Tweed and Twirls or Military Marching - that was the only choice of dog training clubs back in the 1980's. The tweed and twirls brigade were the Ringcraft classes for the ladies of substance who lunched in between breeding and showing their pedigree dogs. The Military Marching were the basic obedience classes for the rest of us, with our motley selection of mutts and mongrels and for men with mad dogs that lunged at old ladies and children in the street. These classes were usually run by ex-military dog handlers who could bark, growl and snarl more fiercely than most of their pupils!

The only other choice you had was which town you wanted to embarrass yourself in your own or the one five miles up the road. Yes, it really was that simple in those days!

Now here we are baffled by a choice of Ringcraft, Obedience, Heelwork to Music, Agility, Search and Rescue, Flyball and breed specific clubs. My advice is start with basic obedience class which forms the foundation of any advanced or competitive discipline. Then, when you've mastered the basics, you can move on to a specialist club or perhaps ask if your club could run a Have A Go at sessions.

If you are spoilt for choice for easily accessible obedience clubs in your area you should visit them, without your dog, to ask to watch a session take place prior to registering. You can check out the lesson times and prices at the same time. Does the training hall look clean and smell fresh or is it distinctly whiffy' and wet underfoot? Find out how they register clients do they ask to see vaccination and insurance certificates? If they don't walk away before you catch something nasty!

Observe how dogs are allowed to interact with each other, is there much hostility in the room, is aggression being dealt with promptly by the instructors? Note what the pupil to instructor ratio is like, are pupils getting individual attention as well as group instruction?

How do corrections take place? Are you happy with their techniques or do you feel uncomfortable about witnessing that level of shouting, aggression or physical chastisement? How do they praise good behavior, is it regular and consistent or do they complete exercises without praising their dogs? Lastly, do they set homework' for pupils to keep practicing exercises between classes because like learning any subject one hour a week just won't work.

When you find the club you feel most comfortable with try to be a good pupil. Turn up, pay up, listen up and clean up! Join in their social activities, learn from their instructors and long-term members and most importantly have a great time with your dog who will be delighted at having their own social club membership!

Learn more about this author, Sarah J Palmer.
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