Good dog training and how much should it cost?

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Nov 6th, 2021 6:43 pm

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Jul 30th, 2021 2:59 pm

PerformingAzura [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 1, 2017; 2567 posts; 1752 upvotes

Jul 30th, 2021 2:59 pm

Good dog training and how much should it cost?

As the title suggests.

What do you look for when choosing a dog trainer for a new dog?

In particular I'd want to teach a new dog to potty on command, not pull while walking on a leesh, commands like leave it, drop it and stay.

I've seen PetSmart group classes and they look pretty affordable, but they don't look too helpful.

15 replies

Jul 31st, 2021 11:00 am

Blanche123: Deal Addict; Jan 28, 2014; 3829 posts; 943 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 31st, 2021 11:00 am

The PetSmart classes are good for socialization - but not much else - at least it was in our case.

Private at home lessons cost more but achieve a much better result. But everyone in the household has to follow the trainer's instructions. My husband DIDN'T!

Or you can do a group class with an accredited trainer - they have everything from puppy through to advanced classes.

We went to all of them.

I am not sure of what is happening in these days of Covid though. You probably will not have nearly as many options. You could ask your vet (or the vet you will use) if they have any suggestions/recommendations - the usually do. Vets use trainers too because as one vet told me, she can train any dog except her own. Very true

Aug 2nd, 2021 10:21 pm

btwitsmatt: Sr. Member; Mar 14, 2013; 766 posts; 883 upvotes; Toronto

Aug 2nd, 2021 10:21 pm

Zak George on Youtube is much better than what you would get at those Petsmart classes..

+3

Aug 4th, 2021 6:37 pm

amz155: Deal Fanatic; May 14, 2009; 6723 posts; 1457 upvotes

Aug 4th, 2021 6:37 pm

I wouldn’t bother with PetSmart, to be honest (unless you’re a rather worried, first-time owner maybe?). Check out Kikopup on You Tube. Hundreds (?) of videos that over topics like the ones you mentioned.

Aug 6th, 2021 3:37 pm

Chickinvic: Deal Fanatic; Dec 27, 2009; 7833 posts; 5347 upvotes; Victoria, BC

Aug 6th, 2021 3:37 pm

We paid a private trainer for our rescue dog with reactivity to other dogs, etc. I believe it was about $800 for 6 or 8 sessions?

Aug 7th, 2021 12:39 am

ROYinTO: Deal Fanatic; Dec 12, 2009; 5674 posts; 3167 upvotes; Toronto

Aug 7th, 2021 12:39 am

PerformingAzura wrote: ↑
What do you look for when choosing a dog trainer for a new dog?

In particular I'd want to teach a new dog to potty on command, not pull while walking on a leesh, commands like leave it, drop it and stay.

Giving a location might get you a few suggestions. C19 will have likely created wait lists now that things are opening again.

Potty on command is asking a bit much. Having a regular schedule helps with potty training.

Aug 7th, 2021 8:48 am

PerformingAzura [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 1, 2017; 2567 posts; 1752 upvotes

Aug 7th, 2021 8:48 am

ROYinTO wrote: ↑ Giving a location might get you a few suggestions. C19 will have likely created wait lists now that things are opening again.

Potty on command is asking a bit much. Having a regular schedule helps with potty training.

Mississauga.

I was wondering what to do in the winter. Do pet owners just brave the cold while their dog is taking thier sweet time to find a spot?

Aug 7th, 2021 9:41 am

Blanche123: Deal Addict; Jan 28, 2014; 3829 posts; 943 upvotes; Toronto

Aug 7th, 2021 9:41 am

PerformingAzura wrote: ↑ Mississauga.

I was wondering what to do in the winter. Do pet owners just brave the cold while their dog is taking thier sweet time to find a spot?

Yes, pet owners brave the cold. I hate the cold, but I loved our dog more!

+2

Aug 9th, 2021 9:29 am

Hambone: Deal Addict; Apr 19, 2006; 1698 posts; 4113 upvotes

Aug 9th, 2021 9:29 am

PerformingAzura wrote: ↑ Mississauga.

I was wondering what to do in the winter. Do pet owners just brave the cold while their dog is taking thier sweet time to find a spot?

Dogs need at least 2 good daily walks! Not just a quick "go do your business" and straight back home. Exercising and walking your dog daily will give you a much happier pup and make things easier for you in the house.

What kind of dog is it?

+5

Aug 9th, 2021 9:58 am

miningminer: Sr. Member; Dec 15, 2017; 986 posts; 1225 upvotes

Aug 9th, 2021 9:58 am

most dogs will easily pick up those types of commands, I wouldn't hire a trainer unless there was behavioral issues. Watch some youtube videos and find a "jackpot" treat for your dog. Cheese, chicken, hot dogs, etc. Teach your dog to do their business right away when you go outside, don't start the walk until they do. If you're like a lot of dog owners who turn around and end the walk as soon as the dog does it's business, then the dog will learn to hold it until they've gotten the walk they want.

PerformingAzura wrote: ↑ Mississauga.

I was wondering what to do in the winter. Do pet owners just brave the cold while their dog is taking thier sweet time to find a spot?

no but I brave the cold to make sure my dog gets their 20 min walk and a chance to get some stimulation and exercise. That's what we signed up for as pet owners and not too much to ask if the dog is otherwise confined indoors for the other 23.5 hours of the day.

+1

Aug 9th, 2021 10:11 am

PerformingAzura [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 1, 2017; 2567 posts; 1752 upvotes

Aug 9th, 2021 10:11 am

Hambone wrote: ↑ Dogs need at least 2 good daily walks! Not just a quick "go do your business" and straight back home. Exercising and walking your dog daily will give you a much happier pup and make things easier for you in the house.

