Age differences in obedience class.

[LORHEL]

Just wanted to see if anyone had any advice or tips for us. Makita and I are starting in a basic obedience (in order to get the invite into the visiting dogs program).

All the dogs are of the larger breeds, we have a newfoundland, several goldens, labs, and an irish setter. However, the one thing that stood out last week at the "people only" class.. was the fact that Makita is 3.5 and these are all either 6 months or maybe a year old at the most...

I haven't been in this situation yet, and maybe it won't be something she notices like I am, however, I just wondered... I am not sure what Makita will think of the younger dogs.... or will this be something she doesn't really pick up on? I plan on having her focused on me as much as possible, but obviously, she's going to be in overload the first nite, with all the sights and sounds..

Has anyone else been in a situation with an "older" dog...I know its not puppy class... and we are not there to meet dogs, or socialize..its pretty much get in the ring down to business, and go home.. no standing around, etc..

Thank you for any thoughts, etc..
:)

[RottiMomCT]

I adopted Ben at 10 months of age. My father in law adopted his dog at the same time. The one major difference - she was 6 years old at the time. We both went to basic obedience classes together (that's all she's done, and boy does it show ). Ben and I continued on and will be getting ready to compete in obedience in the fall.

I think it's all in what you put into it with the dog. Thelda (father in laws dog) was very bored by the time we graduated...she's had enough and we worked around it. Changed it up a bit to challenge her.

There will almost always be a 'standing around' period after classes when people ask questions of the trainer and socialize with each other....I think that's when the dogs can make friends with each other, but when class is in session, it's time to work, and it's up to you as the handler to make sure she knows it.

Most of all - have fun!!!

[Judi W]

The training class is selected on the level of training, not age. We might have precocious pups of 6 months, an 18 month old dog who is getting started, a 4 year old finished dog whose owner has decided to stick some letters after its name and an 8 year old rescue. They are not in class to find playmates, but to learn with their owners. This is not human school where one child is aware that it is older than its classmates. This is dog school where the dog is working with its owner, not the other dogs. I haven't seen any dogs that care how old the owner is, and that is who they are interacting with.

[Carina43]

Dutch has started going to an "advanced beginners" class. There's about 15 dogs, and I think all of them are under a year old, he's definitely the grandpa of the group at about 4 years old!

It's very good for him because he's learning to be polite and not pay attention to the other dogs, something he realy needs to do. Some of the people there let their dogs interact before & after class, we don't. We've been taking his favourite rope toy along, and he plays with that & us when there's "downtime." That really helps when he starts to get a wee bit too intent on the hyper/noisy younger dogs! I pretty much don't even let him LOOK at other dogs there.

The other people in the class know not to allow their dogs to get in his face, since he has dog-aggression issues anyhow, and everyone is respectful of this.

[LORHEL]

Thank you ladies, I appreciate the input..

We are really focusing on the "watch me" command again...and will be ready to work our butts off. :)

[Beckysmom]

I don't think it is a problem in terms of the dog being with younger dogs. My only question and based only on one experience would be does the teacher have the capacity to handle both older dogs and also rottweilers? The breeds you mention may be larger, but they are also generally the happy go lucky type dogs.

[LORHEL]

That is a good question Kate. I don't really know the answer, as far as experience levels of the trainers out there... I have seen alot of goldens so far, and primarily sporting dogs as their pets...

I haven't actually been there that much, but I would have to say they may be a little less involved with the working breeds...I didn't see any german shepherds or rotties that nite...the three dobies I did see were in puppy class.

I am hoping that we can progress into the visiting dogs program after this class, where we would work on both those basic skills and some that apply specifically to this type of work.
;)