Personal training and/or class training

[sweatt]

About two months ago, we got our Rott. She is currently 9.5 months old. Her previous owner had done no obedience training with her. We started seeing a personal trainer once a week. We have an older mixed breed dog (12.5 years old) as well. They seem to get along well. We have been taking the dogs to the park, on walks...letting her (the pup) meet the friends and family...trying to introduce her to many different experiences. I am contemplating taking her to an obedience class in addition to the sessions with the personal trainer. Is this advisable? Could this cause any problems?

[Anne]

I went to classes firstly, mainly for socialisation, though we didn't learn much at all.

We then went the way of a private trainer and it was a success from the first lesson. We learnt more in the first 1/2 hour than we had in 8 months of classes.

[Judi W]

I can't think of any reason why it would cause problems. The personal trainer helps you get a handle on what you are doing and classes teach her to manage herself around lots of people and other dogs in a controlled environment, and to meet lots of like-minded people.

[sweatt]

Thanks for the info. I didn't think that it would be a problem but felt that it wouldn't hurt to ask. I am trying to accomplish two things by doing this...training and socialization. This website has proven invaluable to me over the last 2 months. It helped me to focus in on some the more important issues of not only rottweiler ownership but dog ownership.

[debbiej]

I have found with classes, and this may be only my experience, that if you know how to handle your dog, the instructor of a class my not offer a lot of training advice. I had to go to private lessons to learn how to manage this dog, and to classes for socialization.

[BostonRott]

The only caution I would offer is to be sure that the class instructor understands that you're working privately with someone, and if their methods of teaching conflict, that you will stick with what your private instructor is teaching. You don't want to confuse the dog by teaching things different ways, or having conflicting criteria for performance. I'd speak with the class instructor before class, not in front of everyone, as some instructors are very weird about themselves being the only one you train with at any given point.