What kind of dog is it?

Hambone wrote: ↑
Dogs need at least 2 good daily walks! Not just a quick "go do your business" and straight back home. Exercising and walking your dog daily will give you a much happier pup and make things easier for you in the house.

What kind of dog is it?

Cockapoo. He pees randomly throughout the day, but he's good with using his pee pad. I'd like to phase it out, but it's a bit of a struggle.
As far as bowel movements go, he goes 3 times a day. He has a short work in the morning and a long play session with other dogs in the evening. During lunch we try to do the hurry up and poop and then go back inside. But it doesn't work too well, so we end up going for a walk.

miningminer wrote: ↑ most dogs will easily pick up those types of commands, I wouldn't hire a trainer unless there was behavioral issues. Watch some youtube videos and find a "jackpot" treat for your dog. Cheese, chicken, hot dogs, etc. Teach your dog to do their business right away when you go outside, don't start the walk until they do. If you're like a lot of dog owners who turn around and end the walk as soon as the dog does it's business, then the dog will learn to hold it until they've gotten the walk they want.

no but I brave the cold to make sure my dog gets their 20 min walk and a chance to get some stimulation and exercise. That's what we signed up for as pet owners and not too much to ask if the dog is otherwise confined indoors for the other 23.5 hours of the day.

For my dog, it's freeze dry liver. He goes crazy for it.
My dog doesn't seem to be a morning dog. If I don't start the walk he'll just sleep on the driveway.

Aug 9th, 2021 10:44 am

miningminer: Sr. Member; Dec 15, 2017; 986 posts; 1225 upvotes

Aug 9th, 2021 10:44 am

how old? With puppies you'll just have to deal with smaller bladder for awhile. The poop thing, try to feed only 2x daily and remove food if its not eaten. My dog is trained to pee on command but cannot poop on command without a bit of a walk first. I think mostly because she is laying around napping most of the time and the digestive tract isn't so active, and needs some movement to loosen things up.

+1

Aug 9th, 2021 10:55 am

Blanche123: Deal Addict; Jan 28, 2014; 3829 posts; 943 upvotes; Toronto

Aug 9th, 2021 10:55 am

I have found with our dogs that they had to go first thing in the a.m. and again after their breakfast. Very common and it didn't change with age. As soon as possible you should stop using the puppy pads. With our last little hoover, puppy pads were food too (everything was food). We only used the puppy pads when he was 12 weeks old and quickly stopped, partially due to the "food" issue.

With all of that said, your dog will need a place to go should you be delayed getting home, or your dog just needs to go - the same as with people.

+1

Aug 9th, 2021 1:36 pm

PerformingAzura [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 1, 2017; 2567 posts; 1752 upvotes

Aug 9th, 2021 1:36 pm

miningminer wrote: ↑how old? With puppies you'll just have to deal with smaller bladder for awhile. The poop thing, try to feed only 2x daily and remove food if its not eaten. My dog is trained to pee on command but cannot poop on command without a bit of a walk first. I think mostly because she is laying around napping most of the time and the digestive tract isn't so active, and needs some movement to loosen things up.

Blanche123 wrote: ↑I have found with our dogs that they had to go first thing in the a.m. and again after their breakfast. Very common and it didn't change with age. As soon as possible you should stop using the puppy pads. With our last little hoover, puppy pads were food too (everything was food). We only used the puppy pads when he was 12 weeks old and quickly stopped, partially due to the "food" issue.

With all of that said, your dog will need a place to go should you be delayed getting home, or your dog just needs to go - the same as with people.

He's approaching 4 months now and can hold his bladder pretty well. He doesn't need midnight bathroom breaks anymore.

I think seeing the pee pads reminds him to pee, so I'll remove some of them and just leave one in case he needs it.

I'd like to try 2x feeding but this dog throws up after eating too much. With 3x he doesn't have a problem so we'll have to see. I've also switched him to acana which recommends like half the serving size of his old food.

He usually doesn't go potty after eating.

The cycle usually goes:
BATHROOM > FOOD > SLEEP > REPEAT

Sep 28th, 2021 9:58 am

spooky: Deal Addict; Mar 13, 2006; 2290 posts; 10832 upvotes; Toronto

Sep 28th, 2021 9:58 am

Blanche123 wrote: ↑The PetSmart classes are good for socialization - but not much else - at least it was in our case.

Private at home lessons cost more but achieve a much better result. But everyone in the household has to follow the trainer's instructions. My husband DIDN'T!

Or you can do a group class with an accredited trainer - they have everything from puppy through to advanced classes.

We went to all of them.

I am not sure of what is happening in these days of Covid though. You probably will not have nearly as many options. You could ask your vet (or the vet you will use) if they have any suggestions/recommendations - the usually do. Vets use trainers too because as one vet told me, she can train any dog except her own. Very true

Chickinvic wrote: ↑ We paid a private trainer for our rescue dog with reactivity to other dogs, etc. I believe it was about $800 for 6 or 8 sessions?

Does anyone have suggestions for a dog trainer near Richmond Hill, ON?

Nov 6th, 2021 6:43 pm

robertfung: Newbie; Nov 4, 2009; 80 posts; 65 upvotes; Toronto

Nov 6th, 2021 6:43 pm

spooky wrote: ↑ Does anyone have suggestions for a dog trainer near Richmond Hill, ON?

Sorry if this is late but we used Bryan of Wagging Woofies about a year ago. He continued to be very responsive to our questions even after we finished the lesson package and I thought his advice was very practical.

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