Dog training

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TEXT: RHIANNON CECIL

HOW TO FIND A SUITABLE CLASS

You know the saying, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks'? Well, it's actually not so accurate at all. No matter how old they are, dogs love the challenge of training! If you're keen to spend a bit more time training your dog, or you are one of those super organised folk who already has their New Year resolutions lined up and are planning on incorporating more training next year, then this article is for you. Here we look at some of the things you need to know before you start so that you can find the ideal training centre and book the right class before all of the best spots are taken!

DECIDE WHAT KIND OF TRAINING YOU WANT TO DO

So, how do you choose what you'd both like to do? First, you have to think about what works best for you and your dog. If you can only take classes on weekday evenings, obviously, dog schools that don't offer that option are off the cards. Would you prefer group or one on one classes? Have a goal in mind, and you'll be that one step closer to finding the right trainer.

There are many different types of dog training. If you and your dog have never trained before, it's advisable to look at basic obedience before you look at other forms of training such as man work or agility. Your dog generally needs to have the basics in place before you take these steps.

Even within basic obedience classes, you have puppy classes, small breed classes, and general home obedience classes. Competitive obedience is different from basic home obedience and much more intense, so make sure you know which you'd rather participate in.

If you already have obedience training down, you can have a look at expanding on that with some of these options: • Agility • Flyball • Man work • Therapy dog classes • Trick training • Advanced/competitive obedience

Whatever direction you'd like your training to go, your dog school should adhere to some basic standards to ensure the safety and happiness of you and your pup.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR TRAINER

Time for some research! Your trainer should have a qualification or a great deal of experience, preferably both. Have a look at the website and double-check that any qualifications your trainer has are recognised in the industry. Ask for references, do some digging, and if everything checks out, you can move on to the next step of asking for opinions. Local Facebook and WhatsApp groups can be extremely useful here, and if you are completely stuck on step one (finding any suitable trainers), you can even ask for recommendations.

GO AND LOOK AROUND

People can make anything look great online, and since you'll be spending a lot of time and money there, it's worth checking the place out for yourself. Make sure you inspect the facilities and equipment yourself and meet the trainer you're going to be working with, so you can make sure you and your dog get along well with them.

Watching a class is even more important. You want to be on the lookout for any cruelty or signs of mismanagement. Are dogs adequately spaced apart? If something goes wrong during the class, how did the trainer handle the incident? How did they react? Are rewards and praise used frequently during the sessions? Take a moment to watch the dogs in class. Do they look happy and enthusiastic or a bit scared and confused? Every training centre has its own methods, some considerably more militant than others. Stay away from any punishment-based training at all costs. Training your dog should be a positive and stress-free experience for you both.

CHECK COSTS AND REQUIREMENTS

Once you've narrowed down your list, take a moment to compare costs. They should all be very similar, and if one or two are much higher than the others, ask them why. You may find it's because their trainers are more qualified, which is a good thing.

Has anyone mentioned vaccine requirements? If the answer is 'no', that could be a deal breaker. All dog training facilities should require members to fully vaccinate their dogs to prevent the spread of disease. Small classes are another requirement you should be looking for, along with rules and regulations that include things like 'no cruelty will be tolerated', and 'shock collars are forbidden.' The rules and regulations give you a better idea of what kind of ethos the dog school promotes.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Whatever dog school you decide best fits your needs, your trainer should give you homework after every session. Trainers are there to teach you how to train your dog, not train your dog for you (that's a different service). If you choose not to take the time to reinforce at home what you learned in training, your trainer isn't responsible for your results. Dogs need time to learn and assimilate new information, and just ten minutes a day can help them fully understand what you want, which will make a massive difference to your progress. If you already know you won't be able to put the effort in, then it's best not to sign up until you have a little more time available to prioritise the homework.

HAVE FUN

Training will quickly become one of those things you'd both rather avoid unless you make it fun. Take breaks, play, be generous with rewards and ignore mistakes, and you'll soon find that training your dog is more than just a chore you undertake to make him tolerable for the rest of the family. It's actually a fun hobby, and no matter how much you apply yourself, there's always more to learn.