Dear Dog Trainer,
We signed up for an obedience class because we wanted to do the right thing for our dog.
I was actually excited.
I pictured us learning together, meeting other dog owners, and finally having a dog that would listen.
Instead, every class felt stressful.
The second we walked in, my dog couldn’t focus. He barked, pulled on the leash, and seemed more interested in every other dog than anything I was trying to teach him.
Meanwhile, the dogs around us looked so much calmer.
I started wondering what everyone else was doing that I wasn’t.
By the last class, I honestly felt embarrassed.
I dreaded going because I felt like everyone was watching us.
The instructor kept telling us to practice more, but I left feeling like my dog just wasn’t getting it.
Now I’m wondering…
Did I end up with the one dog who just can’t be trained?
— Obedience School Dropout
Dear Obedience School Dropout,
You are far from the only one who has gone through this. I have heard it so many times.
First, I want to tell you something that I hope brings you a little relief…
You didn’t fail, and neither did your dog.
That learning environment simply wasn’t the right starting point for your dog.
Let’s talk about why group classes probably didn’t work for you.
Group classes are great and they have a time and place, but in the 17 years that I have been training people and their dogs, I find that it isn’t always the best starting point for many dogs.
Let’s face it, there is a lot going on in a group class. There are so many new dogs, new people, and you’re in a new environment.
Many dogs become overwhelmed or overstimulated in those situations making it really hard for you to get their attention no matter what kind of treat you have in your hand.
I often find that trying to teach skills with so much going on is just too much for some dogs. In actuality, group classes are more about training the owner than the dog because it is a lot for a lot of dogs.
The struggle really comes in when your dog is so worked up that you can’t even hear most of what the instructor is saying. By missing that information, you can’t be clear on what your homework is.
I’ve also heard so many people say “we did our homework and he was awesome at home, I don’t understand why he won’t do it here.”
If that sounds familiar, here’s the reason.
In my last two Dear Dog Trainer articles, we talked about how dogs don’t automatically understand that a command learned in one place applies everywhere else, and how distractions make that learning even more challenging.
Group classes often combine BOTH of those challenges at the same time.
(If you missed those articles, you can read them here.)
Here’s the long and short of it, just because your dog failed group class, doesn’t mean your dog is untrainable. It just means the learning environment was wrong.
Over the next few weeks, I want to dig a little deeper into this because there isn’t just one reason group classes can be challenging.
We’ll talk about why some dogs thrive while others struggle…
Why teaching commands and teaching life skills aren’t always the same thing…
And perhaps most importantly, when group classes can become one of the best tools in your training toolbox.
So if you’ve ever walked away from an obedience class wondering if your dog was the problem…
Stick with me.
I think you’re going to see things a little differently.
-Your Friendly Dog Trainer