help !!!!! dog gonna end up in pound! petsmart classes? $$$?

Question

my sister rescued a terrier mix from the local shelter , and she was his last chance. he had previously been returned to the shelter 4 times before she got him. his problem is that he runs away! he wont come back no matter what! he wont com if you run trow toys , food, or beg. he is a sweet boy but my sister cant handle it. the only local training center near her is petsmart. how much are there beginner classes?

Answer 1

You'll need to call Petsmart and ask as it varies by area. I would not recommend Petsmart BTW. They tend to charge too much for the experience level of the trainer. Not always...sometimes they have a great trainer. But be aware that they make a very low wage and are paid on commission. Have you checked your local Humane Society/SPCA for classes? Asked your vet?

Answer 2

First, your sister must get a leash and keep the dog leashed ANYtime he is outdoors. If you live in the city, I recommend short leash (4 feet) - a longer leash will allow him to get out into the street into oncomming traffic before she can reel him in.

Second, the dog definitely needs obedience training if it is going to survive. If you sister needs personal instruction and the dog needs some socialization, then a formal class is just the ticket. The PetSmart in my town has an 8 week beginner's class for $108 (meets once a week). PetCo is an alternative as well as other providers who can be found in the yellow pages. Prices will change by location and the commands taught, so be sure to find out what each class teaches before committing the funds. You also want to ensure that the trainer does not utilize any form on punishment/corrective techniques - only positive reinforcement should be used for a well adjusted dog. If your sister is consistent in her approach and feels comfortable with training at home, she can obtain training books at any bookstore - but she must be consistent in the training techniques in order to be successful. She should still consider socializing the dog and dog parks are a great place to do it (on a leash, of course).

Answer 3

First of all, if money is an issue when it comes to taking your dog to classes, then maybe you should reconsider this dog. Dogs cost a lot of money to take care of, and you should be sure you can afford the time and energy it will take to help this dog. However, your desire to help is admirable.

I would not suggest petsmart, from what I've watched in the classes here in IL, they don't really do much. However there is nothing wrong with using treats when training. In fact with your little guy, I'd really recommend it. Terriers are food driven and will most likely learn to respond more quickly when using food. Eventually, you will be able to wean off the food so you don't have to use it all the time.

I would consider looking up a local dog training club in your area. I would highly recommend one labeled as using something called "positive reinforcement". Using chock collars and tugging on the dog is becomming outdated.

Meanwhile, to work on his "come" signal, have you and your sister sit on the floor about 5-6 feet from each other. One of you should hold the dog and the other should call him with the words "name, come". When he comes give him a treat. If he doesn't come at first, you can lure him in with a treat until he gets the game. Go back and forth, calling him and gradually move further apart. Be consistent. Don't chatter to him and be sure to ALWAYS praise praise praise him for coming to you! Good luck, I hope you are the 5th and last chance this guy deserves (Animal Science Major, U of I)

Answer 4

I depends!
a 6 week course should cost more than $160!
But really most animal rescues have obedience classes that's are less than $70 for a 10 week course and taking the classes at a rescue, you get better results! you work with people have been with working with dogs side by side basically for their whole life's, at petsmart the trainers go through a 4 week training course which means they don't really know much about really training a dog!
You are a really great dog owner instead of just taking the dog back like a pair of shoes you try to help your doggie!
(need more owners like you)!

Answer 5

I can understand your sisters delima. I had a dog like that and she recently was hit by a car. What I did learn though is my dog was willing to work for food. I both a book for clicker training and I was planning on working with her for clicker training. New pets take time to get used to a home. Tell your sister they have those leashes that will let out a large amount of line for her dog to roam but she is still in control. BIG MISTAKE I MADE not having one of those. Now I walk out in the yard with my dogs to keep an eye on them. Prairy just bolted just when I let down my guard. I could see it, she got this look in her eye. I dont think I have cried that hard in years when she was hit.

