Unless you have a very NORMAL dog… neither.
Both places are often staffed by people with very minimal dog training skills (all it takes to be qualified is going through their 2 week training class which is mostly book learning and no real problem solving).
For the money, you are much better off to find a training school… or hire a trainer. (Realize a trainer will look like it costs you more.. but you will have one on one attention with the issues YOU and your dog need help with… thus, costing you less in the long run).
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13 Responses
2009 Sep 04
Neither. Do a private one. It’s a little more, but you don’t have everyone hassling you and distracting you.
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2009 Sep 04
neither
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2009 Sep 04
Neither one. Those training classes aren’t very effective. Look for a professional training / puppy schooling.
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2009 Sep 04
they both are crappy. my friends works at the pets mart pet hotel and the trainers are the ones that have the worst dogs!!!
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2009 Sep 04
They are both very basic and a good start to training.
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2009 Sep 04
Unless you have a very NORMAL dog… neither.
Both places are often staffed by people with very minimal dog training skills (all it takes to be qualified is going through their 2 week training class which is mostly book learning and no real problem solving).
For the money, you are much better off to find a training school… or hire a trainer. (Realize a trainer will look like it costs you more.. but you will have one on one attention with the issues YOU and your dog need help with… thus, costing you less in the long run).
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Breeder of Champion and Working Service Dogs for 19 years. Behavioral training consultant.
2009 Sep 04
none so dont do it
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2009 Sep 04
Like any training class, it really depends on the actual person teaching the class. Standard answer here has always been to avoid the Petco/Petsmart deal and go to a class elsewhere as their trainers can be kind of hit or miss. If there is not another option where you live, I would go and watch a class at each prior to signing up, and chose the one that you feel is most experienced and positive for you. And truthfully, they do have some trainers who know what they are doing- One of our trainers from the obedience club who is very good, is also now working there part time, as her obedience club work is all volunteer, and we all have to come up with some means of supporting our dog habit!
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2009 Sep 04
it is not about the store, its the trainer. ask for referrals. if you know or meet a dog that is well behaved, ask about training.
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2009 Sep 04
Neither. They sit the employees down, have them watch a video and call them "trainers" You could do better by reading tons of books. Find a certified trainer who can provide refs, will allow you to watch a group class and is willing to be completely honest about their methods.
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2009 Sep 04
Just like anything involving chain stores. When it comes to services, it’s the people, not the brand that sell. When I worked at PetsMart, I took 1 and 1/2 training classes. I took the whole class with one instructor and got virtually nothing out of it. My dog already knew the basics of behaving and I pretty much just took the class to see what classes were like so I could talk to people in the store about them.
Then, I got a puppy. A cute little 8 week old lab puppy. I hadn’t had a puppy in years. I started a class with her, and I will say, it helped a lot (reminded me of everything I had forgotten about puppies). We had a different trainer that time (she left mid class and the other trainer took over, that’s why I dropped). That trainer that left was fantastic and she actually had less official time training dogs than the other person.
I haven’t taken a class at PetCo, where I currently work. However, I think their instructors may be a little more qualified (they don’t have a 2 week become a instructor program, at least not locally). The trainer at our store used to train competition obedience and had a top rated curly coat retriever with US and European titles.
When looking for a trainer to work with me and Jenna for her service dog work, I went back to PetsMart to talk to the girl there that I knew. She wanted to train her but was clueless about everything required for a service dog. I called around and found a fantastic training school (they only do training, no daycare, no boarding, they don’t even try selling you stuff unless you need an EZ Walk harness for your dog to help train him) in my area and have been very happy with them.
So I guess, it all depends. Some trainers are FANTASTIC in stores. Some are duller than watching the test pattern on the tv. So you kinda have to look around and do your homework.
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2009 Sep 04
I never go to Petsmart any more. I tried to put my well trained pit bull in doggie day care and they refused.
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2009 Sep 04
i used this program to help me train my dog, it worked great!
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http://timbercastle.info/?id=24