There’s been this common misconception that “Group Classes” are the way to go, however this couldn’t be further from the truth.
What’s interesting is that you’ll never find a dog trainer training THEIR DOG in a group class. This isn’t just because they have the knowledge to do it one-on-one with their own dog.
It’s because they understand the importance of training their pup in a quiet setting.
The BEST thing for getting actual results that last is by removing as many distractions as you can right out of the gate.
Unfortunately this means group classes are automatically disqualified.
There are so many distractions, right off the bat, which makes it an uphill battle when you’re first teaching anything.
So to create good habits you want to be in a quiet setting so your dog can truly understand what you’re trying to show them.
Imagine trying to learn algebra while there’s a fire alarm going off, people screaming, a fire in the corner, and someone shaking your desk.
That’s EXACTLY what Group Classes are like to you and your pup.
They have WAY too much stimulus going on all around.
(Don’t get me wrong stimulus can be a good thing, as you’ll learn in future posts, but not when you’re just starting out.)
Your dog needs a very calm, non-chaotic, quiet space to get the best level of training possible.
When you’re starting out you NEED their focus and you want them to understand what it is you’re teaching.
Consistency is also an incredibly important thing to have on your side.
If your environment isn’t consistent (because of constantly changing chaos and distractions) your pup and the training’s going to fail.
They’re not going to be able to learn as well as they can learn in a quieter setting.
So, I know group classes sound like a good deal, but in reality they cause way more stress and problems for you as the owner and that translates into problems for your pup.
That’s why we go against what every other trainer out there says and we don’t offer group classes.