A dog is an integral part of our family setup. When people acquire one, one of the expectations that come with it is getting the dog well trained—training a dog is intended to improve its behavior and relate to its caregivers. Training a dog comes with multiple options one can consider. Some of the popular options with dog lovers include; private home dog training, private training facilities, online classes, and group dog classes. Therefore, training a dog at home or onboarding it to a training facility or a class comes with both advantages and disadvantages for each option one decides to go for during the training.
Home Dog Training
Home dog training is one of the options one can decide to go with when it comes to training their dog. Home dog training comes with a host of benefits that include flexibility, saving one time by allowing one to move around their personal life. If one happens to compare in-house dog training to those who opt-in for classes, have a lot of time available to them compared to their other counterpart. Home training is quite flexible and convenient in that the trainer chooses the best time for training their dog.
Other than in home dog training providing one with a flexible schedule for training, it is also fit for training g a dog on certain skills and achieving specific milestones. It is different from generalized training that gets offered in a class or group setup. Home dog training allows one to train a dog a particular behavior, such as training your dog not to bark on a neighbor’s cat or correcting other dog behaviors such as bolting out through the front door. Home dog training allows one to train and move at their own pace by allowing ample time on a particular command, unlike in a class setting.
Consequently, training your dog at home prevents one dog from contracting kennel cough and another virus associated with dogs getting grouped in a class.
Dog Training Classes
Unlike in-home dog training, class or what is sometimes known as group class dog training involves choosing a trainer to train one or more dogs in a single place. Group or class training comes with some advantages that are not present for those who train their dogs at home. For instance, dogs trained in a class or group setting can usually socialize with other dogs, a factor lacking in alternatives. Dogs trained for therapy sessions or those meant to participate in competition typically do well when taught in a class setting, then their home trained dogs.
Similarly, a dog trained in a group or class set up can listen to outside of its home set up, and also such a dog learns quicker and better than their home trained dogs that lack these characteristics. Home-trained dogs get distracted easily, unlike their group or class-trained dogs that are in a position to learn and remain focused in a chaotic environment.
Group learning offers an opportunity that is rare with home training of interacting with other dog owners during the training sessions. Consequently, having a chance to ask your trainer various questions ranging from canine development is an opportunity available to group trainers devoid of home dog trained dogs. Multiple dogs have different developmental milestones, and there are other behavior teaching methods, and such can only get observed in a class training session.
Despite the differences between the two dog training methods highlighted above, one can combine the two options in their training sessions. First, one can start with home dog training, which integrates discipline and maintains minimum distractions to your dog. Secondly, before a dog develops a strong immunity or it’s not vaccinated, it’s advisable to try home dog training. One can later switch to class training once their dog has grasped a few commands. Dogs with issues to do with anxiety or are nervous should combine both training methods rather than focusing on one.
