If you’ve made that decision to attend your first dog training class, it can be hard to know what to do beforehand or what to bring with you. Let me tell you how to prepare. Keep in mind that some trainers have slightly different formats and, if in doubt, you should check with them, but this should be a good overall guide to set you and your dog up for success from the start.
Equipment:
Your Lead It should come as no surprise that you’ll need a lead in a dog class. But what kind of lead? Does it matter? The answer is yes – it does! Ideally you want a short lead that doesn’t extend (a non-flexi lead). If your lead is too long, or an extendable one, you may find it difficult to control your dog or even get entangled with other dogs/handlers. Not the best way to begin!
Collar or Harness? What should your dog wear? Well, what are they used to wearing? I would recommend sticking to that for your first class. If your dog has never worn a collar before, throwing one on and dragging them into class is not helping your dog’s confidence. But I would recommend that you have both a flat collar and a well-fitting harness for your dog, as some dog trainers prefer dogs to wear a collar or a harness in class. If you feel strongly one way or the other, then I recommend that you discuss this with the trainer ahead of time.
Reinforcement!
It’s going to be hard to train your dog with no way to motivate them! Many people train simple tricks at home using their dry dog food (which is a great way to train!) but dry dog food tends to lose its appeal in the context of a dog training class. The dog is too interested in everything else to care about the same old bits of kibble. So even if your dog gobbles it up at home, I recommend finding something extra special to use at dog class. Chopped-up chicken, sausage or cheese are all fairly common.
Some people make biscuits with flour and liver. Others prefer to buy treats in the shop. Whatever you decide, make sure your dog likes it and that your dog won’t suffer from any ill effects. For example, some peanut butter contains xylitol which can be dangerous for dogs to ingest.
Aside from the type of treat, it’s important to keep in mind that they should be very small – as small as you can make them without being difficult to hold – and they should be easy to swallow. The smaller the treats, the more training you can do. It’s that simple. And the last thing you want is to have to wait a minute while your dog chews and swallows their treat before you continue, so making them easy to swallow is a good idea.
Anything else? Yes! I always recommend bringing a toy with you. Even if your dog doesn’t like toys, that is something a good dog training class will address. Better to bring something along just in case. Also, you should bring poo bags. Ideally your dog won’t make a mess in class, but just like when you walk your dog – you need to be prepared for the worst.
Sometimes you may need other items, especially if your class is for a specific sport. But this is all you should need for your average first day.
So is that it? Are you now ready for your first class? No! You might know what to bring, but what should you do?
Before Class Begins
Check your feeding schedule. If you free feed, this may be an issue. Ideally you want your dog to be a little bit hungry before class. So if you usually feed at 5pm and class is at 6pm – that’s not ideal. Consider rearranging your schedule so your dog is fed after class. But you also don’t want your dog to be starving, so it would be better to change your feeding schedule a good bit in advance. The prospect of food should make your dog excited, not desperate.
You should also let your dog get some exercise before class. Class is a very exciting place, so a pent-up dog will struggle to concentrate even more. Going for a walk or doing some enrichment games or tricks before class is a good way to get some energy out.
A walk also gives your dog time to toilet before class, which is very important! Your dog trainer should be prepared for accidents, but they are still not conducive to a class environment. It takes time out of class for the mess to be cleaned up and the smell may be distracting for other dogs. Plus, if your dog is trying to be good, they may try to hold it. Trying to hold that in is very distracting and makes it hard for them to focus on learning new things. So walk your dog before class and give them the chance to sort that out before coming into the classroom.
And that’s it! Have any questions? Any suggestions about what should be done before class, or what else needs to be brought to class? Let me know!