Both our dogs are coming upto roughly a year old and both have been to training classes one since a puppy and the other for the last 5 months.

They are both pretty good now and have very good recalls will sit, leave, down walk to heel on and off lead and have very good manners with dogs and people alike. :)

Our dogs have a level of obedience now that we're very happy with which we work on every day to try and keep it at that standard, last night we thanked the trainer for all his help but informed him that we didn't think we'd be continuing with the lessons.

We were prepared for him to say he was dissapointed but weren't expecting the tirade we got accusing us of being irresponsible owners who would end up with ill mannered unruly dogs.

I know their still young and realise that training is an ongoing thing, but to be honest the classes were moving in a direction we have no interest in and we're now feeling bullied into continuing and wondering if we are doing the right thing.

We don't think our dogs need to learn tricks and we'd far prefer to just keep on top of what they know already or are we being irresponsible not continuing.

Thanks
            Steve

If you feel that your class has been of help to you so far, and that the level you have reached is sufficient for your needs then IMHO there is no reason to continue.

The instructor is their for your benefit to help you attain the skills you need in order to adequately train your dogs.  All training should be relevant to you and your dogs; if it is not, then why continue?

If you have a recall, a drop on command, and your dog walks nicely on the lead and is not a pest to anyone and anything then everything else is secondary and icing on the cake.

So IMHO no you not irresponsible.

i dont think you are either! BUT it is too easy to let it all slip,so be aware of that! what a shame the trainer wasnt more approachable as then you could have returned in say 6months for a two week refreasher!

another dog trainer who needs to go to "control freaks R Us" i feel! theres quite afew out there,but thankfully not all of them!

That trainer is out of order and very unwise. By resorting to abuse hes closed the door on you returning later if you wished. Are you wanting to do something else like Agility or tracking? ( Im sure some whippets would enjoy it after all they are little racing/hunting dogs arent they?) If you stay firm and consistent when youre out with em and think up a clever game or 2 to play for 10 minutes a day itll be fine and you can always go to another trainer who isnt as concerned about his bank balance.

BTW it is whippets you have isnt it? If not no offence intended, its the porridge brain. :)

Thanks for the responses :) we were sad he reacted like that as we would have liked to go back for a refresher now and again if only to meet up and see how the other dogs were doing ( especially the loopy Dalmation )  :D

Yes it is whippets Lorelei :D  I'm not sure if we will try and go off in another direction, I would like to hope we will try something as their both very eager to please :) but their still very young so there's plenty of time and we're just enjoying having such wonderful dogs at the moment ( if I do say so myself :D )

Thanks again
                   Steve

I think the response from your trainer was very sad.

At the end of our 10 week beginner course we thank everyone for attending and point out that so far they have only learnt the basics.  We then say that if that is all they wish to do then that is absolutely fine but tell them that they are welcome back at any time in the future.  Those who wish to carry on are then invited to become members of the club and join the improvers class. 

Actually we would have great problems if all our beginners stayed on and did the later courses as a lot of our members carry on coming for years and we just would not have room if every one stayed.  They are all welcome to return though

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

That's a shame really that he's behaved that way.  As Lorelei said he's shut the door to you coming back.  If you are happy with where they're at then that's what's important.  If they need refreshers then you'll have to find someplace else - or perhaps re-approach him and see how he feels about you coming once every couple of months or so.

We've had pretty well behaved dogs most of my life and until these two who are in agility classes we never took them to any classes past 6 months.

Wendy

Im interested in Steves point about tricks - what is a trick? I read Capt Haggertys book Teach Your Dog to Talk, which was terrific fun, and this seemed to define a trick as something you 's teach the dog for pure fun, like jumping on your shoulders or the twist and the trick is different from a training exercise like a retrieve which has a practical application. Now when they see us doing positions or down stays, some locals tell me they dont teach their dogs tricks which may be a different definition. Discuss?

