Can't Decide

[Tiggy]

I was planning on rejoining my local obedience club this year but now I'm getting cold feet . I wanted to go for the distraction training but I couldn't stand doing an hour long class. I'm so happy that Banjo loves our training at home, I don't want to sour that. I really need to ring them and find out if it's okay for me to train there outside of class and also find out if they do ring run throughs but I'm such a chicken I keep putting it off . I feel like I might offend them. We need a DOL training club .

[bedazzledx2]

One way to wean off group classes might be to ask the instructor if they would mind if you duck in and out of the class. This means you can still do group stays (if you wish) stand for exam, recalls etc but when they start paddock bashing en mass you can just duck out and work on doodling and perfecting turns etc or just put your dog away for a break. An hour is way too long to train any dog anyway.

I was planning on rejoining my local obedience club this year but now I'm getting cold feet . I wanted to go for the distraction training but I couldn't stand doing an hour long class. I'm so happy that Banjo loves our training at home, I don't want to sour that. I really need to ring them and find out if it's okay for me to train there outside of class and also find out if they do ring run throughs but I'm such a chicken I keep putting it off . I feel like I might offend them. We need a DOL training club .

[Tiggy]

One way to wean off group classes might be to ask the instructor if they would mind if you duck in and out of the class. This means you can still do group stays (if you wish) stand for exam, recalls etc but when they start paddock bashing en mass you can just duck out and work on doodling and perfecting turns etc or just put your dog away for a break. An hour is way too long to train any dog anyway.

Sounds good . I'm just nervous about bringing it up to the Instructor. I'm a baby I know .

[WreckitWhippet]

Our club has the usual obedience classes for average Joe and then also a "trialling" class , for those who want the short, sharp trainign sessions, the long stays and the distraction. They will also work on anything that you want to as an individual and the more experienced triallers are happy to point out anything that you can work on.

It's not a formal class as such and it's held after the normal classes. You might find that there is a group of owners who are trialling or working up to that point who do the same thing within your club.

I used to start the classes with one dog and swap dogs half way through and then reverse the order the next training session so the other dog started first. An hour is way too long for the dog to be bored shitless, it often sours them.

[WildatHeart]

I used to go to obedience too and stopped going (i went for distractions) I kept getting told off for having my own commands (like drop instead of down) and for not saying 'stay'. I could only use their method and that was check chain only. No luring, no clicker, no soft method for the soft dogs, just check check check.

I stopped going, not only that but they would make dogs come up face to face and make you check to stop then from looking at each other.

[ness]

I am a member of an obedience club but my youngster didn't go through the classes. Our club have a trial ring set up each week and somebody to put you through (either another club member or one or other of a couple who are obedience judges). If it was just "classes" then I wouldn't be attending. Maybe you can find a club that has a set up similar to this.

[Tiggy]

Okay so I just got an email back from the president of the club and he doesn't have a problem with me training outside of class but the trialing class is for CDX, we're training for CCD. I guess once I start going I can sticky beak on the trialing class and maybe worm my way in . The swapping of dogs is a good idea shoemonster but I don't take Sophie to obedience, I'll need another dog .