I agree with what the others have already said. I think the PetSmart classes CAN be good, but please watch a class or two first, and evaluate the instructor.
Darby & I signed up for a Puppy class at PetSmart when she was 4 months old. In our small class were a small terrified chihuahua, a vicious large Heinz 57 mix (all he did was growl & bark at everybody), and a beagle. I must admit I was a little nervous seeing the mix during out first class - with Darby, a sweet (& impressionable) 4 month-old. I was shocked that the trainer was even allowing a dog with outward obvious signs of aggression in a "puppy socialization" class!!!! :shock:
Well, during the "puppy play-time" during our FIRST class, the BEAGLE (not the dog I would have expected in this mix!) latched onto her back viciously growling, started to shake & wouldn't let go (and no, this wasn't "play"). Darby was screaming, and as I lunged forward to separate the two dogs & rescue my baby girl, the "trainer" intervened and told me to "let them work things out on their own." :yikes :yikes :yikes ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!??? Oh Hell, no! Not at the expense of my poor terrified puppy (who was still screaming - & now bleeding!)! :x :x :x Needless to say, I promptly threw the beagle off of her, scooped her up, and after a few *choice* words immediately left the class & demanded a refund!
I was absolutely ABHORED at the reaction of this trainer of what was a traumatic & terrifying event for Darby! Darby didn't need any training (I had already been working with her for quite sometime)... we were strictly going for the "socialization." :bang: This was NOT the socialization that I expected, and did not want to traumatize her to the point of being terrified of other dogs (which she was for a while, after the beagle incident)! Fortunately, I was quick to get her around other friendly and trustworthy dogs for long extended visits, and she fortunately has NO problems any more (she'll walk right up to a snarling Rottweiler now!) :roll:
So, go with your gut, and please find a trainer that you trust and uses correct methods. Needless to say, I learned my lesson.....