Are Group Puppy Classes Right for You?

There is a lot of advice to take your new puppy to socialisation classes or early obedience classes. And while that sounds like a good idea and a seemingly more affordable option, is it really the best environment for your pup?

The first advantage most people site for taking their puppy to classes is for socialisation. There are numerous reasons why this group environment does not provide beneficial socialisation. To begin with, most classes quite rightly do not allow puppies to mix off lead anyway! It would quickly bring mayhem and it is overwhelming and overstimulating to dogs. “How to play with other puppies” is probably the only thing you don’t need to teach your young dog! Socialisation is much more about repeated exposure to a wide variety of people, places, sounds and things. And if your puppy happens to be going through a Fear Period when you are taking them to classes, the chaos might be the worst environment him.

The second advantage commonly mentioned is cost. Although group classes will always be less expensive per class, private classes allow you to learn so much more and more quickly. You can move at you and your dog’s pace and are less likely to require costly behavioural training later on. Plus, since the trainer comes to you, it can be done at a time that best suits you and your family.

You might think a group environment might help you learn by observing other people or dogs but inevitably you and your dog will simply receive less attention. If you have a puppy that is quick to learn, you will need to pause to wait for the ‘canine class clown’ to catch up. Often the teacher will spend a disproportionate amount of time helping just one or two dogs while you and your Best in Show wait tediously for the next instruction. Or, heaven forbid, if your dog is the wild one, you cannot help but feel like you’re holding others back while they watch you struggle to control your puppy who JUST DID THIS SUCCESSFULLY AT HOME! Which leads me to my next point:

The very best way for a puppy to learn a new behaviour is with the least amount of distraction possible. A group puppy class could only be described as pandemonium at the best of times! Not only are YOU often highly distracted during the trainer’s instructions,, but your puppy will likely run amock for most of it. Private classes allow you to teach your dog the behaviour you’re after in a calm and familiar setting and then add real-life distraction when ready.

Finally, a group puppy class will have a rigid structure that takes all owners and dogs through the same lessons no matter what issues you may be having with your dog at home. You often won’t want to interrupt the lesson to ask a question that may only pertain to you or clarify an instruction you didn’t fully understand. Private lessons by comparison, can be flexible and adapted based on your puppy’s progress, learning curve and your household circumstances. Your trainer only watches and corrects you and can take a different tact if something is not working as it should.

The Common Canine Puppy Course will take you and your puppy through all the basic obedience training (and much more!) of a group class but also cover ways to improve your relationship with your dog so that you can establish ‘good manners’ at home and maintain essential control when out with your pup. We teach how to live harmoniously with your dog for life. Top of Form