How many classes does it take to train a dog?
This really depends on how obedient you want your dog. A beginner level group class is usually comprised of 6-8 classes and will teach Pebbles to sit, lie down, stay, come and heal on command in environments that do not have a lot of distractions. For example, when you are at home, or alone at the park, Pebbles will sit when asked. However, if you want your dog to be able to follow these commands when you have company, when your dog sees other dogs outside, or when you are in the pet store shopping for a new collar, you must ‘proof’ these skills. Proofing simply means teaching your dog to perform these tasks even in high distraction areas. Second level group classes are usually comprised of 6-8 classes as well. The main difference is that all the dogs know the commands, but the environment changes and distractions are brought into the training. All medium and large breeds should have at least 2 levels or sets of obedience classes before they are one year old.
