petco or pet smart's training classes - YorkieTalk.com Forums

newproudmom · 01-12-2009, 03:54 PM

has anyone taken the petco or pet smart's puppy or dog training classes? If you have, how did it go? I am thinking about it but not sure yet. I need lots of help with my puppy

viviansnickers · 01-12-2009, 07:07 PM

YES!! I am currently in a session of puppy obedient classes at PetSmart with Snickers and him and I both love it. It's a great way to socialize your dog and how to learn effective ways of training them. Before the class, Snickers knew nothing. I am a 1st time puppy owner and now he knows: sit, come (my fav), lay down, leave it, fetch (we taught him that one ourselves) how to walk on a leash, how to get intro'd to a new dog, what NOT to do to make things worse, how to get him to stop barking...the list goes on. We loved it. I made sure to go to the nicest and newest PetSmart in my area...when you go to a new facility, they are REALLY trying to keep things up and nice and QUALITY is important.

Good Luck...we might even do the 2nd set of classes, so fun and you get to meet other puppy parents!! Great way to share stories...

-Vivian

marcerella02 · 01-12-2009, 07:13 PM

It all comes down to who your trainer is. THe best advice i can give you is find out who teaches the puppy class and go watch them teach a class and see if you like their style. We got SO lucky... Layla's teacher was so great. She is now gone from the store and I know i would not want to be in a class with the girl that teaches it now.

Nancy1999 · 01-12-2009, 07:14 PM

They are no better than their trainer, and some trainers are better than others. You might want to talk to them in person, and even sign up for a smaller dogs puppy class, they told us they occasionally do this. We took Joey to the trick training class, since he was 8 months and needed something more than the puppy class. I learned lots of methods to teach him tricks, and I really loved the class. We still practice every day, and I think Joey enjoys knowing lots of thing, and how to make me happy.

Katamami29 · 01-12-2009, 07:31 PM

I have Mia in a puppy class at Petsmart. I love it the trainer is great she owns a yorkie herself and I love that too. But it all comes down to who the trainer is. The most important thing at the moment for me was to socialize my girl.

Good luck.

Elybourg · 01-13-2009, 06:37 AM

Toby took the Petsmart puppy class a couple of years ago. It was very informative and he learned a lot. I was just there on the weekend and met the trainer that is there now, and Rudy starts going this Sunday. I agree with the others, most of the outcome will depend on the trainer, and the time that you dedicate to the training

jencar98 · 01-13-2009, 06:59 AM

We had a very good trainer for our Petsmart obedience classes. I wish they had a small dog class though, as Ruby was in the same class as the large breed puppies and was a bit intimidated.

With this many positive replies, it seems Petsmart has much better dog trainers than dog groomers!

Nancy1999 · 01-13-2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jencar98

We had a very good trainer for our Petsmart obedience classes. I wish they had a small dog class though, as Ruby was in the same class as the large breed puppies and was a bit intimidated.

With this many positive replies, it seems Petsmart has much better dog trainers than dog groomers!

How true, but we can set there and watch what's being done!

Baxters Mommy · 01-13-2009, 07:56 PM

I was thinking about doing a class at Petsmart. How much did it cost?

Nancy1999 · 01-13-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baxters Mommy

I was thinking about doing a class at Petsmart. How much did it cost?

I think on average around $100.00 and the puppy class was 8 weeks, and the tricks training class was 6 weeks. They usually meet once a week.

Baxters Mommy · 01-13-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I think on average around $100.00 and the puppy class was 8 weeks, and the tricks training class was 6 weeks. They usually meet once a week.

Oh, that's not bad at all. I'll have to go look into that... Thank you!

ddavis6326 · 01-13-2009, 08:18 PM

Hannah and I are in the puppy training class. It is wonderful! She is learning so much! The trainer is excellent. I observed her before enrolling in the class. I plan on taking the next class in the series.

sugarbritches · 01-14-2009, 05:59 AM

I havent formally trained my yorkie yet - hes only 4 months

(although i do work with him at home)

I have trained my german shepherd, i have experience with a few private schools in my area, petsmart and i did have a private trainer come to my home every week for a summer.

I find that for the money, i got the most out of the private trainer. She was only about $50 more than petsmart or the private school and all her attention was focused on ME and mine. She really spent the time teaching me how to train, which is incredibly important imho. I think that if you are a serious trainer, you need to know how to handle your dog/s and how to teach them to learn. Training is an ongoing process, not something you go to class for and then forget about the rest of the time.

