If one dog needs 10 minutes to do an exercise and all the other dogs get it n 1 minute, I would never expect the rest of the class to just sit and wait for 9 minutes, or even practice the same thing for 9 minutes. That's boring for the people AND the dogs, and wastes so much of your time.
Yeah..I was trying to be silly and keep it light with her between reps, especially after like the third one...we would finish one and I'd run her out for a few steps and try to keep her engaged. I guess I feel like everyone else is there because they took a puppy class, and/or a basic obedience class, and this is a basic level 2 class..and they just want their dogs toned down and well behaved.. I'm over here like YAY LET'S GET CRAZY wanting my dog more in drive and engaged.
I'm thinking about it now, I'm the only one that hasn't taken classes there previously, and the other dogs have gone for 6 or 12 weeks previously...two/three of the dogs are really withdrawn and a bit nervous in class. One dog the first week seriously injured another dog (neither are in class anymore). Another dog is super snarky and stares the other dogs down.
I worry sometimes if I'm being unfair or elitest towards instructors, which isn't really my intention but I know what I want out of a class, and out of my dog. I think I like the drop-in classes where it's sort of structured time to work with your dog (and an objective pair of eyes) versus someone else's instruction.
As someone who is doing a beginner obedience class and we actually know it all already, it's been really refreshing to just touch up on stuff!!!
I'm self taught at home mostly, and even though he knows how to do everything already, we are perfecting it, getting it quicker and just enjoying the class environment.
There's lots to learn even when you and your dog can already do the exercise!! Luckily our trainer sets individualised "homework" so does recognise people are at different stages, but still doesn't hurt to go back to basics now and then.
I didn't take her post as we're too advanced to be here. I took it as I don't like the way this instructor teaches. I've been more advanced than a class, I've not wanted to do certain exercises.... But to pay and travel every week to an instructor you just plain don't like their teaching style? No thanks. I've got other things to do with my limited free time. If you actually say, "I don't like this, I don't know why I still go." Don't go. Frustrating yourself, and thereby your dog, to spend your free time traveling to a class you don't enjoy? I don't see it as helping.
Thanks! I don't think we are 'too advanced'...I've taught Fiona things that aren't being taught in this class, and the class is teaching things that I haven't taught. I did expect the class to be geared more towards basic "obedience" commands, rather than what we have been doing (getting an automatic down on a mat? getting a sit by lifting the dog's collar?). The facility offers many competition classes, but requires basic obedience, but basic obedience isn't really basic obedience, it's 'manners'?
I will take whatever I can get as far as working on things in a novel, distracting environment..you can't put a price on that. But I definitely don't want to be making future challenges for myself by having her in a class that teaches bad habits, or burns her out fast.
I did sort of make the decision today and scheduled myself to work on Sundays for the next few weeks. Going to see what I can do with the Monday class, I've taken this instructor's classes in the past and she is great.