Boosting Numbers At A Club

[Nevafollo]

ok guys our club needs some tips on boostng numbers/keeping people there to continue training right throu there dogs lifes!!!

most tend to think there dogs are fully trained and know all they need to know after 12-16 weeks and they never come back!!!

just wonder if anyone has any ideas on how to keep people coming back and how to boost our club numbers!!!

[dogdude]

The key is to try to train/poach the right people to instruct. You also need a flexible training method policy and educate your instuctors on how to implement them. I know many clubs that are good at saving money, but do not give their instructors any incentives like paying for further education.

The more people that you can cater for, the more you will keep. Holding regular workshops and seminars with top trainers is an ideal way of keeping both members and instructors.

The rest is just good marketing, but a club like this will sell itself.

The number one reason why people leave clubs is that they either do not like an instructor, or dont like a method used, along with of course that its much more work than they thought.

A club is only as appealing as its front line (the instructors)

[Rom]

What is your fee structure like?

Do you charge for a beginners ob class, then go to nightly fees after they graduate from that?

Just wondering because our club charges one annual fee. Members can keep coming back for the entire year.

The major reasons people drop out in my opinion is that they are either not getting anywhere with their dogs or they have attained a level of obedience that they are happy with and find the classes boring. I believe that the former accounts for the majority of drop outs. The latter is easy to fix if you have enough willing instructors....organise some fun activities or new ways to apply distraction or vary the circumstances in classes so that the participants are always testing the skills that they have learned with their dogs instead of just repeating the same old stuff over and over again.

So as Dogdude says quality of instruction is important.

With this in mind, even if all instructors can't have the required level of education (and I say this recognising that instructors are volunteers and volunteers are generally thin on the ground) its important that there be instructors who do have a good degree of knowledge who are spare and can be available to give one on one to those who are struggling with the same issues week after week.

After all, if you're not getting anywhere with your problem, why would you continue going back?

Its also important to recognise that often the problem is with the handler and not the dog......the handler sometimes gets into a spot of bother and they lapse back into old habits...they need constant reminding until they form a new habit. I've heard so many times an instructor say of a particular participant "I told him/her X, but they just won't listen". I don't think its so much that they don't listen, sometimes its that they don't really take it on board in one telling. It needs to be re-iterated in a number of different ways at a number of different times under a number of different sets of circumstances.

As an example, I've been attending my old club as an observer while I'm studying. One lady asked me for advice on a particular issue with her dog and for 6 weeks I've been spending 10-15 mins with her each training night telling her and demonstrating the same thing over and over again...she is only just now taking it on board and starting to habitually react in the right way to her dogs issues. Funny thing is, the dog got it straight away.....and the handler could see how it worked, she just kept lapsing into old habits. In a class environment, the instructor would not have had the time to spend 10-15 mins with one person.

When you get drop outs, consider the person and the dog involved.....were they getting the results that they desired?

Some clubs just don't ask enough questions of their clients to find out what it is that they actually want.

The best marketing tool any form of business can have is clients who become advocates of that business. Results are what creates advocates.

Here are some generally accepted statistics of the business world:

*If a client is happy with the service they recieved, they will tell an average of one other person.

*If a client is not happy they will tell an average of 10 other people.

*Only 1 in every 10 people who are not happy will let that business know that they weren't happy or that the service didn't meet their needs.

So, on the surface of it, it may seem that you're not getting that many complaints...but those few complaints can do a lot of damage to the business in the public eye.

Often those that are making a complaint are very nice and self effacing about it....so their complaint may not be taken on board by the club for the potential damage that it may be doing in the public eye. The complainant may be saying things such as..."I know you are just all volunteers and doing you're best", or "My dog just isn't learning, its not your fault". They may be telling a very different story to their friends. But even if they are telling it to their friends the same way that they are telling you, if their friend has similar issues with their dog, they aren't really going to have any faith that you can help based on what they've heard.

Edited September 6, 2007 by Rom

[poodlefan]

most tend to think there dogs are fully trained and know all they need to know after 12-16 weeks and they never come back!!!

If the club is doing it's job, it should be able to deliver the level of training your average dog owner wants in that time frame. Most people who walk through our club's doors want a dog that sits, walks on a loose lead, doesn't jump up and comes when it's called. They haven't heard of dog sports and have little understanding of the concept of training being an ongoing commitment.

Step one is to fulfill their basic needs - deliver the training they want. Step 2, is to engage people who are enjoying training and offer them either dog sports training or more trick and "fun" training.

Most professional dog training organisations tell people that 2 months of classes will set them up with a trained dog - that's the market you're competing in.

Families are time poor these days and won't keep coming for the sake of it. It's a case of accept that most won't stay for more than about 8-12 weeks unless they see a benefit or enjoyment from being there.

[KitKat]

I'd have to add if you have enough voli's have someone as a 'floater' either for each class or for each time slot. So that they can peel off with someone as needed to help them problem solve - this means that the rest of the class can keep moving rather then have to stop, and that the person who might need that bit of additional help gets some one on one attention - it can really make a big difference. And it doesn't leave the person 'holding up the class' and feeling embarrased because of it.