I would suggest maybe looking into something like this before working with petsmart. They are great to get your Canine Good Citizenship papers for therapy work or rescue work.

01-12-2009, 03:54 PM	#1
newproudmom YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: banning, ca Posts: 435	petco or pet smart's training classes has anyone taken the petco or pet smart's puppy or dog training classes? If you have, how did it go? I am thinking about it but not sure yet. I need lots of help with my puppy

01-12-2009, 07:13 PM	#3
marcerella02 Loved by Layla Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 11,257	It all comes down to who your trainer is. THe best advice i can give you is find out who teaches the puppy class and go watch them teach a class and see if you like their style. We got SO lucky... Layla's teacher was so great. She is now gone from the store and I know i would not want to be in a class with the girl that teaches it now. __________________ http://misscanam.blogspot.com/ Layla 's Simon

01-12-2009, 07:14 PM	#4
Nancy1999 I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 25,396 Blog Entries: 2	They are no better than their trainer, and some trainers are better than others. You might want to talk to them in person, and even sign up for a smaller dogs puppy class, they told us they occasionally do this. We took Joey to the trick training class, since he was 8 months and needed something more than the puppy class. I learned lots of methods to teach him tricks, and I really loved the class. We still practice every day, and I think Joey enjoys knowing lots of thing, and how to make me happy. __________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals

01-13-2009, 06:37 AM	#6
Elybourg Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Vancouver Island, BC Canada Posts: 160	Toby took the Petsmart puppy class a couple of years ago. It was very informative and he learned a lot. I was just there on the weekend and met the trainer that is there now, and Rudy starts going this Sunday. I agree with the others, most of the outcome will depend on the trainer, and the time that you dedicate to the training __________________ Toby and Rudy

01-13-2009, 06:59 AM	#7
jencar98 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 6,435 Blog Entries: 3	We had a very good trainer for our Petsmart obedience classes. I wish they had a small dog class though, as Ruby was in the same class as the large breed puppies and was a bit intimidated. With this many positive replies, it seems Petsmart has much better dog trainers than dog groomers! __________________ ~Ruby, Reno, Razz, & Jack~

01-12-2009, 07:07 PM	#2
viviansnickers Snick&Viv= BFF Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,755	YES!! I am currently in a session of puppy obedient classes at PetSmart with Snickers and him and I both love it. It's a great way to socialize your dog and how to learn effective ways of training them. Before the class, Snickers knew nothing. I am a 1st time puppy owner and now he knows: sit, come (my fav), lay down, leave it, fetch (we taught him that one ourselves) how to walk on a leash, how to get intro'd to a new dog, what NOT to do to make things worse, how to get him to stop barking...the list goes on. We loved it. I made sure to go to the nicest and newest PetSmart in my area...when you go to a new facility, they are REALLY trying to keep things up and nice and QUALITY is important. Good Luck...we might even do the 2nd set of classes, so fun and you get to meet other puppy parents!! Great way to share stories... -Vivian

01-12-2009, 07:31 PM	#5
Katamami29 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bronx, New York, USA Posts: 124	I have Mia in a puppy class at Petsmart. I love it the trainer is great she owns a yorkie herself and I love that too. But it all comes down to who the trainer is. The most important thing at the moment for me was to socialize my girl. Good luck.

01-13-2009, 07:56 PM	#9
Baxters Mommy YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC, United States Posts: 295	I was thinking about doing a class at Petsmart. How much did it cost? __________________ Baxter

01-13-2009, 08:18 PM	#12
ddavis6326 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 183	Petsmart's puppy class Hannah and I are in the puppy training class. It is wonderful! She is learning so much! The trainer is excellent. I observed her before enrolling in the class. I plan on taking the next class in the series.

01-14-2009, 05:59 AM	#13
sugarbritches Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: erie Posts: 47	I havent formally trained my yorkie yet - hes only 4 months (although i do work with him at home) I have trained my german shepherd, i have experience with a few private schools in my area, petsmart and i did have a private trainer come to my home every week for a summer. I find that for the money, i got the most out of the private trainer. She was only about $50 more than petsmart or the private school and all her attention was focused on ME and mine. She really spent the time teaching me how to train, which is incredibly important imho. I think that if you are a serious trainer, you need to know how to handle your dog/s and how to teach them to learn. Training is an ongoing process, not something you go to class for and then forget about the rest of the time. I would suggest maybe looking into something like this before working with petsmart. They are great to get your Canine Good Citizenship papers for therapy work or rescue work. __________________ § Lisa ~ Spike's Mom §