Question:

writes: >I know dog training instructors who have been at it for 15 years >or more and know very little about even their own dogs behavior. >They’ve been doing the same training routine for many years and have >not bothered to attend seminars to further their learning.  My wife >and I have attended many seminars and camps.  It’s an excellant way >to get different views on handling dog behavior problems.  

I’ve also seen trainers that attend many semunars that still can’t figure out which end is up as well as clueless Phd’s and class instructors. Incompetence exists in all froms and knows no eduacational barriers. Bob Maida

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >writes: >Totally agree.  Seek out a good behaviorist (not all trainers are >behaviorists).  Don’t treat agression with agression.  You’ll only >make the problem worse. >Titles mean nothing. Much of common sense and intuitiveness regarding dogs >is something that can only be learned through years of dog handling. >Discuss the behavior problems with vet and various animal professionals. >They’ll know through the grapevine just who is capable in the area. >Bob Maida >Manassas,Va

Response:

>>Many of the obediance instructors never attend these seminars.  Their >solution for problem dogs is to "put them down".  I guess that’s the >easy way out, but we’re talking about living creatures here, not some >inanimate object.  Some of these behavior problems were caused by >humans in the first place.

Very true, I know lots of instructors that are rather limited in their experience with dogs. Putting a few titles on a dog des not qualify one to work with problems or even breeds other than their own. I’ve also met people that have been to countless seminars and still don’t understand how to deal with dogs other than their own or similar to their own. This is why I suggested to check with animal professionals. They’ll know who is successful and with what. Bob Maida

Response:

> >Now we are in our second week of class with no improvement…his >attention is somewhere other than class and he constantly chews >(and at times, growls) at his leash.  Our trainer has recommended

My duppy Floyd (not a dog not a puppy) is 15 months and occasionally will still pull this pull on the leash and growl nonsense with me. He has been to obedience class (and passed) but is a 15 month old lab. He’s striving to be more mature, but sometimes that puppyness takes over and wham a 65lb puppy at the other end of the leash. I wouldn’t put a prong collar on such a young dog, he’s just a baby, and he’s a lab! karen and floyd and blaze at the bridge

Response:

Thanks to everyone for the responses.  We have looked into a different trainer, but we live in a small town in TX and it is rather limited.  However, I bought the mentioned book by Brian Kilcommons "Good Owners, Great Dogs" awhile back and have been implementing his training methods. I am not expecting miracles at this age, however I was concerned about the "play" growling and aggressiveness.   Once again thanks and we’ll keep in touch!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Mantela) writes: >We have a 4 month old male choc. lab who was recently enrolled >in obedience training, but we are having some major problems. >Here is a brief history:  at 10 wks. of age he developed pemphigus, >which is an autoimmune disorder (since recovered).  Because of >that, he was unable to socialize with other pups/dogs until he was >fully immunized…he had a faulty immune system. >His not "socializing with other dogs from ten to 16 weeks shouldn’t have >any bearing on his ability to relate positively to dogs. Not socializing >with littermates the first seven weeks of life would have more of a >negative effect. How is he with dogs? I don’t believe you’ve mentioned >that. >Now we are in our second week of class with no improvement…his >attention is somewhere other than class and he constantly chews >(and at times, growls) at his leash.  Our trainer has recommended >a prong collar and serious physical reprimands each time he growls. >It sounds like you have a more serious problem than his relating to dogs. >I would seek new help. It sounds like this trainer’s advice is not working >and you are on the way to being bit. Big problems here. >   Because your corrections are making the dog worse, stop corrections. >Avoid engaging in any behaviors that trigger aggression or leash biting. >Stop going to the class, at least for now. >   Talk with vet, shelter and breed rescue. Describe what is happening and >see if they can referr you to someone that will be of help to you. >   Handling advice, I cannot give. For to do it properly, it requires >visual evaluation of you and dog. But do get help. It’s not too late to >turn this around. >Bob Maida >Manassas,Va

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >: It sounds like you have a more serious problem than his relating to >dogs. >: I would seek new help. It sounds like this trainer’s advice is not >working >: and you are on the way to being bit. Big problems here. >:    Because your corrections are making the dog worse, stop >corrections. >: Avoid engaging in any behaviors that trigger aggression or leash >biting. >: Stop going to the class, at least for now. >: Talk with vet, shelter and breed rescue. Describe what is happening >and >: see if they can refer you to someone that will be of help to you. >: Handling advice, I cannot give. For to do it properly, it requires >: visual evaluation of you and dog. But do get help. It’s not too late >: to turn this around. >: Bob Maida >: Manassas,Va >Totally agree.  Seek out a good behaviorist (not all trainers are >behaviorists).  Don’t treat agression with agression.  You’ll only >make the problem worse. >Chris Baker

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >:Titles mean nothing. Much of common sense and intuitiveness regarding >dogs >:is something that can only be learned through years of dog handling. >:Discuss the behavior problems with vet and various animal >:professionals. >:They’ll know through the grapevine just who is capable in the area. >:Bob Maida >:Manassas,Va >I know dog training instructors who have been at it for 15 years >or more and know very little about even their own dogs behavior. >They’ve been doing the same training routine for many years and have >not bothered to attend seminars to further their learning.  My wife >and I have attended many seminars and camps.  It’s an excellant way >to get different views on handling dog behavior problems.  Some are >good and we put those to use.  My wife recently attended a John Fischer >seminar and thought it was one of the best she’s ever been to.  Four >years ago we both attended a John Rogerson camp which was excellant. >Many of the obediance instructors never attend these seminars.  Their >solution for problem dogs is to "put them down".  I guess that’s the >easy way out, but we’re talking about living creatures here, not some >inanimate object.  Some of these behavior problems were caused by >humans in the first place. >Chris Baker

Response:

writes: >Totally agree.  Seek out a good behaviorist (not all trainers are >behaviorists).  Don’t treat agression with agression.  You’ll only >make the problem worse.