I often found when i used to train i would end up doing this...and the trainer would let me. Also when i became an assistant trainer (not doing it any more) this is what i ended up doing - the other trainer would take the main class and i would peel off and help people one on one. Occasionally i have found myself doing this to some degree with classes currently.

Also a common catch cry is "but they do everything at home!" in regards to dogs behaving - instead of the common response of "they all say that" which does make a person feel put down..respond positively with the other real answer of "They often will...just remember that there are a lot of distractions here" I have often talked to people after classes and they are upset by the 'they all say that' type comments. However i'll generally say something along the lines of 'generally you train without distractions then add them...here because it's group classes it's the other way around...try to train with distractions, then practise without them - which is why they often work better at home etc" which makes them feel better...but it's still true.

Many people new to training etc stil feel embarrased if their dog is misbehaving for whatever reason, or because their dog doesn't seem to be picking stuff up as quickly as others etc...but people need to understand that such happens...not always from lack of practise, or from their handling...it can sometimes just be an off day, or more scents on the ground, or whatever. Rather then just say things likes "you obviously have to practise more" or "you have to put that dog in a halti" use encouragement and explain the different reasons that the dog may not be working as well...usually the person will come to the right conclusion - and they won't feel as if they are being talked down to etc.

Have fun nights, have changes of trainers, make sure trainers can explain things easily and in different ways, have them explain why dogs behave the way they do, and last but not least...don't treat the handler like a twit...they won't come back and they will bag the club involved.

[stephenb]

ok guys our club needs some tips on boostng numbers/keeping people there to continue training right throu there dogs lifes!!!

most tend to think there dogs are fully trained and know all they need to know after 12-16 weeks and they never come back!!!

just wonder if anyone has any ideas on how to keep people coming back and how to boost our club numbers!!!

We had this problem at our club and we made a few simple changes.

First, we moved the advanced classes back to the same time as the beginner classes. This allowed the beginners to see some of the more advanced work and allowed them to continue coming at the same time rather than later.

Next we started to bring out a single piece of agility equipment for the advanced class to try out and have some fun. We don't actually run any agility classes but some of us do compete in agility.

We are very pleased with the result of these changes and our advanced classes are much larger now and more people are continuing on to trialling.

[Staranais]

The number one reason why people leave clubs is that they either do not like an instructor, or dont like a method used, along with of course that its much more work than they thought.

I think another reason that people leave a club is that they're not getting results. The dog might sit in class - but doesn't do it on the street. The dog might recall in class - but won't do it at the dog park. So IMO, if you don't do so already, that might be something to focus on. Introduce more distractions to class, and teach people how to train for reliability around them.

I've talked to people who have left obedience because it was "boring" - too much sitting around. So if you don't do it already, IMO you should try to have smaller classes, with a good rapid pace, try to organise classes so there is more action and less sitting around waiting for your turn!

Also, I'd say make sure your instructors are competent, helpful, and that know about a good wide range of techniques and tools, so that no dog is left behind. Some dogs need food, some need toys, some need crazy praise, some need correction collars. A good trainer, IMO, has a basic working knowledge about all of these tools, so they can recommend the tools that are best suited to each dog and handler team.

Perhaps you could give an anonymous survey to club members, and ask them what they'd like to see more of in class? Some might be totally disinterested in trialling or competitions, just want a dog with good, reliable obedience. Others might just like to train tricks. Others might be keen to trial in obedience or tracking, but have no idea how to start doing so. You might find you need to split your classes into a couple of different ones in order to keep people interested.

[BaaabyFlynn]

what has made me leave almost every single club I attended was the fact that there was no consistency between the trainers

OK - sure - have your own methods but the goal needs to be the same.

For instance - some people teach sit by tucking a dogs bum under, others lure - either way is fine and painless and gets the same result

However, if one person teaches sit by tucking dogs bum under and another says well you dont need to know sit lets work on something else - its frustrating

I also believe the ethics of a club will keep people there - positive reinforcement, traditional, etc - gauge the clientel.

You need to offer some different things

trialing obedience

agility

obedience for life

tricks training

doggy dancing etc

I would also follow up. as a dog trainer I didnt always know peoples names but I always knew the dogs i trained and I always made sure to ask - so how is Barney going with the recall?

If the owner said - oh terrible - i would help them out - i would remember it and take it into my class and make sure that lesson we broke down the recall more

thats another thing - you might not be breaking things down enough

sit for example involve

pay me attention

my hand in the right place

my hand moving in the right direction

dog following it and plonking bum down

dog not moving til released

thats just for SIT

anyway just a few ideas

[Poodle wrangler]

They now do a lot more agility type exercises at our club, not just straight obedience. Jumps are low, tunnels short to start etc. Trainers get a lot of positive feedback about it. Obedience numbers are few compared with the agility.

[Nevafollo]

thanx for all ur replies guys there were some ideas we already have in place and some that are new and fresh we are are a very diverse club with atleast 150 people a week but it always seems to be the same ones turning up....and not many stick around to attempt trialing ect....i will get mum to put a few ideas t the board next meeting!!!CHEERS!!!