Benefits of Puppy Training Classes

I think a lot of people believe puppy classes are for the puppy to learn how to sit, and heal, and so forth. Yes, this is one nice thing about them, but in my opinion, it is only a nice side benefit. The best part of puppy classes is really about training owners. In the great scheme of things, how important is it for your dog to sit in a tightly controlled, artificial environment like a classroom? Not very - compared to how important it is for them to learn to sit when you have company coming to visit who may not want dogs knocking them down and jumping all over them. It's more valuable for owners to learn the basics of how to train their dogs, and how to use what they've learned to apply it to their personal needs than it is for any dog to learn a prescribed set of standard tricks.

Good puppy classes tech the owners more than they teach the dogs. They teach owners about how dogs learn, they teach them how to handle their dogs so their dogs learn to accept handling - and that's something that comes in handy for any dog. Not only does a well-behaved dog save its owner embarrassment from visitors, but also it is a safer dog. Leashes can break or slip out of your grip. For piece of mind, you want a dog you can rely on to respond to voice commands. Well-behaved dogs are cheaper to own. They don't need to be sedated for a visit to the veterinarian or groomer, and are less likely to run off and be hit by a car or otherwise injure themselves. Another good benefit of puppy classes is that, for the most part, they are conducted in a group setting. It is a safe way to socialize puppies with other well-vaccinated dogs (most classes require updated vaccines to attend). Dog parks and other places that dogs congregate are generally not safe for young puppies during the sensitive period for socialization due to risk of disease. Puppy classes fill that important void.

Finding a good class is like finding any other good professional to work with, it can be tricky. There are several good, national chains for training classes, but each will only be as good as the local trainers. There are also a slew of independent trainers out there. Getting a referral from a trusted friend or your veterinarian is a great place to start. Classes can be a lot of fun for both you and your dog, but you'll get out as much as you put in. Listen to your trainer, and practice at home between classes, and you and your pooch will be off on the right foot from the very beginning.