Training venting...!!!

Irinikm · #1 09-19-2008, 11:25 AM

Hello all,

It's been a while since i posted but today i had to vent...

Lately i've been worrying that Martin is not getting enough exercise (mental mostly) and that he could benefit from hanging out with other dogs in play sessions. Unfortunately, we don't have a dog park or any other free facility that he could visit, so i had to turn to some training school that offered group play and some fun training. I spoke to them on the phone and they seemed relatively ok.

Today, we went there and the diagnosis was: that Martin is immature, is insubordinate, that i am a complete disaster as an owner, and that i better be ready for some serious action to get him on the right track !!!!! The commented that the last my dog needed was fun and play.

The above diagnosis was based upon the fact that Martin was pulling on his leash when we entered the area (where hundreds of dogs had been), and that when i asked him to sit he did not sit by my side but 50cm aside. According to them i had to use a choke collar, chain him for four hours a day (to get used being tied down), and be stern and firm !

Martin has been through obedience training (and i am happy with the result) and through protection duty training which we did mostly for him to channel his energy and less for any real "duty". We were chatting and one of the trainers proceeded to test by hitting me lightly with a stick to see if Martin would react. Martin seemed confused because he could feel me at ease and he did not interpret the gesture as "hostile".

Overall, i am very dissappointed !!! I had hoped that he could have some fun with other dogs or devise some fun obstacle training or similar, but they offered to get him though obedience training again using methods i don't approve of. We made another appointment for tomorrow, but i am not going back. It's a pity because i really wanted to have some fun with him ;-(

Now i have to keep looking,
Thanks for letting me vent.
Irene and Martin

RoxiesEcho · #2 09-19-2008, 11:37 AM

Wow! I am by no means an expert but that sounds like a horrible facility. Why would they say or do those kinds of things to someone coming into their session for the first time and who obviously is there for the sole reason of making life better for Martin? I sure hope you are able to find somewhere or someone that will be able to help in positive manner.

lhsdavis · #3 09-19-2008, 12:10 PM

That is disappointing..I think Martin is a character from some of the stories you've posted, and it sounds like he would be too smart for them anyway......I forgot..are trainers supposed to be there to help or inflict abuse??? That wouldnt have given me a warm fuzzy either..

Gruntsmom · #4 09-19-2008, 04:13 PM

I would never go back either, what terrible "training" techniques!

Perhaps you could hook up with other doggy parents and arrange play dates for Martin.

Good luck!

rfdfirewife · #5 09-19-2008, 04:49 PM

Wow it sounds like a facility I would've left running! What I cant get over is the instructor "lightly hitting you with a stick". Come on!! Im afraid of what I may have said to them telling me the things they did you. Wow is all I can say.....some people.

DyckDogs · #6 09-19-2008, 05:44 PM

That sounds like a horrible training facility. Glad to hear you are not going back. No training at all would be better than what they are offering.

bucca · #7 09-20-2008, 04:57 AM

omg spanky would have been been escorted off the property if they had met him , sounds like a terrible place especially when hearing choke collar i would have been out the door.

catdogbird · #8 09-23-2008, 12:39 PM

That place sounds horrid!! I hope that you don't take their "diagnosis" to heart - they're nuts!! Best of luck finding a sensible outlet for Martin.

DiverDiva · #9 09-23-2008, 02:37 PM

I am very glad you are not going back to that place. It sounds like the trainer is just plain mean. That is not how to train a happy, well adjusted dog.

Gen G. :) · #10 09-23-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucca

omg spanky would have been been escorted off the property if they had met him

I'm sorry but that just cracked me up!

Irene, we all know Martin is NOT immature, he's a very intelligent boy with loads of character

Best of luck in finding a better place for your baby, those people were idiots