dog trainer

churchrat

morning all
just after some advice really, from anyone who has used a dog trainer.

we have a rescue jr terrier who shows aggressive behaviuor on the lead (to all other dogs, bikes white vans....) and to strangers that come to the house. He has never been aggressive to the family. We know we cant deal with it and have now started using a dog trainer that we found thro an ad in the vets. We asked the vet about her, who said that he couldn't "endorse" anyone, but said that he knew people had used her and he hadn't heard any complaints. Unfortunatly, we don't know anyone who needed to use a trainer.

So,--she is not cheapand I guess I would just like reassurance that we are doing the right thing.

She was with us for 3 hours, we walked the dog together (and with my ds and dd) and she gave us some advice that seems to be working almost at once. He is quieter and not barking as much. The problem is--
she has said not to walk him for at least 6 days and to completly ignore him in the house until she comes back next week, and that we may need to do this for even longer.

Has anybody else used a trainer that has suggested this? did it work?

many thanks for reading

churchrat

foreign_correspondent

sounds like Jan Fenell type methods? Personally, I quite like her, and find the methods work for me - not everyone does though, and I can appreciate why... but if it is working for your dog it sounds positive.

You could ask the trainer if she can supply any testemonials?

churchrat

thanks

she has given us some, and they sound positive, although I doubt she would tell us about those it didn't work for!!

I will look up Jan Fenell--what are the problems with it?
many thanks

foreign_correspondent

churchrat wrote: »

thanks

she has given us some, and they sound positive, although I doubt she would tell us about those it didn't work for!!

I will look up Jan Fenell--what are the problems with it?
many thanks

That is if she is using Jan Fennell methods - what sort of a trainer does she say she is?

I am sure someone will be along who can tell you more about the criticisms of Fennell's methods, but from what I can recall, it is mostly that people think it is not right to be ignoring the dog, and that her theory is flawed. Many now believe that pack theory, which her work is based on is flawed, as dogs do not see us as part of their pack - I am not bothered either way about this idea, who knows what dogs really think of us, however, I have no problems with her style of training, and use lots of the ideas from it myself.

I feel her training is kind and based on body language and attention for good behaviour, and bad behaviour is ignored rather than punished (hitting dogs, alpha rolling and strangulation are NOT part of her methodology at all!).

The thing is, all training methods will have their fans and their critics - I think you need to research this trainer as much as you can and find out as much as you can about her methods, and see what you think.

Personally, I would run a mile from anything that is likely to make your dog more defensive and aggressive - so no aversive training methods, choke chains, rattle bottles, hitting, electric spray or shock collars, air spray cans, nothing that will make the dog feel more of a need to defend you, or that will make the dog scared!

sarabe

she has said not to walk him for at least 6 days and to completly ignore him in the house until she comes back next week, and that we may need to do this for even longer.

This is mental cruelty and completely unnecessary. It will most likely cause your dog to become depressed.

This link might be of interest

http://coape.org/awsn.html

I work with owners and their dogs that are reactive to other dogs, traffic etc.

We use clicker training very successfully to teach the dog an alternative behaviour as well as using toys and food to give the dog an outlet for their frustrations.

Feel free to pm me if you would like some advice.

moomin5

I presume you have a garden he can get some exercise in then, but then if you have to ignore him then you couldn't even wear him out with any games.

I couldn't ignore my dog for 6 days, seems like a very long time. Did she explain what it would achieve?

churchrat

hello all

I havn't been able to get hold of her so far today, but I shall def ask her what system she works with. From what I have read today she def uses Jan Fennell methods and I have to say I notice a difference in him. He is not jumping up when we come in and seems more "content" just to look out of the window, rather than try and attack everything on the other side of the glass.

I AM worried about the not walking thing-- she said it was so that he could learn just to react differently to us for a few days (and us to him) and not confuse him with walks at the same time.

I will not stick to that I think--and now I'm thinking that there doesn't seem to be much point in useing her if I am only happy to use the bits I like!!!!

Advice anyone please!!!!!

churchrat

yes we do have a garden and when she explained it , it all made sense!!! I've forgotten it now!!!!

sarabe

Click to Calm by Emma Parsons is an excellent book that explains how easy it is to retrain reactive or aggressive dogs using positive reinforcement.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1890948209/ref=nosim?!!!!!dogshop-21&linkCode=sb1&camp=2378&creative=8430

No need to punish your dog at all. - Happy dog and happy owner.

Ideally you could do with some practical help as well along these lines so you could try contacting the APDT, APBC or UKRCB to see if there is anyone in your area.

TO be honest though you could do a far better job on your own with the help of this book than you will using someone who tells you to ignore your dog for a week or more.

Just think of the anguish this would cause you if your family did this to you and you had no idea why.

Mojisola

churchrat wrote: »

The problem is--
she has said not to walk him for at least 6 days and to completly ignore him in the house until she comes back next week, and that we may need to do this for even longer.

If a dog isn't being exercised, it will find other ways to use its energy - usually ways we don't want! Do talk to her again and make sure you've got it right.

churchrat

Mojisola wrote: »

If a dog isn't being exercised, it will find other ways to use its energy - usually ways we don't want! Do talk to her again and make sure you've got it right.

That came across as a tad patronising, although I'm sure you didn't mean it that way.
I know that I've got it right--she wrote it down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was wondering about other methods that other trainers use, thats why I asked what other owners that have used trainers have experienced. Mijisola--are you a trainer? or have used one?

thankyou all for the replies.