Dog Health Questions: Dog trainers on animal planet?

I know this is kinda a weird question. I don't have a dog and haven't really had one in my life. But I dearly love them and other animals. So I watch a lot of dog training shows like on animal planet and what not. And I know my opinion of it. But if you have a dog and watch these shows tell me do you like Victoria Stillwell teaching or that Ceasar M. guy. You know pack leader thing or treats and stuff. I just saw this new show In The Dog House and he believes in no treats. So I though I should ask?

Dog Training - How to Handle Outdoor Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
If you hear anyone advocate the training methods used by Cesar Milan or Brad Pattison you should tell them no thanks. Their training methods are outdated and do the dog no good and can in fact cause aggression. Dominance, alpha, jerk and hurt methods have been condemned by the AVSAB.

"AVSAB's position is that punishment1 (e.g. choke chains, pinch collars, and electronic
collars) should not be used as a first-line or early-use treatment for behavior problems. This is due to the potential adverse effects which include but are not limited to: inhibition of learning, increased fear-related and aggressive behaviors, and injury to animals and people interacting with animals.2"

http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/i…

Animal Planet has a great dog training role model in Victoria Stilwell. Why they air Brad's show is beyond me. Clicker training and/or positive reinforcement is the way to go.

Electronic Dog Training Collars

• Im fond of Caesar. I like his methods. They are helpful when you own rescues with behavioral issues like I do. As for the Victoria lady....i can't stand her. I never truly see results with her show. And, frankly, I wouldn't blame a dog if one were to bite her.


• I like ceaser better as a trainer. But on the issue of treats. At first, when first learning treats are good as a motivational source. but when the behavor is learned then no, it is the praise that is the reward.


• Cesar is great, I was using his "pack leader" method decades ago. I don't agree with him 100% of the time (it IS okay to pet an anxious dog), but he's the best that's come along in a long time.
  
  Treats have their place, they're a great motivator to get a young puppy to pay attention, but they should quickly come to the point that they want your approval.

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Dog Health Questions: My problematic aggressive dominant dog! Help!?

Hi

6 mths ago, my wife & I adopted a 3yr+ neutered male yellow Labrador retriever/mix(75lbs) frm a shelter.According to the shelter,he had been abandoned by 3 different owners prior. We were warned tht the last owner decided to turn him in as he had accidents ard the house & was not toilet train.He showed signs of dominance,didnt co-exist well w their other dogs,had a bad separation anxiety problem.We felt a connection w him.He was alert but calm while in the kennel,didnt bark(other dogs were barking like crazy). He also was looking to us for instruction.We decided to take him in.

I guess you need to know the FULL picture to accurately help us!

The first day we brought him home,we accidentally let loose the leash & he went for a run ard the neighborhood.We had a hard chase to get him back.While I tried to grab hold of him (in a hurry, I think I accidentally hit on his genitals),he bit my hand which punctured my skin a little,but we managed to get him back & scolded him for the biting. He looked guilty. For tht first night which he spent in our home,we wanted him to sleep in a room on his own (we arent used to sleeping with a furry friend)& let him into a crate since he was not potty-trained.BUT he howled,barked,whimpered so badly & managed to break out of the crate. We guess it was anxiety.After a few days, he was more comfortable being alone & did NOT show signs of stress.However,he still refuse to go into the crate.Then,we built a doggie door for him so he cld access the yard frm his room.He did not have any accidents since & did all his businesses in the yard.We were pleased.

We bring him for half to an hour walk daily w a flat leash.At first,he tends to pull badly (80% of walk) to the point of choking, pee at every tree and pole & get agitated when we see other dog on the walk.Then, we bought backpack (with 4lbs weight) for him,it slowed him down & he stop pulling as much.NOW,he walks beside us & pull (only 20% of walk) usually when he sees other animal or insist on smelling a certain spot along the way.Though there's improvement w the walk,we're still working to perfect it.What bother us most is when we see another dog nearby,we'll have to avoid,in case he gets agitated/lunges/start barking.We usually see his ears coming forward & body stiffening.We tried allowing him to meet dogs afew times.Most of the time, after sniffing each other & the other dog is about to leave,he'll start lunging at the dog & growls/barks furiously,so much so we had to drag him away & he whimpers after.Once or twice,it worked out,though he was tense,he met other dogs,but it ended okay without a fight.Since,we enrolled him in a dog training class,his obedience is slightly better,but not fully compliant, 50% of e time requires bribe to listen.

