What would you do?

[debrand]

Trying to find puppy classes in my area that run over the summer. I had found fantastic classes with Jet and was hoping to take Finn to them but they don't start until September . Finn will be 4 months old by then. Only other classes are 40 mins drive away or with a behaviourist I have used before. Trouble is I really don't like him although he is certainly good at training dogs  Not only is he heavily into teaching your dog he is bottom of the pack but he seems to need to make humans realise that they are below him ion the pack  Always being sarcastic and putting people down.  Also he insists on doing a home visit before you can join his classes. Having had one years ago with him it consisted of him insulting myself, my husband and my home 
Should I go ahead and grin and bear it or wait until September for the other classes to start? 

[SkyeSue]

oh gosh, he sounds pretty grim  I'm no expert, but I would wait till September if I were you. It's not that long away and meanwhile, I'm sure you will be able to work with Finn on the basics and socialising etc.

[Sarah.H]

I wouldn't go to him  . Do you have friends with steady dogs that you can meet up with until September for socialisation and perhaps do some training together?

[debrand]

I wouldn't go to him  . Do you have friends with steady dogs that you can meet up with until September for socialisation and perhaps do some training together?

We have two dogs as well as Finn, my sister has two dogs, my mum has a little Cocker, as does my friend and another friend has a mad but bidable boxer pup so he gets to play with lots of other dogs (and gets told off by them  ). We are working on the basics with him and he is a bright boy 

[Karma]

I would wait till September... I'd rather wait than go to someone who's methods I didn't like... (and who I didn't like) 

Honey was 3 months when she started, and she was our first dog - there was one older pup and the others were younger, but it didn't really seem to make much difference...

[Joules]

I would wait till September... I'd rather wait than go to someone who's methods I didn't like... (and who I didn't like) 

Me too - I would definitely avoid this guy 

You can do lots of socialisation and basic training at home before you start classes 

[Sarah.H]

I wouldn't go to him  . Do you have friends with steady dogs that you can meet up with until September for socialisation and perhaps do some training together?

We have two dogs as well as Finn, my sister has two dogs, my mum has a little Cocker, as does my friend and another friend has a mad but bidable boxer pup so he gets to play with lots of other dogs (and gets told off by them  ). We are working on the basics with him and he is a bright boy 

Perhaps you could all get together and have a pretend puppy class  .

[Helen]

I would wait till September... I'd rather wait than go to someone who's methods I didn't like... (and who I didn't like) 

Me too - I would definitely avoid this guy 

You can do lots of socialisation and basic training at home before you start classes 

wot they said, definitely 

[BarbaraW]

I agree with the others - I would wait until Sept and join the class both you and your dog will enjoy and work on the basics training  you learned with your previous dog during the summer.    

[Mudmagnets]

I would wait till September... I'd rather wait than go to someone who's methods I didn't like... (and who I didn't like) 

Me too - I would definitely avoid this guy 

You can do lots of socialisation and basic training at home before you start classes 

wot they said, definitely 

Me too, I certainly would not go with that chap, specially as there are alternatives 

[Rats and Dogs]

Same view here, don't go to him, wait until September.  Meanwhile, meet up with the other dogs and have plenty of fun training/play sessions.

Why pay someone to insult you when you can get insulted for free?!

[minimoo]

Same view here, don't go to him, wait until September.  Meanwhile, meet up with the other dogs and have plenty of fun training/play sessions.

Why pay someone to insult you when you can get insulted for free?!

       i have to agree, youve got plenty of dogs and people for him to meet, and sept not that far off, do your own training with him until then

[Mudmagnets]

It does seem a shame to me that I have no doubt many behaviourists have the best intentions to help both dogs and owners with problems, there do seem to be a few putting the  reputations of many good ones in a bad light.

IMHO There is no need whatever to insult people, but because they have probably seen it on the sainted telly programmes these bods think it is ok to say whatever, and treat people however they want.

If someone came to me on my invite and started blasting off - think I would be inclined to show them the door, and get Smudgie to bite their bum on the way out 

[stuffster]

Run, run like the wind, in the opposite direction to him. I went to a puppy class where the woman was lovely to the dogs but HORRIBLE to the owners. I used to end up feeling close to tears at the end of every session!

[debrand]

Thanks for all the advice. Contacted Sandra. Classes start 2 week Sept so we'll wait until then and keep working with him. It's not like he is a terror-but he will be by then probably