Obedience/Agility Classes???? Yes Or No.

[JeanieK]

Does anyone belong to a kennel club and gone through obedience classes? I'm considering it, but not sure if they are any more helpful than a good book.

I'm also considering agility training after obedience. Has anyone done that. Probably will not compete, but just to see what I can teach them.

Does anyone do the training on their own with just books rather than classes.

[MyTrixie143]

I didn't know if AKC or other kennels have obedience and agility classes. I know they had agility and obedience competitions but not actual learning classes???
I do all the obedience training myself so I don't go to classes or anything like that unless it is a competition. Agility on the other hand is too hard to learn by reading a book or trying it yourself so I would have to go to agility classes. Here alot of petstores have agility classes and teach you that stuff. It is really fun, and I guess if you are only doing it for fun and not competing then I guess someone could do it themself. I know it is fun and plan on starting it soon. This would be interesting to find out!!

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by MyTrixie143

I didn't know if AKC or other kennels have obedience and agility classes. I know they had agility and obedience competitions but not actual learning classes???
I do all the obedience training myself so I don't go to classes or anything like that unless it is a competition. Agility on the other hand is too hard to learn by reading a book or trying it yourself so I would have to go to agility classes. Here alot of petstores have agility classes and teach you that stuff. It is really fun, and I guess if you are only doing it for fun and not competing then I guess someone could do it themself. I know it is fun and plan on starting it soon. This would be interesting to find out!!

Our local kennel clubs offere training classes, starting with obedience and then agility. I have not checked into the cost, but I would imagine that one would have to join the Kennel Club First. They even have classes on conformation showing.

[amspoelstra]

I went through obedience classes at a dog club. The thing you won't get out of a book, but will get at a dog club is - socialization. That's why I'd go for a kennel...

[Dougal&Little]

I did obedience with an obedience club and I've joined a number of training clubs. I didn't like the obedience club's style it was "old school" and involved yanking a dog on their lead. One person even recommended a choke chain for Dougal! But then I discovered the joy of clicker training!

If you do plan to do agility - even if it's not competition level - a good level of basic obedience is vital. Sit, Stay, Down etc. I find this kind of obedience really important for a harmonious home life too!!

I'd definitely go for classes as well as a book. There's the socialisation as someone else said, which is HUGELY important. But also Because books can't troubleshoot the same as a good instructor can when things just aren't going right. I also find I'm a million times more motivated to work on something if I've got to go to a class once a week and everyone'll see that I haven't done my homework! LOL.

The only thing I'd suggest before you pay your hard earned money is that you check that the club you join trains using positive reinforcement methods. That way you and your dog'll both be having fun when you're training.

[Olivier]

Obedience / Agility classes are more interesting than just reading book . I go to obedience classes with my puppies and it is always fun to meet peoples , learn new methods of training . Most of kennel clubs have obedience and agility classes .

[Gingergirlsmom]

Socialization, socialization, socialization.

I'm all for taking classes! (so is Ginger, she loves going to school!)

[JeanieK]

Thanks for the input. I'm going to look into them. Although my dogs are around other dogs frequently. My daughters and friends have dogs and we get them together.

The problem is, I have two, And I couldn't take them both at the same time. Maybe I can alternate and no one will notice. LOL

[Kona]

Oh that sounds like fun! If you do it let us know how it goes.

[Erin]

We attend classes through a private trainer. She is not part of a club, although she does breed labs and competes with her own dogs in the various local club events. We started with puppy classes, then took several sessions of the intermediate classes and then took Canine Good Citizen. Each class is 8 weeks. Our trainer also does agility and competitive obedience, though we just took the fun classes. The trainer has been encouraging us to try "rally-o" which is a fast paced kind of obedience. I find that when we go to classes Loki is focused on me, ready to learn and it's something to look forward to every week.

I own 10+ training books, but there are valuable things you get from the trainer you can't get from a book. First of all is the expectation to practice week to week. If you're supposed to teach them to walk on a loose leash, and everyone else in the class is ahead of you, not only are you going to work harder but the trainer is going to help you out. If you are stuck and your dog is not learning something, she will suggest other ways to try. Even the best diagram in the world is not going to replace seeing it in person and having an expert there to help you. The trainer can also see if your dog is stressed, confused, etc. They can suggest different ways to motivate your dog. I also found it VERY helpful to be able to ask questions about behavior not necessarily relating to class. Like, What do I do when Loki steals a sock/reciept/bottle cap? Well, don't chase him. Ignore him. etc. Loki rarely "steals" things anymore because it's no fun if no one chases him.

There were so many things we were doing wrong before we started puppy classes. I thought Loki knew how to sit - he didn't. Well, he knew HOW to sit, but he didn't know what the word "Sit" meant and he didn't comply with is 99% of the time - like he does now. I could just as well have said "watermelon". We learned how to lure the behavior and then name it, so the he knew what we wanted before we gave the command word. We learned about hand signals. Now that I go back and read the books I think, OH YEAH! The trainer mentioned that in class! But I only notice these little things because the trainer pointed them out and explained WHY they are important.

[FirstYorkie]

We have taken obedience classes through a private trainer since Joey was 20 weeks old (just turned a year old & taking a break for summer). We will start "fun agility" - as opposed to competition style agility - in the fall. Joey would probably do fine competing but I'm in terrible shape.

I love taking classes with him. It's fun!

[Elliern]

My toy poodle (katie) and I took puppy classes, then basic obedience class then agility. We loved it! The socialization did not work real well for us, tho because she was the only really small dog with the exception of a papillion in our agility class. She was kind of afraid of the lab, and golden and boxer puppies that were in our puppy class. They only wanted to play like puppies, but she was so much smaller, that she was really frightened. She really loved agility class and did great. I learned so much more in the classes that I really did not get out of the books. We also did some clicker training as well. Now, I feel like I can teach Abbey basic obedience from what I learned in the classes. She is learning quickly, too.
Ellie

[chattiesmom]

There is a high level agility trainer that just opened up a fantastic facility about 2 miles from my house. She has won a gazoodle of agility events AND after talking with her groomer I discovered that she is to be the Cesar Milan "representative" in my area. So......I am going to start with Chizzie and take her to basic obedience classes. They sound great..... and they are guaranteed for the life of the dog.... you can take the class as many times as you want, like for refresher, etc., or to perfect the skills, and the guarantee includes other members taking the class with the dog! For $115 for a 6 week class, like WOW! Inside an a/c facility! I can't wait until August 14th rolls around.

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

There is a high level agility trainer that just opened up a fantastic facility about 2 miles from my house. She has won a gazoodle of agility events AND after talking with her groomer I discovered that she is to be the Cesar Milan "representative" in my area. So......I am going to start with Chizzie and take her to basic obedience classes. They sound great..... and they are guaranteed for the life of the dog.... you can take the class as many times as you want, like for refresher, etc., or to perfect the skills, and the guarantee includes other members taking the class with the dog! For $115 for a 6 week class, like WOW! Inside an a/c facility! I can't wait until August 14th rolls around.

That sounds fun. And what a deal, for a life time guarantee.