class, so some trainers share video to help you
review what was covered. And looking at video
of yourself working with your dog can let you
see more clearly what your trainer is talking
about when she gives you feedback.
There are some downsides to online training
for puppy classes, where practicing good dog-
dog play and providing exposure to strange
people and situations is a big part of the
curriculum. But experts stress that doing puppy
classes at the right age is critical, and online
classes are still effective.
“It’s easy to do a video session to address normal
puppy behaviors like play biting and jumping
and mouthing,” says LaSala. “All that can be done
remotely and be very successful.”
In addition, your trainer will give you exercises to
socialize your puppy to the environment. Stiles
says the advice worked for her.
“She gave us really great ideas, like sit on your
front lawn and watch the bikes go by and the
garbage truck and the UPS person. Go on walks
so they can see other dogs, and give them a
treat so they have a positive association with the
world around them,” she says. “My dog is so well
socialized — she can walk across any surface,
she can hear any noise, the doorbell rings and
she doesn’t bark, and she’s really great with dogs
and humans.”
And as we’re all learning these days, online can
give us some of the other things we need as
well. “I got to see my dog friends every week
and see how they were progressing, and that
was fun,” says Stile. “And especially in this weird
pandemic time, it gave me something to look
forward to, and a goal each week.”