Go to AKC.org

Look up their list of local clubs that offer training classes by area. Most are non-profit and low in cost. I pay around 10 dollars a class. That is in Los Angeles, CA. Most of their trainers have 20 + years of experience.

I have found no where for training to be comparable in price and quality and experience of the trainers in my classes.

Petco and Petsmart send their trainers to classes to merely observe other trainers. I would never trust my dog with them. At Petsmart last week a trainer was attempting to show off to me and the owner of how well behaved the dog was. The dog was in a sit stay. It lunged at my dog. The trainer tried to do a Caesar Milan style alpha roll on him. It did not work. The dog lunged again and my dog fairly corrected him in a way that made sense. He set that dog up to fail.

A good trainer will always set a dog up to succeed. They will pass on skills which the owner can use. Get your dog in a class where he is safe. Where he can be around other dogs with no negatives. No free play. The dog is safe. Good Luck.

The economy has affected us all. You made a promise when you got a dog to take care of it. Training is part of that promise. It is the most important part of raising a well balanced steady dog. Good training will save your dog’s life.
References :
I train and show my Dog in Obedience, Conformation, Agility, Rally, Earthdog, Tracking. She is a certified Therapy Dog and has her AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate.

This type of obedience class will give your dog some socialization with other dogs, and some distraction while he’s working on training.

When we take our pups to obedience training, it’s wise to work with the dog every morning as soon as we get up for about 15 minutes. You can also work with the dog for a few minutes one more time during the day, if you want.

Take care.
References :

1) A well behaved dog is MUCH easier to live with.
2) A well behaved dog is safer (won’t run into the street, won’t jump up on strangers which could be a liability…)
3) It’s one of the best an easiest ways to socialize your dog.

But honestly, I’ve gone the whole Petsmart/Petco route in the past, and I’d look into obedience training elsewhere. They’re okay for teaching really super basic stuff, but if your dog doesn’t take well to their methods, then they’re usually not too interested in working with your dog in other ways. For example, my dog is super stubborn and shuts down really easily. Every class she’d work for maybe the 1st 10 min then she’d just totally shut down and wouldn’t want to do anything, even for the yummiest treats in the world. The trainer didn’t know how to deal with it so she pretty much just ignored us for the rest of the session.

I’d look up your local obedience club and often if you become a member, they’ll have classes for way cheaper than even Petsmart/ Petco!
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Dakota did well and learned quick, She wouldn’t do the stuff at home but in the class she did.
With Duke he was more of a brat but he did learn sit and down. I hired a dog trainer after that because I couldn’t get him to learn how to walk on the leash without pulling me. He has gotten better at the walking but still goes crazy about half way around the block til he calms down.
But I still think its worth the money to take your dog to the obedience classes at petsmart because you get socialization from other dogs and people.
References :
dog trainer I hired was from bark busters-Lifetime guarantee of dog training. Cost me $462 for both my dogs total!