When you get your first dog, he needs to be trained in order to know what is right and wrong. As a dog owner, you need to consider the best suitable training method for your pet. If it’s an easy dog that doesn’t need much attention then individual training might be best for them. But if there are multiple dogs in the household, then group training is preferable because it will take less time and can help with some additional problems that you may encounter such as playing too rough or not listening.
Sometimes it is hard to decide which training method is best for your dog. Both methods have pros and cons to them. So here are the questions you should think about twice before you made a decision.
1. Is your dog shy? Or outgoing?
Whether your dog is shy or outgoing, it will have an effect on which training method you should use.
Because of his shyness, he will have a hard time socializing with humans and other animals. He will show signs that he’s getting better at following commands because he’ll be more confident in his surroundings. For this reason, group training is recommended for him to learn from others. In order to get the most out of this form of training, you should also take along a friend or neighbor that has a well-behaved dog. This should be an animal that your dog is familiar with so he can build up his confidence.
Group training is a good way to socialize your pet with other animals and humans, but it could backfire on you if the dogs he’s been introduced to are aggressive. Your dog will be more aggressive if he’s around other dogs that aren’t friendly and they will be more likely to snap back when they’re being trained together. So, it’s important that you take into consideration who you’ll be bringing to classes with your dog.
If your dog is outgoing and loves the attention he gets from other dogs, then group training might not work for him. He’ll get too distracted and have a hard time focusing on his training at hand.
2. How much do you want to spend?
There are different kinds of training classes and dog schools that you can attend. Some of them have low fees, while others have high fees. The quality of the education varies as well. The more you spend, the better the education you’ll get out of him and you will also not be burdened with a big fee. You will also learn that many dogs can be successful in any form of dog training, with any kind of teaching method.
Moreover, there are a lot of individual training devices sold online, you can try some, if you are totally new, and your dog is never be trained, we suggest you can start with the traditional or non-harmful collars, like the collars without shock, this equipment is cheap and easy to get started, you and your dog just need to simply learn for a while before training.
Below is one of the new remote dog training collar, you can shut down the shock as long as adjust it to ‘0’
3. Do you have a flexible schedule?
Group classes are usually held once a week. They can be held on a specific day and the time the training will start is up to you. The maximum number of students that can be in the group class is usually limited to 50. Some trainers will give you a list of schools or clubs that they may go to, but they’re not guaranteed they’ll show up every week.
Individual dog training programs are different as well. Depending on the trainer or yourself, you can expect them to attend your home once or twice a week OR you can train your dog in person with the training devices: such as the clicker, whistle, they are traditional training devices, safe and effective, but require a lot of patience and time; bark stop collar, remote dog training collar are new training methods, both of you and your dog need learn and adapt this kind of method for a while before training, but it will just need take few months to be trained well.
4. What are your priorities?
When you’re deciding what training method to use, you need to decide on your priorities. Will you be more focused on putting your dog in a social situation or training him for walks with other dogs?
For example, most people will say that individual training is better because it’s more efficient, and you can deepen the relationship between you and the dog during this time, plus, please make sure that all training needs to be gradual, whenever the dog completes a specified action, be sure to reward him|her.
If your dog is aggressive, then group classes might be better since he will learn from other dogs who are outgoing and friendly.
5. Does your dog have any special issues?
If your dog is aggressive, then you should stick with a 1V1 professional trainer, because they knew better than yourself, It will be easier to correct the dog the first time he makes a mistake since he’ll be less distracted by the other dogs in groups, also it can avoid other dogs who might play too rough to affect him.
If your dog has some problems with his training, like hyperactivity or not being able to focus, then group classes might work better for him. He’ll get more excited from the other dogs and will be more likely to focus on what he’s being taught.
However, if your dog is shy, then group classes might make him even more anxious. In this case, you should do the training by yourself in his familiar surroundings, you can start with a clicker, whistle, or electronic collars with beep or vibration first.
When you’re deciding which training method is right for you and your dog, you need to consider what kind of setting he will be in. Group training is a good way to socialize your dog with other animals and humans, but it could backfire on you if the dogs he’s been introduced to are aggressive. Your dog will be more aggressive if he’s around other dogs that aren’t friendly and they will be more likely to snap back when they’re being trained together. So, it’s important that you take into consideration who you’ll be bringing to classes with your dog.
If you are still unsure about which method is best for your dog, consult with a trainer or other dog owners and ask them what they’ve experienced in the training that they’ve done.