the cost is the trouble. It is very high. But they are training people to be dog trainers. I agree it is very high! The trouble I am having is that competition obedience classes are far away. I have to save my allowance from my husband to pay for dog training, and then a long drive costs gas (which is high right now) and that would take the money I would be using for training.
At the present time I am waiting for a lady who has bought property in menifee, which is close to me. She plans on having rally O training but has to find a trainer. If the response is good she will have classes on her property. That would be perfect for me.
The trainer I have now has participated in rally a while back, but in her classes she teaches now she has to work in other areas of dog obedience due to the other 6 people in the class with me, which I understand. I thought it might help to get a good dog training education.
It is true, I love the videos we have at Leerburg and they have greatly helped me, however, having my dogs go to school and getting the videos at the same time is just too expensive. I wish I could go to Michael Ellis school, but it is too far away. I do need some hands on to help me be a better handler.
The referrals given are good. One is in LA. It takes me about 3 hours to get to LA just because of the traffic. I will look into it though.
At this point I am researching so when I make that choice, I don't just jump in.

For any who have seen california dog university on line and have concerns, please share them with me. I appreciate it. They are having a course on reading dog body language. It is $89.00 for 4 hours. I wish they listed the areas they will cover, but they don't. So, I am holding off of registering for that class.
Thanks so much for your input.
I appreciate your help. I have no one around me who is interested in training their dogs, or training them for competition.
I am going to try and go to the Norco All breed dog obedience club and check it out. It is about 45 minutes away from my house.
Thanks again. sharon and her pups

sharon

Well, I hadn't checked out the cost of that school until Steve mentioned the $7,000. I almost fell off my chair! You say you have a limited budget for dog training and gas to get there. (I understand. I do, too!) I just don't think plunking down that kind of money for the course they are describing is worth it. It doesn't seem to fit your goals, the goals you have described many times in your posts here on the board.

That Norco club sounds promising. You should check them out. I think it would be more helpful to you to find a group of other people who train in the same disciplines you are interested in (rally, obedience), a place where you can take lessons, find a mentor or two or three, have fun with your dogs, learn from experienced folks, and get into the rally ring yourself one day. I don't think $7,000 at that other place is going to accomplish that.

All JMO, of course!

Here is a list from the AKC site for their member dog training clubs in California. I'm not pushing AKC necessarily; it's just that I believe these types of clubs would offer the type of training you are looking for and would have a lot of members who train and exhibit in the events you are interested in.

http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/training_clubs/index.cfm?action=search_state&state=CA

Again, I realize how big your state is, and I am not familiar with where many of the towns are located, so there may be nothing close to you. But you might try contacting one or two of the closest ones, explaining your desire to find classes and a trainer close to you, and they may be able to point you in the right direction.

There's just got to be something in your area. From what you describe, it doesn't seem like you live in the middle of nowhere, or back of beyond, or even Timbuktu.

In a nutshell Sharon, its too much money for such really basic training. You'd get the same help at Petsmart for a lot less money. I just did a search for Lake Elsinore dog training, there's other options.

http://www.elitedogdetection.com/about

http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/murrieta/murrieta-headlines-index/20111122-murrieta-mans-dogs-have-protected-presidents.ece

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=lake+elsinore+dog+training&oq=lake+elsinore+dog+training&gs_l=hp.3..0i30j0i8i30.2599.10181.0.10740.26.21.0.5.5.0.220.2557.2j18j1.21.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.-XnpYkxJcMA&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=7e9041a74f73c7f&biw=1280&bih=929

Hi Sharon,

Here's some AKC clubs I found with an AKC event search for obedience/rally/agility, minus the breed specific ones. So they all sponsor at least one of those sports. Some of these look pretty close to you. I doubt all of them offer classes, but even if they don't they should be able to refer you to a variety of trainers/classes.

You may have to do a bit more googling to find contact info on some of them, but it shouldn't be too hard. There are tons of course up in LA and down in San Diego, but of course that commute gets pretty awful. I may have missed a couple, particularly in Orange County

http://www.dartagility.org/ Chino


Dash Agility Club of Southern California- Orange County

Hidden Valley Obedience Club of North San Diego County -Escondido?

Kennel Club of Riverside- Perris?/Riverside http://www.akc.org/club_search/index_master.cfm?action=refresh_index&active_tab_row_A=1&active_tab_col_A=1&fixed_tab=1&club_id=261 Not a proper website, but it says they offer obedience classes

Shoreline Dog Fanciers Association of Orange County-Irvine?

http://www.orangeempiredogclub.org/- San Bernadino looks like they do offer classes, but I'm having some technical issues with their site

http://www.lakemathewskennelclub.com/ -Chino (I think this one is mostly conformation unfortunately, though they definitely sponsor obedience/rally)

San Gabriel Valley Kennel Club- Pomona?

Dear Kristin: thank you. I will look into them. Love sharon

Just checked their YouTube due to a lack of information on their site. I'm not impressed to put it mildly. They have several slideshows posted that are just cute dog pictures.

The only actual "training" they show is telling a boston terrier to "wait" and then attempting to get him to drop the ball. A very ineffective Cesar Milan type tap is used. They say they use/teach "positive motivation" only.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWeXMwkoVJ4&feature=channel&list=UL

Not effective training that is clear to the dog. There are much better options out there.

I've found YouTube to be a great tool for weeding out trainers and dog training schools.

Their site doesn't show any training that is for sure. They are having a seminar on speaking dog (dog body language).
I also looked into Karen Pryor's course for people who want to learn to be dog trainers.
There was also this ABC dog training.
That is a good idea to look on Utube. I will continue to do that.
Not making any choices right now. Trying to look into it for the futue.
Thanks for you help. sharon

I agree. I am planning to go to the norco club on next monday night.

I was looking at these sights to see about taking courses for those who want to be professional dog trainers. It is very expensive. Right now not in my budget even if I wanted to go.
ALso looked into Karen Pryor's school. They also have a course for people who just want to learn about dog body language and the basics that is about 345.00. That would be down the road as well.
Right now I am trying to get things settled for Bindi and my other dogs as far as training goes. BUt was looking for the future. Thanks for the input. Sharon

I am located between Corona and Temecula in Riverside county calif. We are not a big town and just got a petsmart, a new shopping center about 3 years ago. since we are a small town, Temecula, Murrieta, and Corona usually get everything.
Most of the dog trainers are in San Diego County. RIght now I am with cat who is at the laundermutt and does training. She is good but it is not competition type training.
tricks, walking loose on the leash. Since she has participate in rally herself she knows something about it and has helped with a few things, but she has about 7 other people in the advanced class so she can't -nor would I want her to- cater to me.
thanks so much for all your help. sharon