We bring him to dog park once weekly to socialize(to our amaze,he's friendly most of the time,not as bad as when he is on a leash).We notice that his play is occ more dominant/competitive as he growls during play w other dogs, but we guess it's normal play behavior.He occ humps other dogs (20% of the time) which we also guess is normal dog behavior.He occ (15% of the time) gets into a fight but we were able to break him out & he is back to calm state after. Its NOT the kill-aggressive type of fight.

Then there were a few occasions at home, that REALLY SCARED me and my wife.
- Once, I was walking through the fence into my yard, he probably thought I was a intruder, he bark at me, jump,lunges, paw, and bit my pants. But he cant possibly not know it was me??? his owner??He stopped after a long wait.
- Another time,my wife was playing tug of war with him in the yard,he lost & then he started dashing ard the yard & lunge at my wife.My wife is pretty small in stature (100lbs) & with my dog lunging at her at full speed,she almost fell.She was shock because its all so sudden. He growled at her & bit/pull her pants to the point it broke a hole.She stood very still & he stopped.She scolded him "NO" & went back into the house. He whimpered.
- One time, we went out to the yard midnight to stargaze(we usually dont go to the yard at night).Our dog saw us,sat beside us.However,he went into the house first since it was cold. When my wife & I are done,we went in.To our surprise, he suddenly bark at us furiously, bow down, about to jump/lunge, growled. We were scared, but stood still until I grab hold of him & put him in a submissive position.He stopped.
- One time, we played fetch, he was good..but suddenly started to dash around the yard, attack and lunge at me at full speed, growl, bow, jump, nipped!
- Once at a beach,he swam&was happy,but suddenly dash around the park at full speed, charge at us,growl,nip,jump. Stop when we ignore.

**HELP
1)How do we stop him from getting tense upon seeing other dog on walk on-leash?
2)Is this aggression? He's unpredictable and sudden. What's the trigger? Play aggression OR what?? How to correct h

Dog Training Tips - How To Get The Most Out Of Your Dog

Recommended Answer:
First off it sounds like you have a fear biter, which is not good. Second he does not sounds very genetically sound, not a good thing.
It would be close to impossible for us to tell you everything that the dog need to maybe make the problems manageable. Consult a behaviorist, have them come to your house to evaluate the dog.
Honestly you have a very unstable dog and you need to make some decisions after he is evaluated, and I don't mean making him a problem for anyone else. Not all dogs can be fixed

Would Purchasing a Dog Book Or Dog Training Book Be Useful?

• Not reading all this. See your vet and get a referral to a local trainer/behaviorist. Have your dog evaluated and go from there.


• You've got to be joking - it's supposed to be a question, not an essay


• From here, even though there are a few behaviourists on this site, there is very little that we can do. You have provided alot of great descriptions, but we really need to see this dog in action to determine that cause of the problems.
  
  At the moment, it is really unclear to me whether your dog is acting aggressively due to some dominance related behaviour, or simply because he is playing roughly.
  When you mentioned the 'fetch' incident, the dog was bowing, which is a clear sign that he wants to play. Labradors can be very enthusiastic dogs, who need firm boundaries, so it is possible that he was just going overboard in his play.
  Again, the incident at the beach could have also been play related- as the beach is a fun place for dogs to be, and they often get overly excited.
  Even the tug of war.. this is not a game that you should play with a dog that is 'dominant' anyway, because it encourages competition, but it could have very well been over enthusiasm.
  
  What I can tell you is that you have a very energetic, active dog that is not getting near the amount of exercise he requires each day. Labradors are bred to be out and about all day- they are very difficult to tire- and a half hour walk daily isn't enough.
  You have an intelligent breed of dog that seems to be responding well to training, but needs some one-on-one help.
  Obedience is a great place to go- because the other dogs and people are generally always under control. Have you discussed your dog's aggression problems with your trainer? They may be able to offer some support to try and help socialise your dog and make him less reactive towards other dogs.
  
  Im sorry- I had more of an answer, but Y!A is being really touchy and wont allow me to publish it all. Basically- you need the help of a behaviourist for this one. You need to learn some leash handling skills, you need to stop taking your dog to off leash parks- that is just a lawsuit waiting to happen, and you need to determine the cause of the aggression in order to work at solving the problem- all of which require the help of a behaviourist. Good luck.


• Fear biter as someone else pointed out
  Under socialized
  Mostly fearful though
  
  Overly excited.
  
  This dog needs a lot of work, OB training isn't going to help. You need to call around to trainers and tell them whats going on.
  
