Author Topic: Trainers  (Read 1878 times)

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Offline phoenix

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Trainers
« on: May 30, 2022, 07:28:51 PM »
How have peoples experiences with trainers been?
I went to one which I left immediately. It was the walking in a circle chasing the bum  of the dog in front.
Another that I phoned was only interested Good Citizen awards.  Also she requested that all rescue dogs were to be assessed individually before joining the classes of nice doggies. For this she wanted £50!!
My first and best, understood cockers and all dogs with issues.He started in business after adopting a large adult dog that attacked him , but the rescue had a behaviourist work with him and he then chose to change his career.  Lessons were were based round cones and squares and fun games. Dogs were busy and happy.
I returned to him for monthly private lessons with a seemingly aggressive terrier . We made a loads of progress but he admitted that some dogs like lairy terriers had  instincts that made them little bu***rs.
It was money well spent, I learnt so much. One session a months cost the same as a weekly class.
  My advice to new dog owners is to ask to sit in a trainer’s class without your dog. A good one will allow this .’
RIP Marti  the EPI springer age 12,  and beloved black cocker Bobby, 8 yrs old, too soon, from PLN.
Now owned by TInker, tiny hairy grey poodle/terrier rescue from Greece and Jack, local rescue,   scruffy ginger terrier mutt.

Offline bizzylizzy

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Re: Trainers
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2022, 06:33:16 AM »
Lessons were based around cones and squares and fun games

And that, folks, is the secret!!!!!   
Training pups is like teaching children, it can either be a laborious chore trying to instill knowledge into bored subjects who‘d rather be doing something else or it can tap into their natural eagerness to learn by keeping the interest and fun element.
We have a new, young trainer at club and I wish I‘d met her 7 years ago, she sets her training up in exactly the way you describe, - a typical example is recall, where she has a box of toys, treats, games, ( the „nose“ dogs are allowed to sniff out their treats, far more fun!) sorts - every time the dog comes back successfully, there’s an unexpected surprise.
With the recent boom in dog ownership there are „trainers“ springing up out of nowhere, a lot of them eager to make a fast dollar, so its worth shopping around for one who you and your dog are comfortable with. Its not a bad idea to aim for an award in the long term, it does work as an incentive to keep practising but it shouldn’t put any pressure on the training because you have to have reached the standard in a set time.
I‘m not a trainer, all my observances are based on 7 years of cocker ownership and all I can say is „wish I‘d known then what I know now“ - training a cocker is a challenge but it doesn’t have to be blood, sweat and tears, it CAN be fun, it just needs the right approach!

This was last Sunday, - Egg and Spoon race, - walking to heel (well sort of  :005:), impulse control and lots of hurdles etc built in. My dog isn’t very mobile now but he loves this sort of training and its brilliant for bonding,

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Offline Finvarra

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Re: Trainers
« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2022, 01:30:13 PM »
Absolutely, Phoenix, about sitting in on a class. The first time we took Dylan out as a pup after his jabs and let his feet touch the ground, a stupid women let her Jack Russell pounce on him and snap, which naturally frightened him. I looked for a class to socialise him, phoned the trainer and told her what had happened, she seemed OK on the phone. I took him to the church hall and walked in , and there were several dogs running around off lead, having a whale of a time, but a blooming great Airedale and a Husky,  very intimidating for Dylan’s. I picked him up, and the trainer told me to put him down as 'it would make him think he was a big dog' !?!?!?!. I sat through the lesson with him under the chair, he wouldn't come out. It all seemed very chaotic and I knew it wouldn't suit us at all. Found another class where it was much more disciplined and the trainer was understanding that he had been frightened and everything was calm. He gradually got over his reluctance for other dogs, although to this day he doesn't like bouncy dogs charging at him. Definitely check a class out before committing I would say.
Many years ago I belonged to a dog training club, two of us did the show training, other did the obedience,a nod it was relaxed and we made it fun for the dogs, without letting it all run riot. I think there are trainers out there who haven't got a clue, you have to kiss a few frogs to find a good one 🙂
Remembering All the dogs of my life, especially Milo