When did you stop going to group training classes?

[ZoomieGremlin]

Hello wise dog owners!

My dog is now 1yo and we are still going to group classes, but I’m not sure we’re really getting anything from it anymore. We are, in theory, working towards the KC silver award, but my dog turns into such a dickhead during the classes that I don’t think we’ll ever pass. She’s mostly ok in the real world and is able to play with/greet other dogs. It’s just the class environment that makes her lose the plot and I leave feeling pissed off and embarrassed every week.

And the exercises we do in class can be really complex and involve me remembering which foot to set off with, etc. It feels like a dance class that I’m failing 😂

I think the trainer guesses that I’ve had enough because he said something about it not being the time to give up.

What would you do? I’m a first time dog owner so have no previous experience.

We did weekly good citizen obedience classes for ages and did from puppy to gold. We then stopped for a bit, but I'm going to start obedience again - she's nearly 3. Nowadays we focus on gundog work but the trainer stops doing weekend lessons during season and it's too far to travel regularly mid week in the winter, so this will be just to keep her doing something. But our dog really liked the obedience classes and that trainer mixed them up with scent and rally too.

If you do give up the classes, I would try to find something else in their place. When ours was 1 she was fecking hard work and so we did a mix of gundog, scent, obedience and the odd bit of mantrailing, all of which seemed to help her with breed fulfilment (she's a labrador) throughout adolescence. DP thought she didn't need to do that much and he's right, but I would definitely try to make sure there is something for your dog on a regular basis during adolescence.

Thanks everyone, you’ve all been so helpful and given me lots to think about! I’m going to leave the group we’re in - we’ve definitely had enough - but there’s lots more classes that I hadn’t even heard of until now, so I’m going to try and find something different for us to learn together. I’m actually looking forward to it!

Both my dogs have attended classes for something life long. I am an agility trainer in a volunteer club. I’m experienced (16 years teaching and competing) and qualified (behaviour degree, first aid human and canine and various agility CPD). I do it because I enjoy it and helping dogs and owners to bond and grow. Sadly with the decline in clubs like ours there has been an emergence of poor business trainers. Not all but a lot. Most of our trainers specialise in a type of dog. I’m terriers and hounds. We have collie and gun dog specialists and we all work together. We all do it because we enjoy it.

classes are so good for dogs as long as they are good for them. Shop around.

Our dog trainer and classes are brilliant. It's pay as you go, we did puppy classes for six months. Were now doing dog classes, but we don't go as religiously (possibly once or twice a month). Our dog loves it, she gets so excited. It's all outdoors and a mix of agility and obedience. It's on a Saturday morning, and we both enjoy it.