  For now, muzzle when on walks (basket muzzle), no tug toys (sounds like it's too much stimi for him), and google NILF (nothing in life is free).


• The fact that three other owners had given up on this dog should have been a huge RED FLAG.
  
  This dog does not have issues, he has volumes!
  
  There are so many nice, well adjusted dogs in the world to pick from. I suggest you return this dog to where you got him from and find a dog that is better suited to your and your level of experience.
  
  The biting incidents indicate that this dog really is not suitable to be placed, return him and let them know of the problems you have had with him. This dog needs to be put to sleep.

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Dog Health Questions: Beagle specific training tips?

We are generally experienced dog trainers (have successfully trained several different breeds throughout our lives) AND we have just acquired an 8 month old boy puppy.

He seems different than any other breed we've dealt with (in mostly good ways). But, I would like some beagle tips. I know the dog whisperer is all about pack leadership, but this beagle seems to ignore all of that sort of stuff.

He is SWEET and GOOD, but I've got to figure out how to train him (or me) to: 1. go to the bathroom outside *always*, 2. not jump up on *everything*, 3. *listen* - I mean, if I tell him no (about anything), he just does it again (over and over). 4. Since we got him from a breeder, we were told that he was "crate trained". It's only been two nights, but he has barked non-stop the entire time he is locked up in the crate.

So, any beagle (or beagle-like) tips? Like I said, we're pretty experience with dog training in general- this beagle is just different, NOT BAD (actually quite sweet)

3 Secrets to Dog Training - Immediate Results

Recommended Answer:
Do you have other dogs? Your beagle may want to sleep near them, or at least have your other dogs sleep so that he can see them. Our beagle is three years old, and he would fall asleep after being cuddled, and as long as our other dog was nearby, he'd sleep soundly.

Also, with beagles, once we fed him, we'd take him outside, and as he got older, we'd watch for him to start to "follow a scent inside" and then take him out. Since we got him at 8 weeks, instead of 8 months, he learned quickly, and now when he wants to go out, he'll sit by the back door, or whack my mom on the leg.

For question 2, I don't think I have any helpful advice for that.

For number 3, my beagle did that, and still does. He's a stubborn little boy, and after a while, my parents just gave up caring. He learned how to open closed doors, and how to open his locked crate. He's our mastermind escape artist, as we affectionately call him.

Hope this was helpful! If you need more help, I'll be glad to offer more help/advice with beagles. :)

Successful Dog Training Tricks

• Beagles are very sweet, but also very stubborn by nature. Try rubbing a towel on you, for your scent and putting that in his crate along with a good rawhide bone. It can also help calm the barking if his crate can be where you are. Also get him used to the crate at times other than bedtime, leaving the door open when he's not in it. Most dogs grow to love their crate, and consider it their den. Everything else just requires patience and consistency the same as any other breed. They are very active, so you might try some high activity just before bedtime for him.


• Congrats on your beagle! This breed is very intelligent (read: hard to train!) Regarding your specific issues: 1. Make sure that you are always supervising so you that you will catch him in the act when he goes inside. Immediately carry him outside and to his potty spot. Also make sure you are rewarding him for going outside. Beagles are usually very food-motivated. 2. Teach a very strong sit/ stay. 3. Don't tell him no. It doesn't mean anything. He's thinking, "No, what? No breathing? No moving? What do they want?" Instead, teach an alternate behavior, like sit, come, down, or drop it. 4. Only let him out of the crate or pay any attention to him when he is quiet. Beagles love to howl so this is going to take a lot of consistency. Good luck!


• The trick to training a beagle is sporadic food rewards and a whole lot of persistence and patience.
  
  The one time YOU slip and don't correct a behavior you might find yourself starting all over because that beagle won't forget-LOL!
  
  For potty outside make a big to-do every time he does it correctly. Tell him "Good Boy! Good outside potty!" it really shouldn't take long if you let him know he is doing it right.
  Often the case it is the owner who is not reading the pups signals and not getting the dog outside fast enough. ALWAYS take your dog outside through the same door. This will help your dog know where to go to alert you. If you find puddles by the door assume YOU didn't get there fast enough. Your dog made the attempt but you missed it.
  
  Another tip is when you see your beagle is doing something good let him know and give a small treat like a cheerio. An example of this would be you see him lying on the floor chewing on his toy. You can either say "Good Down! Good boy!" or you can say "Good Chew! Good Boy!" depending on his current issues. You had a problem with him jumping on everything (#2) so catch him in the down position and reward him. He will quickly learn that down is good and food is sometimes offered.
  
