Im apprehensive of going to my doggy training class.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

I am worried about Sunday's up and coming doggy training class. Yesterday was the 2 hour intro class without the dogs by the "Certified Master Trainer". The gist of it is they dont believe in treat rewards. The dog is trained to do what it is expected to do by the leader of the pack, and it does it because we expect it to , not for a reward. The reward if there is one being a pat or a kind word. Collars are mandatory for training classes either choke chain or prong collar. They brought their dog, a German Sheperd, who was in the crate the whole time till it was time do "demonstrate" The dog was on the ball alright, it responded immediately and impressively to all commands but he was in a semi slink position the whole time with ears flat and tail low. To me it looked the dog was scared sheetless to get anything wrong. Didnt look like a proud regal, tall postured GS at all. Is this what well trained dogs look like? Are they supposed to look scared? I dont want to judge beforehand and feel like they are hardasses...but should a dog look like that? Walking low in slink/crouch, flat ears, tail low, eyes on master???

Some weird homewrok consists of spitting in the bowl before I feed the dog, which I am to feed only after I eat myself. We dont do this at all. We have 3 free grazers. I just fill them in the morning and they graze here and there during the day. I refill at night.

How am I going to deal if she expects me to yank my dog harder than I want to etc....

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Quit now! This is not a good fit for you at all. To really learn and want to practice you have to feel safe and comfortable in the learning situation. Collars, slinking, and spitting aside, you are not happy, your dog is therefore not going to be happy and any learning that does happen is not going to be worth it.

Look around for a different trainer. Most trainers who are also good at teaching people how to train there own dogs are willing to be somewhat flexible, because they know that lots of different things do work. This type of trainer will also be willing to meet with you at no charge, with your dog, for a discussion of their type of teaching. Somtimes it comes at a fairly hefty price, but sometimes you find a really great teacher at the local kennel club.

Good luck and keep looking until you find a good fit!

[Julie Mison]

hmmm...we are looking into more training for our Chewie as well. The one we found also does not believe in "treat training" which makes me a bit nervous since Chewie is so oooo food motivated. I just assumed they use positive reinforcement methods since that seems so commonplace now in the field but your post has me wanting to question it. They also do "drop off" training where they will work with your dog during the day...5,10 or 21 days and then give you a lesson and homework when you pick your pup up. You can do this with or without classes. Her literature also says she is a Certified Master Trainer...hope that doesnt mean she does the methods you are speaking of.

Well...didn't mean to go on and on. I do think YOU need to be comfortable with the trainer and approack. Best of luck to you (and us! ) LOL.

Looking forward to hearing more.

[Adina P]

Don't assume it's positive only. But don't assume all training with corrections is bad training either. It can go EITHER way with EITHER mode of training as there are variations on each side. I would only be hesitant to 'drop off' my dog if I didn't know exactly how they trained and approved.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I would look around. I really liked our trainer, who uses the typical positive reinforcement. She is a certified behavioralist, etc... Just this morning I was working with Peri, who is mastering "go to your spot". She smiles the whole time I train her - I think that she respects me as her master, but also thinks training is fun. In my opinion, that is the way to go!
Please keep us updated - maybe this is a good method, just not sure.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

When I took Hannah for her 1st set of obedience classes I thought our trainer would be the same. Her kennel is a Golden Retriever kennel and at first I really thought this trainer didn't have a clue. At about 18wks of age is when Hannah started, and NEVER in all my years of training with all kinds of dogs did they "Start" on a choke or prong collar, that has been something that has been usually determined after about the 2nd or 3rd class if it is needed. By week two of our classes there was a chocolate lab that needed to be on a choke collar, and week three the Bernese Mt. Dog was added to that list, and by week 5 Barley was doing great...I have a pic of Hannah, Barley, and Kelly who were all 8 months of age walking in uniform together no leashes....trainer always refered to them as the incredible three. If you notice in the pic..none of these dogs are scared, their tails are all different ways, and they all were very confident, and paying attention to us their owners/instructor. Dogs in front of them were on leashes.... A confident, trained dog will at all times keep their eyes and attention on its owner, that is what they should live for (pleasing you). Never forgot this either, the very first time I did obedience classes our instructor said if you can remember the three P's you will go far with dog obedience training, Practice, Patient's, and lots of Praise, you would be amazed at what the tone of your voice can say to a dog. Find someone else who you are happy with...most trainers who are treat oriented are also praise oriented.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, a combo of treats and praise is A+ in my book!

