Private training VS. Classes?

[Mary Bouchard]

We were considering private training lessons recommended by our vet. His former technician is the trainer and it sounded good.
But after our run in at the vet I'm a little off anything or anyone he suggest.

We had the 2 in AKC obedience training and the refresher course is only $10.00 each and they get to socialize and interact with other animals and people. And it is something they enjoy so I wonder which is better?

They usually start puppies at 6 months here so I have a month before I choose which course is better.

Thanks.

[spidey]

I prefer classes to private lessons. Taking the odd private lesson here and there to help with specific issues is a good idea if needed, but group lessons are less expensive and have the added bonus of that crucial extra socialization time (not to mention the fact that there's at least some proofing opportunity built into the classes, with dogs and people around to distract). I'd say that unless there's a problem which precludes being in a class (like aggression), group classes are the way to go. Enjoy! :)

[Carina43]

I think private lessons are fine for working on specific issues like aggression.

But here's the thing - with a little work, just about anyone can teach their dog to behave in teh house or yard, or in a room alone with a trainer. But what most people want is a dog who will pay attention in the face of distractions - this is why you want group training. So your dog learns to pay attention to the handler instead of the dog next to him.

Plus they are generally cheaper and way more fun!

BTW - I would not take hamster training advice from a vet who needs three leashes and three technicians restraining the dog in order to give a shot. Let alone take dog training "advice" from him. I hope you never even go back to that vet. I certainly would not.

[Boomer97]

Don't discount private training. There are many reasons for private training. Granted private training is more expensive but some people just don't feel comfortable in a crowd.

Not to mention you have 6-12 dogs in a class with one instructor maybe an assisant. Hour class equals at the most 10 minutes per dog individual attention. So if your having a problem the instructor in all fairness to the other students can't work with you for 30 minutes out of that hour. Also dogs will learn the exercises themselves much quicker one on one. Distractions are fine but allow the dog to learn the exercises then add the distractions.
You might end up taking 3-4 of those group classes to get the same amount of training you would get through a private trainer.
Get the dog trained to a manageable level then find a nice cheap group class to proof.

[Carina43]

Definitely private lessons have their place for addressing real problems! But from what Mary has written about the dog in other threads, it seems like he'll do just fine in classes.

[kimble]

I proof my dogs in the park.

[LavenderRott]

I prefer group lessons myself. But that is my opinion.

What you decide as far as group or private is entirely up to you, but I certainly wouldn't go to anyone your vet recommended.

Look around and see if you can find a trainer that has worked with rottweilers before. Preferably someone who enjoys the breed.

[Mary Bouchard]

He does very well in the park and other places.

So I'm going to stick with what worked and take him back to classes.

At least he still gets excited when he sees his pronged collar this worried me after the vet.

We put it near him on the table and he went and got his leash.

So we added a few more links to make it really loose and slipped it on and just practiced walking around the park.

(It has always been more of a fashion thing with him)

[Karnac]

Private or group it all depends a lot on the trainer. I sent my oldest Dobie to a kennel for 3 months to be trained at a cost of $400. a month and when he got back he knew less than when he left. A few years back I sent a Golden Retriever to school for 3 months and had pretty much the same result. In thinking about it I never saw any dogs being trained at either place. We now have our Rott puppy in training and he will be back on October 5th. He will have had 30 days of training (private). However, at the place where he is they are constantly training dogs and you can't go there without seeing 3 or 4 being put thru their paces. He was 13 weeks old when he started his training and they say he is doing great. The first 10 days was supposed to be basic and the trainer says he learned so fast that they moved him to advanced after 7 days. We are so pleased that we put one of our dobies in the basic training and then my daughter will take him to group after he has learned what is expected of him.
When the puppy returns he is supposed to walk correctly on a leash, walk at heel on or off the leash, sit and stay, lay down and stay, and sit while you throw something and retrieve it on command and give it to you. If he does this it will be money well spent. However, the proof is in the pudding. I'll let you know how well he is trained when he comes back. Whichever you decide, good luck!

