How many of you regularly go to training classes?

elptb · How many of you regularly go to training classes?

How many of you regularly go to training classes, and which of you (if any) 'go it alone'?

BenB

I don't go to any classes regularly - but do try and meet up and do the odd day training with others here and there. As in a few proper training days a year.

I took the last pup to socialisation and she spent the entire session sitting in my lap. But my dogs go to the pub with us and meet a lot of other dogs daily.

windem bang

windem bang

I used to go to training classes almost religiously when I was the trainer, now that I'm just another Joe Soap and have to pay to be trained - I have discovered I'm an agnostic - I do not always attend !

It's stingy- but it works for me ! Laughing

Bill T.

BenB

Nope but they usually attract enough attention to make new friends who buy them for you!

BritAnnie

I go to obedience class with Freckles as I'd like to do agility and it's a pre-requisite for that. I'm enjoying being back at school too. I have private tutoring with Allez for a wee while (Bill) but I'm thinking of taking the 8 week Gundog Club course at Leven.
BA

BlackIsler

I make every effort to attend the Highland GSPC training day each Month, and recently attended the Scottish GSPC training day, between the two classes I hope to get both my Weims trained.
IMHO these training days are invaluable, great socialisation for the dogs with enhanced training opportunities – there is only so much that I can achieve as an individual, the extra bodies help make the tasks more unique and challenging for the dogs.

tashap

I did go to regular training classes up until Bonnie and I started working on the shoots fulltime now its just as and when, we used to do gundog training at four or five different classes some are once a month some are weekly and some were every two weeks. We did basic obedience classes but those finished when the gundog stuff took over and we didn't looked back.

I enjoyed the classes and so did bonnie so I can't wait now that I have pups to start training with again...amasing how much you forget in such a short space of time

Lisa

I take Blu training to a club that does it every two weeks or so. To be honest I / Blu could probably do with training more often but it's just trying to find somewhere that is less than a 30min drive.

We do training on our own nearly everyday for short periods of time but I do find it ever so lonely Sad

I only have a couple of sessions left before they end until April. I'm not sure how I will cope on my own until then Shocked

Pitbull

The one I go to ain't really training as such, more a "what problems are you having" then giving ideas of how to over come.

Though it is a course of only 8 weeks. But do hope to join in with the like minded at the GSPC.

Helen

I don't attend training classes and do all the training myself. However, I did go to a local trainer a couple of months ago to get a few pointers and get a different perspective on how things were progressing. I do like training with other people though but more for the social aspect of it.

Helen

Lisa

Yes Helen! me too! It's nice to meet with others evey now again as long as we don't talk too much whilst we are being taught! Embarassed

Fiona and Otter

I try and go to training each month with my local GSP clubs. They are great and having started with the Suurey branch I now try and go to Sussex as well. I also get caught out from time to time, doing too much nattering and not paying enough attention (usual result is Otter runs in for someone else's dummy Embarassed

)

elptb

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'll be having to go to quite a few training days, as Archie is my first HPR and I have a very limited knowledge of training them. I'm finding it ok to teach him the basics like recall and sit/stay, but think I'll need alot of help when the more 'HPR specific' things need to be taught/encouraged!

Lisa

I wouldn't worry Emma, I am totally new to this kind of training and without my training club, researching books and this lot on here I would never have been confident to carry on training Blu!

It is hard work but if you want results you need to be prepared to put the work in and by putting the work in you will get results! Blu and I are having the time of our life at the moment and I just wish I had done this with my first weim Very Happy

Starting a training club initially will get you started and then when you feel confident enough you could go it alone. Most importantly, enjoy it!! Very Happy

elptb

guy

I go to a retriever class once a week, on the strength of our presence i notice the class has been renamed 'AV Retriever' Smile

now has ESS and WSS coming along. Really useful to have a 'specialist' giving pointers on improving technique.

Otherwise on my own. Get a great amount of feedback from judges when running tests and trials. They see a 'snapshot' of the dog and have always given really useful advice about moving the dogs training forward.

Mike

I still regularly attend training classes, once a month for a Weims only class and currently once a week for an "intermediates" class (two hprs, a handful of retrievers and a couple of spaniels) Always useful to get other peoples perspective on how things are going and whilst "performing" in front of the rest of the class isn't as bad as competing it adds a useful extra dimension to training your dog. I am also finding that I am getting more oportunity to stretch my boy in the intermediate class.

The social side is a definite plus, it is always nice to meet others who are aflicted with the same madness!

99% of my training is still done alone though.

Helen

I took my springer to a bloke a couple of years ago. I spent the whole time chatting to him :blush: and I was paying him! I just like chatting to people lol, particularly dog people.

The first visit from my health visitor was spent talking dogs! She saw a pointer print over my fireplace and commented on it. She said she had 2 pointers and a bloodhound. Well, she was here for 2 hours and I would say 95% of the time was talking about dogs! lol.

Helen

Ghilliegumdrop

So how is the child Helen....weaned onto toffees yet Question

Helen

He's doing very well Smile

Ah, it won't be long before he's onto the toffees LOL I saw your name and just fancy a toffee now! Will have to make do with lunch - egg fried rice with bacon and veg - yum.

HElen

josie

We go to a retriever training group once a month during the summer (which is when it runs), but often we can't make classes as they're on the same day as other stuff. This year we've only made it to one of their classes so far.

Adam has just started taking Grey to Sussex GSP once a month: These are good for Grey because she needs more work with distractions in an environment similar to tests. For Slate they're not so useful and I can set most more advanced stuff up by myself and break it down more, so I don't take her.

Grey also goes to pet obedience class once a week. (She has her Silver test tomorrow actually!).