Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject: We have started training, please help!
Last night i took Shadow to his first training class. What a nightmare!
He is so bad on a lead (for me, better for OH). He is a big strong boy and i have trouble holding him at times and he is only just 6 months old!
He is great off the lead and has a fantastic recall, he just doesn't like to be on the lead.
The woman (witch) running the class insisted on putting him on a check chain and told me that she had been training dogs for many years and had never hurt one yet. She basically made me feel 5 years old again.
I told her that i didn't like the check chain and that i would prefer a halti of similar. I was told that i was wasting my money and to just buy a check chain as she advised.
Needless to say, i don't think that i will be going back next week. There is only 1 other class in the area that i know of and the next course isn't until May.
I really want to get this sorted before May if possible.
Any suggestions will be gratefully received.
Other than this pulling on the lead, he is a brilliant dog!
That is AWFUL of the witch running the class. You shouldn't be made to use any method that you are uncomfortable with.
I've posted tonight with some success (finally) with lead training Boomer. We just use a normal lead that clips onto her collar. Once you start practising this every time you're out you should see results very quickly
Aww sorry to didnt have a nice time but agree with you about the chain,i hate these and think they are for lazy people who havent any sense or time to give the dog the proper training and attention they need.
I would use another method as in the halti/canny etc and use that for walks,been many posts where some have only needed it a few months.
The trainer didnt sound very nice in the way she said it was either her way or no way lol thats not the way to go about things esp if she wants to keep her classes up Choice is always better as one certain thing never works i find for all
You are the owner and by all means accept advice but if its going to really work you have to be totally sure about it within!
Wishing you luck Andi,im using the canny and seeing some improvements already,let us know how things go
Don't go back! Any trainer worth their salt should be happy to answer any questions you asked with evidence and knowledge-based information. They should welcome people questioning their methods and having the opportunity to explain the thinking behind it and saying that 'she's been training dogs for many years and hadn't hurt one yet' is not reassuring!!!
Read Jenni's post and a lot of the other posts about training and lead walking. Is there anyway you can travel further afield to another training class? Have you looked on the APDT site for trainers in your area?
You trust your instincts when it comes to taking your pup to classes....well done for knowing when it didn't feel right.
Becs and the Gang
i know some people that do you a choke chain but i think it takes experience and care to use one properly.
any decent trainer would have advised you of your different options as everyone and their dog is different.
sorry you had such a bad experience. where abouts in the country are you?
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Jenni, i have just come across your post. I will certainly give it a try.
One thing i did notice last night, was that there were about 20 dogs in the class and only saw 2 that did not use a check chain, (these were slightly older dogs and were well behaved on the lead).
Advise taken, i am not going back. I will try it on my own until May.
Andi what Jenni wrote does work you just have to keep at it, it worked for me and Bailey and it's a pleasure taking him for a walk rather than aching all down one side where he'd pulled.
I got to the point about a year ago where i ached so much i didn't want to take him out, so i knew i had to sort it out, i used a halti to start with but people thought it was a muzzle and i didn't like it, i just wanted to use a normal collar and lead which is what i use now. The only other thing i would say which you may already do is you go out the door first.
It was also mentioned to me about a full choke i know some people use them that is there choice but i prefer a normal collar and lead and then the same trainer said it to me again last night about sara! Just glad she not taking my class at the moment.
We didn't go back to the class and have been doing a bit of work on our own.
Although he is still pulling like mad most of the time, i am actually able to walk Shadow now. He is even beginning to walk to heel for a few minutes, then he forgets and we start all over again.
Progress is progress and we will get there eventually.
I am no longer stressed about taking him out and that seems to make a big difference too!
I read your e-mail and was horrified i feel for you both and this so called dog trainer i wouldnt let her clean my dogs bowl, I personally hate choockers, when Tilk was about three months he started to pull as he got his confidence and wanted to explore not a problem as i can easily hold him and check him back when i wanted, my wife however is not as strong and with the new babys buggy we cant have him pulling and my wife loves to take him and our daughter out for afternoon walks, I first started to walk with him and thought of a box around me when he was in the box he got praise and a treat when he stayed in it, when he went out of the box he was sharply told 'NO' and this was continued untill he came back into the box. the change was amazing even for a young dog like him (9mths now) and the wife really looks forward to taking him out. The last dog i trained i got when he was 4yrs and he pulled all the time he thought it was acceptihble, the box didnt work so i got him a longer lead and would hold it in both hands with a loop in it every time he pulled i would drop the loop and turn on the spot and walk the other way, this means he has to keep in line with you or he gets caught out,
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Choice is always better as one certain thing never works i find for all
i know some people use them that is there choice but i prefer a normal collar and lead and then the same trainer said it to me again last night about sara! 
