The Right Dog Training School For You 

Everyone wants to be able to brag about having a well behaved dog. But training can be a daunting task, especially if you’re a first time owner. And even veteran dog owners can have trouble training a new dog that has a personality they’ve never encountered before. Dog training schools will not only help you socialize your dog to other people and other animals, but they will also help you teach your dog obedience. So it's important you chose the right one.

A well trained dog guarantees you more than bragging rights. It is important for the safety of your dog, your family, and others around you. It’s also important for your sanity - no one enjoys coming home to a mess!

Minimum Dog Obedience Course Content

A good training school will help you teach your dog to respond to you and to learn basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, down, come, and of course, leash walking. Good trainers will also probably have some insight into any behavior problems your dog may have, and will be able to help you break your dog of any bad habits before they get out of control.

The most important thing you can expect from a dog training school is to be given the knowledge and methods to continue working with your dog on your own. Dog school is as much about training owners as it is about training dogs. You should be taught effective ways of continuing (and reinforcing) training after your dog graduates.

You should try and do some research before picking a school. In most urban centers anyway, you will have a choice. Think about what type of training you need. Many schools have a broad knowledge of training in several fields, but some specialize in a particular area. If your dog already obeys you when you tell him to sit or come, but he refuses to behave on a leash, you will want to look into classes that focus on leash training.

As the Dog Trainer Questions

You can begin by asking your friends and fellow dog-owners for recommendations. Try your vet or breeder - they’ll almost certainly be able to recommend a quality dog training class. Don’t be afraid to call each school and ask as many questions as you can think of. Talk to the trainers themselves. Ask them what methods they use. Arrange a time that you can observe a class. This will allow you to see firsthand the training techniques they use. And don’t forget that dog training classes aren’t just for your dog - they’re for you as well so you need to be comfortable with the instructor.

You may want to ask how many dogs are typically enrolled in a single class. Another sign of a professional dog school is the teacher student ratio they follow. While it is OK to have class sizes of twenty or so, there should be one instructor or instructor helper for every five students. That kind of supervision and coaching really is necessary - dog obedience exercises are very easy to get wrong and you need to be corrected and individually coached while learning them.

It's also a good idea to keep the age of your dog in mind. Adult dogs should be enrolled in classes for older dogs, while puppies should be kept with others close to their own age. This will help with both safety and socialization.

Positive Methods of Dog Obedience Training

We would also recommend that you go with trainers that only use positive methods of training. Dog training techniques and approaches have come a long way in recent years and most canine associations and credible training organizations support the positive reinforcement method. Professional dog training schools should foster a save and encouraging atmosphere. You don’t need to put up with an organization that treats you like an idiot or your dog like an animal that should be trained with negative reinforcement. 

Finally, a truly professional dog training school will have instructors accredited with a professional pet training body. While there is no national or international organization that monitors and defines appropriate standards, there are some accreditations that do offer credible dog trainer certifications.

The Kennel Club and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers are two examples. You should ask the school what kind of accreditation and training their teachers are required to have and then check them out yourself. Don’t just assume it must be OK if they have an answer that includes something you’ve never heard of before.

Dog training schools should be professional, inviting and offer a positive experience for both you and your dog. If you do your homework, you have every chance of having a positive experience and setting the foundation for effective dog obedience training.

In addition to enrolling in a dog training school, dog owners should also take the time to educate themselves on how dogs think, best methods to train, equipment to consider etc. The most comprehensive dog training resource that we have found online is Daniel Steven's Secrets To Dog Training. We highly recommend it as an excellent all round resource.

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