Cocker Spaniel Obedience

Since a well behaved dog is always a pleasure to be around many owners choose to take their pets to an obedience class. Cocker Spaniel obedience classes are a great way to ensure that your dog is always welcome, well behaved and well socialized. In addition working with a professional dog trainer can help you become even more effective with your dog as well as learn about general obedience classes, agility classes and other activities you might want to get involved in.

Finding the right type of trainer is key in choosing Cocker Spaniel obedience programs. You want a trainer that is focused in on working with a positive reward system, not a trainer that is basing their training on punishment or negative reactions when the dog makes a mistake. Most effective training programs and trainers are now exclusively positive training based but it is always important to check and ask questions.

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Many Cocker Spaniel obedience programs will include other smaller dog breeds while some trainers allow all breeds of all sizes in one class. Since they are all puppies there is rarely any concern about aggression, however if you are concerned about your smaller sized Cocker in with large breeds look for a class that divides the dogs into small and large puppy groups. The advantage to a mixed breed and size class is that your Cocker won’t be intimidated by large sized dogs, something that can happen if they are never around big dogs.

You should also be comfortable in asking the trainer what experience they have in working specifically with the Cocker Spaniel. Obedience training really isn’t hugely different for most breeds, but the Cocker can be much more sensitive than  other similar sized breeds, particularly the terriers, so the trainer should understand the basic Cocker temperament. If you are planning on entering competitive types of obedience classes it is also essential to determine if the trainer has any proven experience with dogs at that competitive level. Working with one trainer is an excellent way to build in consistency for both you and your dog and can really help with upper obedience levels.

Cocker Spaniel obedience classes also should be held in an appropriate environment. You don’t want to have paid for training if the only option is an outdoor field where other dogs, people and lots of distractions are around. Likewise you don’t want to pay for a class where there are too many dogs or puppies so you cannot get any help if you have a specific question. Most classes, especially for puppies, will be thirty to forty-five minutes in length with play time and socialization time build into the program for the puppies. Ask about this when selecting a class as well as a training program.

Once you have narrowed down your options, ask to attend a Cocker Spaniel obedience class or a general obedience program offered by the trainer. Watch how he or she interacts with the people and their dogs and consider if this is a good match for how you want to interact with your pet. This ensures that you will follow the training program and you and your Cocker will be highly successful.