than go to one of their classes but then I realize that obedience classes are a once a week thing and they should be directed at training YOU and not the dog since the training of the dog comes when you take the dog home and then out to other places during the rest of the week on at least a daily basis to train the dog. Check the classes out - go and watch and ask about the trainer - how many dogs they have trained to what titles and what variety of techniques have they personally used and trained others to use successfully. add: DO NOT ‘just pick up a book’ particularly not Kohler’s and start jerking your dog around. Petsmart is likely not at all useful for serious training but it, again depending on the trainer they hired, better than doing some do it yourself training from some antiquated book using an antiquated and proven overall dileterious methodology. I never recommend, not silly enough to, someone to get a book or dvd or watch a show and train a dog.. you need someone watching you and giving feedback as to what you are doing.

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