Videos Or Dog Training Classes? Which Is Better?

Many times trainers are asked if people should sign up for their classes. If you spend any time browsing the Internet you can quickly find all kinds of dog training videos and quick training methods advertised. Everyone seems to have a system that will turn a dog into a perfect gentleman (or lady) in seven days. Can it really be that easy?

The answer is no. Even the smartest dog in the world would be unable to learn all there is to learn that fast. When you examine dog trainers online and see videos advertised it can be difficult to tell much about a trainer's philosophy. Does he believe in positive reinforcement? Does he punish the dog for a mistake? Is he going to tell you to hit your dog with a rolled up newspaper? Does he believe that dogs are similar to wolves and that you should be the leader of the "pack"? There are a lot of different ideas about training dogs floating around and not all of them are productive. But it's hard to figure some of this information out from ads on the Internet.

On the other hand, if you are offering dog training classes potential clients have the opportunity to talk to you face-to-face. They can ask you how you train dogs. They can ask you what you believe about dog training. They can ask you about your credentials and why they should listen to what you have to tell them about dogs. You can speak for yourself and your own methods.

Then there's the very real difference between trying to follow what you're told to do in a video tape (or on a DVD) and being present in a class and watching the trainer. In a class setting the trainer can check on the owner's progress and make helpful suggestions. If the dog or owner isn't getting a lesson right the trainer can spend a little extra time with them. None of this attention is possible when you attempt to train your dog via a video tape. At most the owner may be able to e-mail questions to a trainer online but that's a far cry from having a trainer present who can see what the owner and dog are doing and respond immediately.

In addition, some dog training videos and the courses that go with them cost as much as a course with a dog trainer near an owner's home.

Most people benefit far more from a dog training class than from a video tape of a training session. For a dog with a particular problem, rather than simple obedience training, sessions with a trainer in person are nearly always preferable to watching a trainer on video tape.

Training classes also offer the advantage of socialization for many dogs that may otherwise not have a chance to see many other dogs or people. Socialization is key to preventing many behavior problems before they can get started, such as separation anxiety. A well-socialized dog who has the chance to get out, see different places, and meet people and other dogs is less likely to react with anxiety when left alone for a while by his owner. Training classes provide these confidence-building circumstances.

Training can be done by watching tapes and reading books, with the owner working alone with his dog. But most training goes much faster and runs into fewer problems if the owner and dog work with a trainer in person, whether in a group setting or privately.