This is where it boils down to definition, isn't it? As I see it, a 'trick' (dog training-wise) is something that serves no useful purpose. This of course varies from person to person. To me, training my dog to empty the washing machine would be a trick. But to a Dog for the Disabled it is an essential skill. Likewise, to me, obedience-style heelwork is a trick - something that would be of no benefit to me because I don't like my dogs walking so close that they bump into me. Training a dog to wait with a treat balanced on its nose till it is told it can have it is yet another sort of trick, which some people find amusing and others think is degrading. It's all down to the individual's point of view.
:)

I see a trick as something that has no function or usefullness in everyday life, we have taught both our dogs to give each one of their paws in turn which I suppose could be seen as a trick, but in reality little things like that can be very usefull :)

The tricks that were being introduced had us worrying because in the following weeks I have a suspicion he may have suggested adding music and making them into a little routine.

No offence to people who enjoy HTM but its just not us OOPS :D

Steve

I suppose you could define a trick as something that does not serve any useful purpose but, on the other hand ALL training has some value. 

I have just spent a month teaching a dog tricks purely to stimulate its mind, get it thinking and more importantly get it to respond to me.  This is a dog who has been placed with me for rehab before being put up for rehoming.  It is lethal around traffic and would kill itself and anyone unlucky enough to be attached to the other end of its lead.  He did not think at all but reacted to anything that made a noise or moved.  Neither could he play, he did not understand.  He does now and initiates play with me rather than me with him.  He does loads of tricks - all useless but vital in turning this around from a reactive to a thinking dog.

Like Jeangenie said, unloading the washing machine is just a trick for her but is a vital piece of independence for someone with a disability.
 

I agree with Suzieque :) I clicker train lots of "useless" things partly because the dogs enjoy it and partly because it stimulates them mentally which I think is as, if not more important, than physical exercise. My working Beardie pup needs to be using his brain as well as exercising his body.

I agree about the mental stimulation and therapy of tricks. So Cava14Una and suzieque, share your favourite tricks and how to start em? Save poor Morse from having to learn One potato 2 potato with Stinkfoot please as hes giving paws like climbing rope all up the front of my jumper the now! :D

Well Cava can Weave through my legs both with me walking and standing still; touch/tap give right left paw; also gives both paws which could be extended to a beg; he knows on your hip which means to lie over on one hip in a down also flat which is lie flat out. Closes the door; twist/birl left right circles both at my side and infront. Can call him from behind and he will walk between my legs (very elegant that is):D He will also interact with a box or bottle you click and develop whatever you decide to teach. He puts his front paws up on a box.

Myself I'd start with touch and tap which you can either shape via clicker or lift paws and reward. This can also be extended into waving and also they can lift same foot as you are when walking along.

I'm no great trainer just enjoy working/playing with my dogs but I'll help if I can ;)

Anne

hi lorelei

As Anne says, you need some imagination, patience and time.  If imagination doesn't come all that easy try to get hold of a copy of Roy Hunters 'Fun and Games with Dogs', it's an excellent starting point.

I do something different with my dog nearly every night, on a Tuesday night we do the competition obedience stuff (walk to heel, turns, presents) even though I don't want an odebience champion.  It is something for us to do together with a very good trainer (who has become a good mate!)  Thursday nights are fun and games where we get into two teams and compete against each other, however we all use our clickers and it is good learning for both of us, for instance we do 'simon say's....SIT' when Lana sits (or whatever is requested) she gets a click and reward and we have loads of fun :)  On a Wednesday night she works towards her kennel club goood citizen bronze (we should pick up our puppy foundation certificate next week) - But I do it all for both of us, we bond and have fun, I dont want an obedience champ or agility hound!  I want a good relationship with my PET and spend lots of time with her.  Tricks have a place, they provide stimulation, I dont have a problem with tricks...So long as it doesn't degrade the dog!  You sound switched on pinarello if you dont want to carry on classes then leave, dont let that trainer bully you into staying, you have the basics required for a safe and happy relationship with your dog's - so enjoy them!  SOME trainers should concentrate more on educating the owners and updating their techniques before lecturing people like yourself....But hey, thats a different thread!!!
Sarah :)