THIS TRAINER(I need advice, QUICK decision by tommorrow)

[eggrolyn1223]

We just found a trainer/boarding place that's in the country...30 minute drive from here.I was just wondering if sending a dog to a place for training is good...since there are no interactive training programs here, it's either that, or training by myself.We looked at the dogs there...they are kept in clean living conditions, with water(they check)..they are fed at scheduled times according to the age of the dog.The dogs there are let out to supervised play on scheduled times and also a time where they just stay in the kennel runs.They train general good manners, obedience, agility stuff, and police dog stuff(I was thinking about only doing the forst two, but the whole thing is together, can't do one without the other).I asked the trainer a lot of questions...the techniques(no hitting or abuse and everything), what they teach, etc etc.They use Chinese commands.If we do it, Duck would stay there for a week, and we would bring her back 2 days each week, so about 5 days staying there.They feed Pro Choice, or Pro something.Anyways, the dogs staying there look healthy and well cared for.Most of them were German Shepherds,there was a Pit, a Golden, a Lab,3 huskies and 2 Rotties.
Please, everybody post what you think, I nedd EVERYONE's opinion, whether good or bad.If you have a question that wasn't mentioned in my post, ask me, and if I don't know, I'll call and ask the trainer.I need to make a decision by tommorrow morning.

[Guest Anonymous]

Okay here is my thing.... Can you drop out or rather take Duck out before the police dog stuff....Or exactly what is the Police Dog training??? Labs should not be taught to be agressive in anyway... Believe it or not the will be when it is needed but you are NEVER suppose to teach them agression.
the rest sounds fairly good. I think I would stop by for a surprise visit if possible but if not.. It sounds good! Just do not like the police dog training!!!!!!!! :mad: :o :o

[eggrolyn1223]

I asked the trainer what they taught for the police dog thing, and he said something like guard(guard an item and don't move or something), patrol, search(smell somebody or something), and attack..it's all fine except the attack command...I'll ask him if Duck can skip that....I was nervous at the thought of Duck attacking someone..

[bk_blue]

It sounds like a good idea, Duck will have the chance to exercise physically and mentally. She will have other dogs there to socialise with too, as long as it all checks out ok. No dog should be taught to be aggressive though, I would be a bit concerned about the police dog stuff too. Is there any way you can see the training in action?

[Guest Anonymous]

I was just wondering if sending a dog to a place for training is good...since there are no interactive training programs here, it's either that, or training by myself.

OK, here's my opinion. Do it yourself. More than half the task in training a dog is actually training the owners. Classes that you take a dog to are great, both of you learn. Sending a dog away isn't, in my opinion, a very good option. Yes, the dog may be well trained when you get it back but, you are not at all trained in how to handle it and how to deal with the dog refusing a command....which, over time, it will eventually do. The key to training a dog is consistency. When you want a particular behavior you must ask for it the same way always. That sounds easy but, training yourself to do that can take some time.

There are many books and websites that offer excellent training advise. I started off with Morgan's Spector's "Clicker Training for Obedience" and I still use it to this day. I was a complete novice to obedience training when I started training Whitney in obedience. She was entirely home trained (one session of classes just before the shows to get used to being in the ring with other dogs) and she had no problem getting her CD.

The only types of dogs that I could see a reason for sending away for training would be police type or guard type dogs. The handlers would be well versed with what to expect when the dogs came back....the handlers would already have been trained!

It took much longer for me to go from starting to train my first Doberman for agility to competing in trials than it did for my second Dobe. My first Dobe is just as intelligent, perhaps more so, than my second. The big difference was me. When I started my first Dobe, I didn't know anything about agility. Nothing at all! Took about a year for us to start competing. It took me about four months to get my second Dobe up to competition level....of course, I'm now an agility instructor!

[bk_blue]

Nancy Bousquet napisał(a):

More than half the task in training a dog is actually training the owners.

Good point, I forgot about that aspect :)

[Guest Anonymous]

Nope, I don't think it's a good idea. One, as a poster above mentioned, there is a definite need for the owners to be trained also and the best way to accomplish this is working with the dog together. Another reason is that you have to be very careful with a trainer, in general. A bad trainer can break a dog's spirit, and with doggie training camps, you only see when you visit what they want you to see, and things may not be what they appear. Training your own dog is a very rewarding experience, and a wonderful bonding time.

