Choosing the Right Training Camp Session for Your Dog

Dog training camps come in a variety of time lengths. When choosing a training camp, there are a variety of factors to consider including the dog’s age, temperament and needs. Courses are offered in short two-week sessions or as long as eight weeks.

Lessons
Shorter camps focus on fewer lessons than longer camps. Depending on the types of things you want your pup to learn can influence the length of camp they need to attend. For example, a dog who needs to learn obedience after failed attempts may need a longer session than a six-month-old puppy eager to learn. More complicated tasks such as hunting skills also take longer to teach and learn than basic obedience commands.

Expectations
What do you expect your dog to learn while in training? Ask the dog training camps you are looking into about what they generally expect from pups based on different lengths of stay. Ideally, you should choose the one that best meets the needs of your pup along with the training expectations you have when they finish the camp. Any problems or bad habits may need longer to untrain than a younger pup. Remember that each dog is different.

Budget
For some, the decision for how long to train their pup simply comes down to budget. Each week of camp can cost several hundred dollars up to one grand. However, the time saved from someone experienced training the pup may more than outweigh the cost of the camp. Evaluate your expectations, the lessons you want the dog to learn and your budget to choose the option best for you.

Ultimately, you know your dog the best. Choose dog training camps that best meet the needs of you and your pet. Use your pet’s temperament and learning style to help you choose the right length of camp that may work best for them.