  To teach your beagle to listen try to maintain eye contact. Do this by holding a treat and while saying the word "Listen!" point at your nose. The moment your dog makes eye contact say "Good Listen! Good Boy!" Once he gets this down then start adding onto it. "Listen" while pointing at your nose then "Sit!". Once mastered say "Listen" without pointing to your nose then give the second command. The point of this exercise is actually getting your beagles attention and then giving a command. By doing it this way you are cueing your beagle to the command of "listen" before having him do what you really want.
  
  As far as crate training goes it will take time. NEVER allow him out of the crate while he is barking or howling otherwise he will always do that knowing you will eventually let him out. Put a comfy blanket or bed and maybe a toy or 2 to entertain him. If this is happening at night then try taking him for a walk a bit before bed time to help wear him out.


• I recently bought my first beagle (I have a cairn terrier too), and I have fallen in love with the breed! Mine is 5 months old, and I have discovered a few tricks that might help you.
  
  1) As far as potty-training, we are still quite struggling with this one. However, she does know that she is supposed to go outside and if I am home she usually will start hinting to me she wants to go out. The biggest thing to watch for is that she goes to the corners when she is about to do business every time without fail.
  
  2) Also, as far as not jumping. I have discovered the best way to discourage it is to completely ignore her. Beagles are very social, and I read that ignoring your beagle is one of the worst punishments. Also, I used food treats to teach her to sit, and so I ignore her and then don't pet her when I walk in the house until she sits.
  
  3) This might not be the best method... However, if there is something she is not supposed to do, instead of telling her no, I either just eliminate the problem altogether--she kept chewing books, no matter how hard I tried to eliminate this behavior--so I put them all out of her reach and taught her to chew on one of her toys instead.
  
  4) Beagles don't like being crate trained. I have read everything I can find about training beagles and how crate-training is their best friend. I don't care what all of these people think, it is my firm opinion that no beagle should be crate trained! They are too social, and all they want is to sleep at the foot of the bed or in their bed near yours.
  
  As far as bonding with your dog--I think you would be surprised how smart beagles can be and how your beagle will learn how to please you and keep on doing it. All you need to do is give it some time. Good luck!!!


• Congratulations on your new beagle. As long as you realize what you have is a VERY strong nose with a little dog attached (rather than a dog with a very strong nose), half the battle is won!
  
  I'm sorry I can't speak to the potty training issue, as our beagle was 11 months old when we got him, and already potty trained. However, as to the crate training.... stop it, already. He probably wants to sleep in your bed, under your covers, as close to you as possible. Every dog trainer in the world will tell you not to let the dog on the furniture, especially the bed. This is bunk. Our beagle boy has calmed down considerably and is very bonded to us. When we first got him we tried putting him in a crate and he barked, howled and basically got so upset to the point he vomitted and had diarrhea in his crate - also destroyed the crate within two days. Even got the crate to "move" across the room he was jumping against the door so hard. We decided to let him out of the crate and have the run of the house, and he's been wonderful. BUT MAKE SURE HE CAN'T GET INTO ANY FOOD - BEAGLES ARE VERY SMART AND WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO OPEN CABINETS, FRIDGES, GARBAGE CANS, ETC. SO YOU MUST TRY YOUR BEST TO BE MORE CLEVER THAN THEY ARE - NOT AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS. ha
  
  As to the jumping, teach him to sit and when he's likely to jump (i.e. when someone's at the door, etc.) put him in a sit/stay or down/stay and reward him w/ treats for remaining seated. Beagles will do anything for food.

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Dog Health Questions: Difference in dog trianing?

is getting a video of "do it at home" dog training or actually taking a puppy to class the better way to go. what are to the pros and cons of each?

Protection Dog Training - Frequently Asked Questions

Recommended Answer:
There are actually some very good dog training videos out there that I'm sure you would be able to train your puppy with. However, there are distinct advantages to taking classes. Your dog will be around other dogs, and it's always good to socialize early. Plus it's nice to actually have a trainer in person to answer questions, whether about technique or just dog stuff in general. It's good that you are aware of the importance of training. You and your dog are going to be great together.

Pick the Best Dog Training Collar to Train Your Big Dog to Walk

• Either way would work, however by taking your dog to a class, you are socializing him and training him how to behave around other people and other dogs. Hopefully a class instructor will use positive methods when teaching. I suggest you go and observe a class before signing up for one.
  You can then decide if this is something you want to participate in without spending the money only to find you don't like what the instructor is telling you to do.
  I've used both methods with my training, and I like the class situation the best, but I follow it up with videos taught by trainers whose seminars I've attended. Here's a good training site for positive training;
  http://www.r-plusdogtraining.info/


• A class with a real trainer is better. Lots of reasons.
  
