How well did it work for you? How much did you spend on classes?
I’m all set to get a Mini Schnauzer around the beginning of December and I want to bring her up right. I’ve had a Schnauzer before but this will be my first puppy on my own. I was looking at the training classes at PetSmart and I’m curious to know what expieriences (if any) you’ve had with them. I’m open to other suggestions, preferably something with other dogs so she can socialize. I am in the Denver Metro area, FYI, and I am on a budget, so nothing too extravagant! lol Thanks!
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PetsMart "trainers" are just help and often have never trained a dog. I have watched their classes and was very unimpressed. I prefer to go to a local Obed. Club’s Puppy Kindergarten since the people are trainers and can help nip problems in the bud and have knowledge about temperament problems. The few dogs I have seen that "graduated" from PetsMart’s reg obed classes were not even well trained enough to get a Canine Good Citizen title. Their classes run around $100. here, more than the obed club’s.
Petsmart classes should have other dogs in them-unless you’re speaking of a private class. A typical puppy class, from my experience, has anywhere from 4-13 puppies. No, I’m not kidding about the 13. I’ve been to several. They are good for generalized obedience, and socialization. Of course, the trainers are very limited in their training, so for behavioural problems, such as aggression, it’s best to go to someone more qualified.
The Petsmart trainers teach you how to train your dog. You practice exercises in the store, and at home. In puppy classes, the puppies are allowed "play time" to interact, in-between learning. Classes are once a week, 8 weeks, for $99.
PetSmart is an OK place to socialize your dog and get some basic training, however, I would recommend that you get a clicker available at PetSmart and book or DVD on clicker training and set out doing it on your own. It is very easy and almost any animal from guinea pigs to rabbits can be trained by a clicker. Clickers are cheap and there a many books and many videos or CD’s one of my favorites is the How of Bow Wow
I use only the training classes at Petsmart. I am training a dog for Service Work and have found that the training that I can get there is just the same as anywhere else, but costs less. It is well worth your time. If you put the time into the lessons you will have a well behaved dog. I would recommend going through all of the classes and taking the AKC CGC test. See ACK.org for more information.
It varies a lot. The best behaved dog I’ve ever seen (a Rottweiler) was trained at Petsmart (and the owners actually following up on that training), however they were lucky in that the trainer there was quite experienced. Others have not been so lucky.
Ask about the trainer’s experience and see if you can watch a class first to get an idea if the people know what they are doing.
I have used the PetsMart classes for my oldest dog. Trouble was a little young for the class but I got in because of some rescue work I’d done with the manager. I thought it was going to turn into a disaster, but she did pretty well, graduating 3rd in her class of 12.
But the important factor is not WHERE the classes or held, but rather WHO is teaching them. The teacher we had was absolutely phenomenal and I knew she would be after the first session which you do without the dogs, just owners and instructor.
Trouble is almost 12 and to this very day can still go through the basic routine. When we got the younger dog, Coco, she just mimicked Trouble’s routine (saved $89).
Good luck.
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