Hi Guys,

Anybody help with a recommendation please ?

Max the hyper 9month old "destruction with teeth on legs" - sorry Dobermann :) - is in need of some professional training I feel as he's becomming a little too much for my wife and I to handle alone. I dont want him to suffer later in life by not getting the right education now.

But - good old yellow pages is always full of good adverts and less than good people sometimes and I thought before I resort to that then I would post first.

Basically we want a 1-2-1 trainer to come in and train him (and us lol) to our home in Orpington (nr Bromley) Kent. There is no way we could consider sending him away to training boot camp for 6 weeks and any suggestions would be gratefully recieved as always.

Thanks and keep well. Daren

Hi, Go to your vets and see if there are any adverts there for classes. I did that and the classes and trainer are brilliant.

David

Now theres an idea....

Cheers.

Daren

There is an ex met police dog trainer, who has dog training classes on a sunday ( i think ) at the scouts hall at locks bottom on a sunday afternoon, i think he is still holding the classes, his name is steve stokes, if you do not like the idea of that then i know someone who does one to one training, who is a dog handler for a local authority in croydon, who is very good i will speak to him and get back to you.
Diane

Hi, I am looking for specifically German Shepherd training in South London area. I have an 18 month GSD who has basic training and am looking for some more intermediate training. I can travel to Croydon area. You mention an ex met police dog trainer, how would I get some more information on his classes or do you know any other suitable classes around this area for GSD's? Any help much appreciated. Thanks.

I think a class would be better for you, and if that is not enough a supplement with some extra private lessons.

The advantage to class, is that the dog learns in a situatiuon where it has the ultimate ditraction, other dogs. Also it is a good idea for him to have positive associations wioth other canines, as bein a large guarding breed, with sometimes a tendency to dislike other male dogs, getting him sociable will save you a lot of future problems.

Another advantage is that you will see other owners having the same problemns as you, some doing better, and some worse, and that can be very reasuring!!

Daren

I'm afraid I have no practical advice for you just wanted to say you're not alone as the owner of a 12 month male Dobe I know how you feel. We do training daily on walks and go to goup obedience classes etc and all the usual but I know it sometimes feels like I'm fighting a losing battle but that may just be the way it is...

I do think you made a good point (whether you know it or not) when you said you need a 1-2-1 trainer to come and train him & YOU !!!!!!!! The trainer may as well just train you cos if Max is anything like Jake, he will wind you up by doing things for the traininer that he will not do for you. THis is also a problem with this boot camp idea, whilst it sounds like a lovely easy router, you are just paying someone else to train your dog, who will then maybe jump througgh hoops for that person whilst blatantly ignoring you... I think you will find that if YOU are trained by someone who has more experience then you will get more response from Max. I have certainly noticed the differnce in the way I approach training with Jake since we first got him. At first it was nicey nicey and now it's "don't muck about, no more mister nice guy" (apart from the odd day which is just hysterics and full of doubt but we all have those I'm sure....

Hope this makes sense as I don't think I'm making much today (lack of nicotine to brain and abundance of Zyban to brain - non smoking day 3 !!!!!!)

Good Luck
Beth

You could look on www.apdt.co.uk... you click on your area and it brings up all the association of pet dog trainers in your area up on screen.

Lynn

I do agree that a class situation would be best, supplemented as suggested by one to ones if you still feel you and your boy would benefit.

There is a lady called Carol Price who is very well known and experienced, she will be on the UKRCB website. The trouble with vet is that the classes are not "vetted" by them - ;) :D and may be very good, or absolutely dreadful.

Good luck with your quest :)

Lindsay

Not sure I like the term 'boot camp'. But, if you find a good one, then they will train the dog to respond to anyone, and they will go through everything they have done with the dog, so you can make sure that you replace the trainer. They then normally offer an appointment a month or so later so you can go back and discuss any problems.

This is normal in the gundog world with very good results, so please don't knock it out of hand :)

Hello Darren,

I know a specialist trainer with the breed, been with it years but packed in full time training several years ago.

I know he now takes on some dogs and only works on contract, around 8 weeks or so, his courses are educational so you might get used to some essays, well at least you understand why your dog does what it does and the results are a 100% well behaved dog that responds under all circumstances, he shows relationship building.

Anyway if you email me I wil pass his email, he does not take on everyone but he might after seing your dog and you.

