Trainer called my dog spoiled jerk!!!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

Granted, Jack is very spoiled, eats the best food, has a lot of toys, has a lot of everything, but I demand excellent behavior from him. I love him to death as you all know, but anyone that knows me in person knows, I am very strict with his behavior.

 

I was talking to another dog mom at training class tonight about getting a dog sitter to stay in my house when I go to  National Jewish Hospital and someone else brought up that our trainer dog sits. I replied that I know that but she only lets them stay outside and that Jack is not been geared toward being outside in the hot sun all day and night. That is when the trainer jumped in and said "oh yeah Jack is a spoiled brat, I am surprised he doesn't have mud boots and a rain coat for going out" I laughed and said out of spite, "well actually he has three different sets'

 

I don't know if she was insulted because I am not using her as a dog sitter or what. She ignored Jack during the class totally, and then when another dog was up in Jacks space and Jack growled at the dog, she sprayed him in the head and said "knock it off Jack quit being a jerk" The dog kept trying to wrestle with Jack and he didn't want him to so Jack growled again and she sprayed him and smacked his nose.

 

I was so upset, not because she said Jack is spoiled, He is spoiled, I know it.. He has however been able to accomplish ever task that has been asked of him and he really does a good job in class. I asked her after class because I am honestly confused. Isn't it okay for a dog to growl at another dog when they are nothering them? Isn't that how they tel them to stop? Isn't that how dogs read each other?

 

I am okay with if Jack growled at a dog as we were walking by, him being corrected and afterwards I told the trainer that, I honestly wanted to know. She back peddled quite a bit and said Yes Jack can say no and he can growl one time. So then I asked her why she called him a jerk if he was doing what is okay, She skated around the answer and I left confused. I am not trying to be defensive of my dog. I am open to correcting him but I am not okay with making him allow big dogs toss him around and him sit there and not try to correct the behavior, That just doesn't make any sense to me.

 

Like I said if the growl was unprovoked or if he was just being aggressive I would be the first one all over his little behind, I don't tolerate that. So what am I missing here?  How is Jack the jerk for telling another dog to knock it off?

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would have already dropped out of the class and asked for my money back. The only jerk in this story is the trainer. And it is very doubtful that she is qualified to be training anything, since she's clearly an ignoramus who knows nothing about dogs.

How do I know this?

1. Nobody who cares about or knows anything at all about dogs leaves them outside all the time. I don't care about cultures and regional differences, I am here to say again, absolutely and without a doubt, that nobody who cares about or knows anything at all about dogs leaves them outside all the time. Period.

2. Nobody who cares about or knows anything at all about dogs smacks them, on the nose or anywhere else. Period again.

Quit this class now. Seriously. That know-nothing masquerading as a trainer is very very lucky she didn't smack my dog on the nose. She would have found out what that feels like, and I have long nails.

[Camilla and Darwin]

You said it all.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I wholeheartedly agree, Karen!

[Smita, Ollie and Juno]

Completely agree. Couldn't have said it better.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree completely...perfect advice!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

I agree - get out now!  I'd be tempted to leave the program altogether (i.e., not just ask to switch trainers).  I'm not sure I could trust a system that hired that particular trainer.

[Leslie and Halas]

Ditto.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I feel so bad because he cried after he go smacked and then he didn't want to be in the class anymore, he kept trying to get away from the class and he was whining for my mom. I suck, I should have got up and left. I am so afraid that I am just being to protective of him . I can't believe I allowed her to smack his nose.

 

I am the jerk....Another class we need to drop.. I am demanding my money back this time... I am  just going to have to drive the hour away when I am feeling better. He already had his CGC, and he is already able to do a lot of the basic things I wanted him to do.  I will work on him at home.

 

You are right Karen, thank you!!!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

I wish I would have done that.. I feel so bad that I didn't do the right thing with him.. It is like I can't even have the ba**s to stick up for him...

 

I am going to call them tomorrow..and ask to switch trainers.. and I am not even more convinced that I am never going to be comfortable leaving Jack with anyone other then someone I know well. I am going to have to bring him on the trip since my mom refuses to stay home with him and let me go alone....

 

We did a trial run with him today doing things that we would have to do in Colorado and he did great, He sat under the table in a down stay the entire time we were in the restaurant. This was the first time I actually took him inside.... He did great in all kinds of different situations. I think as long as he is with me, or my mom and we handle the situation.

Otherwise I am going to be worried someone is mistreating him. If a certified trainer can do this to Jack who the heck can you trust??

 

I.

 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

So sorry, but don't hesitate about getting your money back AND reporting the trainer. We got our money back from a kennel club, love the place but the trainer was NOT good at all. My husband had issues with another trainer saying rude things to him and that Chloe doesn't respect him and for the one time in his life he said NOTHING back! He hated her but kept going because of the $ but Iknow Choe didn't get what she needed out of that class because DH stopped listening after that day. There are SO many place to train this lady is very unproessional. I would have grabbed the bottle and sprayed her and left! Also private trainers??

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Is this the same class you had an issue with inappropriate dog behavior the first night?  If so, then you really should have taken the hint the first night and not returned.  If not, there must not be good classes where you live. The trainer was unprofessional and you should request a refund and find someone else.

Spoiled - ok

Jerk - not ok at all!

[Pat and Traveler]

You know who the jerk is here!  I would never let that woman anywhere near my dog again.  Like Karen said--it's not okay to leave a dog out all night and day, and it's not okay to smack a dog.  You were absolutely in the right!