how beneficial is it to take 9 month old to a puppy class?
 

Background story
First off, I live in Korea and their idea of trainning dog is they send dogs to the centre for 3 months and they come back all trained.
i definately did not want that for Coco and had to look online for other alternative.

After looking at expat blogs and forums i found out that at one of the army bases they offer weekly training classes. I have been getting in contact with the lady even before I got coco inquiring about these classes.

I told her when she will be done her shots and asked for the next available classes. She said end of May. Then I asked her to keep me and coco in mind and let us know. Heard nothing. I email her and she tells me that the classes are full. Then I asked her about the next class and she sai mid June. Once again I asked her to keep us in mind and let us know when the sign ups are.
Didn't hear back so I called her and she said its full. she says since the trainings are on th base she can only allow few people that doesn't have army access. Major UGGH! So I asked her when the next class is and she said late july. And I told her that we can't attend because then Coco will have 2 classes before we move back to Canada.


straight to the point
We'll be back in canada in August and I would like to take Coco to a puppy training class mid September but by then she will be about 9.5 months old. Is that too old? or Can she still benefit from puppy classes?
She knows her simple commands such as sit shake lie down no and come but she still has trouble when there are distractions. and i thought perhaps puppy classes are the way to go but i dont know :(

I don't think it's ever too late. Kaji learned most his tricks after he turned 1, and did most of his socialization as well. When you think of the benefits she'll have, what do you have to lose?

At the training place I went to, they allowed a 16 month old Yorkie into the Puppy class because it still acted like a puppy, and couldn't handle the Level 1 obedience class. From the classes I went to, puppy class spends a lot of time socializing the puppies and telling you how to be a good dog owner (what not to feed your dog, etc.) and less time actually training, while an obedience class for adult dogs focuses on purely training.

IMO, she is a perfect age as long as the trainer uses a positive reinforcement method. You will never regret time or money spent on training.

When we move back to canada i guess i should ask around and see whats included in puppy classes vs training classes!


Thanks everyeone! Coco will definately be going to school! Coco says shes excited and she hopes that mommy will take her back to school (more like first day of school) shopping hehe

I absolutely think she can still benefit from puppy classes. :) Good idea to check on what is included in each one. With Ernie, we were required to do the puppy class first but he had mastered some of the basics taught before we started. However, the bonding and socialization was great for him. Good luck!

i personally think that dogs, like us, never stop learning.

Never too old to take training classes, IMO

I think it's a great idea. I love taking classes with Heidi - it's been very good for both of us. I would never drop her off and allow someone else to train her though like in the first class you said they do there. No way! The socializing, confidence building & deeper bonding from classes is so valuable. People are amazed at how well behaved & loving Heidi is. It even wins over people who don't like dogs or think small dogs are bratty & yappy.

Daisy and Teddy were one year old when we went to training class. It was great for them because they learned to focus and get along with other dogs. It was well worth it because I have some pretty well trained babies now at age 7 yrs. We practice commands every day when we take our morning walk.

Chip was about 10 months when we took him to puppy classes. He had a lot of medical problems before then, so I waited until he was 9 months to neuter him and 10 months to take him to puppy classes. He knew 95% of the material by the time we got him there, but I think the best part for him was the socialization. He got to be around other dogs and some children. He learned to start trusting people a bit more after his classes. I think it really helped shape him into a better dog.

Just because you aren't in a training class now, doesn't mean you should forgo training at home. You can still teach your dog a lot of valuable things. Chip knew how to sit, down, go from down to sit without standing first, up, shake, dance, crawl, and was too perfect at recall exercises because we worked with him at home. The training facility we went to, their main focus is agility, so at the end of every class they would bring out some very basic agility equipment and let the dogs play on that, which was definitely something Chippy loved and gained some more obedience skills with that.

edited because of double posting

I believe that it's never too late and training of any type will be great for you both. You will just have to find a trainer that you like (I am a strong supporter of only using positive training) and then ask the trainer for the right class for you and Coco. Depending on the trainer, the right class may be a puppy class or it may be a basic training class. Either way, a good trainer should easily be able to help you decide.

In the meantime, any training and socialization you can do on your own will benefit you both. So keep up the good work.

Good luck with your move and the training. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of Coco in her back to school outfit. :D

Thanks everyone!

Coco and i are working on a few things...

sit, stay (though this doesnt last long, such a hyper dog coco is), shake paw, lie down then we hit a plateau i tried to get her to go on her hind legs but she'll only do that if i put a treat over her nose.

I think since we hit a plateau i am working on getting coco to do the commands she already knows without any guidance. just voice commands. She sits with no hand gesture, and shakes when i put my hand out to her. However lying down i gotta still bring my finger down with her so I know for a fact that trainning classes would definately help.

I guess my question was really should i start from puppy classes or go straight to beginner training classes :P