Opinions Needed - Which training??

[sweetlychee]

We want to take Milo our almost 10 month old corgi for training. He actually is going for more of the socializing and obedience type of training than the actual training of sit, stay, and other commands. He has mastered sit, stay, come, down, roll over, and hand. We taught him all of those. It sounds a waste of him to go for those type of training when he already has.

But, as some of you have known, he has some socializing issues. He is not very dog friendly since he is afraid of other dogs. He doesn't snap or bite them. He would only bark at them.

I found ABCNY Animal Behavior Center of NY training.
They have these trainings:

Basic Obedience Instructional Course - $499
Our basic obedience training instructional course teaches you and your familiy how to train your dog to respond to approximately 12 obedience commands, verbally and with hand signaling. Private lessons are taught by one of our Certified Obedience Instructors in the convenience of your home or at the Animal Behavior Center of New York.

With just one (one hour) lesson per week, for six weeks, and 30 minutes of practice each day, your dog will learn to Sit, Stay, Settle, Off (not to jump), Hup (to jump up), Quiet ,a loose-leash Controlled Walk, Heeling (walking directly at your left side with an automatic "sit" when you stop), to lie Down, the Down Stay, and to urinate and defecate on command, to signal you when its time to "go outside" and more.

In addition, the human family members will learn leash and voice control, how to shape the behavior of a dog, proper timing and use of reinforcement training, behavior problem solving, how to read your dog's "signaling" to you, how to establish you and your family as your dog's strong leader and more. Any additional behavior problems you are experiencing will be treated during the course.

Master Obedience Instructional Course - $699
Our Master Obedience Training Instructional course will teach you and your familiy how to train your dog to respond to approximately 25 obedience commands, verbally and with hand signaling. Private lessons are taught by our Certified Obedience Instructor staff in the convenience of your home or at our modern animal training center.

With just one (one hour) lesson per week, for six weeks, and 30 minutes of practice each day, your dog will learn Sit, Stay, Settle, Off (not to jump), Hup (to jump up), Quiet, loose-leash Controlled Walk, Heeling (walking directly at your left side with an automatic "sit" when you stop), to lie Down, the Down Stay, moving to your Left Side on command, Leave It (to avoid something or someone), Give (to drop an object), Hup (to jump up), Place (to go to a portable mat and stay on the mat), to urinate and defecate on command, to signal you when its time to "go outside" and more.

3-Week "Sleep Away" Resident Basic Obedience Training Program - $1195
This program is designed for the busy family or individual that does not have time to train their dog in basic obedience commands. Your dog will spend three (3) weeks at our training center during which timw our professional trainers will work with your dog many times a day, indoors and outdoors. We can provide socialization with other people and dogs (or cats) if desired. We can also treat dogs for fears, phobias, compulsive disorders and aggression when necessary. Upon copmpletion of the training, the family returens for a full demonstration of the dog's performance and unlimited family handling lessons. A lifetime of family handling lessons is included. Free pick-ups from Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Nassau County can be arranged.

House (Elimination) Training - $150 plus Boarding Costs
House training is a term used to teach a dog not to eliminate inside the home . Paper training is a term used to teach a dog to eliminate only on paper or on absorbent pads) Litter box training is a term used to teach a dog to eliminate in a box filled with an absorbent sand-like substance. Elimination training can be begun during overnight or day care stays.

While house training takes many weeks and months to perfect and must be done in YOUR HOME for the most part, we can begin to establish correct routines and location/substrate preferences with your dog. When your dog returns hone after several weeks, you will use a plastic carrier to confine your dog when not supervised and follow the training routine and reward schedule we used at ABCNY to maintain behavior.

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They are more expensive than the other training places we have looked at. Please give me some input.

Thanks in advance!!

