I have found a training class that is fairly local to me and does the KC good citizen, so last night I popped down (without pup) to have a look at and talk to the trainer.

First impressions were abysmal, he had a problem communicating, shifted from foot to foot and wouldn't answer any of my questions. Then the dogs arrived, a retriever about 5 months old, a Bull Mastiff  9 months old and a couple of others.

First up, he did recall, held the dog whilst owner walked away. Poor Retriever was desperate to get to his owner and the trainer nearly strangled the poor thing whilst holding him and then started shouting "NO" in his face dog panicked! struggled free and legged it :P Owner wasn't happy but didn't say anything. Then he turned on the BM owner and said to him "have you managed to get it to walk on a lead without pulling yet"? Owner says, "we're getting there". So he says, "well if you don't hurry up and do it, he'll be too big and you'll never be able to train him and he will be a pain to everybody you meet, you don't want a hopless case".!!!!

Then he went back to Retriever and decided to "demonstrate" how you walk a puppy in a straight line, pup starts to jump up on the lead so he jerks the lead down  and then drags it along whilst pup is choking All this time he's saying "you wont win". Looking very red faced and a bit annoyed that the pup is still up to its antics and showing him up. Then he tries to make pup sit, and it wont, so he forces its hind quarters onto the floor and yells SIT, SIT. No success. So he says, "you wont get a treat for that" and drags the distressed pup back to his owner. I noticed that he didn't make an example of the BM :D

At this stage, I had seen enough, it was IMHO like watching a Fawlty Towers clip. I for one, am not happy with his training methods and if he had tried that with my pup or dogs (he takes classes for older dogs too) heaven help me :rolleyes:  I would have had quite a lot to say to him. Not that my pup would have tolerated that, I think she would have nipped, not being used to that treatment.

I was always under the impression that even when training from a young age, you don't force them to do anything they don't want to do and certainly don't cause them pain or discomfort. Looking back on it, OH & I had to laugh, but I don't understand how people can go along and let him manhandly their dogs. :(

Thats awful!! I would have walloped and strangled him if he treated one of my dogs like that! Horrible sod!!

Lets hope its a lesson learned and people look elsewhere...sad thing is some people will think that is how it should be done :(

Many people go along because they don't know any better.  They figure this is a trainer and this is the class and he MUST be doing it right...it's sad.  That's a horrible way to run a class.  Your impression is correct, you don't force the puppies to do anything...it's all about positive motivation and reward.  Sad.

you arent going there....right?

Absolutely shocking but sadly some owners will think he is god because he is  a "trainer" so must know what he is about! :rolleyes:

He seems very dim because apart from anything else, dogs dont understand English, so yelling Sit Sit, does nothing as we all know.

Is there anywhere else you can go?

Lindsay
X

NO, no, no Michelle, I'm not going back, well......maybe to teach him some manners where it comes to our canine friends, but certainly not for training

I have been to many training classes in the past, including one that was held by a Police trainer and they were never as amateur and cruel as this one and I'm talking about 17 yrs ago, then the training methods were slightly different, but this was a joke!

I must say, the owners of the dogs that were there were slightly naive when it came to their dogs and yes, his word did appear to seem "god" when it came to it. I'm the GP and there is no way that I would use his classes to train my dogs. If that was my only option, then I think that I would choose to "self teach" as I did with Monsterman ;) All I really want it for is socialisation, not the actual training aspects :)

I have found another one that may start in 4 weeks, she doesn't know yet as her partner is expecting a baby. But she comes well recommended and also is a member of the APDT, sorry probably got the abbreviation wrong, but you all probably know what I mean :P

I'm just speachless :(  Sadly, as others have said, the GP don't know any better, and accept it because 'he's the trainer - he must know what he's doing..... '

Im the GP and I would know better. I know cruelty and bullying when I see it.

What is this "GP" (general public for the uninitiated) busiess all about in many champdogs posts?
WE ARE ALL THE GP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Or are the members 0f champdogs some alternative beings?

I walked away from a similar situation when I visited my first training class as well :)

Members of Champdogs are no different from the GP - there are all sorts - but some are more equal than others :D :D

Daisy

I think in this case it means 'non-doggy General Public'.
:)

I don't think that non-doggy people would be at training classes :) Just because people haven't had a dog before doesn't automatically mean that they are thick :)

Daisy

I know several people with dogs who aren't 'doggy' people. One couple told me "We thought he'd be like a cat, only bigger!" ...

Exactly - it doesn't automatically mean that members of Champdoggers are necessarily older AND wiser, although they may consider themselves to be doggy people :)

Daisy

when my boy was a puppy!(12weeks) old ,i took him along to training class,""AHH she siad" its been a long time since i had a puppy, paid my £40 for a 8 week course, then she told him to sit!!!. ofcouse he did not do it, so she pushed his bottom to the ground. at which point he panicked,she then pushed him to the ground and  held him there, again he panicked and tried to bite her.OH she said he is going to be a nasty one(boxer), we promtley left and never went back. .my boy is now 5  and the softest boy you could ever wish to meet. this trainer i use the word loosely , has a list of letters after her name , and came highly recommended,

Does that remind you of that women on TV from years ago...Barbara Woodhouse?????????
Sounds like what she used to do. or am I too young to remember her??
Lea :)

No, Barbara Woodhouse never used violence against dogs - their owners, perhaps! ;) :D

LMAO @ Jeangenie
I remember het SiiiiiIIIIt But thats about it LMAO
Lea :)

A lot of people critiscise her, but I never saw anything harsh in her handling of DOGS even though she was school marmish with the people, and used check chains.  I have one of her books and there are no harsh techniques there.

I don't remember Barbara Woodhouse as being unkind to dogs - maybe her methods are not used now, but I think she was thought of quite well then :)

Tempus fugit - and my memory may be a little fugit as well :D

Daisy

Ok I bow to people who remember her.
apologise
Lea :)

Trouble is I think a lot of people are looking for a quick fix and mover around different training classes like we change underwear!