Viewing Single Post From: Sally's first 'serious' obedience class

Viewing Single Post From: Sally's first 'serious' obedience class
Linda & Fred	Aug 29 2009, 01:59 PM
Chatterbox Posts: 705 Group: Full Members Member #571 Joined: November 28, 2007	I have to admit I don't ask much about a dog when I take it on for walking, as I can see what training it's had, and a bit about how it's been brought up just from watching the dog. In fact I learn more by watching the dog than listening to the owners usually. Perhaps the trainer is like that? I've found a lot of trainers like the method they use and some will listen to owners who have their own ideas and some are more interested in their own methods - competition trainers are usually much more interested in their methods because they've worked with their own dogs, and the proof is in the rosettes they have. Fred was also accused of 'unacceptable behaviour' when a lot of it was just being a terrier, and if that had been recognised by me or the trainers then perhaps he wouldn't have deteriorated so much. He was worse than a lot of the other terriers I've seen when I was assisting at training classes, although the basic behaviour was the same. I have been less tolerant of Fred's play growling lately, simply because it worries other people - Fred was playing with a GSDXStaffy last week and the other owner kept saying 'good dogs, good dogs' and I wondered what the hell he was doing. It suddenly dawned on me that he had no idea Fred was playing (even though he was doing all the regular things dogs do when they play) and thought a fight was about to break out. If anything the trainer asks you to do upsets you, then don't do it. There are plenty of training classes for you to choose from, but you only have one Sally. When chosing a trainer I'd be more interested now in asking how many terriers have they successfully trained to whatever level you are interested in than in how many rosettes they have won with a collie.


Sally's first 'serious' obedience class · Obedience