Discouraged with training class

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Well, last night was our second training class.  There are only 2 of us.  I was early ...as usual.  And the other student was  late : (  She has a giant schnauzer that is VERY unruly...Her owner has no control over her and she is only 5 months old.

 

I felt bad for the trainer and her husband.  You could see their frustration with her.  You could tell she had not worked with the puppy at all.  She still was using the retractable leash that they told her not to use or bring to class urgh....

 

I feel like Bailey and I were a little forgotten about so they could both work with this dog to get it under some control.  Janie the schnauzer was even jumping and becoming agressive witht he trainer.  And this guy is a big and burley ex USMC with a big booming voice. 

 

Wally the trainer did get her under his control but as soon as he handed Janie over to her owner, she went right back to her bad behaviors since the owner had not a clue what to do since she had not worked with her at all last week...

 

I know it is only our second class but geez people can we practice with our dogs to help them out and not expect them to just know what to do all the time. 

 

I will give her 1 more week to get it together and then if it doesn't work out I will see if I can change classes.....

 

As for Bailey, she did pretty well.  She was so focused on her treats that she kept going for my pockets. We have lots ot practice this week.  Hopefully she ..and I will do well next week 

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

Totally agree with other posts - you should talk with the trainer. You are paying for training classes, you and Bailey should be getting benefits as well.  It sounds like the other person could benefit from one-on-one training, not a multi-dog class. From the positive side, if Bailey can do well with those kinds of distractions, she's doing GREAT. :-) Seriously, talk with the trainers. Tell them your concerns. If they are good at what they do, they will certainly understand and, hopefully, respond in a positive manner.

 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I would change now and don't worry about it at all. We actually got our money back at a kennel club class because it was such a joke! All we did was walkin circles for 3 weeks with our dogs.

Change now or ask for your money back until the next class. That dog needs a one on one and that's not fair to you. Just give them a call I'm sure they will understand how you feel!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

It isn't that the other dog is unruly that is the problem, it will be that they won't practice and the trainer will gear the class to a lower level, or spend the entire class working with the other dog. I really doubt that you will be pleased.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

DON'T wait one week to change.  We were in a similar class with Ned (Ned plus one totally untrained adult pit who had been left with his owner's mother who did NOT want her).  The lady was often late or didn't come.  You would think that it would make our class like personal one on one classes - it didn't.  The trainer would shorten our class and there was no challenge for Ned.  It was a waste of our time.  Change or get your money back.

[BG and Gavin]

During one of our first training classes a girl showed up late, she was texting while we were getting instruction and she had a min-pin puppy who was completely out of control (all 8 lbs of it).  The trainer's assistant helped the girl who could not even get the leash on the puppy.  The assistant got bit.  The trainer stepped in as the girl was then in tears.  I overheard the trainer saying to the girl that this dog would take an enormous amount of patience, time and committment, but if she was up for it the trainer would provide private lessons.  The girl and the min-pin left.  The whole ordeal took up half our first class, which was disappointing, but the trainer made the right call in the end.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

You paid for the class and you should be getting your fair share of the trainer's time.  If you're not, it's time to have a conversation with her to let her know exactly how you feel.

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

The positive thing about your situation is you can work on Bailey's behavior around an unruly dog, a situation you are likely to encounter again and again. Can he sit or lie down and ignore the other dog?  Try to be calm your self, I know it must be very frustrating but it is good practice for the real world.  Just speak privately to the trainers so you don't get ignored.....

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Unfortunately this is what you sometimes get when taking a class - there are bound to be owners & dogs at different levels, expectations, and different work ethic on practice.  Try to concentrate on Bailey and what the both of you are getting from the class.  When the trainers are working with the other puppy - work quietly with Bailey on the lesson.  If you continue to feel though that the other puppy is so distruptive to the class - then pull the trainers aside and explain your position.  Right now Rooney is taking his CGC class and there is a un-socialized Golden in his class that we (and the rest of class) have to tip toe around.  I can't believe that he should be allowed in CGC if his behavior towards other dogs is unpredictable - but I just concentrate on working with Rooney.  Update us and let us know how things are going. 

[Jennifer and "Cooper"]

It sounds like your "classmate" needs one-on-one training sessions if she is taking up that much of the time during what is supposed to be a group class.  I agree with talking to the trainer.  Perhaps he has already addressed the issue with her and things will be better next week.

[Becka]

Before you change classes, perhaps talk to the trainer and tell him your concerns. It seems to me that if she's the problem, you shouldn't have to be the one to accommodate it. It does sound very frustrating. As we all know, training classes are mostly to train the owners, and it sounds like she's not getting that at all. I'm glad Bailey did well!