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....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Da da da da, da da da da...
You're just crossed over into....
The Doodle Zone!
ROFL
I just know my breeds!

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

That was very creepy Karen. We even copied the same picture. At practically the same time! Are you in my computer watching me? LOL Are you Hal? Hal???? Hal???? Listen to me HAL!

[Adina P]

That's quite the impressive dog! You are so good...I have heard of it but never would have connected looks to name =)

I have to say, though, as much as 'black' dogs tend to get a bad rap... muscular white dogs with pink on their faces look WAY scarier!

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Yes and this one I swear had red eyes! (OK maybe the fur around the eyes was red but I swear when he first walked in there was a demonic glow to them LOL.) And a hush went across the room (well all the humans went silent anyways) and my friend, paying for something at the front, looked over her shoulder at me and made a screaming in terror pantomime. And this particular dog was HUGE almost great dane sized but all muscle and the scary bucked off ears. Poor thing - probably gets the fear rection wherever he goes.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's illegal to own one in Norway and the United Kingdom, and illegal to import them in Australia.

[Lori]

That little voice in the back of your head is usually right. I wouldn't go. My ten-year old daughter has our 11 week old puppy sitting just using a hand signal no treats. I don't think the trainer you've described is a good fit for a Doodle's free-wheeling personality.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Sounds like this might be a good program for you after all. I had the same initial apprehension when I started my intermediate training last week with a new trainer, because we were moving from a totally positive treat based approach to one that involves a choke collar with corrections. I had basically the same experience that you did, and I'm very comfortable now. I've been working with Guinness over the past few days using this new method, and he's doing great...better than ever. While I do give him corrections when necessary, I am never rough. I'm sending a message, but not hurting him in any way. He loves our training sessions, and enthusiastically puts his choke collar on and is ready to work. There is lots of praise when he does well, and this seems to be a good alternative to the treats. Good luck, and I'm so glad it went so well!