Hi,

Anybody on here who goes regularly to training class or runs one your advice would be appreciated.

Molly has gone to Puppy Class for six weeks now and loves it. Don't think she learns an awful lot (learns more at home) but the socialisation aspect is great. The trouble is there are two teenage boys who go with their mum and two puppies. one boy is quite quiet and has the quieter puppy but the other is quite loud and the pup is boisterous. Have no problem with this but have noticed that they seem to distract the other pups. Last week we did this thing where we had to do figure of 8 round chairs (teaching them to walk at heel) and the whole time the other pups were having their turn this boy was playing with his dog. Have no prob with this, but they were playing with a squeaky toy which of course the other dogs wanted to get at. Molly wasn't too bad, but this poor BC ignored his owner and got told off (which I don't agree with) and I felt really sorry for him.

Whats the best course of action? Don't want to sound like a moaning minnie but I do what all the dogs to have an equal chance of learning (and the classes aren't cheap). everyone else sits quietly and listens to the trainer but this boy is always playing with the dog. Dont' really want to say anything to him but should I speak to the trainer? I would have thought she'd have said something by now but she hasn't.

Or should I just stop being grumpy? (will not take any response to this personally I promise!)

If it was my class they would not be allowed to behave in this way My view of training classes is to train the owners & socialize the dogs plus pick up on individual problems the handlers might have

I would have a quiet word with the trainer in private about your concerns

JMHO of course

Only got three weeks left (inc tonight) and then I'm going to look for a new class. Couple of reasons for this but the main one is that the trainer talks down to me (or at least I think she does). I'm 26 but look young for my age and I'm the youngest woman there. The trainer tends to talk to me in the same manner as she does the two teenage boys. When I ask her questions she's quite dismissive but will have nice lengthy chats with the older women.

Maybe I'm paranoid but last week the main trainer was off and the second trainer was in charge and it was soooo much better. she answered my questions and was really encouraging. Hubby thinks I'm paranoid but I'm old enough and intelligent enough to know when someone is patronising me.

Also think she should have done something asbout this boy before now.

Have to say my younger dog (Boxer) was also disruptive in class
when we trained as pups as her litter brother was also at
the same class. We ended up having to sit on either side
of the hall as they'd just tune in to one another and play,
despite not living in the same households. They both graduated
from puppy class though :)
This was at a different club too.

Dont worry I look young for my age too, or so I've been told :D
Guess at 32yrs and been to quite a few training classes now and showing
the dogs for 14 yrs and then experiences with people at work it's
like water off a ducks back now - I used to be sensitive too - As long as I feel I can train my
dog and I feel like we are both learning then if I need to I just have a good ol
moan to myself in the car on the way home and of course because
my dog is a Boxer she listens to every thing I say and agrees with me :D
But the training club I go to now is great and I've no problems, we've managed
to pass Bronze good citizen's award and now are training for silver. :)
They are primarily a clicker club & I can't get the hang of click & treat.
So just use my voice as the clicker noise. The trainers are quite happy with me doing this.
Keep at it, and don't worry you'll find a training club that suits you and
your dog :)

all the other dogs in the group are aloud off lead for playtime apart from bradley (boxer) we also get alot of one to one training which im sure must annoy everyone else. One problem is bradley making me laugh. The other is children throwing toys and making bradley get them whilst we are trying to practice.

Hmm it's diffucult esp. if your trainer isn't easily approachable. I have a few question marks in my head about the trainer - it is her job to make all feel welcome and to treat all equally i feel. So she's not doing too well there.

Also how was the BC pup told off? It is very hard for a pup to ignore kids, squeaky toys and games and do figure of 8's whilst ignoring them, it is done easily but takes time and patience, and then it is so rewarding. Exemplary behaviour cannot be expected of a youngster and they really need teaching to behave well, not punishing because they did something wrong IMHO so i'm with you there :)

If it is annoying and pups are being distracted a lot, it isnt' fair - maybe the child could play with a non-squeaky toy for a start? The child needs to learn consideration for others too :)

Lindsay

I had something similar and I'm 31!!

I had a horrendous week with Willis once...he was only about 3 months old, and they put me with a teenage boy with an adult male rescue GSD. Well, this GSD went beserk every time Willis looked in his direction and the boy hadn't a clue what to do. The trainer just spent her time shouting over the racket to give me the most simplest of information. She didn't give him any advice to try and distract his dog, she just carried on demonstrating to me how well her collie was trained and ignored him with his straining, snarling, drooling dog!

I never went back.

Went last night and started to feel much better about it all. Didn't get a chance to have a word as the boys arrived the same time as us. But as soon as we sat down (and I always seem to end up sitting next to him) he got his squeaky boot out. About 30 secs later she told him to put it away!!!! I was so chuffed that she'd noticed and I didn't have to site there going beetroot thinking he'd know I'd told on him!!!! (Maybe she's right to treat me like a child!!!!! LOL)

But then later she was asking everyone if they had any probs and spent ages on the BC who doesn't recall when other dogs about, but when I said about Molly not eating (see other post) she just said 'oh well she's not under weight' and moved on to the next person. I know she's not under weight but this doesn't stop me worrying!

Later on when she came round she was pleasent and talked to me so I'm now wondering if she's deliberatly doing this or maybe just didn't know the answer or what advice to give? Anyway, we've only got two classes left in the programme so then we're going to look elsewhere anyway.

Regards the BC - it was his owner that told him off, not the trainer. but I still don't think it was necessary.

Hi Claire

I think this happens a lot and it is very hard when puppies want to play all the time and see other dogs around them with exciting toys etc. BUT, if you can, use it your advantage. If you can train your dog to pay attention to you and obey you under these circumstances you will reap huge pay-offs later as your dog will respond to you whatever the circumstances/distractions. However, if this boy and his dog are being disruptive and making it hard for others to hear instruction from the trainer then I agree that the trainer should say something to the child.

Don't worry too much about the trainer not responding to your feeding query. She may feel that questions other than those related to obedience training are better answered at the end of the session rather than during it because if everyone asked about non-training related matters she'd never get any training done!

Glad it went better, Claire :)

I feel sometimes we just don't "click" with some people and it may be better to attend a class where you are not continually feeling a little concerned about the trainer's attitude.

Good she asked the child to put his squeaky boot away - and you made me laugh when you mentioned going beetroot :D

Just TOO uncomfortable :D ;D

Lindsay