Training

[Debbie Daniels]

Has anyone had their doodle go through PetSmart classes and how did they do at the end ?? Thanks I'm thinking about putting my pup in them , she is six months old. 

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

We looked at them before we got Yogi, I'm not sure about where you live, but at least here, I felt we could do better.
The trainers were very young people who had only been training 3-6 months and I think they probably went to a week long class to be able to teach this. I don't want to sound mean, but that is what I felt. I checked out other places in town and there were much more qualified trainers available for nearly the same price.

Just my experience.

[Malenie Piscetelli]

I am doing mine on march 14 and she will be 4 mos old. The woman is in 30s. I ask the training and she answer all my questions. I was very please.

[Gem's Jewel]

Every store is different as we visited two in our area 12 years ago and found a trainer we were very pleased with. She was great with the group and Mattie did so well we went on to take the clicker class. We are starting Jewel, who is 14 weeks old this Wednesday at another Petsmart near us. Please keep us updated on any class you take & any helpful tips you learn! It has been a very long time since we had a puppy!

[Debbie & Gibbs]

Gibbs completed puppy training two weeks ago and we immediately went to intermediate. I felt like the trainer is very knowledgeable and has been great to work with. I live in East Texas. I would recommend our trainer. Hope this helps.

[Tait & Finn]

We have just started the intermediate class today. Trainer seemed knowledgeable (she was probably 40ish), friendly and open to questions and had good responses. Good luck.

[Julie Kudron]

I started Maxwell there. He did well and was actually the best in his class, but my problem was the instructor. She would make snide backward compliments, such as " He does very well for a doodle." She would say this almost every day. I actually called her on it once and told her we chose a goldendoodle for their intelligence and ability to train but she still continued. Also, when I would have him in store with me the otepher staff would be rude as well. I had more than one staff member (after asking what kind of dog he was and where I got him) say "oh, I could get a mixed breed at the shelter for free" needless to say now we go to petco and the staff members might look a bit rough, but they are extremely loving to Maxwell and even know him by name when we come in.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Both Oscar and Lucy had their intermediate training there, with the same trainer, whom we loved. She was in her 50's and was very well versed in dog training. Last Summer (the slowest time of the year for training) Oscar was the only dog in the class, and it was great getting totally focused 1-on-1 attention. The trainer allowed me to take the same class again during the Fall, free of charge, with other dogs in the class, but honestly, I felt we were taking time away from others who needed it more so I stopped after the first class. I much preferred her training methods over both dogs' first trainer, who used some questionable punishment/reward techniques. Oh, BTW, both Lucy and Oscar really loved Becky, the trainer from PetSmart. If we were ever in the store years later (with Lucy), she'd see Becky and immediately recognize her and be super excited over seeing/greeting her. A good testament to how the dogs felt about her :)

[Tracey & Spike]

In the Petsmarts around us the classes are useless. People sign up for them left right and centre but it's not real qualified trainers. It's store staff who went though a quick "training" class themselves to pick up extra hours. I know this for a fact because the pet store I used to work for was bought out by petsmart and they were offering the "training certification" classes to us. It's cookie cutter training methods. They only teach one way. If there are specific issues they are lost. The resort to the manual which tells them nothing.

Most are in their late teens. Not to say that teenagers can't be successful trainers. But really?!!!! I looked into training endlessly around me. I settled on a full on dog training school. That's all they do. No store. No distractions. It's literally a puppy school with fully certified. Experienced. Licensed. Highly recommended Trainers.

[Helga, Nimbus, Sierra, Clooney]

I had a private instructor first, who charged me a TON of money. He took him away from the house even though I asked him to stay in the yard until Nimbus was fully vaccinated. Seems like he didn't want to be seen with his rough methods. In my opinion he yanked on this little guy's leash way too much and thought that we should completely bend his will.

After I fired him I started puppy class at petsmart. It was totally fine. The main thing in any training program is that you keep practicing what you learned with your dog ALL the time, consistently with the whole family.

We did Intermediate class after that. I guess it really depends on the staff. At petsmart in my town everybody LOVES my Goldendoodle, whereas at petco the guy thought it was any of his business if my puppy was chewing on his leash on his 2nd or 3rd trip with it and sprayed it with bitter apple.

[Katie & Roo]

Our local humane society has classes. I'm planning on signing up my new pup there when its time. The trainers get great reviews and the money for the classes goes to the shelter. So it's a win win in my book :)

[Debbie Daniels]

that is awesome Katie, I would take her to those classes for sure !!! 

[Gem's Jewel]

Great find!