Petsmart vs training club?

**JenTN** · 06-09-2008, 09:52 AM

This topic was brought up on another forum, and is one that I have thought about before.

Bo took puppy class at Petsmart. I feel he did well, the trainer is great, IMO, but I have some doubts as to if this is the best training for him, but it's nothing I can put my finger on, if that makes sense.

Right now, he is testing everything, ignoring commands, etc. I asked the trainer and she said not to repeat the command and he will eventually do it, but that's not really working and it's frustrating. She says to "lure him" with a treat into the requested command (sit, down, etc) but it's almost as if he knows that if he doesn't sit I'll hold the treat over his head until his butt hits the ground, then he gets the treat. I don't want to have to "lure him" I want him to SIT when I say SIT. Maybe that's asking too much?

I work with him several times a day, everyday, inside, outside, at home, in the park, and in stores. I really enjoy dog training, as nerdy as it sounds it's like a hobby for me, one thing I get to do for "myself". Also, my daughter is involved and she loves it. (My husband's cousin's daughter is 12 and is also involed with Bo's training- she wants a dog but doesn't have one).

I am a complete novice to dog training, so I don't know if he is really in the right place. I want to earn his CGC, then maybe move on to some obedience competition. I definitely want him to be well-trained, even if we didn't compete.

So, in everyone's experience and opinion, should I continue with Petsmart or take him to a local club to train? I won't be out of this stupid "boot" on my foot for 3 weeks, so I have some time to think about it- I don't want to start classes until my ankle's healed a bit.

TIA!

**Colorado Dobes** · 06-09-2008, 10:02 AM

Hey Jen,

I think a lot of it depends on how good your local club is and how good the trainer at petsmart is. I think most people's notion would be to go with the club, but with my dog, I took her first obedience class at a club and her last two at Petsmart. What I liked about petsmart is that there are a lot more distractions to practice with (when we were working on her not pulling at the leash and that kind of stuff). If you are not having success at Petsmart, maybe try out the club for a class and see what you think? Will this be your second obedience class?

**JenTN** · 06-09-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colorado Dobes

Hey Jen,

I think a lot of it depends on how good your local club is and how good the trainer at petsmart is. I think most people's notion would be to go with the club, but with my dog, I took her first obedience class at a club and her last two at Petsmart. What I liked about petsmart is that there are a lot more distractions to practice with (when we were working on her not pulling at the leash and that kind of stuff). If you are not having success at Petsmart, maybe try out the club for a class and see what you think? Will this be your second obedience class?

Yup, this would be our second class. I kinda feel guilty not going back to Petsmart. I do like the distractions, but we also practice outside of class with distractions (at petstores, the park, etc). I think she is a good trainer, she is in school to get her degree to be a behaviorist. My problems are with the "cut and dry" methods of Petsmart, I guess, more so than the trainer.

**Colorado Dobes** · 06-09-2008, 10:29 AM

I think maybe it would be best for you to go ahead and try the club. See how you like their methods. Distractions really don't need to be incorporated until they have the basics down anyway.

Kimbertalkls · 06-09-2008, 10:37 AM

I know several people with dogs that have AKC obedience titles who applied at the local petsmart for work. They were turned down for the training posoition because the petsmart here, I do not know if this is store policy, wanted to train the employee to train only their method.
As a trainer for 30+ years I would say no one method will work on every dog. I have attended symposiums but Koehler, several dog clubs, etc and if you read a new tarining book and get two things that work out of it I figure it was worth the buy.
My suggestion is to call around for any training classes, go out and watch a couple of classes and find a trainer who is not excessive, gets results and gets a positive reaction from the dogs. If the owners are dropping out each week and you see something you wouldn't do with your dog, go elsewhere. If you ask the trainer a question and they do not give you a reasonable answer or if you tell them you tried what they said and they can not give you an alternative, then I would look elsewhere. For puppy kindergarten I have had pups gop to petsmart and the people were happy so again, each must be evaluated. Good luck. Anne

Sagesmom · 06-09-2008, 10:42 AM

A in February of '07 I started classes at petsmart. One of the deciding factors for me was the local training club required choke chains on the first night of class and while they work for some dogs I didn't like the implications. When I called them and asked about a class with Sage (and all her baggage) I was told hell no!! (even if I muzzled her for everyones protection). So I started looking around and found the petsmart classes.

Sage is a fear aggressive girl. Her theory is get them before they get her. So I brought her in to talk to the trainer (there was only one at the time) and she saw the amount of control I had with Sage and agreed to let me bring Sage to class. I did (and still do) muzzle her but that is mostly so that if someone slips by me and tries to pet her all she can do is jump on them.

