Petsmart Training classes

[Kona]

If you have attended the petsmart training classes, did you sign your furbaby up for the puppy class or the beginner class?

[Peanut's Mum]

Peanut just went to his second Puppy class today
I'm not sure how helpful it is for him (cuz he's a lil wuss), but its fun hehe. He doesn't do so good during class, but when we do our homework at home and away from all the other dogs he performs like a champ.

[Chanel]

I was looking into to those classes too, do you think they are worth $99???

[Sadie's Mom]

Sadie was 4 months old when we started so she was the age for the puppy class, but the trainer said that because Sadie was social and since she was not scared of things like a lot of puppies are that she was better for the beginner class. It was sooooooooo much fun! I'm so glad we did it & I want to do either a refresher class or a "tricks" class soon.

[ARCHIE]

Originally Posted by Chanel

I was looking into to those classes too, do you think they are worth $99???

I personally do not believe they are worth $99.00. However it might be
the trainer involved not the store. I signed Buddy up at 5 mos for beginner
classes. I spent 6 weeks walking up and down the aisles getting him used to walking on a soft leash. (today he still does not do that) The trainer was occupied with the larger dogs telling their owners that they should have private training since they were a larger breed. He was just pumping up business for himself in private lessons. I was very disappointed.
There were 6 of us. Two dropped out after the second wk. The two labs and the german shepard he stuck to like glue while Bud and I walked up and down the aisles!

[Sadie's Mom]

Originally Posted by ARCHIE

I personally do not believe they are worth $99.00. However it might be
the trainer involved not the store. I signed Buddy up at 5 mos for beginner
classes. I spent 6 weeks walking up and down the aisles getting him used to walking on a soft leash. (today he still does not do that) The trainer was occupied with the larger dogs telling their owners that they should have private training since they were a larger breed. He was just pumping up business for himself in private lessons. I was very disappointed.
There were 6 of us. Two dropped out after the second wk. The two labs and the german shepard he stuck to like glue while Bud and I walked up and down the aisles!

For us it was TOTALLY worth it. We had a great trainer and were lucky enough to get in a small class. Only 4 people were signed up, 1 had to switch to a different night class & one never came. So really there were just two of us most of the time. She spend time going over everything with us, and we worked on lots of stuff, not just any one thing. Our trainer is wonderful. She has a lot of experience trainingPolice dogs & FBI dogs. I just loved her. She's moved to a different store now so if we do it again, we'll use the trainer who is there now (who I also like a lot). But I think you're right...it depends on the trainer (and also class size). If I ever did it again, I would try to wait until the last minute to sign up & check the class size before I actually did. I wouldn't sign up if there were more than a few dogs in there.

[Rockster's Mom]

Rocky is 11 months old and he is in the beginner class, and we love it. Our trainer is wonderful and very helpful.

[Chanel]

Thanks for the wonderful advice, I think I might just go on a night that they have the puppy class and meet the trainer before signing up. I have a feeling my Coco is going to be a handful.

[Sadie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Chanel

Thanks for the wonderful advice, I think I might just go on a night that they have the puppy class and meet the trainer before signing up. I have a feeling my Coco is going to be a handful.

I thought Sadie would be too, but it turned out to be ok. One suggestion if you do it. A lot of the little dogs will not "sit" on the floor at the store. Ours ha da rubbre mat down & Sadie still wold not sit on that either. Our trainer suggested going and getting a small bath mat (ours was like 1'x2' or so). I used that & it worked perfect. When I would tell her to sit, she would backup until she felt her mat & then sit. It was the cutest thing! Just a suggestion.

[jnguyen115]

I signed Stanley up for a puppy class but she put him in the beginners class and said it was the same thing...I didn't really like the trainer. She wasn't as friendly as she should've been for a puppy trainer. I stopped taking him after 3 weeks. Does anyone know if they give refunds? I know they let you keep taking the class until you are satisfied.

[Yorkie]

We did the Petco classes instead of Petsmart and I agree the trainer is what makes or breaks the situation!!!

We dropped out after 2 classes.......the trainer was so rude to me and Magic....she had NO patience for little dogs and the fact they need to be handled differently than bigger dogs!! The insisted on a collar instead of a harness and she continually instructed us to "correct" our dog by a pull on the collar....I really almost did not go back to the 2nd class, but decided on one more try....and that night she took Magic to show me how to get her to heel.....and without asking started feeding my 3 pound dog with a very sensitive stomach pieces of hot dogs....I was soooooo mad....I left shortly after that.

I know I should have complained to the manager, but the trainer also works as a clerk/sales person for the Petco store.....so I did not feel the manager would be fair since she also directly worked for him. I still do not like running into her at the store....but it is the closest place for us to get dog food.

Please, please go to a class or two and watch the trainer before signing up so you do not waste your money....as Petco does not do refunds!!

[Sadie's Mom]

That stinks about your experience at Petco. I guess I was lucky. Of course, I'm always in Petsmart because of the vet, grooming, and just the store in general, but both my old trainer & the new girl always have to come up to Sadie & talk to her & play with her. So I know they really care & are not just after our money. My old trainer was going to do a tricks class doing just fun stuff & I wanted to do that. I'm not sure if the new girl does it or not, but I'm going to find out.

[Rae Rae]

Originally Posted by ARCHIE

I personally do not believe they are worth $99.00. However it might be
the trainer involved not the store. I signed Buddy up at 5 mos for beginner
classes. I spent 6 weeks walking up and down the aisles getting him used to walking on a soft leash. (today he still does not do that) The trainer was occupied with the larger dogs telling their owners that they should have private training since they were a larger breed. He was just pumping up business for himself in private lessons. I was very disappointed.
There were 6 of us. Two dropped out after the second wk. The two labs and the german shepard he stuck to like glue while Bud and I walked up and down the aisles!

Private training because of a bigger breed? Wow...we've never heard of that w/ any of our dogs, atleast their size being the reason lol.

I looked at the petsmart training classes, and I don't feel their worth any money at all. I just don't like what they have to offer. To basic I guess.

[Tiger's Mom]

Originally Posted by Kona

If you have attended the petsmart training classes, did you sign your furbaby up for the puppy class or the beginner class?

Both classes are pretty much the same, except puppy class is for puppies and the beginner class are for older dogs that has never had any formal training classes. Annika is in puppy class and Tiger, because he needs some remedial on a few tricks is now in beginners's class as he is older. He did sign up for puppy class though when he was 16 weeks old I think and the nice thing about petsmart classes is you can repeat the classes as much as you want without having to pay again. So, although Tiger is in Beginner's class, I did not have to pay again because it is the same lessons as that of the puppy class

[Tiger's Mom]

Originally Posted by Chanel

I was looking into to those classes too, do you think they are worth $99???

for me it was worth every penny because Tiger has repeated the training class twice already and now on his third because his new teacher (who is Annika's as well) is so well experienced that we are doing a bit of remedial . .and I only paid a one time fee of $99.