Canine Obedience Classes- how they should be used

As an obedience instructor I have come to realize that people have unrealistic expectations for obedience class. Many people believe that you bring your dog to obedience class and he will magically be transformed into a well behaved pillar of society. That through no effort on their part their pooch will absorb the information and know exactly how he is to behave. As unrealistic as this sounds, in some cases it is true.

There are some things that just can't be taught at an obedience class. An instructor can discuss good house training techniques and direct owners on proper management but unless the owner is diligent and takes the time and effort the puppy will not become house broken. Likewise, an hour class once a week is not sufficient in teaching your dog to sit, stay, come or lay down. Multiple sessions of repetition in various levels of distraction are needed to solidify the behavior.

The owners body language and communication are also essential for proper training. Some people just don't have this. They beg and plead with the dog to please 'sit', while the dog is having a grand time spinning in circles and bouncing up and down. Pet parents need to take an authoritative role when training their dog and not take 'no' for an answer. Tell Fido "sit" and if he doesn't comply, place him into the position and tell him what a good boy he is.

Spending money on obedience class is not a guarantee that your dog will get trained. Training takes lots of time and effort on the owner's part and should involve all members of the household. I don't know how many times I have heard an owner lament the fact that their dog is an obedience school drop out while having no clue what the dog is doing at the end of the leash. Observing your dog and being aware of his signals and body language, will go a long way in achieving a well trained dog.