omg puppy classes!

[whatwoulddexterdo]

I took my nearly six month old to puppy classes last night for the first time. It was a disaster, she was so excited and hyper and wouldn't do a thing I asked. There were about twenty other dogs there and she wanted to greet each one. She wasn't naughty as such just thoroughly over excited and even managed to knock down a couple of chairs.
She is so good and calm at home and when we are out. The trainer said i had no control over her. I said that i expect a lot of dogs are like this the first time and she said no. I was so embarrassed and wanted to cry. I don't think i can face going back.
The trainer also said i needed to keep on top of her or I would have a problem on my hands.
It didnt help that she was the largest dog there. She even stole another dogs treat.
The other dogs were all walking nicely, sitting down when told etc.

I just feel like the worst owner ever.

Maybe try again next week . If other dogs were younger then maybe they weren't so excited to see new dogs and new people .
we did feel that people were a bit judgy at puppy training as most had small handbag dogs and we had a
staffy who loves everything and everybody .
He did manage his 6 weeks of classes and passed his puppy assessment but we did have some embarrassing moments :)

Don't worry. The trainer sounds a no nonsense person probably brilliant with dogs but maybe a tad lacking in people skills and empathy. My cocker spaniel is very excited to see anyone and any dog, oblivious to anything. She is 6 months old. Now attending a lovely dog training class and I foresee exasperation from the trainer in coming weeks when she still won't walk to heel. I have a feeling it will be her weak spot and truly wonder if she will ever do this for me!
Go back , enjoy the social interactions with the other owners and don't expect too much of your lovely dog!

If all the other dogs were sitting nicely and being obedient and your dog wasnt, I would assume that they'd already had some training of some sort. And any decent trainer would see this and put you in the correct class for your ability.

Find another trainer.

The trainer doesn't sound that helpful - they are offering a service, for which you pay, to help you train your dog. So you're not expected to have a well trained dog before you go! Although quieter, calmer and more convenient for the trainer if you do.

Our trainer started out with a little talk saying of course dogs would bark, pull at lead, drive us to despair but they were attending class because they needed training, so all to be expected.

I say that because it might help you to feel better that it wasn't your fault. Our puppy went crazy at the first class and I was totally unprepared, trainer said my treats "wouldn't do" because it was only boring kibble type but then to back it up and make me feel better, she handed me a pile of her super tasty cheese & liver bits. When our puppy was barking like mad, she sent one of the helpers along to sit with us and she held a bone for our puppy. Infact in every subsequent class there has been one or two puppies that have needed "the class bone" or helper to step in so we can hear what's going on!

The good news is it's never the same puppy being badly behaved!

Are there any other classes near you. Twenty participants sounds an awful lot for a puppy class. There were only 6 plus us at my class and fewer at the next intake.

It does sound like the other dogs/pups had already had some training and were used to the environment.

The trainer is right in that you do need to work on controlling your pup in all environments, but that's what you were there for and telling you that without advising you on how to go about it is less than no help and I'd be looking for a different class.

Similar to Mintchoc's experience, at our class the trainer has some kongs to help calm and focus the more energetic pups while she's talking during the first couple of lessons and because there are fewer participants there's plenty of space between the pups.

If it has really knocked your confidence, find a different class and perhaps book a 1:1 session with trainer before the first lesson, but honestly, not all classes are like that. Most puppy classes are fun - and so they should be, if training isn't fun, what motivation is there for the dog to want to do it and if you are feeling tense and anxious in an environment that your pup is going to pick that up.

Walk her before you go. You need to get rid of the XS energy first.

First of all if there were about 20 dogs in the class that's way too many - although I imagine that's a slight exaggeration OP :) . Shouldn't be more than about 8 or 10 maximum.

And surely you're going to a training class to learn how to train your dog. If you could train it on your own you wouldn't need to go to classes. The leader doesn't sound helpful or to be on your side.

If you can't face going back find another class.

When I started classes with my dog the first class was without the dogs and the leader went over what we would be doing and the type of treats to bring, it was very helpful and we all went with our dogs the next week having already met one another.

The leader never had more than six dogs in a class, which meant that we all had a chance to have some one to one time. It was still hard work for us first timers, but it taught me how to work with my dog so I had a good grounding to base further training on.

Gosh so many. Replies. Thank you to you all.

I changed classes/trainers when I first started training with our dog, now 13 months. Initially, we were in a riding school arena iyswim with three different classes going on at the same time. It was chaos, my dog was wired. The leaflet that we were given afterward had worrying dominance overtures to it too and they tried to sell me a choke chain to control my dog.

I actually left that class feeling like it was my dog and myself at fault but gave myself a slap at home and complained bitterly afterwards to the overall owner of the facility. I got my money back but not sure they agreed with my concerns.

Our trainer now, who we have been with for about 8/9 months, is cheese to the other trainers chalk. They have a maximum of 6 in their class. The puppy class has an additional member of staff, to concentrate on the person struggling in that class (believe me, this changes!) and everything they teach is about making learning positive and fun for the dog and owner. It's also in a small enclosed area.

So, we have gone from having a loony dog in the first class to one that has just passed his KC Gold. Yes, we have worked hard and learned lots and have a placid little dog who wants to learn, but the trainer has been fantastic and must take a lot of credit too.

You shouldn't go away feeling 'small' and you are not a bad owner, why would you go to classes if you were?

Trust your gut instinct. The trainer sounds unprofessional and rude, and the class sounds too big! All dogs behave differently and there is NO WAY yours is the only dog that has ever been over excited in that Situation. To say she was is ridiculous and she should have been giving you help to improve the situation, not making you feel bad. That is, after all, what you are paying her for!
I had a false start with training centres too and never went back to the first one. For 'socialization' the trainer let all the puppies off lead at once. They ranged in age from my 8 week old to boisterous teenagers of every size. Unsurprisingly my pup had the cr@p scared out of her!
The second place I went too was fabulous and I still go there. Keep looking, there are much better places out there!

Have just found a new class which is a drive away and not just round the corner.
Am going to give it a go next week, fingers crossed.
Thanks to you all for vey helpful replies.

The trainer is rude and if she couldn't come up with some useful suggestions for you on how to gain your dogs attention then she pretty useless.
Also 20 is too many for a puppy class.

Whereabouts are you?