  Especially for a puppy, socialization is SO important. Puppy classes are FUN! You and your pup will learn the basics of obedience training and have a blast doing so. Even if you only take one or two sets of puppy classes, you will have a strong foundation upon which to build the more advanced and complicated obedience commands.
  
  Also, a trainer can observe the way you command and reward your pup, and can correct where necessary. So much of basic obedience is correct tone of voice, body language, and timing ... the trainer can help you fine-tune all of those.


• Training class pros:
  Your dog benefits from socialization with other people and dogs.
  Someone is there to help you and answer your questions
  Trainer can guide you through the training process with hands on help
  Training class cons:
  It costs more than a video
  Video pros:
  You can train in the comfort of your own home
  It's cheaper than a training class
  Video cons:
  It's harder than you think to follow the training steps that are given in a video
  You can't ask the person in the video for help
  You will be less likely to stick to a video training regimen than you would a class


• It's best to take your dog to class. In class the instructor can show you how to do it right.
  
  Make sure, that you sit in an watch a class before joining. You want to see how the instructor interacts not only with the dogs, but also with the owners. You can find local obedience clubs thru the AKC http://www.akc.org
  
  With a video, while you may get so good ideas, you don't know if that particular training is right for your dog. You also don't have anyone to correct you when your doing something wrong.


• If you have a puppy and are enrolling in Sirius Puppy classes, get the DVD, too. You can start working with the DVD at home before the pup is old enough to begin classes (at age 12 weeks) and have a head start on the class plus better control over your pup. It really helps and it's a great way to get started.
  
  Otherwise, it depends a lot on the quality of the classes or the DVD you are considering. There are good and bad available in both. If you aren't going to puppy classes, please reconsider. Your dog needs the classes. If your dog is too old for puppy classes, then call the places you are interested in going to classes at and ask if you can watch a few lessons before you enroll. See if the instructor explains clearly what to do and how to do it. See how dogs are handled in the class. Talk to some of the best and worst students after class to get their opinions on it. Ask yourself if you want to train your dog with those methods. Think it over carefully.
  
  There are many different approaches to dog training. You don't have to use a choke chain. You don't have to ever yell NO or use force. Dog learn remarkably well from force-free methods that use positive reinforcement. The best of these is called Clicker training.


• It all depends on how your puppy responds to training...I was able to train my APBT perfectly fine at home and even had him CGC certified and we are working on his therapy dog certification...however my other dog, I ended up having to take her to classes as she just wasnt responding to me and it helped having that little bit of extra guidance. I would suggest trying on your own and if that doesnt work, sign up for classs.


• Getting a Video isn't good because you really don't know if your doing it right. And you might be doing more harm than good. And it doesn't tell you if your doing it right or not.
  
  I would say taking a puppy to class is betting because you can meet other puppies, the trainer can show you want your doing wrong. and Teach you to do it right. And you will come out a lot better in the long run.

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Dog Health Questions: Unsatisfactory dog boarding experience with my greys?

Yahoo community I need your help. We went on a 9 day vacation and left our 2 greyhounds with a lady who does dog training and boarding at her home. She was recommended by the local rescue group. We went for a visit before we dropped the dogs off to discuss their issues.. mostly that greys are delicate and NOT yard dogs. We paid a premium price to board them in a home environment. And now that my dogs are home we realize that is not what we got. They have callouses, chapped skin, missing hair, and sunburn. They are stiff, lame, and sore. I already paid her and didnt inspect them closely until I got home. I was very tired when I picked them up and I trusted her and her reputation.

What would you do?

Why One Size Does Not Fit All In Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
I would not use her again. I would also call her and ask what the heck she did to your dogs to cause this. It will be relevant if they need vet attention. If you have to take them to the vet for treatment, ask her if she will pay for it, if she refuses, and the bill's significant, take her to small claims court. Oh, and phone the rescue that recommended her and let them know what happened. They may be willing to stop recommending her to others.

How to Incorporate Dog Training Into Dog Play and Exercise!