[Michael Romanos]

Milo has had basic obedience training at home and as you say, he does and can do all the usual things. So why does he need anymore?
If you want to socialise him, it is not at obedience training classes. Socialising is at other club and meeting activities - such as what occurs at breed clubs or at sports such as agility. If nothing else, agility is a great social accasion for my Taylor. Last Saturday for instance, he met up with dozens of dogs, played with a couple and said hello and spent some time with the rest. People at agility enjoy and encourage their dogs to mix and mingle - even while waiting at the last moments before their dog is about to dash through the course- because it can help to get their dog out of any slumber.
That Milo talks to dogs rather than want to grab their necks or pull their ears off, suggests to me that if he is exposed to lots of dogs all at once - all that kind of hip hop talk will go out the door. For every Corgi who is very picky, there is someone doggy they will take a real liking to. At agility training nights, Taylor always has a free reign mix with all the other agility dogs - before the training starts and after its conclusion. A Corgi on a leash and the same Corgi off a leash are sometimes two totally different dogs.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Milo has had basic obedience training at home and as you say, he does and can do all the usual things. So why does he need anymore?

Milo may be able to do all the basics, but obedience classes are as much for the human end of the leash as they are for the 4 legged one. They are a way for owners to learn to communicate more clearly and precisely with their dogs, to learn how to avoid sending mixed signals and to learn how to be a more effective pack leader. I've known someone via the internet for several years now who is as still clueless about her dogs as she was from the minute she brought them home. They'll hold a 10 minute down, but as far as being realistic or knowing her dogs, she has no idea.

If you want to socialise him, it is not at obedience training classes. Socialising is at other club and meeting activities - such as what occurs at breed clubs or at sports such as agility.

At least in the US and with Milo's "issues" that would be exactly the place to begin his socialization in a manner non-threatening to him. Breed clubs and training clubs are not about dog socialization time. They are for conducting the business of the club in order to put on events. They are for educational programs for the membership. With the exception of the more informal meetings such as picnics, dogs are rarely in attendance at club meetings.

If nothing else, agility is a great social accasion for my Taylor. Last Saturday for instance, he met up with dozens of dogs, played with a couple and said hello and spent some time with the rest. People at agility enjoy and encourage their dogs to mix and mingle - even while waiting at the last moments before their dog is about to dash through the course- because it can help to get their dog out of any slumber.

Try that in the US at most AKC trials (and likely some of the others) and someone would call a Bench Committee Hearing so fast heads would be spinning. People in the US don't encourage their dogs to mix and mingle right before a run. Some of the more intense and driven dogs are actually pretty dog aggressive and these are dogs with numerous titles in agility.

That Milo talks to dogs rather than want to grab their necks or pull their ears off, suggests to me that if he is exposed to lots of dogs all at once - all that kind of hip hop talk will go out the door.

Given his body language and expressions in the photos from his last play date, the "talk" might go out the door only to be replaced with fear based dog aggression.

For every Corgi who is very picky, there is someone doggy they will take a real liking to.

Want to tell that to a few of the ones we have in foster care?

At agility training nights, Taylor always has a free reign mix with all the other agility dogs - before the training starts and after its conclusion.

And Taylor is a well-bred dog coming from lines of sound temperament; raised by an experienced corgi owner.

A Corgi on a leash and the same Corgi off a leash are sometimes two totally different dogs.

Very, very true.

Debbie

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by sweetlychee

We want to take Milo our almost 10 month old corgi for training. He actually is going for more of the socializing and obedience type of training than the actual training of sit, stay, and other commands. He has mastered sit, stay, come, down, roll over, and hand. We taught him all of those. It sounds a waste of him to go for those type of training when he already has.

Not necessarily because he would be doing them in the company of other dogs, which would make a big difference. Although these classes appear to be private/in home, right? My suggestion if you are going to use this facility would be the first one if for no other reason than this: "Any additional behavior problems you are experiencing will be treated during the course."

But, as some of you have known, he has some socializing issues. He is not very dog friendly since he is afraid of other dogs. He doesn't snap or bite them. He would only bark at them.

