Dog Training Session With Kids – Would you enroll your kids in training for them and your family dog?
I am thinking about holding training for kids and their family dogs, teaching the children how to train and work with their dog. We would cover things like basic commands such as sit, and fun tricks and games too. Is this something you would enroll you child in?
If so, how long should each class be?
How many weeks should the classes run?
How much should the classes cost?
What would be your concerns?
Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks!
We don’t like the idea of combining a lot of kids and a lot of dogs that don’t know each other in the same room — even if their parents are there, but… Here are some suggestions:
Dogs usually cannot concentrate on training for more than 15 minutes at a time; so I’d limit the classes to 30 minutes.
Run the classes for about 6 weeks to see how everyone does. You can always expand the classes later if you want to.
People who have kids don’t have a lot of excess money to spend on the dogs’ training, so limit the cost to about $20 a session.
Concerns:
You’d better have plenty of liability insurance to cover any injuries, accidents, or bites that occur. The liability issues mount with every kid and dog added to the mix. Children are often “loud” and “unpredictable” around dogs they don’t know and the dogs may go nuts with all of the overstimulation provided by the kids. Keep in mind that parents can’t watch BOTH their human child and their fur-child at the same time. Horrible mishaps can happen in a second…
Don’t let any dog into the class that isn’t current on ALL of its vaccinations (including rabies and Bordatella). That means, no dogs younger than 4 months.
Don’t let any female dogs into the class that are pregnant or in heat.
Have an orientation class without the kids or dogs first — just the parents/dog owners — to let them know what is expected of them in class; what behaviors are allowed /disallowed; where the “time-out corner is; what sort of discipline you’ll allow for the kids and dogs (corporal punishment, adversives, etc.); how to “read” a dog’s body language, etc …
Have a detailed plan already written out in case the dogs start fighting, including all of your emergency numbers for ambulance / vets/ etc.
Make sure everyone signs off on a document that specifies what the course entails, what you’re liable for, and what they’re liable for.
You’re taking on a lot here… We wish you the best.
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