The decision to train a dog is smart and very beneficial to you and your dog. Most people are already aware of the importance of training a dog.
The problem is many are not sure if they should hire a professional dog trainer or train their dog on their own.
Hiring a professional dog trainer means you won’t have to learn how to train your dog. The professional will do all the training for you. Once trained you will just need to continue the training to reinforce what your dog has learned.
Professional dog training can be costly. Individual private training can cost on average $240 – $600 for 6 weeks of training. Group classes anywhere from $40 – $125 for 4 – 8 weeks.
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Dog Training – Group Dog Training Classes & What Questions To Ask The Instructor
Are you looking for the most efficient way of training your dog in the fastest time possible?
We would all love to learn how to be world-class dog trainers and teach our puppies and adult dogs all they need to know when it comes to basic training, however, for most of us it just isn’t practical. We have busy lives and hectic schedules and there isn’t enough time in the day to devote a lot of training towards our pets.
This is why joining a group dog training class is ideal. Not only is it fun to watch your dog interact with the trainer and the other dogs, these classes can be a very efficient way to teach your dog the basics when it comes to the minimum requirements for an obedient pet.
One word of caution though, and that is to be very careful about which group training class you and your dog participate in. To help you become aware of what questions to ask the trainer of these classes, below are a few pointers to get you going.
1. For starters, ask the instructor exactly what your dog will learn in the class. You want to be sure that the basic commands are going to be taught. Such examples are learning to Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Down. And on the same note, ask the dog trainer if he or she will also take time to go over these commands with you so that you can help your dog master them in your spare time.
2. Group dog training classes should not be too large in numbers. To avoid getting involved in a class that has too many dogs, be sure to ask the instructor the number of dogs and puppies that will be participating. A good rule of thumb to look for in terms of members is between five and fifteen. 15 dogs is of course on the high side. Any more than that then you may be paying for classes without your dog getting the full benefits of training that is offered.
3. Dogs and bad behavior sometimes go hand in hand. It’s the nature of the beast, literally. So ask the instructor if he or she discusses behavior problems during the class. It is not typical for a group class to go full-blown into dog behavior training because it is this area that becomes a little more personal and unique to each individual dog. However, it is a good sign if the class discusses basic behavior problems and how to counter them in training your dog.