• First go to your vet and explain the situation. Get documentation and take pictures of their wounds/health condition. Ask the vet what they suggest you do. I would contact a lawyer and see what advice they can give as well.
  Once armed in writing with this info., I would go to her and let her know she did wrong, and you have the proof. Tell her you want a refund (or what ever it is you want) and if she doesn't comply tell her you'll take her to court. She neglected your pets and you should not have to pay if they were harmed and she did not give the service advertised/requested.
  Animal abuse is a crime and she should be punished. I am sorry your babies were harmed. It is like daycare for children, you can check and recheck but you never really know how they are going to be treated for sure. Again, I'm sorry.
  Best of luck with you and your dogs.


• Think BB has given a pretty good answer only thing I would add is tell the rescue group to make sure they never recommend her again.


• First - I would report your displeasure to your rescue group, so they do not refer others to her.
  
  I'm sure you'll never take your hounds to her again.
  
  Did you call her and ask her what happened to your hounds while you were away? I can't think of any reason that Greyhounds would get callouses and sunburn while being boarded inside someones home. The missing hair could be from playing with each other, as you know how easily these guys can get scuffed up.
  
  In the future maybe you can exchange dog sitting with other people within your own rescue. This is what our group does, and then instead of paying board, we make a donation to the group. So we are helping the hounds, as well as each other. (and your dogs stay in a home with other Greys)
  
  I'd be fuming about now ..........but if she did feed and care for your dogs, then I doubt you could get a refund of any type - as she did provide the service you contracted with her for.
  
  But I would make it well known to all pet owners I knew that the woman does not provide the quality of care that she advertises.


• Don't use her again, I don't think there is much you can do legally, I would call the rescue group that gave her the recommended her and let them know what happened, was the rescue group the greyhound rescue?? If not call the adoption group you got your greys from, I'm in the Phila.,Pa Area and the NGAP boards and the greyhounds get wonderful care, state of the art med care, paddocks to play in, best of food, they will do their teeth (laser) cut nails, have it all done if you want, maybe there is a NGAP in your area, they all treat the dog's great, but I think Phila has the med. center next time try them it is a large organization, I think there all over check the web National Greyhound Adoption Program.

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Dog Health Questions: Looking for dog trainer in St Lucie County, FL area.?

I just moved to Port St Lucie and got a new puppy (actually about a year old). I know places like PetsMart and PetCo offer dog training, but I have only found a Pet Supermarket around here. Anyone know of a reputable place I can take my new dog for obedience training? Thanks!

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Recommended Answer:
How far is PSL to ocala? and what type of dog is it?

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training help please?

I have a 6 month old dog, and he barks at everyone and everything, he is really good with people he knows, just people he doesnt know he goes crazy!! and other animals he chases after barking and even got in a little scuffle with the neigbors dogs.......we also have another pup but he was fine with her, and he has been fine with my moms dog so i dont understand. He will go running at people barking but wont go close to them and if they approach he keeps backing up just barking.....its very annoying cause his bark is so loud and since hes a 50lb pitbull he scares people, but in all honesty i know he would never hurt a fly!! So im wondering if anyone knows of any good books that i can get to help me train him. He sits and shakes but not if he is barking or chasing an animal he will not listen!! other than that hes a great dog and listens all the time, just not when barking or chasing.......help!!! need a really good step by step book

7 Important Dog Training Tips For You

Recommended Answer:
Sounds like he has a some fear issues since he's backing up. Do not allow him to run aggressively at people as this can cause you a bunch of problems. Put a leash and collar on him, give him a collar correction and a stern NO! for running and barking at passerbys, recall him back to you to praise. This dog needs to learn to come back to you instead of running at and barking at people. A good training class will be a better help in your situation. Books are fine if you have some experience in training dogs. Videos will help you more as you can see the training in action.

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• Try putting him on a leash and saying "shhh...." to him. So when he stays and is quiet, give him a treat and praise the heck out of him. Keep doing this, consistently. He should never be aloud to chase anything or anyone ever, anyway. Eventually you will be able to discontinue the treats and just say shhh.... Be sure to keep him tied up or in a fenced yard at all times though.


• Control Unleashed is an AWESOME book by Leslie McDevitt. It sounds like your dog is being put over his 'threshold'. You need to start with him seeing strange people far away and click and treat him for looking at them. As he progresses, you can gradually move forward. If when you do this, he freaks out and starts barking, simply take several more steps back until he calms down, and click and treat for looking. This book will explain this in greater detail and have much more advice. I ABSOLUTELY love this book, and recommend it to everyone.
  
  http://controlunleashed.net/
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Control-Unleashed-…
  
  P.S. They also make a DVD set of Control Unleashed.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training tips PLZ help!?

