Obedience school and adult dogs - Paw Talk

corgimom · #1 06-27-2006, 09:37 AM

How well does doggy obedience school work for adult dogs versus puppies? We adopted a lab mix (we think lab/pitbull) a few months ago, and he acts like he's about as smart as a brick. I love him dearly, but the only thing he has learned is his name. Every once in awhile, he will sit, but it's very rare, and you have to tell him a dozen times. I have spent hours and hours and hours working with him, and we seem to make no progress. I don't know if he's stubborn, unintelligent, traumatized from his past, or a combination of the above. I am thinking about enrolling him in a class at PetSmart, but I hesitate because I don't know if it will help, since he hasn't learned anything at all so far.

Does obedience training usually work well for adult dogs like this? Worth the money?

kathydip · #2 06-27-2006, 10:56 AM

I never think it's too late to teach a dog something. We have had puppies and adult dogs in classes. Besides I think that Labs remain puppies longer than other breeds so it may be better that he is a little older. It can never hurt to try. It make take a while but if you hang in there it will be worth it!
Good Luck!!

Ambieruns10 · #3 06-27-2006, 11:59 AM

Age doesn't really matter all that much when training a dog. If your training with Positive Reinforcement, most dogs are eager to learn! I was a trainer at Petsmart for a year. Its a good place to go but if your dog is easily distracted, I would try a "training only" facility. I know that distractions are good for training but not if you don't have the basic, sit, stay, etc already. Sometimes it can be more frustrating than helpful. Training classes are great just for bonding with your dog and meeting new pet people, im sure you will enjoy it.

kathydip · #4 06-27-2006, 12:11 PM

The bonding is the best part of the training. I cannot say enough for it. It completely amazed me at how close Frank and I got b/c of the training he had. The good thing too is if they start slipping back into thier old ways a week of refresher brings them back. I really need to refresh Frank. He is getting a bit too crazy lately!!

Leo · #5 06-27-2006, 11:18 PM

GO!!!! the bond that you will have from the class is well worth the money and if you are well bonded with your animal the more likely they are to listen to you and think of you as top dog... Before you run out and sign up with petsmart ask your vet or people you know that have well behaved animals where they went for training or whom they reccomend... My vet recomended me to a private training facility it was actually cheaper to go thru them than petsmart and there are less distractions (like people not in the class walking over there with their dogs or kids).

Mygala · #6 06-28-2006, 05:55 AM

It doesn't matter at all how old the dog is. I never had a problem training older animals. Virtually every problem I encountered was a result of the owner's behavior. If you are willing to be trained, the dog will have no problem going right along with you.

bob

Keritsubo · #7 06-28-2006, 02:18 PM

I agree with bob... both my dogs were trained at an older age. Most issues are a result of previous owners/care takers. I'd try it and keep with it. Certainly you and your dog can succeed together!

Vanilla_Rat · #8 06-28-2006, 11:32 PM

I say go and give it a try!

Angelnstuff · #9 06-29-2006, 03:51 AM

Dog training classes are highly worth it. im not sure how much it cost at petsmart. but they are supposed to garentee there training now. so what harm could it do? if your worried about the distractions of being in the store you might want to take him in a few times before the class.. a few times when its not real busy like right when they open or right before they close and jus work on keeping his attention. then again when there pretty busy.

*edit.. heres a link to there website http://www.petsmart.com/training/index.shtml
it says they have classes for every life cycle, and a coupon for a free training consultation

Ambieruns10 · #10 06-29-2006, 09:14 AM

If you do decide to goto Petsmart, make sure you meet which trainer you are going to get before you pay. I quit training for Petsmart because they would hire people who had no clue about how to actually train a dog, they just thought it would be fun job. Get someone who actually has the job because its thier passion. Not someone who is doing it as a job to get through school or whatever reason.

corgimom · #11 06-30-2006, 07:21 AM

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I start working full time on July 10th, after we get back from our vacation, and I think one of the first things I'm going to do is go ahead and enroll him in a class somewhere. I'm still debating whether to go with PetSmart or a private trainer (someone I used to work with went to one of the PetSmart locations here, and had a lot of success with her Akita puppy. If I go with PetSmart, I think I will use the same trainer, since my coworker recommended her.)

On the one hand, less distractions might be better. But on the other hand, because he is so timid, being in a bigger class and being around other dogs might be good for him. Honestly, I can't help but wonder if he had been abused by a previous owner. Sometimes if you go to pick something up that happens to be next to him, he acts like you're going to beat him with it or something. Gets a scared look in his eye, backs off and runs away. Same thing if you fuss at him for something, no matter how gentle you try and fuss. It's probably worth the money just for the socialization he'd get.

Leo · #12 06-30-2006, 11:35 AM

There were 12 puppies in the class I took with Leo through the private training facility (they had a trainer and a helper). So there was plenty of good socialization time. A lot of them will have weekend and evening hours and if you have to miss a class they will let you make it up by going to another one of their classes... Then I took him to petsmart and practiced the things I learned in class in their store with the distraction of strange dogs.

If your dog is timid around other animals I would bring him to petsmart weekly when they are busy and just wander around with him... socializing with the other animals.. do this for a few weeks before you take him to any class.

I agree with Ambieruns10... I took classes at a pet supply place with my dog Ed and ended up quitting them because they kept showing products that would be good to buy every class and I knew more than the teacher did about training. Plus I was almost attacked by a Larger Dog that came off her collar because the owner didn't have its collar on tight enough and had no control over it, the teacher was incompetent and didn't know what to do when that happened. Thankfully I had help from a few other people in the class getting the dog off me before she could do any real damage..the funny thing was I had warned them about the collar the week before because the dog was trying to start a fight with Ed and noticed the collar was loose.
This is why I recommend private training facilities where they are relying on word of mouth advertising to stay in business, if they weren't good they would be out of business. Most private training schools will only hire trainers that are accredited through NADOI,APDT or CPDT unlike some of the trainers at petsmart who have no formal training. I really do like Petsmart, I do the majority of my pet supply shopping through them, and take Leo in there all the time, but I would never go through their training program unless it was my only option.

Ambieruns10 · #13 07-03-2006, 05:13 PM

When I trained for Petsmart, I encouraged people to come watch a class before they decided if I was the right trainer for them and if they thought they would enjoy one of my classes. You could always ask to sit in on a class, just to be sure thats what you want.

With what Leo said about the pushing products on you is absolutly true. I was supposed to make sure that you bought something, such as treats, leads, grooming, etc. Petsmart is really in it for the money only. While other pet training places obviously want to make money, they still really care about you and your dog.

lkeffect · #14 07-05-2006, 09:11 PM

One of my company motto's is "We can teach and old dog new tricks" I use my Bentley as an example all the time....he learned to retrieve beer from the fridge at 9 years old. Obedience training is always worth your time as long as you are willing to back up what you learn and continue practicing. Best of luck!!