Comments on: Dog obedience training, any ideas how much it is?

By: Marna O

Marna O — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:47:21 +0000

prices vary SO much from area to area……..I would say figure $60-$100 for 6 weeks or so.

training classes are great! They teach you, hands on and personal, how to train your dog….you see the smallest sublteties in a hand movement, timing that you can’t understand from reading. Great socialization too for dog and you! Dog learning to work with distractions. The weekly classes are quality one on one time with your dog, spent understanding each other and bonding.

There are many “type” of classes….from teaching old fashioned “obedience”, basic behavior classes, pre-agility classes…..

You have top realize, dogs just are NOT humans….they can not understand and think as we do. It is not always easy fro them to understand what toys are theirs and which are not. Gee, even children have trouble with this concept!!!! And adults ignore it too!

look around, and think of classes as a great investment in a good and happy dog

By: ladybird

ladybird — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:11:36 +0000

He needs a job to work his brain.Collies don’t do well in homes where their minds are not stimulated as they love to learn.They use their brain in other ways like yours does.

Agility once a week would do the trick.Clicker training is also great for intelligent collies.They love learning tricks.
Obedience training can be boring for collies as it doesn’t involve them thinking for themselves.It’s more like doing as they are told which is not a problem for collies as you know.

Exercise alone is not enough as the brain does not have to think.Throwing a ball in long grass for him to find would be more rewarding for him with plenty of praise when he finds it.They just want to have fun & will be like that into old age.

Owner & trainer of Collies for 25 years.

By: chocotabbie

chocotabbie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:43:44 +0000

We have just done the good citizen puppy (part of the kennel club) class and now moving onto bronze. The first cost 80quid for 10 lessons and the second is 60 for 10 lessons. I taught my dog all the sits downs and stays etc before we went to the classes (but he is going to be a big dog so i am hoping to learn full control). Check the kennel club website and call them. They will give you a list of the classes in your area. It is worth it i think, although my pup (now 7 months) seems to be going through this teenage mood thing… not listening etc. Hopefully the training will help! Good luck x

By: rachal961

rachal961 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:57:59 +0000

I would take him yourself, obedience class is really to teach the people how to teach the dog, with bonus socialization thrown in…..At our obedience club, it is about $70 US for a 6 to 8 week session, one night a week. Border collies are extremely intelligent, but need a “job”, you might want to consider rally or agility or fly ball with him as well. If you are really against the class idea, I agree with the earlier poster who recommended Dog Training for Dummies.

By: Misa M

Misa M — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:06:39 +0000

Remember that trying to punish a dog by scolding is a very ineffective way of managing things. Obedience and training in general is as much for the owner as it is for the dog – and as with most things in life, you get out of it what you put in.
Here are some links:
Positive solutions to common issues
and
Finding a positive trainer is the best solution – a series of, say, 10 group lessons can run anywhere from $100 to $250, depending on the instructor and class size.
Here’s a really fun way to teach ‘leave it’:
Louise’s suggestion, to watch a class first, is excellent. Be sure that the class is all positive and the instructor is a great communicator. Good luck!