Recommendations for puppy training?

[tap01.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone!

My wife and I recently got a puppy. She is an adorable little chocolate lab, but unfortunately she doesn't seem to listen too much (she is a puppy after all). She could definitely benefit (and so could us) from some obedience or puppy training classes. Does anyone have any recommendations for some puppy training? I see that PetSmart offers some classes, does anyone have any experience with them?

We and our dog will be very thankful for any help, Thanks!

Comments

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I don't know of any classes, but I have a TV program to recommend: National Geographic: The Dog Whisperer (http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/dogwhisperer/). It goes into the psychology of dog training, and is totally worth Tivo-ing or getting the video.

[dreamgirly19.livejournal.com]

This show is great to watch BUT he hardly shows you anything of use. Because its a 30min show usually and they only show the problem, very basic showing of how he is fixing it, the end result...they dont really show all the work that goes into it. BUT it is good for some very basic dog knowledge.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

I don't have a dog and so haven't tried it, but I have been in the store to see those classes in action, and determined that if I do get a dog, they're getting classes there. They seemed very good at explaining the hows and whys of dog behavior--a little didactic, sure, but it was educational, and a far better discipline system than simply smacking the dog.

[dreamgirly19.livejournal.com]

i have two dogs, one pure jack russell and one half jack/half pug...the half and half was VERY hard to train and we decided to take both of them to the training @ petsmart in everett.

Erin Brackett (she is the district area dog trainer) is the BEST! She specialized with hard to train dogs like jack russells and such.

How old is your puppy, they have classes that run say 8 weeks - 6 months, 6-months to a year, advanced beginner etc etc. We took the beginner aged 6-months to a year and we were shown sit, stay, down, down stay, come, they taught proper leash walking so the dogs dont pull (we had issues with that lol) proper hand commands, she uses a clicker based reaward training.

Any other questions let me know!

[tap01.livejournal.com]

Our puppy is only 11 weeks old. Our vet mentioned to us that we should keep away from the group classes since she isn't fully vaccianted yet, but I was hoping that there would be some sort of personal session so we can start earlier. She needs to be taught come, sit, stay and the rest of the basic leash walking commands. It's hard to walk her when she doesn't listen :/

We know that she just wants to please us and that she doesn't understand us yet, but it is still frustrating at times.

[dreamgirly19.livejournal.com]

Petsmart does not allow any dogs/puppies in ANY classes without vet proof of vaccinations. Rightfully so. Why dont you vaccinate her, puppies are fine to be vacinnated after 8 weeks...?

She is also very young still, she is just now learning her name and stuff like that. I believe its just after 8+ weeks old that they realize they have a name.

If you want I can give you some advice on the leash walking, ill just tell you what they taught us in class :)

I LOVE dogs. Our two just had a baby (yes a one pup litter) so i will be going thru this all over again.

Your lucky to have a lab they are GREAT dogs and excellent listeners as they get older. My jack russells think they own me lol.

[tap01.livejournal.com]

Oh she has had her first round of shots already (at 8 weeks), but not her second yet. I think that is coming in a couple of weeks.

We do feel very lucky to have her. We got her through a rescure organization (http://www.adoptalab.org) and feel very fortunate to have found a puppy. We want to do her right by treating her well, so any advice on leash walking would be greatly appreciated!

[modpixie.livejournal.com]

a few of my clients swear by the new england dog training school (http://www.nedtc.org/). check 'em out!

[eclecticavatar.livejournal.com]

I've recently decided to try and get my two year old Chi into classes because he has shyness/anxiety issues (he's a chi, after all!) When I sent emails to numerous places found through the phone book, the absolute best reply was Picture Perfect Pets http://www.betteyip.com/# based in Arlington. Seriously, the classes seem reasonably priced (same thing you'd pay to put yourself through 8 weeks of personal enrichment courses. She is super helpful and really knows her stuff.

Hope it all works out for you!

[larksdream]

Ooo, puppy! :) Drop me an email (my username at livejournal.com)-- I can drop by and show you some basics if you want.