An obedience school is an institution that trains

pet A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or a laboratory animal. Popular pets are often considered to have attractive appearances, intelligence ...

s (particularly

dog The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Do ...

s) how to behave properly. When

puppies A puppy is a juvenile dog. Some puppies can weigh , while larger ones can weigh up to . All healthy puppies grow quickly after birth. A puppy's coat color may change as the puppy grows older, as is commonly seen in breeds such as the York ...

are young and in the first stages of

training Training is teaching, or developing in oneself or others, any skills and knowledge or fitness that relate to specific useful competencies. Training has specific goals of improving one's capability, capacity, productivity and performance. I ...

, they are often taken by their owners to obedience schools. Training usually takes place in small groups. In addition to training pets themselves, obedience schools also teach pet owners how to train,

praise Praise as a form of social interaction expresses recognition, reassurance or admiration. Praise is expressed verbally as well as by body language (facial expression and gestures). Verbal praise consists of a positive evaluations of another's att ...

, and scold their pets themselves. Schools can teach at a various set of levels, ranging from the very basics for puppies to more advanced for competition level dogs. Most training in schools however, focuses on making dogs listen through basic commands such as sit, stay, lie down, etc.

Costs of Obedience School

The prices of obedience school can vary depending on location, age of the dog, and the amount of training a dog requires. For example, group or class training can cost anywhere from $40–$125 per class, while private training, which may take place in the owners' home or trainers places of business, may cost anywhere from $30–100 per class. Dogs usually require 6-8 sessions. Other forms of classes are available as well, such as doggy boarding school which can cost about $950–$2,500; this includes 2–4 weeks of board-and-train. The cost of training can vary depending on the age of the dog as well; training an adult dog will cost more than training a puppy. A trainer may also include small additional costs such as training treats or leash/collar.

Other Forms of Dog Training

Obedience schools are dedicated specifically to obedience training. There are other institutions, like major pet stores

Petco Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. is an American pet retailer with corporate offices in San Diego and San Antonio. Petco sells pet food, products, and services, as well as certain types of live small animals. Founded in 1965 as a mail-ord ...

and

Petsmart PetSmart is a privately held American chain of pet superstores, which sell pet products, services, and small pets. It is the leading North American pet company, and its direct competitor is Petco. Its indirect competitors are Amazon, Walmart, ...

that offer specific classes dedicated to obedience training.

Dog daycare Dog daycare, or doggy daycare, refers to a short-term daytime care for dogs. It differs from multi-day kennel boarding and pet sitting, where the sitter comes to the pet's home. It shares many similarities with a regular daycare for children, ...

s and

animal shelters An animal shelter or pound is a place where stray, lost, abandoned or surrendered animals – mostly dogs and cats – are housed. The word "pound" has its origins in the animal pounds of agricultural communities, where stray livestock would ...

also provide dog training classes for less money than obedience schools. Places may offer classes that vary in different skill level. The American Kennel Club offers a couple different training options for their members. These training options include puppy class, basic class, Canine Good Citizen program, and other training classes for companion events.

What to expect

Training classes are meant to teach the pet basic obedience. Beginner classes can include basic commands such as; sit, stay, lay down, and roll over. They will learn not to pull on a leash, not to jump or chew on furniture. They will also gain social skills when meeting new people. Social skills will make the dog more friendly with other dogs as well as humans. This will allow the dog to go more places with the owner. You should also understand when your dog is ready for obedience school. According to the American Kennel Club "classes are divided up between puppy classes, for dogs under five months of age, and adult or advanced classes, for dogs five months and older." This means you have to make sure you understand what level your dog is at so they have the best outcome.

References

Dog training and behavior {{Dog-stub

Costs of Obedience School

Other Forms of Dog Training

What to expect

See also

References