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How to Choose a Dog Obedience School

How to Modify your Dog's Behavior and Solve Obedience Problems

The time you invest in finding a good dog obedience school will pay off with a well-behaved and easy to get along with dog.

But before you even begin your search, you need to know what to look for and what questions to ask.

It's a fact that a well-behaved dog is less likely to end up in a shelter or be given up for adoption. He is also less likely to exhibit signs of aggression.

But how do you train your dog if you don't have the experience? You have several options...

You can buy a dog-training book or a video and try to train your dog on your own. This approach may work, but it will not be easy, since each dog is unique and some techniques may not work with your pet.

If you want to train your puppy by yourself, make sure the training book or a video that you use come from a reliable source. When training my own dogs, I often use the Secrets to Dog Training as a reference.

Another approach is to enroll your dog in a dog obedience school. This is more expensive than trying to train him on your own but, especially for a new dog owner, offers a lot of advantages.

Here is a short video that demonstrates a typical class at a dog obedience school. Love the soundtrack!

Learn more about How to Train your Dog for Obedience

The trick is to enroll your dog not just in an obedience school, but in a good dog obedience school.

Choosing a Dog Trainer

Here is what you can expect from a good dog trainer...

A good dog trainer will not only teach your dog social skills but will strengthen the bond between you and your pet.
A good dog trainer not only trains the dog, but he also educates you, a dog owner.

The above two points explain why it's so important you feel comfortable with the trainer. Let's continue…

Some punishment may be effective in teaching a dog the proper behavior, but it should not come at the expense of positive reinforcement methods. Exclude any trainer who relies solely on punishment or if the punishment is excessive.
Ask a potential instructor for his or her credentials. Is he or she certified by the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors? Does he or she belong to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers?
(I belong to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and my member number is 73641.)
Ask some specific questions on their training methods. For example, if you ask how the instructor teaches the dog to sit, the correct answer will not be "I push him into the sit position". If a potential instructor applies force when guiding a dog into a certain position, look for another instructor.
Ask what type of equipment the instructor uses. Give preference to an instructor who is flexible and will switch to another piece of training equipment if your dog does not respond well to the first choice.

You may need to visit several dog training schools before you find an instructor you feel comfortable with.

The Next Step

You found a dog obedience school that you like. The instructor seems knowledgeable and you feel comfortable with your choice. Is your search for a dog obedience school over?

Almost, but not yet...

Ask to observe a training class similar to the one you are interested in. Watching an advanced class when you have a young puppy is a waste of time. Make sure that the instructor who will be teaching your puppy teaches the class you are observing.

When you observe a class, pay attention to how the instructor conducts the class. Is he willing to give special attention when necessary? Is he rushing through the class? Anything else you don't like?

The goal of the basic class is not only to train your puppy, but also to educate you, a new dog owner. When you observe a class, pay attention if the instructor is providing information on typical puppy problems, such as housebreaking, separation anxiety, etc.

Finally, is he or she using the same approach with all dogs in the class? Most likely, a class will include at least one shy dog, one aggressive dog, etc. A shy dog requires a different approach than a dominant dog.

On a lighter note, I am sure you will enjoy the following video!

A dog obedience school is a start, but the training does not end when you come home. To be successful, you need to repeat the exercises you learned in class.

The goal of dog training classes is to build a bond between your puppy and your family. But to be effective, a training class has to be not only informative but also fun. If any of these ingredients are missing or you are not comfortable with an instructor, look for another dog obedience school.

Even if you are not planning for any advanced training, you will need help with changing many of your dog's behaviors. Whether you enroll your dog in an obedience school or not, I feel every dog owner needs to have a good book on behavior and obedience training.