Awful puppy class - just a bit shocked

[Skyempress]

I was so excited about taking Snowy to her first puppy class today.  Well we got there and straight away I should have gone with my guy feeling and left but I didn't.

We went in and had a chat with the trainer who immediately told us that he didn't like extendable leads and it is more difficult to pull the dog and put it in position and demonstrated this on another puppy by literally manhandling it in to a sit next to him.  Saying that every time it moves you have to pull it back in and put it in a sit.

But he was not the trainer for the puppy class and I had paid my money so I stuck around.  Firstly there was one trainer for about 12 pups who told us that there would be off lead time and we had to just ignore the puppies and if there was a situation that needed sorting out she would do it.  OK this is fine with me, Snowy is a bit of a scaredy cat and needs to learn.  Well there was one puppy there, only a week older than her but huge, about 4 times the size of her.  He ran over, she lay on her back and then he had a smell and pinned her there, for ages, the thing is that he also chased away any other pups that wanted to get to her and nobody did anything.  To my mind he was being very rude and a bit of a bully but they just let him get on with it.   

Finally and the last straw was being told that the way to teach the puppy to walk to heel was to just keep tugging the lead and saying "uh-uh" in a low voice until they walked next to us.

Anyway, I will not be going back there and have found a positive trainer (recommended by a fellow cocker forum person) and start with her next week.

Shudder!  that was just horrible.

[Ruby Tuesday]

Doesn't sound good at all!!im glad you've found an alternative.

The only thing I would agree with is that long leads aren't good for training. We do use them if we are walking somewhere where we don't trust the dogs off lead, like a cliff edge, but we use a normal lead for training.

Best of luck with the new trainer

[Chillis]

Sounded like a right free for all! wouldn't want to go back either!

[Sarah.H]

Poor Snowy 

One of our cockers had a nervous temperament and had a similar bad experience at a 'puppy class'. Unfortunately it only reinforced his fear and he was always nervous afterwards   

[Walshies]

Had a similar experience - the class was disorganised, had too many dogs and was complete chaos! We are in the middle of Wales there is only this class for a few miles therefore we trained him ourselves. We were worried about him not being able to mix with other dogs but to be honest he has plenty of inter action near our home.

[Skyempress]

Well luckily it doesn't seem to have done any lasting damage.  We met a couple of lovely adult golden retrievers today in the park and they all had a lovely run about together.

[Clover]

I had one of those experiences, luckily I viewed the class prior to enrolling.  The guy did a karate chop on the table ( I thought it was going to fall in two) he shouted, we tell them 'NO' whilst banging down on the table. Also, he said, I will show you how to put a choke chain on correctly    I left via the back door, I had seen enough.  Luckily, found another really positive class, really enjoyed it.  Glad you've found an alternative.

[CateW]

What an awful experience. Glad no harm was done and I'm happy you have found a good trainer instead. 

[Skyempress]

I'm so glad that I went with my gut and decided not to go back.

I was speaking to a friend and she said it would be like putting you toddler on the naughty step and not telling them why.

I'm looking forward to next Tuesday now 

[piph]

I had one of those experiences, luckily I viewed the class prior to enrolling.  The guy did a karate chop on the table ( I thought it was going to fall in two) he shouted, we tell them 'NO' whilst banging down on the table. Also, he said, I will show you how to put a choke chain on correctly    I left via the back door, I had seen enough.  Luckily, found another really positive class, really enjoyed it.  Glad you've found an alternative.

I can't believe that there are still 'trainers' (and I use the word loosely!) like this around!  We joined a puppy class that used positive methods, but Ozzy was far to excitable to get much from it, and although the trainer was a lovely lady, she spent too much time explaining, and not enough 'doing'.  It was a bit of a waste of £60!!!

[Lily Freya]

Good for you, walking away.

I hope you didn't pay a lot in advance.  

Good luck with the new trainer.......  

[Mudmagnets]

Just the sort of expericence you and puppy don't need - glad you had the good sense to walk away.

Good luck with your new trainer