[Judi W]

When private vs group is normally discussed, it is with the owner doing the training and the instructor coaching them. It is not sending the dog off where one cannot even see what is being done and expecting the dog to come back all fixed like a car from an auto repair shop. Raising a good dog is an evolving process with the learning on a continum and the relationship being built in the process. Rottweilers in particular bond to their leaders. It does little good for your dog to learn to respond to someone else as they do not have a relationship with you nor have you learned the skills of working with your own dog. If you have already done this same process and believe the problem lies with the "shop", then you might have analyzed the problem incorrectly. In dog training we often say that to keep repeating the same thing but expecting different results is unrealistic.

[Anne]

Just wonder why, if something did not work for you on 2 occasions, you would try it for a third time???????????

Nothing can beat the bonding that happens between dog and handler during training. I prefer that bond be with me and I would not send my dog away for training and miss that important and valuable learning/bonding association.

[Karnac]

Originally posted by Anne
Just wonder why, if something did not work for you on 2 occasions, you would try it for a third time???????????

Nothing can beat the bonding that happens between dog and handler during training. I prefer that bond be with me and I would not send my dog away for training and miss that important and valuable learning/bonding association.

There seems to be some misunderstanding here. I do not expect to get a push button dog back from the school. After his schooling I have 6 private classes that I have to take with the dog and I have to reinforce what he has learned by training him myself at least twice a day. Hopefully, when he returns he will have all the basics and know exactly what his is supposed to do. We will see on or about October 5th. The reports from the school have all been positive. He was scheduled for 10 days basic and 20 days advanced but he completed the basic in 7 days and was moved to advanced 3 days early. As a result he will receive 23 days of advanced. All of the instructors are impressed by his learning ability so I have great expectations. I assure you that they are much better equipped to teach him the basics than I was.

[JoJo]

When private vs group is normally discussed, it is with the owner doing the training and the instructor coaching them. It is not sending the dog off where one cannot even see what is being done and expecting the dog to come back all fixed like a car from an auto repair shop. Raising a good dog is an evolving process with the learning on a continum and the relationship being built in the process. Rottweilers in particular bond to their leaders. It does little good for your dog to learn to respond to someone else as they do not have a relationship with you nor have you learned the skills of working with your own dog. If you have already done this same process and believe the problem lies with the "shop", then you might have analyzed the problem incorrectly. In dog training we often say that to keep repeating the same thing but expecting different results is unrealistic.

Karnac, I do believe you need to re-read the above and get the message. Why do you even want a dog and a rottweiler in particular if you don't even want to learn and bond with the dog? Do you plan on continued training after you get your dog back? You do realize it just doesn't stop there. Or when the dog doesn't do something correct (due to owners lack of knowledge and willing not to learn) you are going to send him off again to have someone else clean up the mess? Just curious.

JoJo

[Boomer97]

I'm one of those people that do "private" training. I do both a board and train program and one on one weekly training. I think it's a bit unfair to assume someone does not wish to bond with their dog or unwilling to learn or whatever. Some people come because they do not feel comfortable in a group situation. Some do not have the time to actively train their dog. There are lots of "good" reasons why people choose private training over group classes. Private training is not just for aggression problems, etc.

[spidey]

Some do not have the time to actively train their dog.

30-odd minutes a day (or less) and a one hour class a week is not a big time investment. I don't see the point of sending a dog away for training, aside from the dangers of not knowing what's being done to/with your dog while you're not there (which I feel is an abdication of your responsibility to your dog), it's missing out on one of the huge joys of dog ownership. I'm genuinely confused - if you don't have that minor amount of time to spend with your dog, why have a dog? If you have time to walk it, you have time to train it, if you have time to play with it, you have time to train it.

Private training is just fine, but sending a dog away for training as if it were a TV that needed fixing, as if a dog needed an "expert" to train it, rather than just taking classes so that you can train it yourself...I don't get it.