I'm hooked on dog classes. Shawnee and Tatum have both gone from beginner to intermediate to advanced at the local PetSmart. Shawnee now has learned a ridiculous amount of tricks (go lay down on your rug, bang!, go around, target, peekaboo, speak, etc.), Tatum has passed the CGC, and more importantly Tatum and Shawnee are now both very responsive and social dogs. They both actually occasionally used to try and fight dogs at their first classes. They never do it anymore. As for the clicker, I've tried using it a few times in the past but I always found it annoying and difficult to hold a leash in one hand, a clicker in the other hand, then switch both to one hand so my other hand is free to give the dog a treat. That sounds confusing, but anyway, I always have marked behaviors with "yes!" which is often followed by "good girl..." which is when the dog gets a treat or affection. I think dog classes are really fun too. I struck up a good friendship with the main trainer at the PetSmart near me, and I also realized I had a passion for dogs I never knew about after taking so many obedience classes and enjoying them so much. Also, you mentioned you thought about taking a private dog training lesson, you're right that they are MUCH MORE expensive. That is actually what I wanted to do with my dogs when I first started obedience classes but just 'cause I'm such a socially anxious person. When I talked to the trainer though she was very nice and talked me into going into a class with a bunch of other dogs because it would be better for my dogs in the long run and it would save me lots of money.