AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, yea or nay?

[MelonJ]

Hi all!

Just wondering if any of you put your pups through AKC STAR Puppy classes and evaluations, and if you would recommend them to other pup owners? Our local obedience club will be starting the puppy classes at the end of October and I’ve been considering it for DeSoto.

I’d just like opinions of those who’ve been through them. Any pros, any cons, any prerequisites for a more successful experience in classes, or can pups come in completely green? Those kinds of things.

 

[Panama]

We've never done Star Puppy, but then again, we have no club close enough to participate. If we did, I would certainly utilize it.

By coming in completely green, do you mean to conformation?

 

[MelonJ]

By coming in completely green, do you mean to conformation?

Oh no, I haven't the first clue about getting into conformation. He’s pretty enough to my eyes.

Just completely green to obedience in general. I wasn’t sure if STAR Puppy classes would be best suited for pups that had a foundational level of basic obedience or would be too slow-paced for one with it.

 

[Mystic]

I did the S.T.A.R. Puppy class when my boy was young. Honestly probably didn’t really need it and everything I learned was just basic stuff I already taught him myself. Not sure it was worth the money for me. It was nice to get around other young dogs though and learn to ignore them. He also got a cute medal and certificate.

 

[MelonJ]

Interesting!

It may be advantageous just to get him exposed to seeing other pups and learning to ignore them since I don’t know very many people with well socialized or balanced dogs.

 

[GennyB]

It may be advantageous just to get him exposed to seeing other pups and learning to ignore them

It IS advantageous for that very reason. And what better place than a puppy class where they all learn to ignore other dogs?
It certainly beats trying to teach it with the neighborhood dogs because most people are misinformed on what a well socialized puppy/dog is.
I would and will do it for any pup I ever have because I believe it starts to lay a solid foundation for what I am looking to do with my dogs.

 

[Ravenbird]

Agree with the above. I was able to sit in on a class and thought to myself "It's way too basic, I can do this on my own", but then realized what a good environment for the puppy: slow, easy, all pups controlled on a leash etc etc. Way better than what I've seen at Petsmart/Petco things. I'm really limited in my small town, and the Star Puppy instructor is also Obedience / Rally trainer so I'll probably end up utilizing the class for social reasons. Can't hurt, right?

 

[Kaiser2016]

While I agree you can teach most of those things yourself, I might save that for the second or third time around. For a first time Doberman owner (if I remember right, this is your first time Dobering - just like us), structured classes show you a side to your dog that you might not otherwise see. Just a heads up, it’s totally normal for your dog to be the crazy one in the class lol. They do get better, way better, and way faster than the other dogs. This puppy class sounds like a great first step...because...ugh...training never ends.

 

[Doberman Gang]

I would say if you have zero experience in training in a class setting, it might be a good learning experience. Classes or only as good as the instructors that teach them. I have seen instructors offer play time at the end of training in there puppy classses. If they are doing that I would say no thank you.

 

[WiglWerm]

We did it when Ruby was a wee baby...I think it was great to get her exposure around others, dogs as well as people. Had fun. She already knew a bit of obedience so she was a bit of a super star but there were many "green" pups too. Any training is highly recommended by me!

 

[Tropicalbri's]

Any training that puts your puppy in a controlled socialization with other puppies teaching them to ignore distractions to me is beneficial.
Our trainer when training in puppy class did not allow puppies to play together nor did he allow the owners to stand around and gossip. He is staunch on the dog learning and to enjoy learning. His theory is you can gossip and play on your own time, not in class. Puppy classes many times had older dogs in them so another thing he did not allow was flexi leads and allowing your pup to approach another dog in class. He provided a very safe and controlled training class. If you broke the rules repeatedly (2) times after being told not to do it, he would dismiss you from class. Aggressive dogs were removed from class as well and he would set up private classes to work with aggressive or reactive dogs.

 

[MelonJ]

Just wanted to update everyone:

We finished our puppy class early December. He passed (by the skin of his teeth probably LOL!) and we just received his medal and AKC cert. Thought we’d share with anyone interested!

We are currently doing Household Obedience which ends with CGC evaluation. Although he’s greatly improved since puppy classes, I think we may be going through a few rounds of Household Obedience before finally passing the CGC test, lolol. But at least we’re on the road!

Just a heads up, it’s totally normal for your dog to be the crazy one in the class lol.

...Boy was that a believed but unwelcomed truth.

 

[Ddski5]

Damn he’s a handsome boy!!

Congrats.

Where did you get him, again?

 

[Kaiser2016]

Wow what a handsome devil! And smart too! Way to go

 

[MelonJ]

Damn he’s a handsome boy!!

Congrats.

Where did you get him, again?

Thanks all! We got him from Sullinger Dobermans in the Houston, TX area.

 

[MelonJ]

Wow what a handsome devil! And smart too! Way to go

Handsome devil is appropriate given that he was in the middle of post-bath zoomies when I took this shot among a million others with him facing every which way but straight lol.

 

[Doberman Gang]

Just wanted to update everyone:

We finished our puppy class early December. He passed (by the skin of his teeth probably LOL!) and we just received his medal and AKC cert. Thought we’d share with anyone interested!

We are currently doing Household Obedience which ends with CGC evaluation. Although he’s greatly improved since puppy classes, I think we may be going through a few rounds of Household Obedience before finally passing the CGC test, lolol. But at least we’re on the road!



...Boy was that a believed but unwelcomed truth.

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Congratulations, all training should be rewarded with success. Keep it up

 

[Ravenbird]

Great to see this update & congrats on your certificate & medal! Asha and I went to our first class yesterday, she was not as crazy as I thought she'd be, but definitely the "alert" puppy in the group. Only 3 of us in this class, sadly. I was hoping for more as I'm there for exposure, as discussed above. It was still great for her. A dachshund hated on her, barking at her intensely. She thought it looked like a rat and haired up and growled, but I got her instantly distracted and humored into attention on me. She already knew the commands we started with today, but the distractions of 2 other dogs and 4 other people and strange place made me have to work for her attention. Already happy I joined up.

 

[MyBuddy]

 

[MelonJ]

Great to see this update & congrats on your certificate & medal! Asha and I went to our first class yesterday, she was not as crazy as I thought she'd be, but definitely the "alert" puppy in the group. Only 3 of us in this class, sadly. I was hoping for more as I'm there for exposure, as discussed above. It was still great for her. A dachshund hated on her, barking at her intensely. She thought it looked like a rat and haired up and growled, but I got her instantly distracted and humored into attention on me. She already knew the commands we started with today, but the distractions of 2 other dogs and 4 other people and strange place made me have to work for her attention. Already happy I joined up.

It was great socializing for DeSoto. He knew all the commands and such and was the perfect student the first class. Then the demon inside came out and he decided he’d be the crazy-whiny-eat-everything-and-forget-there’s-someone-at-the-other-end-of-the-leash-one. Thankfully all the other pups shortly followed suit, so my mental breakdown after the third class was a one-off. They were all approaching 6-7 months as well.

I don't know what happened but he shaped up considerably on the last class. Not that yours will do the same, he just totally fooled me lol! Best of luck with Asha! How old is she?

We had our first class for the CGC and he did beautifully. No excitable whining during class (although he did it before and after lol), and he actually gave me full focus and a better loose leash heal than I’d ever experienced in public with other ppl AND dogs around. We’re in the thick of doberteens now but I’m hoping this won’t be like last time and that rather his good behavior sticks. He LOVES to work and our successes sure does help reduce my anxiety and improve our relationship.