My experience

Having never owned dogs before me and my partner weren't sure quite what to expect.  We weren't quite prepared for the bouncing hyperactive dog we ended up with.  Our first thought was "What have we let ourselves in for here".  So we decided to try some obedience classes to see if it would help.  I think when you first enter obedience classes there should be a warning on the door saying "Do not enter unless you are prepared to look daft", the dog doesn't do a thing you want it to do. 

However through perseverance and good guidance from a good trainer slowly but surely you get to see improvements and you get to look less daft each week at club.  We found that the enjoyment of seeing everybody look daft often dampened the effect of how bad we were!  As strange is it may sound, it was a very enjoyable hour we would spend doing obedience.  Our trainer had a relaxed approach to the training, which in turn meant that the group (including dogs) would relax and in turn the owners and dogs would learn more.

Me and my partner now have three dogs, all have attended obedience classes and all have made us look stupid at some (or many) points.  However all three are well behaved and a joy to live with.

Both of us are very glad we chose to do obedience and all five of us live happily together. I believe that attending obedience classes means that you and your dogs lives can be much more fulfilling.  Besides when else do you get to pay to look daft!!