Qualifications To Teach At A Dog Obedience Club

[JulesP]

A topic on the Puppy forum has got me thinking about qualifications of instructors at various obedience clubs.

What do you think the qualifications should be? Do you check before you join a club?

Are you going to learn or more for the socialisation aspect?

What does your club do about training instructors? Croydon does a fairly long course. It was about 42 hours of written/practical type training, plus weekly homework and a open book exam. Followed by about 16 hours of out on the field mentoring type stuff. The course covered dog behaviour, training techniques and teaching techniques.

[poodlefan]

Our club conducts courses - weekly 3 hour lectures for about 10? weeks, peer group classes for practical stuff and then assists with a qualified instructor. ETA:There's a written and a practical exam.

There are two levels for obedience (2 separate courses) and agility and flyball are separate courses too.

That said, the quality of instructors is a bit variable.. but I can say the same about those who hang up a shingle and call themselves a "professional dog trainer".

I'd also say the same about Delta qualifed folk.. they range from very talented to pretty darn hopeless.

What sorts the wheat from the chaff for any trainer is the "challenging dogs". Some people can't think outside the square I'm afraid.

Edited April 14, 2008 by poodlefan

[BC]

I must have followed you. I saw your other post then came straight into this one

Thats great what Croydon does, and I think training for all instructors should be mandatory and if you are not up to scratch and dont pass, well you dont instruct :D

The last club I was a member of always just asked anyone to become a trainee instructor, and the only training they received was to go and stand next to one of the experienced instructors for a few weeks, then chucked in the deep end to take a class on their own and normally beginners class at that where IMO the more experienced instructors should've been teaching. It was absolute shambles ;)

yes, I like to check prior to joining any club, who runs it, what qualifications they have. I oftne duck down their for a look a few times prior to joining just to get a feel for it.

I also think the instructors are there to more teach handlers in regards to training methods and dog behaviour, then its up to the handler to put that into practise and train their dog along with the instructors guidance :D

[Cosmolo]

Ideally what i would love to see is a team of instructors that deal with all facets of obedience at the clubs who undergo a course similar to what you mention. This course should focus on how to teach obedience exercises to both dogs and handlers with a range of training techniques.

Then i would love to see a behaviour specialist on site at training with NDTF qualifications and relevant experience who can deal with behaviour problems including dog to dog aggression and dog to people aggression.

I think this would provide the best possible service to members and minimise the stress and pressure on new or inexperienced instructors, without making it impractical to provide economical training services to those who may not be able to afford professional training.

[MonElite]

My club does an internal course.

People that have been members of the club and have been sucessfully training their dogs are approached to be instructors - i was one of them. The club chooses people that come on regular basis, arent shy and progress nicely with their dogs.

Its a group theory thingo at first. Their own manual, standards, excercises, methods etc. During the course (that goes for quite a few months (every other week is the group meeting) there are videos to watch, books to read, etc.

Than there is a written exam.

Also during the course a trainee is taking a class with an existing instructor. And chief instructor visits during the class to see what is being done and how.

Also all of the existing and trainee instructors get send to seminars/workshops held by various people.

As an example we all went to Sue Hogbens workshop she had in Sydney last year.

ETA - my clubs isnt focused on obedience trials, we cater for pet owners that want their dogs behaving nicely. There are few people taht do trial dogs (only instructors) and we have our own "class" unrealted to the rest of the clubs classes. Or I should rephrase - its more of a one on one thing than a class.

Behavioural issues such as dog to dog agression or to human agression are all reffered to professional trainers/behaviourists (mostly Steve Austin)

Edited April 14, 2008 by Monelite

[JulesP]

Cosmolo our 'normal' instructors aren't supposed to deal with any aggression type issue, they have to be referred on to the chief instructor. We also aren't allowed to handle any dogs. To do that there is another course that has to be done.

And yes extra training for agility & flyball.

Quite a few of the instructor also have other qualifications, delta etc.

[Cosmolo]

There are plenty of clubs who do try to deal with such issues themselves though which i think should be avoided. Interesting that you're not meant to handle any dogs? What happens if you need to demonstrate a technique?

[Soraya!]

There are plenty of clubs who do try to deal with such issues themselves though which i think should be avoided. Interesting that you're not meant to handle any dogs? What happens if you need to demonstrate a technique?

I've just jumped in here and am interested in your services (I have another topic in going - desperately seeking help). Went to your website Cosmolo. We are based in Berwick which isn't too far from where you are. Trouble is our dog gets car sick - do you train any closer?

[JulesP]

It does cause a few problems Cosmolo, I get frustrated sometimes but I guess I am there to teach the person not prove I can do it. We are very much a positive club so can easily demonstrate luring etc with the owner still holding the dog. I've taken my own dog into class to demonstrate or I might point out something that an advanced class is doing.

[Cosmolo]

Thanks Jules P. What is the reason for not allowing you to handle clients dogs? I'm just curious

Soraya- we specialise in one on one where we come to you. Feel free to email me with some details of the problem and i can provide more details for you

[Soraya!]

Thanks Jules P. What is the reason for not allowing you to handle clients dogs? I'm just curious

Soraya- we specialise in one on one where we come to you. Feel free to email me with some details of the problem and i can provide more details for you

Thank you Cosmolo and sorry for hijacking thread. Getting a little desperate - Retriever is very naughty. Will contact you.

Edited April 14, 2008 by Soraya!

