A Puppy Training Course – why?
Nowadays, more than ever, undertaking a puppy training course is vital. We must all ensure that our dogs are well-behaved and respond rapidly to commands. It’s easy, in the early days, to think you can train a pup on your own, without a puppy training course, but as pup matures things start to fall apart.
Getting your puppy training right, from day 1, to avoid problems later on is vital. One of the topics that often gets missed in all puppy training courses, is the avoidance of separation anxiety. Use this link here to download a free ebook.
With the progress of technology over recent years, an online puppy training course can be an effective solution. Puppy training doesn’t have to be, either online, or an in-person class training, it can be a combination of both.
If, however, you are unable to attend aclass, then an online puppy training course is a must have.
The Convenience of an Online Puppy Training Course
One of the biggest benefits of an online puppy training course, is being able to get started early on. Starting to train the lead, sit and a recall, almost from the day puppy comes home, has real advantages.
Flexibility is another advantage. You can schedule your training sessions at your convenience, making it easier to fit training into your lifestyle. The flexibility also means that you can work at the pace that is right for you and your puppy. It means you can access the training materials wherever you are.
This might mean using videos in the garden or even in the park to support your learning. It means you can take your training course on holiday with you.
If you have a puppy that is struggling with car journeys, or if you don’t have your own transport, then an online puppy training course removes the stress of traveling to a class session every week.
Often, it will be cheaper to take an online course, but I don’t recommend using this as one of your decision criteria. You should be looking for a quality, proven, professional puppy training course, regardless of whether this is online or in person.
What Should you Expect in Puppy Training?
Online puppy training should offer the same training activities and learning, as an in-person puppy training course. The one thing that you will miss with online rather than in-person training is the opportunity to get puppy socialised with other pups. But this is something you can easily do with friends, family and other dog walkers in the park.
Socialisation is a very broad topic, and is not just about mixing with other dogs and meeting people. It’s about pup getting out and about in life and learning that all the strange noises and sights are nothing to worry about. It’s about teaching puppy to be confident and to trust you. Any good puppy training course, online or in-person will support this.
The range of learning that any good puppy training will give you, includes:
- Recall – coming back when called regardless of distractions
- Lead walking – teaching puppy to ‘choose’ to walk by your side
- Sit – to one command
- Sit stay – an introduction
- Leave it – a life-saving command
- Focus – checking in with you, paying attention, listening to commands, despite distractions
- Not to jump up – all pups must learn this and how to greet both people and dogs correctly
- Socialisation – learning the world is a safe and happy place to be
This list isn’t exhaustive, but it gives you an idea of what you should be looking for in any puppy training, online or in-person.
Personal Attention
A good puppy training course will give you personalised time. An opportunity to ask your questions. This shouldn’t just be related to the topics covered in your course, as listed above, but opportunity to ask questions about anything related to settling your puppy in to their new home and developing a well-rounded pup.
Outdoor Training
The trainers should be qualified and experienced. If you go to an in-person puppy training, it should be held outdoors. Puppies cue in their environment when learning. If you only teach a puppy to walk on a lead, indoors, in a hall, pup will not understand this when you start walking on pavements or when you are out in the park.
Positive Reward-Based Training
Sadly, positive reward-based training has been mis-interpreted and some of the training given online does not show the correct way to use this technique. A good puppy training, whether it is online or in-person, will demonstrate to you, how to use this great, modern-day method of dog training correctly.
It will show you how to get your pup to respond to your commands, first time, when asked, and how to avoid repetitive commands and ending up with a dog that will only respond to commands, if you have a treat in your hand.
Positive reward-based training is the best training method, but it must be used correctly.
You can find an evidence based journal article about this training method by clicking here.
Choosing the Right Puppy Training
Be aware that there is no regulation in the dog training industry. Trainers do not have to gain qualifications or undertake any training. That makes it doubly important for you to do your research. Look for testimonials, and ask to go along and watch a class, so you can see how it runs and chat to other customers.
Conclusion
An online puppy training course can be very beneficial in so many ways. The perfect training for your puppy is a combination of an online training, so you can get started early on at home, and an in-person training, so you get the distractions to support your training.
An online course has numerous benefits with flexibility, and being able to start your training early, but it should also give you the personalised approach. It should cover all of the training and learning that an in-person training covers and should be provided by expert, professional, qualified trainers.
An online puppy training course can be very effective and extremely useful.
You can download our free puppy eBook, by clicking this link. This will give you support, guidance and information about all the early days at home, including preparation for pup coming home.
