Obedience Training FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Obedience Training Q: What will I learn in obedience class? A: We will cover basic training including walking nicely on leash, sits, downs, stays, paying attention to the handler, coming when called, settling down on request, leaving or giving up items on request as well as answering your questions for management in the home. Classes sizes are limited so that the syllabus can be adjusted according to handler needs. Q: Do your methods work for all breeds of dog? A: Yes, to date mixed breeds of all shapes and sizes as well as huskies, malamutes, jack russell terriers, fox terriers, dachshunds, pugs, boerbulls, chow chows, German shepherd dogs, Labradors, spaniels, chihuahuas, American pit bull terriers, Scottish terriers, beagles, Boston terriers, boxers, border collies, Rhodesian ridgebacks, mastiffs, Yorkshire terriers, whippets, golden retrievers, shar peis, rottweilers, bulldogs, basset hounds, great Danes, St. Bernards, schnauzers, Dalmations, Weimeraners and Chinese crested dogs, among others, have trained at Furbabies. Q: Where are the training classes? A: Classes are held in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, and are very accessible for Auckland Park, Brixton, Hursthill, Melville, Westdene, Richmond, Emmarentia etc. Q: What is the format of the classes? A: The obedience course is a six lesson course, held on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Q: What happens if I need to miss a class? A: We offer a number of options should you need to miss a class. We can help you to catch up the excercises you missed by going over them with you at the next lesson. You can attend that lesson with the following group or you can arrange to take a catch up class. We are the only school we know of who offers catch up lessons at no additional charge if a handler needs to miss a class. We offer this service because we are committed to ensuring everyone gets the most out of classes. However, while we're happy to help out with a catch up lesson or two, we do ask that you don't abuse this privilege. Q: Can I come and view a class before enroling? A: Most definitely yes. At Furbabies we are very proud of the quality of our classes and are always happy to arrange for you to view a class before enroling. Q: What is the advantage of attending a group dog training class over private lessons? A: When several dogs and their handlers train together this helps to maintain your dog's socialisation and keep them friendly with other people and dogs. In addition, life is full of distractions, your training will not be much use to you if your dog is only able to respond to commands in your back yard, with no distractions, when what you actually need is control at the vet, in the park and on walks around the neighbourhood. Training around distractions (other people and dogs) helps to proof your training and make it more reliable in situations where your dog is excited. Group classes help to achieve the best results with the minimum of effort. Q: What is clicker? A: Clicker training is a gentle and dog-friendly method of training using a small device, like a child's toy, that makes a click sound. Clicker training is used to teach some of the excercises in our obedience classes as the extra accuracy you can get when using a clicker helps to speed up learning. However, if you find that you prefer to train without clicker you can also do this. Q: How do I book for a class? A: Completion of the enrolment form and payment secures your place, please contact the instructor for details.