Looking for a Puppy Class

[nylarottie]

Hi all,

I just started looking into puppy kindergarten training classes in the Los Angeles/ Santa Monica area.

Does anyone have suggestions or referrals? What are the key things I should look for in a trainer & class?

Thanks a bunch.:)

[Arlene]

Of course you'll want to train your rottweiler using only positive-reinforcement methods
and behavior modification techniques...

Dog trainers who use positive reinforcement techniques will use food rewards. They may also use many other rewards, such as play toys. Many positive-reinforcement trainers will use clicker training.

The old fashioned compulsion training methods which relied on forceful methods, using a choke-chain collar or <gasp> prong collar and leash-jerk corrections, are not suitable techniques to teach dogs or to solve dogs' behavior problems.

Confrontation techniques and force do not serve to teach or to reduce a dog's tensions, but instead may actually cause problems. Furthermore, such confrontation methods are often inhumane.

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers http://www.apdt.com has a website that lists all their members. Please remember that membership does not necessarily equate to being a good trainer. When I just scanned the page for Los Angeles, I immediately spotted two names who have posted on one of the behavior lists as hating rottweilers. Check the page out carefully - one that I found that looked interesting was Riley but that's just from a brief look at a website - you really need to sit down and talk to a prospective trainer and make sure *you* feel comfortable with them and that *they* are comfortable with rotts.

good luck!

...Arlene
Rottweiler Rescue of Michigan, Inc.

[ladawn]

but I'm ready for the fallout!

I took Daisy to PetsMart for puppy k. It was inexpensive ($89 for 8 or 9 classes), easy to get to, and fun. It is my understanding that puppy k is primarily for preliminary puppy manners and socialization. By the end of the sessions, Daisy knew "sit", "speak", "down" and "stay" and gets along well with other puppies. When you start doing serious obedience, you may need something stronger (Daisy and I registered with one of the obedience clubs) but for the beginner stuff, it was well worth the time and effort and money at PetsMart.

[nylarottie]

thanks... I'll check your suggestions out asap!

[Knucklesmom]

ladawn, Knuckles went to a puppy class at a Petsmart, too. I have to agree; it was cheap, easy to get to, and they only used positive reinforcement. We really enjoyed the classes there. Not a bad place to start.

[tilerspop]

While it may be that many trainers who work thru Petsmart or Petco aren't the best, that is not always the case. Research you prospective trainer then sit down and talk with them. Even with the professional trainers there are good and not so good. Just like in all other walks of life, not everyone is the best, or you don't get along with or trust everyone. It is important that you respect and trust the trainer and can work with them.