One command I notice missing from the list you have taught him is "watch me" or "watch." This goes a long way in helping dogs cope in situations and surroundings uncomfortable to them. IF their focus and concentration is on you/the human; then they aren't distracted and worrying about everything going on around them - the dog walking across the street for example. It also helps to set you up as the leader, protector and in control of things as well as a tool to help work on desensitizing them to objects of "fear" or discomfort.

Debbie

[MissGambler'sMommy]

I know that I need more training than Miss Gambler. Putting money and time into classes for her would be the same as if a gambler just started mailing it into Las Vegas instead of going there. Classes would be pointless if I don't change. She is my first dog, and I have turned her into my baby, but I am beginning to see the light at the end of that tunnel. I also think that just some great exercise and/or agility would be great for us and the time better spent than if we put her in classes.

[Dillydoodle]

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[Chip's Mom]

As you all know, Maybelle was found in a field and scared to death. She is afraid of strange people, strange dogs amd strange surroundings. When she is at home with just us here, you would not think there was a thing wrong with her. We have attempted to socialize her via walks in the park, etc.She knows how to sit, walk on a leash, etc but she wasn't making the strides that we wanted so off to obedience class we went. Three weeks into the class and she is taking treats from strangers hands, has walked up to some strangers and dogs and is much more relaxed although she is still on the fearful side. She even ran through the tunnel Thursday night with Chip in the lead. I highly recommend obedience classes. Milo would do well learning to be around other dogs and to learn there are non aggressive dogs and he may even find a friend. I have learned so much there each time I go and it is wonderful one on one time with your pup. You also have the opportunity to do advanced training and agility once your dog is old enough and has graduated from the basic class. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think you can do agility without completing the basic obedience classes. Also, if your dog doesn't know the basic obedience commands you will not get him around the course. Also as Debbie said the "watch command" is a very useful tool and I use it in many situations. You may also learn the body language of dogs and how to read them which is very useful to be able to tell the difference in a "I want to play and I want to fight" so you will know when your dog is at risk of being attacked by another dog.

[MissGambler'sMommy]

Chip'sMom: I did not mean agility training as in professional competition, just as exercise with obstacles. You are absolutely correct that if I, or anyone else, was to begin entering competitions, then they would have to be extremely well trained. I have been thinking of agility training for Miss Gambler lately, and regretting that we did not begin this earlier, but I do not know if she could go through the mental training required. She has incredible speed and very strong legs. I did not know about your dog, prior to me joining I guess, and I am so glad that you saw that there was something there to work with and did not give up. So many dogs, even Corgis believe it or not, end up in shelters and rescues because they were given up on. I commend you.

[corgimom]

Bonnie,

Where Cody goes to Day care, they offer obedience classes and agility classes and you must take the beginning obedience and advanced obedience to participate in Agility classes , unless you can show that your dog has taken classes somewhere else and that he is ready for agility.So you are right, with your statement about that, at least where I live. Milo would not even be at the right age where he could start the agility classes(at my place I am referring to)

Cody's day care offers an "open night" where you can bring your dog and just practice your own commands there - the whole idea is that you will be doing it with other dogs around. They have an instructor on hand, but it is not an "official class" and is not structured and you are working on your own, unless you want some help.

And you are also right Emilie, in that a dog doing commands such as sit/lay and stay at home are totally different than when you are surrounded by other people and their dogs. I know at our last class, we practiced the 2 minute down/stay and sit/stay and then the instructor would come around and clap her hands and pet our dogs and they had to stay in that position - not always an easy feat for everyone because of the distractions.

I think the sooner you get Milo started the better and you will feel better that you have taken the jump in a positive direction for both you and him.

[Chip's Mom]

Miss Gambler's Mommy - I know you didn't and sorry if I implied otherwise.

[tandemgal]

deleted by T-Gal