My local dog training class doesn't want us.

meritaten

elsien wrote: »

Well I've found another group thanks to krlyr's link, and they say it's a small group in a large industrial unit with lots of space so they're happy for me to go along for the first week and assess whether we think it's likely to work or not. If not, they have some calm and sensible stooge dogs we can do some one to one work with. The first session is in a couple of weeks, so all I need to do now is try to swap shifts so I can get there. Watch this space!

:T Yay! I hope that works out for you both!

I am sorry, but my own experience of 'obedience' classes was 'woeful'. perhaps it was just the one I attended (twice) but, they were not at all helpful and as a new staffie owner, indeed a new 'dog' owner I felt out of my depth with training. we weren't asked to leave or anything, tho a very boisterous young GSD was ordered out..... I just felt that the other owners and dogs were there to 'socialise' and congratulate themselves on having such marvellous trained dogs.
and it was boring..............!

I would have preferred 'agility' but the only class I could find which was within distance - the trainer fell about laughing when I said I had a Staffy! and refused to take us! The cheek of it! my Anni was agile, fast and playful - perfect for agility don't you think?

elsien

I'm reading the "when pigs fly" book to get some training ideas for gitdog. If she can get a bull terrier to do agility, the woman is clearly worth listening to. I think wriggly dogs are perfect for agility, and staffies clearly fall into the wriggly category.
This will be us in a few months time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioNSQ-3A6t4

meritaten

I cannot understand why it's mostly border collies winning agility classes! Where are the staffies? They are agile, muscular, 'Wriggly' and playful! or do they take one look, sniff disdainfully and refuse to compete with such inferior beings? lmao! then go back to playing 'thier' games their way?

meritaten

I have just watched the youtube clip! rofl! yeah - a nice big stick........why not take it and carry it around! my anni would probably have completed the course - but carrying the stick too!
lol - on our walks I used to say 'Anni, find a stick'! and she would come back with half a tree! dragging it proudly, only for me to say 'Daft dog - I cant throw that!' I had to find my own suitable stick!

Wellyboots6

Ooh that sounds good elsien!

At least you have the stooge dogs option too if the classes don't work. And you may be able to build up to the classes with their help anyway.

How daft must we sound though, having to train our dogs to be able to attend training classes!

gettingready

Elsien - brilliant.. hope it works out for you both xxx

minimad1970

Truffle's a Border Terrier, he's a wriggly dog and we've started doing agility. He loves it, he's not the fastest (that's probably down to me:o) but being a terrier once he's had enough he just gives me "the look" and walks away. Good luck with Gitdog

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Surely, one of the main things about the fun classes are that the dogs make a racket? You only have to watch flyball at Crufts to realise that all those perfect middle class pets make an unholy racket when they're having a good time.

Although the exMIL was a qualified trainer and she hated the noise dogs made when playing - she said it scared her. Maybe her temperament is common for trainers?