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What Should I Teach My Dogs Next? [My Dog Training Class List]

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What should I teach my dogs next?
What should I teach my dogs next? From top left clockwise (Linus, Stetson, Archer, Raven)

You already saw Archer’s schedule for the rest of the year (if you missed it take a look at our previous blog post), but what about the others in our pack?  What should I teach my dogs next?  Based on the above picture we’ve got our down-stays…down!

First of all, this is my chance to point out the top behavior issues I’d like to solve with each one of my dogs and second what class would be appropriate to work on said behavior.  So without further adieu lets solve our dog’s problems with todays blog post.

What Should I Teach My Dogs Next?

Linus

It’s been a while since Linus has seen the inside of a classroom.  My biggest beef with the elder statesman of the house is his door manners.  Great!  There’s a door manners class coming up in a few weeks which we plan on attending.

Linus is an Australian Shepherd with more agility and grace then all my other dog’s combined and I plan to enroll him in either a Sport Dog class or a Agility class as well.

Top Training Priority: Door Manners
Training Class: Sport Dog

Stetson

Stetson is my All Star!  Trained to be a guide dog and career changed because he was “too soft” (we love or softy) he’s like Mary Poppins…practically perfect in every way.  Last month Stetson joined me in Arizona for the BlogPaws Conference and truly was a perfect puppy dog…While he is practically perfect he could work on his recalls because I’m not sure if he’s losing his hearing or ignoring me.

Back in his guide dog training days he was a recall stud.  The good news is there is a one day class called Really Reliable Recall that we are attending.  Stetson was also a super star when it came to K9 Nosework!  The plan is to get him enrolled in Nosework and maybe work towards his NW1 Title.  Another area Stetson would excel in is therapy work.  We’ve long thought about certifying as a therapy dog team which may also be something on the horizon for us.

Top Training Priority: Recalls
Training Class: K9 Nosework

Raven

Raven has come a long way in the past year.  She came to us with virtually zero training.  During her time with us she is now potty trained (no more accidents in the house), crate trained, and knows basic obedience.  We’ve also worked on socialization.  She’s graduated from level 1 and level 2 obedience classes through PetSmart.

So what’s on the horizon for our pretty girl?  Raven is a jumper, but Ali and I have all but nipped that bad habit in the bud.  However, when it comes to visitors she still jumps.  For jumping up I need to design my own in-home training schedule and work with friends and family and teach them what to do when coming across our jumpy Raven.  Number 2 on Raven’s to do list is socialization.  A few out and about outings as well as group training class like Tricks class.

Top Training Priority: Jumping Up and Socialization
Training Class: Tricks

Archer

Our service dog puppy in training!  You’ve already seen Archer’s extensive schedule, but what does he need to work on?  Number one on our to do list is meet and greets.  Archer loves everyone, but we have to teach him to be calm and cool when greeting new people or dogs.  Fortunately, because Archer is a service dog in training he’s had the opportunity to visit shopping malls, book stores, restaurants, movie theaters etc. and he does very well.  However, when he’s approached by people he gets excited.

The question is how do we make him a calm, well-behaved puppy in all situations?  The good news is we’ve encountered two great trainers who are experts in this type of training.  Ramona from CA Academy of Dog Behavior and Carol who trained for Saddleback Parks and Rec.  #2 on Archer’s to do list is probably Recalls.  On top of Archer’s regular schedule we’re going to look into getting group classes with one of these two great dog trainers.

Top Training Priority: Meet & Greets/Recalls
Training Class: Obedience through CA Academy of Dog Behavior

I’ll be attending dog training classes several times a week with at least one of my four dogs between now and the end of the year.  Training is great for building your relationship with your dog.  I love attending and as I’ve mentioned before I’m an advocate of life long learning for both me and my doggies!

How about you guys?  What’s next on the agenda for your dogs?  Tell us about your dog in the comment section below.

