the Cost of Dog Training

I took my black Labrador Retriever through 3 different levels of obedience training (Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced) over a period of 6 months. With the Beginner level, we learned simple commands such as uh-uh, sit, stay, down, drop it, leave it, take it. We also discussed house training, health, grooming, socialization, and loose leash walking. In the Intermediate course, we learned how to perform those commands with distractions and also learned how to heel, properly greet other dogs and people, and other commands such as "go to bed". The Advanced course was geared toward the preparation for taking the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. We practiced and perfected all 10 parts of the test.

The trainer we used was EXCELLENT. She had prior experience in handling guide dogs and also in dealing with dog aggression. With our work, we were able to pass the CGC test on the first attempt.

Obedience training is very important for any dog. I believe that it is just as important for the family. When your family is on the same page as far as training the dog and everyone acts in a consistent manner, obedience training will be much easier. If you have never been through any formal training, it is a good idea to go through a course with a professional. The quality of the trainer can make all the difference in the world. If possible, go and observe a training course taught by that particular trainer before you enroll in the course so that you can evaluate their methods and how they are able to work with the dogs.