Obedience Classes, yay or nay?
Are basic obedience classes useful? I'd love to hear any pros and/or cons(if there are any) of obedience classes with corgis...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Markley on
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Obedience classes are a MUST. And not just one round, multiple rounds. Corgi's are very smart, and love to please. However, they are very smart, and will get in to trouble if you don't stimulate their mind- they are herding, working dogs, and need that mental and physical work to keep them happy. They are also head-strong, and stubborn- they were made that way to be able to face down huge cows, and to work independently- so you must be able to control them.
Corgi's do great with all kinds of classes. Seanna loves agility, but we've done rally and multiple obedience classes too.
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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Classes are great for many reasons. They are good bonding time and you will learn as much as the dog. How and why you should do things. emergancy recalls and socialization also. We have done obedience and agility and never regretted it.
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Permalink Reply by Yuki & Ellie on
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They are definitely useful! :) Even if you already know the basics, it's a great time to brush up on your techniques as well as bond with your dog. It's time to focus on just your dog and it also provides a bit of socialization (depending on the type of class.) I've had Yuki for nearly four years now and have had him in obedience for the past two months, meeting every two weeks. The difference in both of us is amazing!
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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Classes are great and corgis often are stars at it. It helps you learn how to train your pup in a way they will understand. Just find a positive trainer and enjoy your time learning to "speak" dog!
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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Hi Samantha, shop for a good trainer, just as you would with a child. Observe a few classes, talk to the student's parents. A good trainer can observe you and tell you how to improve your technique.
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Permalink Reply by Cindi on
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Agree with Sam. I'm a trainer and I LOVED to have folks check out my classes. I would have a number of people camped out around my training area with every class. And I know once they saw how I treated the dogs, the owners, and my knowledge and training style, they would be enrolling. If a trainer won't let you "sit in" on a class (without your dog), they aren't worth taking classes from.
That being said, be absolutely sure you are engaging a positive method trainer. The old methods of yank and control don't work in the long run. Dogs, like people, respond well to praise and positive attention.
And corgis are incredibly intelligent dogs requiring an equally intelligent owner. If left to their own devices, without benefit of training and boundaries, they can become holy terrors. Investing in training is a must...and more than one little puppy class! The more you train with your corgi, the happier you both will be and the stronger the relationship bond will be between you.
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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With the right instructor, they can be wonderful. Personally I don't like puppy classes because I have very specific ideas about puppy-rearing that are a blend of old thinking and new methods (i.e., I don't put much pressure at all on a puppy til it's somewhere around a year old, BUT I use almost exclusively positive training). I skipped them because I was afraid that just about any trainer would want to rain in my then-exuberant handful earlier than I did. But I did do TDI and now agility.
So, if you are experienced with dogs and able to socialize, puppy classes are not necessary. If you don't have much experience or many opportunities to socialize, positive puppy classes are a must.
A class with an older dog is a wonderful way to work with your dog in a distracting environment, and is really a great bonding experience. Remember that you are your dog's advocate, and don't make any trainer make you do something you are not comfortable with. Even with my agility instructor, who I love, I will sometimes just say "I think he's done with that now. Can we try something else?" on occasion because Jack hates drilling and if you make him do something again after he's nailed it, his performance deteriorates.
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Permalink Reply by Chris West on
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Yay! YAY!! Not only do obedience classes assist with teaching your dog basic obedience, but they also teach YOU about basic obedience as well as positive ways to deal with any and all behavioral issues your dog might be having. It is also a positive opportunity to get in some socialization. I loved taking Frosty to classes so much that we have repeatedly attended the same class. We are able to take them at our local community college; it is about $70 for an 8 week class. I have not noticed any cons to taking classes at all.
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Permalink Reply by Nora on
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I just LOVE that you said: "...we have repeatedly attended the same class..." --- 'Cause I will probably do the same thing very soon. I've taken DouBao to class from Kindergarten to Advanced (currently), plus Agility foundation. I was worried that we were running out of classed, but I could take her to repeat the class... LOL...
She loves it very much, more important is that I could see her CHANGED from a bitchy barker to an obedience star in the class. She is 7 months old, so we still have a lot to and can work on.
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I wanted to add, too, that all dogs are different and that's why you must be the advocate. As I said, Jack hates drilling but Maddie is just the opposite. She adores doing something she knows she is good at over and over again. She just beams and grins from ear to ear. "I'm a good girl, right? Right?" Jack sulks. So know your dog and you'll do great.
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Permalink Reply by Chris, Kadi & Brodie on
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Absolutely! Everyone needs to do it at least once!
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