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A30 FEATURE
Friday 10 July 2020
Virtual training can be good for trainers, owners and dogs

By LINDA LOMBARDI person or to help the dog.”
Jennifer Stile was appre- Technology also offers
hensive when she found some benefits that would
out that training classes for be harder to provide in
her puppy Josie would be person. It’s easy to share
moving online because of video to demonstrate a
the pandemic. technique, and rewind or
“Initially I said I’d wait till it’s slow-mo to focus on details.
over,” says Stile, who was It’s easy to record class, so
taking a class at My Fan- some trainers share video
tastic Friend in Ellicott City, to help you review what
Maryland. “But then I real- was covered. And looking
ized that it wasn’t going to at video of yourself work-
be over fast enough, and ing with your dog can let
I knew I needed to train you see more clearly what
my dog and I didn’t have your trainer is talking about
the tools to do that without when she gives you feed-
help.” back.
So she took the plunge — There are some downsides
and she’s glad she did. to online training for pup-
“I’d been trying to watch py classes, where practic-
YouTube videos and do ing good dog-dog play
it on my own, but I wasn’t and providing exposure to
getting that instant feed- strange people and situa-
back, knowing if I was do- tions is a big part of the cur-
ing it correctly,” she says. riculum. But experts stress
“Having that feedback that doing puppy classes
from a trainer who was in- at the right age is critical,
vested in me and my dog and online classes are still
and getting to know my This May 25, 2020 computer screen capture shows an online training session with dog Trig and his effective.
dog, it was much more suc- owner, in New York, conducted by Kate LaSala via Zoom. “It’s easy to do a video ses-
cessful than I thought.” Associated Press sion to address normal pup-
In fact, many trainers are py behaviors like play biting
finding that holding classes for dogs. with other dogs around. offering private sessions on- and jumping and mouth-
and private sessions on- One plus is that the setting is “People make progress line for several years. ing,” says LaSala. “All that
line via videoconference less distracting than that of more quickly, which I think “I have found that doing can be done remotely and
is more than a stopgap: the typical in-person group is encouraging for them, these types of cases re- be very successful.”
There are advantages for class that takes place in and it’s more efficient,” motely is often easier on In addition, your trainer will
them, for their clients and an unfamiliar environment says Kelly Lee of Dog Kind the dog, because they give you exercises to so-
Training in Davis, Califor- don’t have a stranger cialize your puppy to the
nia. “And many dogs who coming into the house,” environment. Stiles says the
could never do an in- she says. “It’s less stressful advice worked for her.
person class can come to for the dog, and less stress- “She gave us really great
these, because they’re still ful for the people.” ideas, like sit on your front
in their comfort zone.” This makes learning easier, lawn and watch the bikes
Maura Knestout found as Knestout discovered go by and the garbage
that to be true for her ter- with Mia. truck and the UPS person.
rier mix Mia. “An in-person “We were actually able Go on walks so they can
group class wouldn’t have to speed up the process see other dogs, and give
worked out for us, because because we didn’t have them a treat so they have
she wouldn’t have been someone coming in our a positive association with
able to focus,” she says. house and making her the world around them,”
“Doing the group class on- nervous,” she says. “Once she says. “My dog is so well
line, I was able to see the we switched to online, she socialized — she can walk
other dogs, and see how zoomed through the pri- across any surface, she can
their handlers were work- vate lessons.” hear any noise, the door-
ing with them, but we were The ultimate goal of dog bell rings and she doesn’t
in our own space, so she training, LaSala says, is to bark, and she’s really great
could focus better.” provide owners with the with dogs and humans.”
It can be less distracting for tools to work with their own And as we’re all learning
the people, as well: They dogs, not for the trainer to these days, online can give
can focus on what is being do it. And although each us some of the other things
taught without having to dog owner’s problems may we need as well. “I got to
worry about wrangling their feel unique, there’s usually see my dog friends every
dog in an overstimulating no need for her to see the week and see how they
environment. animal in action. were progressing, and that
For certain behavior issues, “I know what food guard- was fun,” says Stile. “And
online training may be the ing looks like. I know what especially in this weird
best way, pandemic or not. stranger danger looks like,” pandemic time, it gave
Maura Knestout and her dog Mia, who have taken online train- Kate LaSala, who specializ- she says. “I don’t need to me something to look for-
ing classes, pose for a photo in Sykesville, Md. es in problems like pet fear instigate the dog to see ward to, and a goal each
Associated Press and aggression, has been that behavior to help the week.”q