Now, I have a terrier and he is really sweet and very responsive. I adopted him from the local shelter and he is a great companion. The book I have is called getting started clicker training for dogs. My dog that was hit, I didnt have her long enough to really work with her but if is a very cool thing if your dog will respond to this. My dogs are food oriented so this should work with both of them. Find a trainer who will train you first I would say. Sideline, I do think that each pet will conform to their owner eventually. It just takes time, There is no perfact owner and there is no perfact dog,

Answer 6

I am an Obedience Instructor at PetSmart in Louisville Kentucky. I have been competing in AKC obed and Schutzhund with my dogs for 10 yrs. I am very offended at some of the comments made about PetSmarts program and their trainers. As someone who has spent the last ten years developing my skill as a trainer and helping the public have a better relationship with their dogs I can say that many PetSmart stores have wonderfull skilled trainers! That said, many do not. Sometimes they will hire 18 yr old kids off the street who have only had a pet dog that they never did any formal obedience with. They send trainers to a 2 wk accredidation school, hardly enough for someone without prior experience. So my advise to you is to question the person (be it PetSmart or elsewhere) about their experience not only in training but also in sucess in dealing with your specific problem areas. To the person who diddnt like PetSmarts methods.... our program is based on current canine ethology and backed up by proven scientific studies. Positive reienforcement WORKS. . . regardless of if you want a high in trial obedience winner or a well mannered household companion. The old school of thought that involved pain based teqnique is quickly being replaced when people are educated to faster more effective training methodolgy.
Most dogs who do not respond to come have either never been taught what come means or have been inadvertantly taught to ignore the word by an owner who keeps saying "come come come" and the dog doesnt. In essence they teach that dog that come is "optional" not mandatory. Some things you can do at home is build a habit of anytime the dog comes to you on its own saying "come" and giving him/her lots of praise or a small food reward. A dog will quickly associate the word "come" with being near you in this manner. Put the dog on a long line in the yard and back up quickly while calling the dog to Come , reward lavishly when it does and if it doesnt then use the long line to enforce the command. "come" has to mean "come" the first time EVERY time you say it. Otherwise this life saving command will quickly loose its effectivness.
Also teach "wait" at doorways.

So my suggestion is YES go to petsmart provided the trainer they have on staff is experienced and knowledgable. DO NOT use a choke collar and NEVER call your dog to you to scold it. Also never use your dogs name in association with a correction... never say "spot NO" or "NO spot" as you want the dogs name to mean something good is going to happen if you respond by giving me eye contact/attention.

Hope this has been helpful!

Kelly Hayes
PetSmart Obed Instructor
AKC obed, Sch competitor
www.geocities.com/kycanine

Answer 7

I vollunteer at a cat santuary beside Pet Sart, and everyone said they are really good, and afforable, so I know that they are not really expensive, why don't you look up your local Pet Smart store number in the phone book, and ask them your self? Also, a lesh would be really helpful, they sell all kinds of harness leashes that prevent this.

Answer 8

training classes in any form (anyhere...as long as they arent punishment based) are a good start. if u don't get all u want out of it, u can continue his education elsewhere.

it seems to me tho that he either
a.) has never been trained to know what the word "come" means
b.) has been punished for coming back to one of his previous owners
c.) hasnt bonded to u yet/u havent given him a reason to listen /understand/reply to ur requests

as for the price, give them a call...it varies im sure

in the mean time, follow the previous posts - KEEP HIM LEASHED/FENCED AT ALL TIMES!!!!!

Answer 9

As a professional dog trainer for over 16 years, I have to tell you my strong opinion that you need these group classes for obedience training. http://OnlineDogTraining.enle.info/?Mi2v

Other pet warehouses are there to get you to buy their products and hang around their strore. And their trainers are their employees...never forget they have an agenda. Most of the trainers have very little education--if they had actual training and skills they wouldn't be there making just over minimum wage--trust me on this. But even if they did have experience and talent...a group setting is a terrible place for learning to take place. It's distraction training and it is the LAST phase of training not the first. You wouldn't have your child try to do their homework in a toy store, would you? Of course not...the level of distraction would be too high! It's the same with dogs. Having said that, these classes can be an excellent way to socialize dogs...but not to train them. And while they appear to be cheaper than a professional trainer...you have to attend many more sessions to get the same results because of the poor learning environment--so you wind up spending MORE money for less training than you would with a professional. Save your money and go to someone who actually knows how to train dogs. OR, read books and try to train your dog yourself. There is nothing they train at a Petsmart or Petco that you can't do yourself with a couple of hours of reading.

Answer 10

Try calling the local shelters. Maybe they will work out a good price for you because I am sure they want him to have a good home he STAYS at.