How much would you pay to train?

[dmeyer123]

Of course, you're right. Used correctly, it would be a great service. Most pet owners, though, think they pay someone and boom their dog gets trained. Even my trainer, who does basic obedience for the family pet classes, has to charge $120 for 8 weeks to her new students. If they don't pay up front, once they find out training requires work from them....they drop out. Even with the $ committment, some still quit coming after a couple classes. Of course I'm generalizing....some people embrace the work and get great results!

as much as this is well designed racket, I think idea behind it is excellent!
For one, it is very difficult to teach dog something new in the class- all one can manage is to help human figure out idea and mechanics behind new command or trick. I would not think of going to dog park and start teaching some new behavior there, I would not even do it in my living room with toys and chews laying around. When I am teaching new behavior/ trick I go in the bathroom/ calls Loo training/ where distractions are next to none- I want to set my dog for success not for failure. Once we get it and need proofing then distractions come.
Another point and I think it is valid why pet owners are not so eager to run into training facilities- why do they care if in obedience ring dog behaves perfectly when they never going to take dog there. They have problems at their homes!!!! that is where training should be. And yeah, I fully will expect trainer to teach my dog and I think it is great idea because trainer has advantage of excellent mechanics and timing and evaluating response much quicker than inexperienced me.... very often First pattern you set with dog will stay with them for rest of their life so it might be critical. I think it is valid idea to teach puppy classes in everyone homes- each day of the week another puppy owner hosts entire class... brings whole set of other kind of troubles but it would be MUCH more effective for pet owners...

 

[Meldor]

This thread is very interesting!

I've been wondering the same thing. I was interested in the SG Recallers class but couldn't find the price anywhere until the final announcement that subscription was open. When I did see the price I was flabbergasted. To me, it is a ridiculous price.

I paid 100$ for 8 weeks of puppy kindergarten, 120$ for 8 weeks of basic obedience. For agility, I was very lucky to meet a trainer who offered 100$ 8 weeks of private courses while she is in the process of opening up her own training facility. Finally since the private trainer was not training over the winter, I joined a 120$ for 6 week group course (I think this is expensive but there aren't many training facilities that offer interior agility courses in the Ottawa region).

Just last week, someone recommended a training facility who specializes in reactive/fearful dogs. I was very excited to check it out but when I found out the price for a 6 week group course on dog-people reactivity is 275$ I knew I could not afford that. I thought it would be a great complementary tool to the training I have been doing with Kyara to work on her people shyness and leash reactivity, but I guess I'll just continue working on it on my own.

Finally, I pay about 20$ a month to bowwowflix to receive a minimum of 3 dvd's per month containing training videos, recorded seminars and other dog videos.

You wouldn't believe how many people want to pay $150 for 3 private lessons, but won't pay $110 for an eight week class because then they would have to commit a more significant amount of time. I've finally gotten to the point where I refuse to help them unless they commit to a class - my time is to valuable to waste on people who want quick fixes - they can pay someone else instead.

I think that is a great idea 3stars. The need for commitment is important.

 

[Mikos_Mom]

To answer some of the questions proposed, in my opinion, the reason that many people do not utilise all the training classes available is pure apathy. I would say that the majority of dog owners do not understand the commitment that a dog requires to teach him and they are happy to let their pet "rule the roost" unless there is a glaringly obvious problem.

I think the majority of dog owners want an friend/4-legged member of the family… they don't want the dog to become their life. Right or wrong… I sort of understand it. Yes, a dog requires attention, training, exercise, proper diet and some sort of stimulation… BUT that doesn't necessarily mean that dog training, or activities have to be the focus of your life.

For many of us, it is enjoyable and is our hobby or even our occupation. But not everyone has the same interests. They have a dog… they care for said dog by exercising it and giving it basic training… they include the dog in their family life… Isn't that enough? (assuming that they've done the basics and that the dog isn't "ruling the roost" and causing problems)

Having said that… training is relatively expensive here. I paid $150 for 8 sessions of puppy kindergarten. The fly-ball club I plan to take Miko to charges $25 for new dog training… I'm not sure how many sessions that gets us… if there's a membership fee to the club, etc. I haven't had a chance to find out yet.

 

[danisgoat]

I hate NJ...we definitely pay a LOT for everything.

