- Why can't I just train my dog at home myself?
- What type of qualifications do PetSmart Accredited Pet Training Instructors have?
- Why is it important to use positive reinforcement techniques while I train my pet?
- Is the middle of a retail store like PetSmart really a good place for my pet to learn?
- Is it ever too late to teach "old dogs new tricks"?
- Aren't my puppy's bad behaviors part of the "puppy stage" that I have to just get through?
- What is the difference between PetSmart's "communication training" and the traditional obedience training taught elsewhere?
- How do I figure out what class would be right for my pet?
- What if I'm not satisfied with the class?
- How can I train without spending a lot of time doing it?
Q: Why can't I just train my dog at home myself?
Professional training is not an alternative to training your dog at home - it complements it. Pet training works a lot like education for children: a teacher provides her students with basic knowledge, and then the student does homework to further learn the materials.
Q: What type of qualifications do PetSmart Accredited Pet Training Instructors have?
Expertise makes all the difference between getting an okay and an exceptional education. That's why our PetSmart Accredited Pet Training Instructors complete a rigorous education in problem solving, canine ethology, genetics, behavior and learning theory, with a curriculum developed by both leading trainers and animal behaviorists. By combining these two disciplines, you're able to first understand why your pet behaves a certain way, and how you can take that information and teach your pet consistent, healthy behaviors using a combination of verbal cues, hand signals and positive reinforcement.
Q: Why is it important to use positive reinforcement techniques while I train my pet?
In the simplest terms, positive reinforcement means rewarding the dog for doing the behaviors you want in order to get him to do those behaviors more often. By linking visual cues to motivating rewards, your dog learns that good things come to him when he responds to you. Not only is it scientifically proven to be the most effective way to train, but is also the most humane and fun for both you and your pet.
Q: Is the middle of a retail store like PetSmart really a good place for my pet to learn?
It's one of the best. Have you ever taught your dog to "come" to you in your home, but then found that she doesn't correctly respond when you're at the dog park or at a friend's house? Dogs are not particularly good at generalizing information until they have been taught this skill, but once they learn it, they become fairly adept at applying it. This is one reason why the real-world environment at PetSmart is so effective: your dog learns to generalize the cues faster because the surroundings are so different and varied. If your dog learns to come or sit in an environment filled with smells and sounds that intrigue dogs the most, you can be sure she's truly learned it!
Q: Is it ever too late to teach “old dogs new tricks”?
While puppy training is important, it's not true that older dogs can't learn. You most certainly CAN teach an old dog new tricks! In fact, the majority of out pet training customers don't have puppies, they have adult dogs. Training is good for any age, both because the dog learns appropriate behavior, and because it's just really fun!
Q: Aren't my puppy's bad behaviors part of the “puppy stage” that I have to just get through?
Puppies aren't born understanding our language and our culture - and chewing is just an innate behavior of dogs. Your puppy doesn't know that chewing on your shoe is bad, but chewing on her toy is okay. Because puppies are not born knowing human rules or language, it is our responsibility to teach them to understand. While some behaviors, such as chewing, are natural puppy behaviors, it is up to us to teach them what an acceptable chew toy is and what is not. Training your puppy early will help with behaviors when she is an adult.
Q: What is the difference between PetSmart's reward based and the traditional obedience training taught elsewhere?
Primarily, it's a mindset that you have brought a new dog into your home because you want her to be a happy and loving member of your family. As such, she needs to know what is acceptable behavior in your house, and what you are asking from her. Once she understands what you want and is able to respond positively, your bond will grow even stronger, and you'll be able to do more with her. PetSmart's training program does not use choke chains or harsh methods. It's not about forcing your dog to obey commands. It's about developing a common language that both pets and parents can understand to help us communicate in a way that is fun for everyone. That's why we use the word "cue" - not "command" - to describe the requested behavior we seek from our pets in class. Dogs, just like people, learn more effectively when they want to learn and are rewarded, rather than when they are being forced.
Q: How do I figure out what class would be right for my pet?
Take our CanYourDog...? quiz to determine what class would be best for your dog.
Q: What if I'm not satisfied with the class?
We're so confident you'll love the results from our classes, that we give you our SmartPet PromiseSM: if you're not 100% satisfied, you can take the class again for free. It's that simple. (see store for details)
Q: How can I train without spending a lot of time doing it?
It probably doesn't take as much time as you think to train a dog. Once you know how to communicate with them, dogs don't need long boring training sessions to learn appropriate behavior. In fact, it really works best if you work with your dog for short periods of time. When you keep it fun and short, the dog stays motivated. We teach you how to keep your dog wanting to learn, so training is actually one of his favorite activities instead of something you both dread. Our training program teaches you how to make training part of your every day interactions with your dog, utilizing every day activities.
PetSmart offers articles, information, and advice to pet parents through this site for educational purposes only. Any information offered through this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure your pet, and is not a substitute for veterinary care provided by a licensed veterinarian. For any medical or health related advice concerning the care and treatment of your pet, call or visit Banfield, The Pet Hospital®(available in most PetSmart stores) or your veterinarian.