Dog Training?

Question

At petsmart there is a beginner classes for dogs. Its only $99 for 8 weeks. Does anyone know if they are any good because the price is so low?

Answer 1

Don't do it. They do treat training. So if you want you dog to do anything you will have to give them a treat. Its not a good thing. Try clicker training. That's where you tell the dog a command and then click trainer. This will let the dog know what you wanted it to do. Just work with the dog every chance you have and they will get it. Good luck. Personal Experience

Answer 2

save the 99 dollars and instead spend only about 20-30 purchasing small items that make your dogs happy such as cheese/treats/clickers/etc. Training your dog can be done by you at home. The basics are easy to train you just need to be consistent. Sit/Down/Stay/Come/Here are very easy to train. Go online to a search engine and look up dog training or buy a book at a store that goes into details about the training. For most dogs, food rewards will work wonders and are a quick way to teach dogs. Remember this though, it takes about 30 repetitions before a command is learned. This means, you should do Sit about 30 times before your dog knows what the command means. This doesn't mean do all 30 reps at once but do it over a few days.... like 5 reps 3 times a day over 2-3 days. Know this, it takes about 30 reps to learn the commands plus about another 20-30 to fully understand and perform the command effortlessly. The people at Petsmart are okay with basic stuff but not really knowledgeable with dogs that are not "ideal" students.

Answer 3

Petsmart training will only be as good as the current instructor. The trainer might be great, might be the 20-year-old college kid who was dragged into training because they were the 'most experienced with dogs' cashier on staff.

Talk to the instructor before paying any money. Ask their history with dogs. Ask for references from past students at Petsmart or previous contacts. Ask specific questions about training policies. Ask questions about specific issues you are having with your dog.

If there are no references, if the instructor can't give you basic advice when you talk with him/her, if you simply don't have a good feeling about the instructor...don't take the class. If you do feel this person is qualified and knowledgeble, obviously you should sign up!

Answer 4

All dog training is a good thing! Don't know this one personally, but it sounds like a great bargain. Most dogs are eager to be trained, you just need someone to show you how.
Best wishes
Heretohelp.

Answer 5

Petsmart only hires people who don't know anything about training, and then has them watch some videos. The 'trainers' there have no business trying to teach anybody anything about training dogs.

I suppose a class there is better than NOTHING, as long as you don't have any problems you would like help with, but not much better!

Answer 6

Any training for a dog is better than none.I would only ask what kind of training are we talking about behaviour training is always good.

Answer 7

i am from flordia and i love our trainer i work at petsmart for the last 3 years but what i always tell people is sit down and talk to the trainer make sure u like her before u sign up .. i love the idea of doing training inside a big store because ur dog learns to listen to u while theirs a hundred things going on around u

Answer 8

we took our dog to the training course at Petsmart and it was well worth it. Our instructor was well qualified and patient with both kids (our 12 year old) and pets.

Answer 9

i have a friend who took her dog to obidence training through pets mart, she loved it.

I would bring my puppy to them but i don't have one near my home :(

Answer 10

Yes the Pet Smart classes are pretty good. Low class ratio.