So my dog is very wild and very excitable! He is a good dog and everything but he gets way to wild. so what can i do to train him to act a little better??????? my main problems are--------going INSANE when the doorbell rings, going crazy when we have company, barking at any kind of noise, and barking mad at anyone that he sees through the window. I would also love for you to tell me any tricks that i can teach him......he only knows sit. PLEASE tell me everything you can!
Thanks sooooooo much.

Dog Training Videos - Are They Really a Good Resource?

Recommended Answer:
You are caught up in a problem I see all the time with my clients, and here on YA -- "how do I stop the dog from . . . " or "what do I do after the dog does . . . "

The solution is to turn that thought around, to "what do I want the dog to do instead?" For greeting guests, it could be sitting in a particular spot, away from the door, and waiting for them to come to him.

You could teach him a good recall and attention to you, and then make the sound of the doorbell or the sight of people passing by the window one of the cues for that.

1. Manage the situation as much as you can, using doors, baby gates, a leash, clearing space, the crate. Be prepared to do things you might not have thought of, like leashing the dog to you indoors. Prevent the unwanted behavior, for now.

2. Teach behaviors that contradict the ones you don't like, and are good habits you want anyway -- attention to you, sit, down, nose-target, come, stay, etc. Even cute tricks can be used to involve and distract a dog. Use reward-based training, like clicker training, to teach them.

3. Practice those desired behaviors, in every part of every room, at every time of day, with you in various positions, etc. Where a lot of training falls apart is here -- many people don't realize that dogs don't often generalize, but need to be shown that "down" still means "down" regardless of surrounding details.

4. Gradually increase the level of real-life temptations, to show the dog that "stay" still means "stay" if someone else talks, you talk, the cat walks by, etc. Then you can ask for the desired behavior in the situations during which the dog exhibits the unwanted behavior, and ease up on the management solutions.

5. The good news? Eventually, the good behaviors become habit, and often don't need to be cued. The old temptation now becomes the cue to do the desired behavior -- for example, the dog who goes to lie on his bed when people are eating, rather than begging.

If you're still thinking "but what do I do if the dog does ______ (insert unwanted behavior here)? I hope that, by now, I've convinced you that it almost doesn't matter.

But, there are a few "better than nothing" reactions --

- an attempt at what's called "negative punishment" -- taking away the natural reward that is reinforcing the behavior. This includes things like stepping back so the dog can't make contact by jumping up, taking away your hands if the dog nips them, walking away if he barks, putting his food dish in the fridge for a few seconds if he leaps around like a maniac, etc.

It may work, if you quickly give the dog a chance to try again, and keep repeating the process until you get the behavior you want.

- letting the error teach you -- look around and see if there is something you could be doing better with management.

- letting the error inspire you -- think about what you'd like the dog to do instead, in that situation. If it's something you have trained that just needs more practice, or to be applied to that situation, keep working on it. If you see that you need a new behavior for that situation, start teaching it, and have fun!

Some training sources:

http://www.dogscouts.org/Protocol_for_re…

http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles…

http://www.clickertraining.com/

http://corporate.petsmart.com/public-rel…

http://www.akinfdt.net/look_at_that.html

Dog Training - Tips For Consistency

• Start off with more exercise! Go for a long walk or run every day, play fetch, play with other dogs, etc. Once your dog has burned off some of his excess energy and isn't so wild and excitable, then you can do some training. If you can, sign up for a beginning obedience class so that you can learn how to train your dog effectively. Practice each day with a couple of short (5-10 minute) training sessions.


• ask Cesar Chavez the dog whisper lol
  found out what type of "dog personality" he has and if he is not getting aggressive and just EXCITED then he is probabaly just catious of your suroundings...idk. I had a dog, a chiuahua and it was pretty hipper and paranoid so I had to use so many positive reanforcements with him to makes sure he knew everything was ok.
  
  so check the bread and if its a mut then your on your own...lol


• To train your dog to stop barking, have one of your friends do something to first get him to start barking--such as ringing the doorbell. When he starts going crazy have a treat ready and hold it up to his nose, when he stops to sniff the treat say "Quiet" and treat him & praise like crazy. Do this several times, and eventually he'll stop barking:)


• high five Take his paw with one hand then push his paw toward you when your hands meet say high five then give him a treat do again a couple of times try without treats sometime petting and love instead then after he gets that part say high five see if he will do it if he wont then repeat process tomorrow also remember this is training not feeding


• whenever your dog goes crazy and barks do something he
  doesn't like. try ringing the doorbell and when he barks, say NO and make sure he doesnt go crazy. then he should realize not to bark when the doorbell rings or when loud sounds happen.


