Is Dog Obedience School for You?

 Are you thinking about dog obedience school? Do you know what to expect out of it? Do you know what it costs or where to find a good school?

If not, let me help take out some of the mystery of finding one to make sure you and your dog get the best experience you can.

If you have searched the web in this topic, you probably found some sites that are basically search engines within search engines, no real information about dog obedience schools. Or you might have found some obedience schools that were on the other side of the country. Needless to say, neither one was of much use.

Chances are you have a dog obedience school of some sort in your town, unless you've got a population of less than 20,000. In that event, you might need to opt for dog training videos or books, and I will go over some good resources for that later.

The first thing I want you to do is look for someone with proven experience. You can start in the yellow pages and look under "Dog Training" as opposed to "dog obedience school."

Ask a LOT of questions. These people are going to be molding the mind of your impressionable pup and you want to know that it's a good fit.

Ask things like:

What will the dog be taught?
What is the success rate?
What happens if you're not satisfied
Will you be taught how to continue with your dogs new training?
What are their methods of correction when the dog disobeys?
Visit the facility too. Check it out. Meet the trainers and see how they act with people and dogs.

Ask if you can watch a training session or a video of a session so you get an idea of what your dog will be subjected to.

Don't make a final decision on a dog obedience school until your dog has met the trainers. Dogs are extremely good judges of character.

For the most part, someone in this line of work is going to be a good person and a dog lover. Some, however, will be doing it just to get a paycheck and may not have your pal's best interest in mind.

If your dog doesn't like them... take another route.

You might want to consider the local 4-H club. 4-H is where I learned how to train my own dog as a child. It isn't a dog obedience school in the traditional sense. It teaches kids how to train their dogs, or a friend's dog. It's a youth education program and it provides many facets of education, one of which is often dog training.

Read more about dog training videos if you would like an alternative to dog obedience school.

About the Author

Tina Spriggs is an expert dog lover whose lifelong interest in canines provides the motivation for her site. To learn more about dogs or to find gifts and toys for them visit her site
Dog-Gifts-and-Toys-for-Dog-Lovers.com. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.

 Tina Spriggs

More Articles 

If You Want a Friend, Get a Dog! - M J Plaster
Carl Icahn, the hostile takeover master who was THE original corporate raider, is often quoted as saying, "In this business, if you want a friend, get a dog!" The rest of us already knew that dog was man's best friend, and with good reason. Dogs as...

Designer Dog Clothes - Anne Doyle
Some of us just to refuse to think of our dogs are just dogs. For us there are dog clothes! Cute sweaters, doggie tee shirts, dog booties, stylish bandanas, and let's not forget little hats. These are among the items people will purchase to...

A Pit Bull Could Be The Right Dog For You - Rose Lenk
Although Pit Bulls have gained a bad reputation for their seemingly aggressive behavior, this breed can be the ideal pet for the right owner. Pit Bulls crave attention and are very loyal and loving toward people. Other dogs, on the other hand,...

Doggie Hygiene - Kirsten Hawkins
Washing your dog is important, but not as important as some people think. Healthy dogs actually don't need to be washed all that often, but humans prefer to bathe them so that they have a more pleasing smell and appearance. Doggie bath time is a...

Keeping Your Dog Healthy - Amy Howells
Feed him a balanced diet. Additional tips from owners include: Give an occasional yogurt treat - Ask your vet about giving Boxers calcium tablets as they could have some problems later on in life! - Keep him comfortable so his immune system can...

Old English Sheepdog Complete Profile - Dooziedog com
Key Facts: Size: Large Height: Above 54 cm (21 inches) Weight: About 30 kg (66 lb) Life Span: 13 years Grooming: Very demanding Exercise: Medium Feeding: Medium Temperament: Friendly & outgoing Country of Origin: England AKC Group: Herding Other...

How To Choose The Perfect Dog Name For Your Puppy. - Richard Cussons
So you've brought home your new puppy, it's time to name your new animal friend but you're running short on ideas. Choosing a name for your dog can be hard if you aren't feeling very creative, so here we give you a head start with the basics and...

Becomming the ALPHA Dog! - Ray Coleiro
Technically speaking, dogs as a separate species are supposed to be evolved from the wolves. Research indicates that the wolf mutated into several breeds, according to the climate, geography and the environment. As these separate breeds were...

DOG GOES BALLISTIC WHEN JOGGING WITH OWNER - Adam G Katz
Dear Adam: My dog, Chance, we think is a Golden retriever mix, but he's mostly white with gold patches. Also he's about 2/3 the size of a Golden Retriever. He's 18 months old and has been loose-leash trained pretty well as long as you don't let...

If You Own Two Dogs, Can You Control Who’s The Alpha Dog? - Adam G Katz
Dear Mr. Katz: I have two cocker spaniels that are one year apart. The red and white female (Cassie)is almost two and spayed. The buff male (Peanut) is just one 1 years old and neutered. Peanut was rescued from a cocker shelter in October of 1999....