Discussions

We are looking for puppy and obedience classes other than Paw Resort (unfortunately they only do 1 night a week which we have a major commitment to). Who would you suggest and can you give us an idea on price and what’s covered please?

I didn't take puppy classes, but took three different classes with Two Brown Dogs. They are great! Costs and info can be found on their website.  
 
http://twobrowndogs.tripod.com/id57.html

Patricia Avenue west...took our puppy there..great instructors.

Patricia Avenue west...took our puppy there..great instructors.

Is who we went to. She was so wonderful when teaching us how to have well behaved hounds. Can’t say enough about her.

Thanks!

We went to Two Brown Dogs. No question Renee, the owner, is smart and knows her stuff about dogs. I found her delivery to be quite strict/ rude though. We liked the other two ladies way more and they provided information that was easier to absorb bc you weren’t being lectured.  
 
At the same time, it wasn’t what we expected. We weren’t told to bring anything to the class. So we were unprepared when they asked us where our mat and treats were (we had a few treats on us and extra in car anyways).  
 
I’m sure all puppy classes are similar anyways but we didn’t feel like we got much out of it. We do quite a bit of training throughout the day so we are quite happy with how our pup is behaving. I feel like we are past the skills they teach in class. We thought it’d be a good place for socialization but they were very strict about not letting the dogs interact.  
 
It is interesting certain things I’ve heard from friends in other classes are things they’ve said absolutely not to do in this one. So some of dog training is definitely based on people’s opinions.  
 
Also the lady was very extreme. Don’t let your dog do this, under no circumstance let your dog do this, etc.. It made me super anxious like omg I’m setting up my dog for a lifetime of behavioural issues!! But it’s not that serious. For the most part if you train even a little amount and are consistent you’ll do ok. In a way, raising a puppy is like taking care of a baby. So many people have so many opinions and those opinions might not be the same as yours and it’s not the end of the world.  
 
Bit off topic but I’m glad we did puppy classes even though it’s not what I expected. I probably wouldn’t go to Two Brown Dogs again. I’d try one of the others to see if I liked them more or to see if they’re all the same.

I took the Good Dog 2 class at Two Brown Dogs with Rene. BlueEyedBabe, I totally agree that she is strict with her training. The purpose of the 'good dog' classes is that a dog can pass the Canine Good Citizen test after Good Dog 3. So that's probably why she is strict with the training. She also has qualifications that no other trainers in the area have.  
That said, I also took the Fun and Games for Little Dogs class with her. It was completely different. She didn't care if the dogs interacted, or if they misbehaved (my dog didn't poop on the floor, but one did!), or even if they really nailed the behaviours. It was more about how to interact with your dog and have some fun while teaching the dog little tricks. I would take that class again in a heartbeat! So much fun!

We put our puppy through 2 levels of puppy classes and I think 4 adult dog classes (Good Dog 1 & 2 and I think it was two rounds of walk nicely). As we are on an acreage these classes were so important for getting our dog into the city minimum once a week and be around other people and animals (especially during the colder winter months).  
 
Yes, Rene is strict with you and your dog but that is also what we were looking for, someone who takes the training process seriously to give us and our dog the best chance for success. We also did classes with the other two trainers and liked them as well. And we reinforced our training with lots of at home work too.  
 
I chose Two Brown Dogs on several recommendations and was very happy with our experience.