Hi!

I wonder if someone can give me some advice please? As I mentioned in another post, we are now taking our staffie Saxon to training classes and we had the first one last night. One of the training ladies was shocked that we had had Saxon since a pup and he was this 'badly' behaved. He wouldn't walk for her properly on the lead as all the other dogs were sitting around the outside and he wanted to play. He is only nearly a year old and we do try and teach him to heel and he knows the sit etc commands but he is still extremely excitiable - isn't this was Staffies are like though?! I personally don't think Saxon is that badly behaved but he does get very excited when other dogs are around and wants to play. She also pulled him very harshly on the lead and I nearly said something to her but bit my tongue - she was scary!!

Do any of you think that this lady just doesn't have much experience of staffies or have we been letting our little man get away with too much? :)

Thanks,

Jill

Hi Jill,

I take my dogs to obedience training, I went to a different class once before this club and the trainer there was like you are describing, she was rough with her own dogs and rough with other peoples, I am not very good at biting my tongue I'm afraid and ended up walking out of the class. I would not have let her treat my dog like she was treating other peoples - it seemed her philosophy was , to get a dog to obey your command you had to use a choke chain and she actually said she wouldn't be able to handle her German Shepherd if she didn't use choke chains on them - I pointed out to her that if she couldn't control her dogs without garrotting (sp) them into submissiveness she had no business teaching others how to train their dogs! and when she was advising a couple with a yorkie - 6 months old on the right size of choke chain to use that did it for me! ooops! well safe to say I lasted all of ten minutes in that class! There is no need to treat dogs in that fashion, it is outdated and harsh. If you want to find a good instructor in your area try a search on the APDT site http://www.apdt.co.uk and look on the members list for your area, they list their members near you, they use only kind teaching methods, yanking your dog around isn't going to teach him anything IMO. I know different breeds respond to different training, but I never had to resort to harsh handling with my old Staffy, Bonnie. If you are not comfortable with the way this Lady trains then find another class that you feel happier in, thats what I did, The class I attend now, has different lessons for different abilities :- puppy class from pups to six months, then the next class is for pet obedience,( Basic obedience and manners etc) for dogs of 6months and any age including rescue dogs etc, and then after that the classes are for people who are more advance and doing competition obedience. This is just my opinion, I wouldn't let someone be harsh with my dogs anymore than I'd let someone be harsh with my kids (been there too, storming into a playschool after watching through the window:() so my advice would be find another training school , go and watch first with or without your dog to see the training methods used and whether you are likely to enjoy that particular club. There are some brilliant ones about, the harshest method in my club is a quick squirt with water for the barkers!! Julie:)

ps just seen you are in kent - wonder if you went to the same one I did before!!!!

Hi Jill
I have to agree with Julie ,you have to be comfortable with the class and the trainer and their methods-if you're not --leave !
I attended the wrong type of class for my dog for quite a while and now have to undo quite a bit of stuff ,the first class I attended would only use half check collars but virtually strung the dogs up by them !!The one I go to now does use choke collars if you want to but in a much less harsh manner ,
As for him being excitable around other dogs -can't help you there ....my lad turns himself inside out to get to another dog :D
Hth

Liz :)

Hi Julie & Liz,

Thanks for the advice, I think we won't be going back there now!! Julie - I live in Hawkinge near Folkestone - the class was in Folkestone - is it the same one?

She was definitely too rough with the dogs and one lady had a problem with her dog barking and she shouted at the dog and clapped her hands. I am no expert but I don't think that would make the dog stop barking?!

Thanks again, I'm going to have a look on that website and see if we can find a better trainer! :)

Jill

Hi Jill - just thinking about pet shops, and remembered your thread on training! I live in Margate, so not really that far from you, the club I was on about was in Margate, but got closed down- what a surprise, but has reopened in Westgate! Did you have any luck finding another club near you - I can recommend one down here, but it may be a bit far to travel for you - There is a really nice trainer in Deal, too! Julie:)

Hi julie,

It is too far but Deal is quite near us. Do you have the number of the trainer please? Saxon is in dire need of some training, we try and our latest attempt is the water spray. It works up to a point but he does get excitied sometimes and thinks its a game!! :)

Jill

Opinions vary on how to train but honestly, the person you have described sounds very dog-dim

Apart from anything else, making the owner feel badf about their dog is not kind. You went there for help, not to be told off because your Staffie doesn't walk on a lead well. Well done you for seeking advice, I say :)

Also it is normal for dogs to be excited in such a situation, with new dogs and suroundings to investiagate :) and don't let anyone tell you different!!!

Good luck, hope you find a good trainer soon.

Lindsay

Jill, have emailed you the details . I would expect a young staffy to be excited in new surroundings, we have one at agility, he is brill! Julie:)

Thanks Julie! :)