[JulesP]

Think it is an insurance and safety thing.

[PAX]

I am a Dogs NSW instructor, I dont really think the course taught me much but I'm gald I did it.

At my club we do not encourage handling other peoples dogs, for one it could make you look bad or it can make the handler look bad. We are there to help the handler train the dog.

I will often use a puppy in the class if I feel the owner is OK with it but anything else I use one of my own dogs.

Anything hard we refer to a Pro trainer as we are there for general dog training, manners and no more.

Edited April 14, 2008 by PAX

[dogdude]

There are many ideal criteria that you could dream up in the ideal world but that won't solve the real problem................not enough people wanting to become instructors in the first place.

Who wants to give up half a Sunday every week and let your own dogs training wain to boot??

That problem is the one that really needs to be soughted.

One club that I was a member of when I enquired about becoming an instructor at told me that they are really choosey in who they train because past instructors had left their club after training!!!?? I was already an experienced instructor anyway.............and it annoys me that some of these clubs (including that one) are very well off financially, and could well afford to send new instructors to do the NDTF or similar, but choose not to for the sake of the clubs bottom line looking strong at the end of the year.

A bit of investment in the instructors would be paid multiple times over by keeping members longer. There is just no reason whatsoever that someone would really want to become one from where I sit. I am really just enjoying being a member atm.

[Rusky]

What is the reason for not allowing you to handle clients dogs?

they aren't clients in a dog club cosmolo.

Insurance is non existant in a dog club. I would imagine that whichever club it is are just taking care of their people. There is no insurance for dog bite.There is the usual insurance as there is in any sports club...

All the trainers I know at all the clubs I know handle the dogs. They aren't clients though, they are club members just like the rest of us.

[JulesP]

That is not how it works at my club. The members are treated as the customers. We do have insurance. It is a good club.

[jaybeece]

What do you think the qualifications should be? Do you check before you join a club?

I haven't checked as I probably wouldn't know what to look for

Are you going to learn or more for the socialisation aspect?

I go mostly for socialising, but also to refine training. Most of what I need to know is behavioural and a lot of dog club instructors don't really have answers for those kind of questions, which is fine. I don't expect them to know everything or be behaviourists. Sometimes when they do try to give out behavioural advice it's either very generic and not useful or, in a couple of instances, downright stupid, so I'm picky about who I listen to.

What does your club do about training instructors? Croydon does a fairly long course. It was about 42 hours of written/practical type training, plus weekly homework and a open book exam. Followed by about 16 hours of out on the field mentoring type stuff. The course covered dog behaviour, training techniques and teaching techniques.

I'm pretty sure there'd be some form of course and the trainee instructors do seem to have to put in a lot of hours with another instructor before being allowed to take their own class. That's all I know so far I might look into what it takes to do it some day when my own dog doesn't need so much work.

As far as handling the dogs are concerned instructors will take the dogs when appropriate, but they do prefer to either explain exercises or use their own dogs to demonstrate which I think works best. There's been 1 instructor at my school who I wouldn't have let take him no matter what as they had some weird ideas on how to help his aggression that I didn't want to even consider. Other than that they've all been very good and I don't mind them taking him. He was even handled by another person in class the other day (with his muzzle on) as part of a dog swapping exercise and it ended up being pretty fun.

[Silvawilow]

At our club we don't have the luxury of hundreds of members to choose from as possible instructors - I think we've got a grand total of about 70 members this year.

Our new instructors don't have to do exams, homework or tests. They shadow a more experienced instructor for approximately 2 months (depending on their own experience and inter-personal skills) and then, if they are suitable to be an instructor, they are placed in charge or a higher level class i.e. CCD, Novice, etc. Beginners and the next level above at our club are only taken by instructors with many years experience.

We also offer our instructors their own training class which runs at the same time as beginners. That way we get to see how they are going themselves with their own dogs, we insure that they don't miss out on training just because they've volunteered their time to help the club and we also get to talk about any problems in class we're having with particular dogs/handlers, problem solving, trouble shooting, etc.

[Kelpie-i]

Interesting thread...

It's good to learn how other clubs train their trainers (if they do) and what makes a good instructor.

I believe that dog training is a skill that is acquired after adequate learning of theory and loads of handling and instructing experience. Merely doing a course does not render anybody qualified to teach obedience classes yet along give people advice on behavioural issues.

My instructors have all done some sort of formal training course initially, whether it be NDTF or other. Once this is completed and we feel the person has the right qualities and decent handling skills to become an instructor, they are then put on as "assistant instructor" for the first 12 months. During this time they float around the classes assisting the main instructors, helping people out one on one with obedience problems only. They do not tackle behavioural problems at this stage. Within 6 months of their floating time, they are then 'promoted' for want of a better word, to take our "catch up" classes which concentrate solely on one or two areas ie. Drops/stands or loose lead walking etc. This gives them some very good practice for when it comes time to take an entire class and also eases the nerves. During this time they will also undergo a further 5 week Induction program which teaches them specific techniques, approaching people, how to draw up class plans, dealing with difficult people etc.

Only after 12 months of both floating and then taking catch up classes can they commence taking full obedience classes as an instructor. The whole process takes around 2 years...pretty slow, but this process is allowing us to create some excellent instructors with loads of hands on knowledge as well as experience in dealing with indivicual people and their dogs.

[Cosmolo]

Wow, that sounds great kelpie i!