wantsapuppy Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 (edited) Edited December 6, 2011 by wantsapuppy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle. Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 You can go for the whole life of the dog if you want. Progress through the classes, enter trials etc. Some obedience clubs also offer other activities such as agility, flyball, tracking etc, so you might find something else to interest you and the dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantsapuppy Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 (edited) Edited December 6, 2011 by wantsapuppy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 You can go forever , as said ... Obedience classes are excellent to help socialise your puppy, and to let you see pups/dogs behaving in different ways, and to teach YOU a bit on how to communicate with/train your pup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suziwong66 Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 our plan is forever, since the doggy socialisation is so much fun for Wilbur. We would eventually like to trial, but more important is teaching him to self-regulate at home and out-and-about. We go twice a week and we also do once a month 'puppy' agility. Our club offers both morning and night obedience classes (on Tuesdays) and we take advantage of both since our yearly membership covers all classes. Going to obedience doesn't give you a reprieve from maintenance training once you've done all the levels before trialling. You will need to do maintenance training to keep the behaviours; it's a generally case of if the dog doesn't use it they lose it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
**Super_Dogs** Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 As others have said you can go forever. However if this is not possible the min I recommend is weekly until your dog is 12 months old. Alot of people only go to puppy school or basic obedience but I personally do not think this is enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I would say for life. It's a great place for socialising, and the mental stimulation the dogs get out of training is really important. My first dog was 9 years old when I got her and everyone laughed at me for signing her up to obedience classes (she was already exceptionally well behaved). But for me it was important that she have mental stimulation, not to mention that it is great to create and maintain a bond between you and your dog! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angeluca Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I go once a week rotating which pup I take weekly, it's a half hour drive each way, half hour lesson but I'm usually there early and sometimes stay socializing with the other doggy people for an hour or more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuffles Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I'd go at least until you have passed the club's companion training levels I stopped taking one of my dogs at that stage because he didn't really like being there. That may take 6 months, it may take 5 years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bully Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I took Jessie my previous Bull Terrier to the local obedience club to get trained and they ended up training me I became an instructor, trial secretary and treasurer and got Life Membership Jessie made it to novice trial level. Pele my current Bull Terrier, now 6.5 years still goes to training. She has a CD title and is competing towards CDX, we do agility for fun (competition jump height 500mm is too high for her) and we started tracking this year :D Training is for the life of the dog (and owner) and you make great friends along the way and end up with a well behaved dog who is a pleasure to own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agility Dogs Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 We are an agility club, but have a foundation class that suits everyone. Most people choose to leave after the initial course, but we have quite a few who just come for a fun run around each week. Similarly at an obedience training business I used to go to there were people who had been going for years and just loved the outing with their dogs every week. Its a great way to make friends and have a goood time out with you mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 (edited) My 11 year old BC still goes to club training each week, she first started around 4 months old and has a blast - we haven't been quite as often this year because my young girl has been on restricted activity but the old girl has kept me sane. The old girl got dusted off for the end of year agility breakup night and had a blast pairing my friends 7 year old sheltie on the strategic pairs course they had set up - they were only jumping 300 . And 1 month before her 11th Birthday we entered our very first tracking trial and walked away with a good (and quallie) for her test 1 . Considering bringing her out again when the tracking season resumes again next year. Maybe we can finish off a couple of more tracks and manage another title . Edited December 5, 2011 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOGPERSON Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 a lot of people go until the get tired of waking up early on the weekend. Socialization is fine, but you can get that at an off lead park. I think the real bonus level is going until you get total recall .. well that was my dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuffles Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Here is a list off the top of my head of what I get out of going to class: - Controlled socialisation for dog, on leash - Dog learns self control around distractions - The viewpoint of a number of different instructors with different experiences - Watching how others train their dogs - Talking to like-minded people - Building a relationship with my dog, that whole hour is dedicated to them - Working towards a goal (eg. passing the level) and having to practice at home to meet that goal (motivation) - Meeting lots of different dogs of many breeds and temperaments - Meeting friends for play dates but also for human dinners and activities :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkhe Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I would say for life. It's a great place for socialising, and the mental stimulation the dogs get out of training is really important. My first dog was 9 years old when I got her and everyone laughed at me for signing her up to obedience classes (she was already exceptionally well behaved). But for me it was important that she have mental stimulation, not to mention that it is great to create and maintain a bond between you and your dog! Me too! I got my dog at 3 years, but she didn't really have any obedience at all and hadn't been socialised. Rather than being bouncy and lacking in manners she was petrified of everything and going for walks was terribly traumatic. I taught her basic commands at home and enrolled her in obedience when I felt she had gained enough confidence to be able to handle being around so many dogs. For us, it was more about socialising in a controlled environment as others have said, than the actual obedience. She's quite an obedient dog (and there's a difference between an obedient dog, and one that does obedience!) and very well behaved- so that wasn't really a problem for me. I stopped taking her after taking a dislike to one of the instructors and his methods and attitude. I could've probably persevered and started going back when another teacher was teaching our level, but it just dropped in my priority list and I haven't been back. We've now got a good group of dog friends that we see at the park which satisfies the need I used obedience school for, before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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