Sorry Dave :o

Knew I should've thought more about how that was "phrased". I know that when it comes to gundog training this is normal. I just meant that I have lost count of the no. of people in training class who say "I wish I could just send it away and it would come back trained" (in the basic obedience sense). This makes me laugh as when my dog is handled by the trainer he always does as he should but with me it is hit and miss...
Anyway no offence meant, brain mashed by lack of nicotine......:D
Beth

Oh Beth, I don't get offended that easily :)

It's a bit like taking the car to a garage, it behaves itself when you get there and they can't find a fault.

There's also more than one type of 'boot camp' which comes to mind. It's a broad term. ;)
For instance: The Air Force's version of 'boot camp' is worlds apart from the Marines' :D :D :D

Hi Daren
I am in Bromley.Attending classes in Beckenham,Just up the road from Shortlands station.Classes is thursday night.
their is a couple of dobermann that attened.They are a friendly lot of people and dogs.I would recommend this training
classes.I am not sure if they do one to one.Best of luck
linda.
ps.Beckenham dog training club.020 8304 2944

Hi Linda s

I go to the Beckenham Ringcraft Club :D

Diane

hI Diane
Where do you do ringcraft in Beckenham.I found one in Orpington,would rather go to one in Beck.I should start
next week.
Cheers linda
ps do you live in Beckenham.

The beckenham ringcraft club is on Ruxley corner, sandy lane, i live in Eltham, do you know where Ruxley Garden centre is well the club is just before that, when you come to the roundabout it is on the right of it at the sea cadets hall.

Hi Diane
I was at this ringcraft on wednesday night,came for a look.I was sitting at the back with my mother and daugter.I got confused when you said Beck,thought you ment another one was in beckenham.Look forward to meeting you next week.What is your breed so i will know who to look for.
linda

Funny enough, you were sitting next to me! i had the cocker spaniel and the gsd.
I probably looked very serious that night as it was matchnight and i was concentrating:D

LOL.NICE ONE

RAIN (Rescued animals in Need) have training classes wed and thurs in Pratts Bottom village hall. Not sure of a contact number but they usually advertise in local (orpington and Sevenoaks) papers.
Lorna

For some reason my posting is appearing again - Thanks all for your input but I thought I would close the initial part of the thread by letting you know how I got on with finding a trainer. This was my posting on another board a few days ago -

My wife and I have always had dogs even as children in our respective homes. We had been through the normal training and socialisation classes (treat training method) with all our dogs to differing levels of success.

Just before Christmas I contacted our trainer and asked him to help as our Max was basically ruling the house, eating walls (I kid you not and we're not talking chewing here), jumping up, nipping etc etc. My wife and I were very worried as none of the methods of reward training were working for him at all despite months of consistancy. Things were very gloomy then. I would never place a dog in rescue but was beginning to think that 8/10 years of hell was laid out before me.

After an assesment from the trainer and 4 lessons using drive stimulation training our Max has a whole repetoire of commands and is now able to perform consistantly to a whole variety of commands, first time and every time, including:

- Sit, down, come, off, leave etc
- Distance down stays from 50m away for 2mins plus
- Walking to heal off lead (we now dont use his lead except for safety reasons with traffic nearby).
- All commands are given once and reliably completed.
(I would go on but this might be bragging - see below )

All of this within 4 lessons and today I had the greatest pleasure of sacking him as he was no longer needed

There are two reasons that I have posted this here. Firstly a complete gloat on my part I must admit , afterall its most amusing in the park to see the guy/gal with the dog calling after it many times for example. But secondly and most importantly to advise people generally that training methods clearly differ as do the quality of the trainers.

I for one will never consider treat reward based training again and instead keep to drive stimulation training. I realise that each dog if different and will respond differently to differing training methods but Max's training has improved his quality of life no end - he even comes into my office with me now as well as shopping and anywhere a dog can go!

Its been tough work for 4 weeks and its not happened without Max and I putting in serious effort. But until a few weeks ago I thought the image of the do that walked to heal off the lead, down stayed and obeyed all commands first time was to be left in the fictional works of "Lassie". How wrong I have been.

So - moral of the story - if you want to get training for your dog then I could only recommend a training with corrections from a professional trainer prepared to work to written guidelines as to the comitment they will make and also you. I only wish that I known about this 20 years ago and not wasted my time and put me and my dogs through unnecessary hard work in the past with generally accepted training which the result of which is something removed what I now know to be a properly trained dog.

Please note I am a normal person who has no professional dog background and do not wish this post to become an argument. Its simply based on my life experience.

I can only hope that this post helps some people who feel that thier dogs behaviour is having a negative impact on thier lives. There is hope. Max was truely the Hellhound. Now reinstated to Angel

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