PetSmart Group training classes offer obedience training that is appropriate for both adult dog training as well as puppy training. Before you make a decision, let’s take a closer look at what these well-known pet store programs offer and see if they’re the right fit for you and your pup.
PetSmart Dog and Puppy Training Review
We tried to find good PetSmart dog training reviews but there weren’t many and we came away with mixed opinions. We decided to give it a try so we took our 6 month old puppy, a Chow/Lab mix, to our local PetSmart dog obedience training class and put them to the test.
You may find there is little difference between the Puppy Class and the Beginner Class. In our case there were five other puppy’s there with their owners so ours was effectively a puppy training class. They ranged in size from a little Chihuahua to a very skittish mixed breed medium-large dog. Among the dog owners there was an early teen and her parent, a young couple, two lady’s and a thirty something man.
Note that in our Beginner Class there was no real discussion about potty training.
The Promise vs. The Reality
PetSmart offers a range of classes, from puppy training to advanced obedience. However, the actual experience often falls short of the glossy brochure promises.
What You Can Expect
- Basic “sit” and “down” commands
- Socialization opportunities
- A structured learning environment
What You Might Miss Out On
- Comprehensive obedience training
- Effective solutions for behavioral issues
- Personalized attention for your dog’s unique needs
The Trainer Factor
We learned that in the training class, a lot hinges on the PetSmart trainer you get. How much do they care about the dogs training? Are they happy to work with the owners and teach them dog training? Are they a truly professional dog trainer?
PetSmart sends their potential dog trainers to their own PetSmart company specific trainers class to learn the official techniques to use in their PetSmart dog training classes. They use a form of positive reinforcement training, which I feel is an effective and humane way to work with your dog.
Our instructor was friendly and seemed to genuinely want the dogs and their owners to succeed. More than once, however, he commented how he would like to do things differently but “this is how PetSmart requires us to do it.”
This seemed unprofessional to me. Don’t tell me what we can’t have just to build yourself up and don’t put down your employer that we have chosen to work with.
How Much Does PetSmart Dog Training Cost
Note that PetSmart classes are the same price at all locations. This means that if you live in a very expensive place like New York City it may seem like a relatively low price. If you live in Little Rock Arkansas, though, not so much.
PetSmart Dog Training Class Cost
PetSmart has different levels of classes. While their prices may change without notice, they have remained consistent for a good while. Here are their prices as of this writing.
Note that each week is actually one training session. So six weeks of training classes will actually be six training sessions.
| Class Level | Length | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy Training | 6 weeks | $149 |
| Beginner Training | 6 weeks | $149 |
| Intermediate Training | 6 weeks | $149 |
| Advanced Training | 6 weeks | $149 |
| Fundamental Package | 12 weeks | $249 |
| Advanced Package | 12 weeks | $249 |
| Premium Package | 18 weeks | $355 |
In the six weeks beginner training, we were unable to get to most of the things that were mentioned in the brochure. We all succeeded in getting our dogs to sit on command. Most got their dogs to obey the “down” command.
I hoped that in the 6 weeks, we and our dog would come away with a good set of basic obedience skills. Unfortunately, the “stay” command and anything beyond that was out of reach in the 6 weeks PetSmart class. To go further, we were told we would have to buy the intermediate class.
I was disappointed that most of what the literature seems to indicate would be accomplished in the six weeks of obedience training was not even attempted. The dogs learned to sit on command but would get right back up.
Overall it was not what I expected.
Example PetSmart Training Class
Note the jumping up and inappropriate behavior during the lesson.
PetSmart Training Graduation
This is a graduation. They have completed the 6 week course. It really only shows several dogs attempting to heel. In each case, the heel is decisively unimpressive.
PetSmart Dog Training Pros
- You work with your own puppy
- You see how other dogs and their owners behave
- You meet other pet owners
PetSmart Dog Training Cons
- Expensive
- Not as effective as I would like. In the brochure they talk about all sorts of cool stuff, but in the 6 weeks beginner class you’ll likely come away with your dog being able to “sit” on command and “down”.
- Quick learners are held back by the slowest of the group
- Many distractions make it harder to train. There are other dogs in the group classes. Their dog training classes are held inside the PetSmart store in their open training area. People walk by with their pets gawking at the training. Dogs barking as they walk by.
Conclusion – Are PetSmart Training Classes Worth It?
If you want to meet other dogs and dog owners, maybe PetSmart’s training classes could be for you. Or maybe you could just go to the dog park. Most any dog park will offer the socialization you and your dog crave. Many even have separate areas for small dogs and large dogs, which PetSmart group classes do not provide.
If your goal is to train your dog to have basic manners and obey, you can do a lot better for less money.
Recommendation
Skip PetSmart and try something more effective. I recommend that you try this FREE Online Video Training and see if you don’t get better results and get them faster. With this online dog training class, you and your dog will learn a lot more than you will at PetSmart. Seriously, you really should at least check it out – it’s free.
Read our Sit Means Sit review.
Read our PetCo review.