Titles mean nothing. Much of common sense and intuitiveness regarding dogs is something that can only be learned through years of dog handling. Discuss the behavior problems with vet and various animal professionals. They’ll know through the grapevine just who is capable in the area. Bob Maida Manassas,Va

Response:

:Titles mean nothing. Much of common sense and intuitiveness regarding dogs :is something that can only be learned through years of dog handling. iscuss the behavior problems with vet and various animal :professionals. :They’ll know through the grapevine just who is capable in the area. :Bob Maida :Manassas,Va I know dog training instructors who have been at it for 15 years or more and know very little about even their own dogs behavior. They’ve been doing the same training routine for many years and have not bothered to attend seminars to further their learning.  My wife and I have attended many seminars and camps.  It’s an excellant way to get different views on handling dog behavior problems.  Some are good and we put those to use.  My wife recently attended a John Fischer seminar and thought it was one of the best she’s ever been to.  Four years ago we both attended a John Rogerson camp which was excellant. Many of the obediance instructors never attend these seminars.  Their solution for problem dogs is to "put them down".  I guess that’s the easy way out, but we’re talking about living creatures here, not some inanimate object.  Some of these behavior problems were caused by humans in the first place. Chris Baker

Response:

: It sounds like you have a more serious problem than his relating to dogs. : I would seek new help. It sounds like this trainer’s advice is not working : and you are on the way to being bit. Big problems here. :    Because your corrections are making the dog worse, stop corrections. : Avoid engaging in any behaviors that trigger aggression or leash biting. : Stop going to the class, at least for now. : Talk with vet, shelter and breed rescue. Describe what is happening and : see if they can refer you to someone that will be of help to you. : Handling advice, I cannot give. For to do it properly, it requires : visual evaluation of you and dog. But do get help. It’s not too late : to turn this around. : Bob Maida : Manassas,Va Totally agree.  Seek out a good behaviorist (not all trainers are behaviorists).  Don’t treat agression with agression.  You’ll only make the problem worse. Chris Baker

Response:

We have a 4 month old male choc. lab who was recently enrolled in obedience training, but we are having some major problems. Here is a brief history:  at 10 wks. of age he developed pemphigus, which is an autoimmune disorder (since recovered).  Because of that, he was unable to socialize with other pups/dogs until he was fully immunized…he had a faulty immune system. Now we are in our second week of class with no improvement…his attention is somewhere other than class and he constantly chews (and at times, growls) at his leash.  Our trainer has recommended a prong collar and serious physical reprimands each time he growls. The problem is that the growling increases with the physical corrections. Even a training collar correction is met with more aggression… I am at my wit’s end with this one!  Even though he was deathly ill as a pup, he was never *coddled* as our trainer suspects.  He is a very intelligent pup and does well within the house, but around new people and situations it is another story. Any advise would be appreciated…especially about various training collars.  Thank you! PJ

Response:

>We have a 4 month old male choc. lab who was recently enrolled >in obedience training, but we are having some major problems. <snip> >Now we are in our second week of class with no improvement…his >attention is somewhere other than class and he constantly chews >(and at times, growls) at his leash.  Our trainer has recommended

Sounds sort of normal to me. I wouldn’t expect a 4 month old dog to do much more than bounce around and act like an idiot in his second week of class. As far as leash biting goes, to be honest, I wouldn’t worry about that either. I also don’t like the idea of harsh corrections on such a young dog, or a prong collar on one. I don’t know if there is more than one obedience school where you live, but if it were my dog, I might want to explore other options for training. It’s too much to expect non-goofy behavior from a young male Lab in his second week of training. Ann, Twzl & Sligo —

Response:

Mantela) writes: >We have a 4 month old male choc. lab who was recently enrolled >in obedience training, but we are having some major problems. >Here is a brief history:  at 10 wks. of age he developed pemphigus, >which is an autoimmune disorder (since recovered).  Because of >that, he was unable to socialize with other pups/dogs until he was >fully immunized…he had a faulty immune system.

His not "socializing with other dogs from ten to 16 weeks shouldn’t have any bearing on his ability to relate positively to dogs. Not socializing with littermates the first seven weeks of life would have more of a negative effect. How is he with dogs? I don’t believe you’ve mentioned that. >Now we are in our second week of class with no improvement…his >attention is somewhere other than class and he constantly chews >(and at times, growls) at his leash.  Our trainer has recommended >a prong collar and serious physical reprimands each time he growls.

It sounds like you have a more serious problem than his relating to dogs. I would seek new help. It sounds like this trainer’s advice is not working and you are on the way to being bit. Big problems here.    Because your corrections are making the dog worse, stop corrections. Avoid engaging in any behaviors that trigger aggression or leash biting. Stop going to the class, at least for now.    Talk with vet, shelter and breed rescue. Describe what is happening and see if they can referr you to someone that will be of help to you.    Handling advice, I cannot give. For to do it properly, it requires visual evaluation of you and dog. But do get help. It’s not too late to turn this around. Bob Maida Manassas,Va

Response: