Selecting a training facility
- Thread starter Gin&Dex
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dizzydogmom
Boxer Booster
There are several factors I look at when choosing a training facility. Probably the most important to me is how they train the dogs and students. Do they used positive methods or jerk and praise? I always like to ask what place they feel punishment has in modern dog training-that brings the issue to point rather quickly. Also, how do they teach their skin studets? Are the teachers condescending and sharp or do they still understand that their students aren't idiots for not knowing everything about dogs and wanting to learn? I always observe a class before attending because I like to see the trainers in action, not just hear them talk.
I also look at the size of the class as you're apt to learn more and get more attention in a smaller group. Personally, I also like to see a variety of classes, but that's because I'm interested in a variety of dog sports-if you're just looking for a class to teach your dog to be a good pet, it doesn't really matter if they also teack flyball and tracking.
I also look at cost per class and distance from home 'cause I'm not a millioniare.
There are a few other criteria, but most of those are common sense, like a clean facility and I want them to require my dog to be vaccinated and whatnot. How they treat their fur and skin students is really the big one for me.
I also look at the size of the class as you're apt to learn more and get more attention in a smaller group. Personally, I also like to see a variety of classes, but that's because I'm interested in a variety of dog sports-if you're just looking for a class to teach your dog to be a good pet, it doesn't really matter if they also teack flyball and tracking.
I also look at cost per class and distance from home 'cause I'm not a millioniare.
There are a few other criteria, but most of those are common sense, like a clean facility and I want them to require my dog to be vaccinated and whatnot. How they treat their fur and skin students is really the big one for me.
Aside from training methods (I'd discount immediately anyone promoting so-called 'training collars' and 1940s coercive methods (the former telling me directly that they use the latter)) - I would look for an establishment that understands that training is supposed to be fun. Fun for the dog especially, and fun for the owners too. Not the sort of place that is going to have people trying to bore their dogs into submission with repetitive sits and healing, but one that encourages people to find the right 'buttons' to push for their particular dog to make training a great game. That's how you get dogs doing the things you ask joyfully 
liamsmom
Super Boxer
Positive Methods
i only believe in positive training methods. and if a trainer doesn't believe in the same thing.....it's a no-go for me.
i watched many classes at our facility before we signed up with hubby and our two boys. i even went to a show to watch my trainer work with her dog.
we've been attending training class for almost a year and we've been with the same trainer for the entire time. i don't know what i would do without her. she is truly wonderful.
and, she believes there are several approaches in teaching a dog. not all dogs learn at the same rate or by the same approach. she is always willing to try something new and isn't afraid to learn new things herself.
moby is the first deaf dog she has had in any of her classes......so she and I are always putting our heads together to come up with clear signals for Moby. Heck....when we were learning the 'stand' exercise....we actually broke it down into 20 steps so that it would be clear and concise for Moby to understand. and,.... he has a BEAUTIFUL "stand" now.
the biggest thing is that training be fun for you and your dog. like gmacleod said...you don't want the sort of place that is going to bore the dogs into submission with repetitive sits and healing. you want a place that encourages people to find the right 'buttons' to push for their particular dog to make training a great game.
always remember.........you are there to learn but at the same time.....you are responsible for your dog's happiness and welfare. if anyone asks you to do something that you are uncomfortable don't be afraid to say so. you can do it very politely...(i had to do it when we attended training at a local petmart; and the rest of the class was grateful for it)
our training facility will allow you to "drop-in" to a class (for a small fee). you don't have to sign up for a full 8 week class right away. dropping into a class gives you the ability to see how you feel with the trainer and the class setting.
class size is important to me, too. I don't really like to be in a class with more than 8 people/dogs. i' did drop-in with a class a few times that had 10-12 people/dogs....it was ok because it was with our trainer and i'm comfortable with her but i don't think i would like it if i was just starting out because you don't get as much individualized attention.
just have fun......don't put pressure on yourself. and be sure your dog is happy and having fun, too.
i only believe in positive training methods. and if a trainer doesn't believe in the same thing.....it's a no-go for me.
i watched many classes at our facility before we signed up with hubby and our two boys. i even went to a show to watch my trainer work with her dog.
we've been attending training class for almost a year and we've been with the same trainer for the entire time. i don't know what i would do without her. she is truly wonderful.
and, she believes there are several approaches in teaching a dog. not all dogs learn at the same rate or by the same approach. she is always willing to try something new and isn't afraid to learn new things herself.
moby is the first deaf dog she has had in any of her classes......so she and I are always putting our heads together to come up with clear signals for Moby. Heck....when we were learning the 'stand' exercise....we actually broke it down into 20 steps so that it would be clear and concise for Moby to understand. and,.... he has a BEAUTIFUL "stand" now.
the biggest thing is that training be fun for you and your dog. like gmacleod said...you don't want the sort of place that is going to bore the dogs into submission with repetitive sits and healing. you want a place that encourages people to find the right 'buttons' to push for their particular dog to make training a great game.
always remember.........you are there to learn but at the same time.....you are responsible for your dog's happiness and welfare. if anyone asks you to do something that you are uncomfortable don't be afraid to say so. you can do it very politely...(i had to do it when we attended training at a local petmart; and the rest of the class was grateful for it)
our training facility will allow you to "drop-in" to a class (for a small fee). you don't have to sign up for a full 8 week class right away. dropping into a class gives you the ability to see how you feel with the trainer and the class setting.
class size is important to me, too. I don't really like to be in a class with more than 8 people/dogs. i' did drop-in with a class a few times that had 10-12 people/dogs....it was ok because it was with our trainer and i'm comfortable with her but i don't think i would like it if i was just starting out because you don't get as much individualized attention.
just have fun......don't put pressure on yourself. and be sure your dog is happy and having fun, too.
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Gin&Dex
Super Boxer
Thanks you guys!
I've never taken a dog to a training class (I've always trained them myself), so this is the first time I've looked into them. I should have done more research, but it was a very quick decision I made (I posted in Other Pets).
I have one more question. What about the actual facility/buildings? Are the ones you have chosen indoors or outdoors, or both? Do they have heat and air conditioning? Should that be a major or minor factor? I know the actual trainers and their methods come first....
I'm not trying to cross post (if I am, I'm sorry), but I've already enrolled my dog in a class that I'm not terribly happy with (after only one class). I might choose to take further classes with him, but more than likely not at the facility we are in now. I am kicking myself for not taking more time to research it.... but as I said, it was a very quick decision.
Thanks so much for your responses and advice!! It helps a great deal!
I'll post more about the facility we are in later. I just want your honest, objective opinions before I spill the beans about this place!!! You guys will probably kick me for my ignorance on this later!
I've never taken a dog to a training class (I've always trained them myself), so this is the first time I've looked into them. I should have done more research, but it was a very quick decision I made (I posted in Other Pets).
I have one more question. What about the actual facility/buildings? Are the ones you have chosen indoors or outdoors, or both? Do they have heat and air conditioning? Should that be a major or minor factor? I know the actual trainers and their methods come first....
I'm not trying to cross post (if I am, I'm sorry), but I've already enrolled my dog in a class that I'm not terribly happy with (after only one class). I might choose to take further classes with him, but more than likely not at the facility we are in now. I am kicking myself for not taking more time to research it.... but as I said, it was a very quick decision.
Thanks so much for your responses and advice!! It helps a great deal!
I'll post more about the facility we are in later. I just want your honest, objective opinions before I spill the beans about this place!!!
You guys will probably kick me for my ignorance on this later!
RoxiesEcho
Boxer Insane
Another thing you can do is talk to others who have gone to the trainer you are thinking about using. If they have a website there are often testimonials included and sometimes there are e-mail links you can use. As far as the facility itself, the one that I go to has classes both inside and out. Last summer when Bella was in CGC class we often met at different local parks. All the activity and sounds were great ways to get her used to doing what I wanted her to do even when there were things going on that she would much rather do. Good luck finding a trainer you like. It is tremendous fun and a great way to bond with your boxer!
liamsmom
Super Boxer
we're lucky in the sense that we have heat and air conditioning at our facility but i do know that not all facilites have heat and a/c. that was important to me because i don't like the heat of the summer and neither do our dogs 
and hubby isn't too fond of chilly temperatures. so temperature control played a big part in our choosing the facility. (after the training methods, of course )
our facility also has matted floors. matted floors are VERY important if you are going to be training your dog to go over jumps. you never want to jump a dog on a bare floor....or if you are training outside...you don't want to jump them in damp/wet grass. they will get hurt from sliding, landing wrong or not be able to take off over the jump the right way.
i prefer indoor classes as opposed to outdoor because of weather (rain, snow, etc).
i totally agree with RoxiesEcho.....training is a lot of fun and a great activity to bond with your dog. we are having a great time with our two boys. a lot of people that have never attended obedience with a dog always ask us when we are going to be able to stop going to training. we try to explain that as long as we and our dogs are having fun...we'll continue to go for a very long time.
there's so much to learn and so much fun to be had that we look forward to our class each week. it's really therapeutic for me. i'm so tuned into working with Moby that my mind is cleared of any of the stresses of everyday life. yes...there are times when we and/or our Boxers have an "off" day at training but we never care about that or take it to seriously. maybe we won't work on anything new that night. instead...we just take it in stride and try to find a way to make it even more fun for the dogs to learn so we always end on a positive, happy note.
and hubby isn't too fond of chilly temperatures. so temperature control played a big part in our choosing the facility. (after the training methods, of course )our facility also has matted floors. matted floors are VERY important if you are going to be training your dog to go over jumps. you never want to jump a dog on a bare floor....or if you are training outside...you don't want to jump them in damp/wet grass. they will get hurt from sliding, landing wrong or not be able to take off over the jump the right way.
i prefer indoor classes as opposed to outdoor because of weather (rain, snow, etc).
i totally agree with RoxiesEcho.....training is a lot of fun and a great activity to bond with your dog. we are having a great time with our two boys. a lot of people that have never attended obedience with a dog always ask us when we are going to be able to stop going to training. we try to explain that as long as we and our dogs are having fun...we'll continue to go for a very long time.
there's so much to learn and so much fun to be had that we look forward to our class each week. it's really therapeutic for me. i'm so tuned into working with Moby that my mind is cleared of any of the stresses of everyday life. yes...there are times when we and/or our Boxers have an "off" day at training but we never care about that or take it to seriously. maybe we won't work on anything new that night. instead...we just take it in stride and try to find a way to make it even more fun for the dogs to learn so we always end on a positive, happy note.
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