I did a petsmart class with Jack, and it is probably time for us to take the next level of training, and we will probably go back. He did a really good job in there. But, i think a lot of the training has to do with how much you work with your dog at home. We would "practice" every night, and he learned really quickly…..he is so smart (biased, who me? no!)....it is just like school. If you don't do your homework, you aren't going to learn as much.
It is important to practice the behaviors you are working on in many different places. If the only place you ever work on them is at home and class they may get really good at home and class but you end telling people "I don't know why he won't do his trick, he always does it at home."
Of course most instructors can tell who goes home and practices with their dogs and who does not.
I have been going to puppy kindergarten with Dallas for the past 3 weeks, 2 more to go. I wasn't completely convinced he needed it since he did all of his commands with me & in the store etc. Hah! I was proven 100% WRONG! When we got to class it was like he "forgot" everything! He was too focused on all the other puppies to follow the commands that he does to a tee at home & even when we're out at stores. Even waving food in his face wasn't helping! He has gotten better since the first week…and with better treats [cheese!] but it amazes me how situational learners dogs actually are. Now I not only practice his commands at home & in class but I pratice at the dogpark [go off to the side for a few minutes & get him to do them], at other people's houses, in all the stores, etc etc etc. So far it has seemed to help but still when in new situations it is hard to get him to do anything besides sit!
Jack's favorite three tricks are "sit", "give me five", and "roll over" and he will do them just about anywhere. It is a little hard to roll over with a leash on though- lol!
This I am very proud of- we trained him to only eat his bones on his blanket (his binki) and not on the couch (it leaves that weird slobbery residue on the couch cushions) so now, when we go someplace new, all we have to do is bring along his blanket, and he won't eat food or bones on the furniture. In fact, if I wash his blanket, he runs around the house with a bone in his mouth trying to figure out where he is supposed to eat it.
We had our consultation with a trainer this past weekend and it was very helpful but VERY expensive. She gave us some great advice and some advice that I didn't necessarily agree with. Needless to say, we are going to go to puppy kindergarten with Jackpot starting this month and see how that goes.
The one very useful thing that the in-home trainer gave us was the book/pamphlet "How to be the Leader of the Pack and have your dog love you for it". Has anyone else heard of this book and used it? I have read through it briefly and it looks good to me…but I'm curious what others think?
We had our consultation with a trainer this past weekend and it was very helpful but VERY expensive. She gave us some great advice and some advice that I didn't necessarily agree with. Needless to say, we are going to go to puppy kindergarten with Jackpot starting this month and see how that goes.
The one very useful thing that the in-home trainer gave us was the book/pamphlet "How to be the Leader of the Pack and have your dog love you for it". Has anyone else heard of this book and used it? I have read through it briefly and it looks good to me…but I'm curious what others think?
I think that is the one by Patricia McConnell? I really like it a lot. There are a few little things that I, personally, don't think are as essential as some others. But overall, I think it is a great tool for anyone that has a dog that is even mildly challenging (and all Basenjis fall into that category 
)
I much prefer the techniques for becoming the leader of the household in this booklet to those in the teachings of Cesar Millan…but again, just my opinion.
Sorry to bump an old thread, but I was curious as I'm also in Orlando and soon as I adopt a new basenji mix I'd like to get her started in training. Did you try the ODTC classes? They seem reasonable price wise and if they're located where I think it says on their page at the fair grounds on 50, near my home (bonus!). Hope anyone from Orlando still reads here and will have some suggestions
goodness, for $750, i think i'd just go buy every video on this page:
http://www.tawzerdogvideos.com/Leslie-Nelson.htm
and have a nice dinner and bottle of wine to boot. I actually have Shaping the Future and have watched about 1/2 of it (it's 6 dvd's long, so that's not quite as pathetic as it sounds).
if you really want an in the flesh person, ask to watch them in a class before committing your $$ to them. see if you like their style and how they deal with the dogs first.
See if there is a dog training club. Tampa has Dog Training Club of Tampa, they work with puppies, basic obedience, agility, conformation, for very reasonable rates. They are all volunteer club members but most are great teachers, they team teach so there are at least 2 instructors. Check to see if Orlando has anything like that. DTOT is about $75 for 6 or 8 classes, once a week.
Otherwise, as Agile says, buy some great books and videos and go for it.
Well ODTC.com (Orlando Dog Training Club) does Older Puppy & Beginner Class
for $110, 8 weeks long. They just started this week so if I ended up with the 10 month old I'd have to wait two months to attend the next class. That sound like the one y'all do there?
Do not waste your money on in home obedience training. Go to Petsmart and take their basic obedience class. It runs around $99 for 8 weeks of classes. The socialization and disctractions in the store are important to teach your basenji to focus.
I did Petsmart training with my basenji and it was worth it! I have my puppy enrolled in the Dog Training Club of St Pete for a little less. $80 for 8 weeks.
I totally agree with this. I took my girl to PetSmart for the 8 week class and she did very well. Of course, as time has gone on, she has decided to keep some, dump some, but a lot of that is lack of consistency on my part. Their classes are very well run, and not expensive.;)
the big box shop training is only as good as the trainer. it is, like many things, hit or miss. ask to watch a class with that trainer before spending any money