A 6 week course around here for Rally, Obedience, etc is $130.

Agility private instruction is $60/hour. We split it by three people so I pay $20 for an hour with two other people.

 

[Emmasmom]

I had signed Emma up over a year ago for beginning obedience - $199 for eight weeks. The first class was owners only. I went to the first class, didn't care for the trainer and her ways of training, and never went back. Because I went to the first class, I lost my money.

 

[Calliesmom]

recently paid $95 for 7 week intro agility group class for Dixie.
can't remember what the Petsmart Puppy class was for Cran.
and maybe 2 years ago - $60 for 6 weeks of rally for Callie.
assuming you can find what you want around here- it's probably less expensive than a lot of other areas of the US

 

[Toffee's Mom]

my weekly agility classes with a return discount are 6 classes for $100, lots and lots of support through emails, facebook and good natured ribbing... lol

Then I take seminars at Flyingtails Agility training, who is an instructor that takes workshops with Susan Garrett at SayYes and passes this on to us...
She also competes and has experience, too.. She gives lots and lots of support as well.
The seminars are usually around 75 bucks a pop, but ALL day and lots of practice and one on one training... This winter I signed up for contacts and weaves workshops, they are 6 progression classes, and span pretty much half a Sunday, every other two weeks.
then some friends do fun matches for NO cost and a few of us get together now and then to train together.

By the way I agree with Sheltie Che about dogs being wayyyyyyyy more segrated here than they are in Europe. In Germany I used to take my dog EVERYWHERE...

 

[Mikos_Mom]

By the way I agree with Sheltie Che about dogs being wayyyyyyyy more segrated here than they are in Europe. In Germany I used to take my dog EVERYWHERE...

YUP!!! My step-mother hired a nanny from England several years ago. One day the nanny took a looooong walk with the dog and then decided that she was too tired and wanted to take the bus back home. She was flabbergasted when the bus driver wouldn't let her on the bus with the dog!! She said people do it all the time in England.


Also... speaking of training rackets out there... We had one here called Sit Happens. They make all sorts of claims about what they can teach you to train your dog... and they don't want to tell you prices or about the program until you go for a free consultation. It turns out the ENTIRE training program revolves around the use of the E-collar. The trainer shows you how obedient their own dog is (with the collar on) and then they want to put it on your dog and show you how quickly you can get results. $795 gets you the collar and a lifetime of lessons... I wasted a couple of hours of my life going to a "free consultation" with them... and now it's my life mission to make sure everyone knows what a crock they are!!!

 

[dmeyer123]

my weekly agility classes with a return discount are 6 classes for $100, lots and lots of support through emails, facebook and good natured ribbing... lol

Then I take seminars at Flyingtails Agility training, who is an instructor that takes workshops with Susan Garrett at SayYes and passes this on to us...
She also competes and has experience, too.. She gives lots and lots of support as well.
The seminars are usually around 75 bucks a pop, but ALL day and lots of practice and one on one training... This winter I signed up for contacts and weaves workshops, they are 6 progression classes, and span pretty much half a Sunday, every other two weeks.
then some friends do fun matches for NO cost and a few of us get together now and then to train together.

By the way I agree with Sheltie Che about dogs being wayyyyyyyy more segrated here than they are in Europe. In Germany I used to take my dog EVERYWHERE...

Sounds like you have a sweet deal. 6 classes for $100 is great! I would love an all day agility seminar for $75....how fun! Lucky you.

I had no idea Europe was so much more dog friendly than here. Wish we'd catch up. Orange County and San Diego seem to be catching on, but not so much around where I live.

 

[Justicemom]

I pay $125 for 10wks of a class called Super Puppy. It is a comp prep puppy class(need to have put a UD on a dog to take it) and starts all the skills for novice, Open and Utility plus some beginning agility. My instructor is great and has put OTCH and MACH on her BCs. The classes after suppy puppy are $75 for 10 weeks and agility is $75 for 6 weeks.

I have never taken private lessons and likely won't. I don't really take seminar unless it is really recommended and then I audit it , never a working spot.

An outline course for 200-300 dollars nope. My own CE doesn't cost that much a weekend usually and I refuse to spend more on my dog's education than my own. I do this for fun and have yet to ran across something either myself or my instructor can't fix.