Is this type of training ok?

1765 Views 22 Replies 12 Participants Last post by hanksimon, Aug 1, 2012

Leah00

Discussion Starter · Jul 30, 2012 (Edited)

First off let me say that I know there are a lot of different opinions on the best training methods. I just want to make sure that the method that is being used with my dog is ok. I've never used a professional trainer before so I'm new to this.

Buttercup started her obedience training this weekend. She had two lessons, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. From now on it will be once a week (with me working with her through the week).
The trainers had choke collars that they brought and also a martingale with a chain loop. They brought all of them just to see what fit her and they used the martingale because they said they liked it better because it's easier to show people how to use the correct way. They demonstrated "corrections" with it and one trainer made me practice on a bucket filled with weights while the other trainer worked with Buttercup. They said that for every one correction you give, you want to give even more praises when the dog gets it right.

She actually did really good the first day. She learned heel and auto sit. They hardly gave her any corrections the first day, mostly just lots of praise and showing her what they wanted. When they did correct her, she didn't seem to mind it and bounced right back.
The second day was tougher.... It was just a follow up on the day before but with less room for error. There were more corrections this time (a hard upward tug on the leash). Buttercup didn't like it. She was ducking her head a little bit in a heartbreaking way. She started to "burn out" a lot quicker than the day before. They said that it was normal and that later on she won't have to be corrected hardly at all.

As soon as it looked like she was getting tired they stopped and took a fun break, running around and letting her play. She went right back to loving them.

Does this sound ok? I really liked it the first day but the second day it was almost like watching someone spank your kid.... I wanted to cuddle her. It's not like they were really being mean to her or anything, but it still made me hurt to see her kind of pouty.

They are really nice people (husband and wife) and their two dogs are really sweet and well behaved.

I just need some 2nd opinions!

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Leah00

Discussion Starter · #21 · Jul 31, 2012

The trainers don't sound horrible. This is a common method, but there are better ways. Talk to them about it. Explain you want to attend, but you don't want to give corrections.

Thank you for this! I think I'm going to try that. They really aren't bad people and they do have many years of experience and graduated from a dog training program years ago. They just seem to be outdated. This is private lessons, not a class so I should have some say in what's going on.

Also, I do know that everyone is right and I can't let them keep training her this way. I hated seeing her look sad and confused. I think I was sort of in denial and hoping that you all would say "that's normal, don't worry" because I was so excited to do this. I really wanted a well trained dog. My old dog who I trained myself, knew everything! I would never consider him to be "well trained" though because he only listened to commands if I had a treat.

This also means that there will be no agility training in our future. We live in a small town surrounded by other small towns. I thought I was super lucky to find these trainers.

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Pawzk9

· #22 · Jul 31, 2012

Leah00 said:
Thank you for this! I think I'm going to try that. They really aren't bad people and they do have many years of experience and graduated from a dog training program years ago. They just seem to be outdated. This is private lessons, not a class so I should have some say in what's going on.

Also, I do know that everyone is right and I can't let them keep training her this way. I hated seeing her look sad and confused. I think I was sort of in denial and hoping that you all would say "that's normal, don't worry" because I was so excited to do this. I really wanted a well trained dog. My old dog who I trained myself, knew everything! I would never consider him to be "well trained" though because he only listened to commands if I had a treat.

This also means that there will be no agility training in our future. We live in a small town surrounded by other small towns. I thought I was super lucky to find these trainers.

You can always make you own equipment and train on your own. And find someone at a greater distance who knows more about agility (these folks sound like the blind leading the blind) and make the drive once a month for a private lesson. Or, I don't know if Helix Fairweather still has her cyber agility class, but look into it. If she does, I suspect you would learn far more on line from someone who knows what they are doing.

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hanksimon

· #23 · Aug 1, 2012

I have seen lots of klutzes, but I have also seen two experts use a choke chain and pinch collar ... on my dog. The experts are completely different from what you expect with a choke chain. First, their timing is perfect... it's not off by even a tenth of a second. Second, it's a very fast correct, over with just as fast. But, the most surprising thing to me, was that the trainer did not shock or hurt my dog. All he did was the minimal "snap" ... not even that ... that caused a focused distraction to get my dog's attention when the dog was losing focus.

Unfortunately, the thing that I also saw is that I would never be able to learn that type of timing or that type of touch to create such a focused, gentle correction... So, I don't like to see non-expects anywhere near a choke chain, b/c it's simply too easy to do physical or mental damage.

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