One of the foundations of the learning theory is to start training in environments with no distractions. So why do most people feel they should start training thier dog in group classes?
Pets would have better success if they are first trained at home, then taken to dog class to generalize known behaviors. That way, they are relearning the behaviors, not learning from the beginning in a new and stressful environment.
When a child learns algebra, the teachers don't take them to the schoolyard playground and start teaching them there. They start in the classroom, a familiar, low stress environment. Then, when the students are ready, they release to the playground as a reward for focussing and to burn energy. They then call them in, and release them again at lunch. They are, in fact 'premacking' focus and learning behavior.
Wouldn't that make sense to do that with puppies and dogs? Use the classes with social interaction as a reward for their successful learning at home as well as distractions for generalizing known behaviors in class?
I did this with my rescue dog Lucy (2 yrs with no training in her previous home) and she was the star of the class and got so much more out of being there than she would have if she went in without any prior training. The instructor was amazed at how much focus I got after having her just 3 weeks! She was also able to work in very close proximity with other dogs much more quickly that she otherwise would have.
Jessie (then 7 mos) also had a few behaviors before puppy class and this was good since she was very fearful with other dogs around (to the point of freezing). She was able to learn to focus on me, perform a few simple behaviors she knew and ended up ahing a positive learning experience with other dogs nearby. Had she not had any prior training, she would have had no behaviors to fall back on to have success and the experience would have ended far differently for her.
For puppies that have not yet had their final vaccinations (you can start as young as 4 weeks old while they are still with their littermates with clicker training) or those dogs that are fearful, training at home provides a physically and mentally safe place to start. Getting a jump start before classes really helps them succeed. And your job as their life teacher is to help them do just that!
Pets would have better success if they are first trained at home, then taken to dog class to generalize known behaviors. That way, they are relearning the behaviors, not learning from the beginning in a new and stressful environment.
When a child learns algebra, the teachers don't take them to the schoolyard playground and start teaching them there. They start in the classroom, a familiar, low stress environment. Then, when the students are ready, they release to the playground as a reward for focussing and to burn energy. They then call them in, and release them again at lunch. They are, in fact 'premacking' focus and learning behavior.
Wouldn't that make sense to do that with puppies and dogs? Use the classes with social interaction as a reward for their successful learning at home as well as distractions for generalizing known behaviors in class?
I did this with my rescue dog Lucy (2 yrs with no training in her previous home) and she was the star of the class and got so much more out of being there than she would have if she went in without any prior training. The instructor was amazed at how much focus I got after having her just 3 weeks! She was also able to work in very close proximity with other dogs much more quickly that she otherwise would have.
Jessie (then 7 mos) also had a few behaviors before puppy class and this was good since she was very fearful with other dogs around (to the point of freezing). She was able to learn to focus on me, perform a few simple behaviors she knew and ended up ahing a positive learning experience with other dogs nearby. Had she not had any prior training, she would have had no behaviors to fall back on to have success and the experience would have ended far differently for her.
For puppies that have not yet had their final vaccinations (you can start as young as 4 weeks old while they are still with their littermates with clicker training) or those dogs that are fearful, training at home provides a physically and mentally safe place to start. Getting a jump start before classes really helps them succeed. And your job as their life teacher is to help them do just that!
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