 Max is graduating from training next week!
He's had about 6 or 7 sessions, each costing $60.00. There was a consultation fee which I think was $80.00 She wanted to see if he even needed training. He was a bit young when we started, but is doing fine according to my trainer.l She also gives a lifetime guarantee. If any problems come up, I can call her or she'll come by. She taught us both the basics, and gave me lots of very good advice. The basics are sit, down, stay and come, and how to heel. She helped me a lot with his housebreaking, which he's getting really good at - not 100%, but I'd say about 70%. He's not quite 5 months old yet. She helped me with his diet, his schedule, his food, treats, toys, and other supplies.
He is, by no means, fully trained to do any of these things off leash or outside yet. She says that yorkies are very easily distracted and take a bit longer to train, but that he's fine. He has fun, he's happy, loves to do everything, has socialized very well, which she also helped me with, and isn't aggressive. Even with a trainer, the real work is up to me. It's practice, practice, practice and consistency all of the time. I still have a lot of work to do. I'm retiring in November and I'm really glad about that because a good dog takes a lot of work in the beginning.
I'm very glad I used a trainer because I have never trained a dog by myself before, especially an energetic, stubborn little yorkie. He has no clue that I'm bigger than him!
It was costly, but if he ends up well trained, he'll be a much happier dog, and he and I will have a much better , stress-free relationship. I think if you I know about dogs, especially small dogs like yorkies, and have been around them for years, you probably don't really need a trainer. I was a real novice.
Judy |