Sage is kind of a celebrity in our local petsmart, all the new cashiers are told about her and now we have a second trainer (Crystal) whom I love to pieces. We have now taken the beginers class 3 times. Sage knows the commands that are taught in the class but we are still not seeing the calm dog that I would like so we go back (we take full advantage of the for life guarantee). Once I can get Sage to the point that she is calm around other dogs then I will try to take her to a training club class but not before.

While the training methods at petsmart are very lure based, here, the trainers are very willing to let you do it your way (as long as you aren't beating the dog or something like that) and even the new trainer at our store has learned somethings from Sage and I that she takes to her other classes and uses with other dogs. We learn a lot from each other.

On a side note..... Sage took a treat from Crystal a couple of weeks ago. No muzzle, leash on the flat collar..... did I do the happy dance, you bet Crystal is the first person in a long time that Sage didn't try to chase away.

**JenTN** · 06-09-2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagesmom

A in February of '07 I started classes at petsmart. One of the deciding factors for me was the local training club required choke chains on the first night of class and while they work for some dogs I didn't like the implications. When I called them and asked about a class with Sage (and all her baggage) I was told hell no!! (even if I muzzled her for everyones protection). So I started looking around and found the petsmart classes.

Sage is a fear aggressive girl. Her theory is get them before they get her. So I brought her in to talk to the trainer (there was only one at the time) and she saw the amount of control I had with Sage and agreed to let me bring Sage to class. I did (and still do) muzzle her but that is mostly so that if someone slips by me and tries to pet her all she can do is jump on them.

Sage is kind of a celebrity in our local petsmart, all the new cashiers are told about her and now we have a second trainer (Crystal) whom I love to pieces. We have now taken the beginers class 3 times. Sage knows the commands that are taught in the class but we are still not seeing the calm dog that I would like so we go back (we take full advantage of the for life guarantee). Once I can get Sage to the point that she is calm around other dogs then I will try to take her to a training club class but not before.

While the training methods at petsmart are very lure based, here, the trainers are very willing to let you do it your way (as long as you aren't beating the dog or something like that) and even the new trainer at our store has learned somethings from Sage and I that she takes to her other classes and uses with other dogs. We learn a lot from each other.

On a side note..... Sage took a treat from Crystal a couple of weeks ago. No muzzle, leash on the flat collar..... did I do the happy dance, you bet Crystal is the first person in a long time that Sage didn't try to chase away.

Wow, what an amazing job you have done with her! You should be proud. Bo is not fearful or aggressive, his biggest issue is he loves everyone to death and wants to be rightinyourfaceatalltimesevenifyoudontlikebigdrool ingpuppies...lol

GunnersMum · 06-09-2008, 11:11 AM

I think what you have to watch for in training and teaching behaviours with dogs is that with 3 people doing the teaching all 3 must be consistent in both body/hand jestures and verbal commands.

At my training course this weekend I had an eye opener. lol. My trainer showed me something I didn't even realize was happening. She asked me to look at Gunner and tell him to sit. I did. He sat. She then told me to turn a way from him and do it again. I got him up moved a step ahead and turned my back to him, told him to sit and nothing. he stood there panting and gazing around. Then My trainer said. now do what you do with your hand when you say the command (without saying sit) so I did and he sat. Really drove home the fact that a lot of the time dogs react more to our body language than to any words we think we're training them with.

So, What I'm trying to say is that with 3 people training, using perhaps different body language, combined with the same command Bo just may be confused and that's why it's taking him longer to "get it".

**JenTN** · 06-09-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GunnersMum

I think what you have to watch for in training and teaching behaviours with dogs is that with 3 people doing the teaching all 3 must be consistent in both body/hand jestures and verbal commands.

At my training course this weekend I had an eye opener. lol. My trainer showed me something I didn't even realize was happening. She asked me to look at Gunner and tell him to sit. I did. He sat. She then told me to turn a way from him and do it again. I got him up moved a step ahead and turned my back to him, told him to sit and nothing. he stood there panting and gazing around. Then My trainer said. now do what you do with your hand when you say the command (without saying sit) so I did and he sat. Really drove home the fact that a lot of the time dogs react more to our body language than to any words we think we're training them with.

So, What I'm trying to say is that with 3 people training, using perhaps different body language, combined with the same command Bo just may be confused and that's why it's taking him longer to "get it".

Thanks! We use the same hand guestures, what they taught us in class. He actually had been doing very well until the past couple of weeks. He would do everything so perfectly. Now, it's almost like a 2 year old human- he knows what you are wanting but he is testing us.

**Jenny** · 06-09-2008, 05:13 PM

We are going to puppy school at petsmart. It is inside and has a/c! Most clubs train outside here & suspend classes for summer due to the heat. I am enjoying it. Vader seems to like it too.