[Karen & Lucy]

It doesn't sound like a place I would like Lucy to be trained. Look around.

[GBK]

I took one set of classes with a girlfriend that recommended her trainer. She raised and showed dobermans and my girlfriend had a doberman. It was horrible! They used a choke collar, which I was ok with. That is how I trained Buddy to heel, but this lady used a snauzer puppy to demonstrate how to get a sit by pulling up on the leash until this babies front feet were off the ground and she finally but her bottom on the ground. She tried to demonstrate a few things with Buddy, but he wanted nothing to do with her. He hated to go to training, and was the most ill behaved dog there, and we had a couple of training classes before this. When I signed back up with our original trainer, the change in his attitude was AMAZING. We have stayed with this trainer now for over 3 years and when I ask if he wants to go to training class, he bowls me over in his excitement.
Please watch your pup for signs of unease. If I would have realized that he wasn't just being a brat, but really did not click with the environment or the instructor I would have stopped going. I know better now, and I want happy, willing dogs in our triaining. We do treat training and I will start Kona on the Vollhard slip collar soon, as this is what I used with great succes on Buddy. Good Luck, I hope it all works out for you.

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

Get your money back before the class starts. Ask other places what techniques they use BEFORE you give over any money. Also ask to sit in on a class without your dog to see if this is what you want. Training should be fun, not fear and torture. I'm sure you want your dog to obey because it loves and respects you, not out of fear.

I have heard of mixing the dogs food with your hands, which I do, before I feed mine. Shepherds do have a sort of crouching gate, but the ears should not be flat. In obedience work, the eyes should be on their master, to wait for the next command, verbal or hand signal. Good luck!

[Libby & Bentley]

Back out..if anything is making you apprehensive, you're not going to be able to apply yourself completely..and thus will be wasting your time and your dogs time. Take a class which has values similar to yours.

[Gina and Finn]

I feel for you. It is so hard with so many different styles and opinions and since your choices are limited I understand wanting to have SOME guidance from an "expert". I am about 4 weeks into a training class at a place that trains show dogs-not my thing- but I am finding that while they make recommendations on what they think is best they can't make anyone do it that way. Perhaps if you go a few times, and use what feels right and seems to work for you ,you will get something from it. Obviously if you are uncomfortable the whole time it may be better to walk away. Where I am going they did discuss their belief in prong collars and then put it on my arm so I could feel it since I was reluctant. I don't use one and only one person in the class does (but I am not saying I won't someday). Honestly I was glad because it was a lady in her late sixties with a hip replacement who has a huge Belgian she just rescued and the trainers were concerned she wouldn't be able to control him in class.He seems very comfortable with her now and while he is not trained ,he is happily under control and they are doing better together every week. I have been asking people in the park when we are walking about their collars and what they think. Getting some who love gentle leader but almost every lab owner likes the prong collar.
Finn is the youngest in the class and by far the worst at pulling me. He is 6 mos old and 40 lbs of adorable but he is strong .Someone else mentioned there are lots of great books out there and there are-as well as some great shows on animal planet etc. I would go with my instinct and find the ones that work for you and disregard the ones that don't or train for behaviors that are not a priority for you. Some of these show dogs are highly disciplined but highly antisocial. The other "students" in your class are sometimes really helpful and nice to get to know too.
Hope I am not adding to the confusion..... :)

[Kyoko]

I think dog wants to please us by doing what we like. We - human - just have to teach them what we like them to do, and how. I like positive approach, so they are happy to learn and excited to please us.
I just started the method to keep Charlie from mouthing, and this method is the only method so far being taught by her trainer ( Everything else is totally positive reinforcement base, and I really like her approaches ) which is correction base / negative reinforcement. ( Intervention rather than prevention). All I am doing is blowing the wistle softly when she mouth, but she really hates it and go hide under the piano bench. While I am glad that it is working ( I only had to blow it twice so far in 3 days) , but I feel sad looking at her going to hide..... I think this is what negative reinforcement does, which induces fear, shame, or some other negative feelings. May be I am thinking into it too much, but I am glad I only had to do it ( blowing the wistle) twice because while she need to stop mouthing, I don't want her to feel afraid.