My feeling is that if your family has the money (and training camps are expensive) which it appears they do, and the time plus resources to travel to this place 2 day per wk. after the inital 5 day stay, then arrangements could be made with someone in the country to let you take Duck there 2 days a week for exercise, training yourself and Duck together, and letting him have some fun.

[yellowlabsrule]

Chinese commands??? What does that mean? The commands they give are in chinese??? If so, how are you going to know them? Are you always going to be blurting out chinese to get your dog to do something?? And I agree on the guarding, you don't need to teach a lab anything about that! Yesterday, there was a bang outside and my lab started barking, really loud. That freaked me out because she doesn't bark like she did yesterday! She sounded like a rott! I went over to the door and told her good dog, and she kept it up! I wanted to make sure noone was out there, but I didn't want to let her out (if there was a person they could hurt her!) So I just kept saying sick um, woof, good dog! After 5 minutes I let her in the house (she was in a room by the door) and by now she knew noone was out there (I think), but I wanted her to keep it up so I kept going Woof!, grrrr, and she would do the same. She NEVER had any training for being a guard dog, but I think most dogs know when somethings not right and take action. :D

[bk_blue]

(off topic) Hey Sash, just noticed you have become a mentor... congrats :D

[eggrolyn1223]

The thing I was getting to was that Duck wouldn't be so bored because she'll have a lot more attention there.I'm gone for school from Monday-Friday.

[Guest Anonymous]

And what happens when the training is complete? Duck's back to being caged and confined to the house all day, again?

The point is what do you actually know about this place. Isn't it rare (I'm assuming from what you posted in previous posts) that dogs aren't valued for any reason in your country, so, why would this place be so special to train dogs for anything other than guard dogs.

[yellowlabsrule]

Sorry, didn't see where him or her was from.

[Guest Anonymous]

There are definitly some pros and cons to this situation! I would train Duck myself if I were you. As many people have alread said, it is a great bonding experience, and half of the training is for you!

Also, I think that if this trainer really wanted to do what was best for owner and dog, they would not require police dog training. I don't think it would hurt Duck to be trained to attack or anything(please don't slam me for this). As long as she has an even temperment, you would really have nothing to worry about if the trainer was a good trainer and knew what he'she was doing. I've been to many Schutzhund competitions and all the dogs there have been trained to attack(it's part of the competition), and they are all wonderful dogs. Wouldn't hurt a fly(unless it was on the bite sleeve, :lol: ). I'm definitly not saying Duck NEEDS to be trained to attack, but if you really think this would be best for Duck, then I don't think it would hurt anything. You'd really never need to use it, so she would most likely forget it over a period of time. HOWEVER, if she is a bit shy, or aggressive, attack training could blow up in your face. You must have a VERY even tempered dog with a lot of prey-drive for attack training to work properly. If done wrong, it could be VERY VERY bad! I think it would be good for Duck to be able to be socialized with other people and dogs instead of being cooped up all day. I also think you should be the one to spend time and train Duck. But I understand your predicament! I have school too ya know! ;) I still managed to train my Dobie(Toby) plenty of stuff on my own. I didn't have the option you have.

BTW, thought I'd add that commands in a different language aren't so bad! I've trained Toby in German. I think it keeps them from getting confused if you say a command while talking to someone. If it's in another language you don't use, they only here the command when you want it to be carried out. :) JMO. I've never gotten confused either, so it can't be to hard :lol: .

I really hope you can make the right decision. I really think I would train Duck myself. Again, I had school the same as you(High School with a ton of homework every day), and I still trained Toby to do a bunch of obedience.

[eggrolyn1223]

You have school in America, I have school in Taiwan.BIG difference.I get home at 6 everyday and I have to do A LOT of homework...plus about 5 tests everyday.

[eggrolyn1223]

I'm telling them I won't let her be trained for attack.

[Guest Anonymous]

Wow, I didn't know it was so much different with school. Do you go start as do, too? That really sux!

Are they going to let you? I didn't think they would let you take something out of the training program. :) I'm glad you've sorted it our though! I'd love to know how the training with Duck goes!!!

[imported_Foster]

Personally, I like to do the training myself. But, if you have not done any training and are not comfortable doing the training yourself, there is nothing wrong with sending him to school. I have known a few dogs that have been sent to school and turned out great. The schools then spend time showing/telling the owners the commands and things...it all seems to work out either way. Just make sure that you check the school out and maybe get some references.