OK everyone, it's finally happened.  I had the dog therapist round to my house yesterday to see Copper.  It was a 2 hour session and cost £75.  After spending some time alone with me and then spending time alone with the dog and then watching me interacting with the dog, my worst fears were confirmed.  I might be causing the problems!!  Very embarrassing but also very informative.  I'm sure I'm not the only person who is actually making their dog's behaviour worse without knowing it.

Copper's problem is that he's spoilt and has no rules set down for him so therefore he does what he wants in the house and so also thinks he can do what he wants outside as well.  My problem is that I didn't know how to set down rules and also didn't know how to make the dog understand what I wanted him to do.  His main problems were pulling on the lead and going for other dogs and me just telling him to stop or trying to restrain him by pulling back his lead was hopeless.  In fact the type of lead I had was making things worse!

OK you might think, didn't need to pay someone £75 to tell me all that.  But when the trainer shows you exactly how to hold the lead, how to say the commands, what to do if the dog doesn't respond, when to say commands to anticipate the dog's actions and when and how to tell him off it all begins to come together.  By the end of the two hours, Copper was walking perfectly to heel, sitting when told and amazingly walked within 3 inches of the trainer's dog (who admittedly was not going to do anything but sit and watch) without even grumbling.  That was a big achievement.  All this was done in the street, not my back garden, so that we could see how Copper would react if unleashed dogs ran up or appeared as they would do in reality.

When the trainer went away and I had to try it all myself, not quite so easy but miles and miles better on the lead and the dog is responding to my commands.  It's going to take a lot of effort but I think it will work as now I know what I need to do.  The trainer suggested I now take Copper to classes as he doesn't think he needs any more one to ones, just more socialisation.

All in all, I think it was successful as much for me as for the dog! (and I thought it was money well spent).

CG

I am really pleased for you.  Competent, experienced and knowledgeable trainers/behaviourists can be extremely helpful and cheaper in the long run than ill advised ideas from those less so!

Glad it is going so well for you.

I am so please you had a positive experience, just goes to show there are good 'behaviourists' out there and can really help in these situations.

Hope it continues to go well.
Sandra

One to one training can be brilliant for sorting out training and any problems - pleased it has worked for you and that you can see where your problems are - always easier said than seen - and can go forth and have a wonderful partnership with Copper

Good luck with your training

That is excellent news, CG! You must be delighted - you now have the confidence to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Your post explains very very clearly the importance of a behaviourist/trainer/whatever actually seeing the problem for themselves, and how a person who is prepared to take money for "over-the-phone" or "online" advice shouldn't be trusted.

Brilliant ! Did any off lead dogs actually appear? Some dog behaviourists say they never get a dog to appear when they want one. Even experienced dog handlers value an outsiders assessment so dont worry about it. You gave Copper a home and invested in his future, showing how committed you are to him and Im sure you will reap the dividends. Hopefully Ill soon see you and Copper in the distance when Im working and you've left the Midnight Walking Club. :D

Excellent news I feel mr B could do with a behaviourist,  no sorry I could do with a behaviourist. I need alot of guidence as Bradley does rule the roost

Ah Emma!  That was my problem, I was too soft.  I thought I was being kind and giving Copper a great life, but I was actually just confusing him because he had no structure to his life and he wasn't sure who was the boss.

And as for dogs appearing during the training - one actually did!  A little jack russell cross who of course was the arch enemy, so it was useful to see what the trainer did when the fireworks started.  A bit of a tantrum but not as wild as usual.

Thanks all for your kind words.

CG

Well done Copper, they don't tell you as much but all dog trainers train people not dogs. The one I use has a degree in dealing with people and I'm sure she uses it to good effect when dealing with peoples dog problems.

This is exactly like Pat Parelli the horse trainer i rambled on about in another thread - he trains the people to be good with horses so we can learn their behaviour, its our perogative since there is no way they are going to learn ours! (particularly dogs, as they are not quite as clever as horses!).

You are so right.  The problem being Im not a tough person at all.  I find it very hard. But Im having to make an incredibly hard decision about Mr B,  its not his behaviour its that I can't give him what he deserves. Im sure my heart will break again.  But its wrong for me to be selfish.  

Hi Copper Girl,

I am really thrilled to hear how successful the behaviourists visit was and that you and Copper are now understanding each other better. All dogs need leadership skills and you dont have to be tough, just knowledgeable! ;) Problems often begin in the home where the dog is allowed to do whatever he likes, and then spread because he carries this on to life outside the home. Simple things like asking a dog for a Sit before you do anything for the dog can pay dividends! :)

YOu must be absolutely so so thrilled and so relieved. I wish that more people with problem dogs would get professional help; perhaps you will inspire a few ;)

Have fun and keep us updated won't you?

Best wishes
Lindsay
X

CG, can you PM me? i tried to mail you but was told "user doesn't exist"

Thats great news!  Glad to hear it. :D
Dawn.

Lindsay your email address is hidden but try me at the_chancer@hotmail.com.  I changed computer recently and I had to kind of re-register so maybe system isn't recognising me.

CG

Hi CG

It didn't get through.

Lindsay

I'm really pleased that you have had a positive result with your behaviourist/trainer. 

I've read so much critisism on here about behaviourist and most of it is unjustified.  True behaviourist spend years gaining knowledge and experience and to hear it trashed because some people don't understand why the professionals recommend what they do is disasterous to dogs everywhere.

Well done for taking the bull by the horns and recognising that you needed some guidance.  If i had my way every dog owner would have to have some basic training before being allowed a dog.  Its a very responsible job and if the humans get it wrong its the dogs that suffer.

Good luck