What should I teach my dogs next? My dog training class list
What should I teach my dogs next? My dog training class list

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14 Comments

  1. It sounds like your puppy does not yet grasp potty training. When our puppy does not totally understand potty training we manage his behavior throughout the day by keeping him on leash by our side when indoors at all times. This way we can catch pre-potty behaviors like circling, sniffing, squatting before our puppy has an accident and get him outside to potty in his regular spot. Hopefully that helps. Good luck with your training.

  2. Rufus is a 3 month old standard poodle. He’s beautiful and very sweet, as well as intelligent. We’re having difficulty with potty training, though. He doesn’t have a urinary tract infection. He may not have complete bladder control yet, maybe. He started in a crate and we still use it. He has doggie doors and an older poodle who goes out with him when he goes. He knows his spot to use outside. But in between his enforced every 2 hour outings, he creeps into a room or the garage and leaves a puddle or a pile of poop. Today he left a pile of poop just inside the doggie door! We don’t get angry (visibly) though we are frustrated. We bring him to his accident, pick it up and show him where it goes outside. It’s always a different spot indoors because I use enzyme cleaners so there’s no remaining odor. I don’t know what to do next. Start over? Keep doing what we’re doing? We don’t feel like we can move ahead with more training until he has the basics down pat.

  3. Unfortunately, we don’t have a beginners guide, but it’s something I’ll look into creating in an upcoming blog post. I do highly recommend enrolling your dog in group training classes. It’ll give you a chance to ask a certified professional dog trainer questions about your dog and how to train it. Group training is also a good way for your dog to socialize in a controlled environment. Good luck with your new dog!

  4. Hi, We adopted a 5 year old Scottish Terrier from http://www.mypetzilla.co.uk, hes healthy and fit but not very responsive to instructions. Do you have any beginners training ideas we should consider for him to be a bit more responsive? Many thanks

  5. Classes have been going great! Archer is a little bit of a jekyll and hyde. Sometimes he’s a superstar and other times…not so much. He’s still a puppy and needs to mature a little. Last day of our PhD class he passed he did a meet and greet with all the other dogs in our class and he passed was perfect each time. Go Archer!

  6. Hi! Any updates on how the classes went? Getting a dog to remain calm when greeted by people must be challenging.

  7. Yes! This is going to be a busy fall. Not only do I have dog training classes, but human classes as well! I’m taking a photography and videography class this semester. Hopefully it will help with some of the content on the blog.

  8. I see that you are quite professional in this. A quick check: My dog’s a little over 4 right now. Do you think she still can be trained to respond to commands?

  9. It sounds like you are going to be busy this fall!!

    I hope Stetson has fun with the nose work. I’ve only done a bit of nose work, but it is something I would really like to do more of in the future. I find the dogs really enjoy it.

  10. Yep, you never know with Archer. Sometimes he’s very serious and is an All Star at class. Other times he’s the Class Clown. The good news he’s usually very good when we go on public outings like our visit to the Sawdust Festival…besides eating a few wood chips 🙂

  11. Archer has issues with his meet and greet, but he’s randomly good and bad. Yesterday he wanted to say hi to our neighbor and wouldn’t stop pulling on his leash. Meanwhile a few days earlier we were at the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach and he was an absolute Saint meeting children, adults, and seniors calmly greeting then moving on. It’s like an on/off switch with him sometimes. I’m chalking it up to crazy puppy behavior 🙂

  12. I like taking my dogs to classes. I like to see the other dogs in the class (big and small). It’s a little frustrating when my dogs aren’t in the mood to learn, but it’s nice to see other people struggling with me. Sounds like you’re going to be busy with your dogs!

  13. I’m glad you are planning classes and training for your two senior dogs. Funny, I have also been wondering if Ace is losing his hearing lately or if he’s just ignoring me. I think most likely he’s ignoring me!

    I am signing Remy up for a basic obedience class in September, and there is also a drop-in class for more “advanced” dogs so I would like to bring Ace to that class. He doesn’t really need to work on much. It’s just good for him to be out and about.

    Remy … he needs a lot of work on controlling himself when he greets people and dogs. He jumps, pulls and even still bites at people if they pet him. So I think working on the basics in a controlled setting will really help us.

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