• It would probably be best if you went to a dog training course. Training lessons are kind of hard to give over the internet. Try Googling dog training courses in your area. Good luck!


• Uhhh, you must pimp slap your dog once in a while to show that you are the dominant species. Thank you and God bless America.


• When ur training them whenever they do something right give them a treat.


• When he barks yell and point your finger at him and shout "NO BAD DOG!" and then slap him very gentle on the head so he does feel it but it doesnt hurt it when ever he does the bad things do that.
  
  every time he does good things say "YES well done!" and give him his favourite treat
  
  Teaching tricks
  --------------------------
  Lie down
  --------------
  
  When he is sitting say lie down and repeat it 3 times and then push the side of him to the ground and say lie down once and give him a treat keep doing this dailycome here
  ------------------
  
  when you want him to come say his name "Name come here!"
  and pat your legs and even if your standing up or sitting down or lying down. just do that and if he doesnt come then go to him slowly and push his bum a little and say " Name come on come here!" when he comes give him a treat keep doing thatwhen you learn the basic tricks you will gradually get the idea of how to teach him if you have any other questions please contact me on my questions just press answer and ask your questions
  
  Thank you
  
  Sarah


• It sounds like your dog has a lot of energy- energy he needs to burn! If you are able to tire your dog out every day about 90% of behavioral problems will go away. You need to make sure he's getting plenty of exercise. Once he is controllable, then you can practice obedience and tricks with him. With the doorbell, open the door, stand in the doorway and ring the bell. As soon as he barks, tell him no. Repeat. Eventually he will no longer bark and when he does that, reward him with a treat.
  
  I think most people have trouble with being stern with their dog. Because people treat their pets like children, many of them turn into "brats" and realize they can get away with whatever they want. You need to let your dog know YOU are in charge.
  
  Tricks are fun to teach and to show off, but make sure he has basic obedience down first. Here is a good website with tricks and how to teach them. Good Luck!
  
  http://www.loveyourdog.com/tricks.html


• make sure your dog has enough excercise :)
  you can read up about how much excercise dogs should be getting, it might suprise you
  
  a dog which has plenty of excercise has no need to go insane or crazy as he is out of enegy and doesnt need to waste it on anything else.
  
  TRICKS: :)
  
  PAW: this is soo easyy!! take some treats, make your dog sit, lift his paw up and say "paw" , give him a treat. and praise... lift his paw up and say "paw" give him a treat, and praise........ repeat repeat repeat
  soon your dog will know that when you say "paw" he is expected to lift his leg up, and he will get a treat! this one is so easy to teach dogs in my opinion
  
  LAY DOWN: put your dog into the sit position, take some treats, and put a treat to his nose then drag slowely the treat towards the floor and away from your dog, towards you, your dog will be concentrated on the treat and so should automatically lay down in order to get the treat. while u are dragging the treat towards the floor say "lay down" when he does it reward him and praie him. repeat repeat repeat!
  ( this may take a few attempts for him to grasp the conept for himt o lay down, its okayy, keep trying!)
  
  TALK/BARK: make your dog sit, hold a treat so he can see and smell it, give him no commands, stay in silence wavign the treat in his face occasionly, he will get a bit aggitated and willl probably bark at you because he wants the treat, say "talk or bark" when he does it,
  repeat repeat repeat! he will soon understand that when you say "talk/bark" thats what he must do :)all dogs are different, these techniques might not work for your dog, they certainly worked for mine! and remember, dont give up easily :)
  
  good luck ! :) with you and your dog :)

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Dog Health Questions: Has anyone bought dog training stuff from...?

http://www.k9professor.com/training.html… I did & I haven't got it in the mail yet & I'm starting to wonder if it is a scam, anyone here used it before?

Dog Training Fundamentals - 5 Key Dog Behaviour Factors That Affect Training

Recommended Answer:
If MaddMax is right you could call Petsmart and complain... The big companies don't like it when things they sponser give them a bad name...

Secrets to Dog Training Reviewed

• It's sponsored by petsmart so I wouldn't think they're a scam. Give them a call or drop them an email and see what's taking so long. You can cancel a payment from your credit card for up to 30 days after you receive your monthly statement.


• woof woof n pets

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Dog Health Questions: Dog Training Help Please?

We have a new dog. She is 5 months old and her breed is an Alaskan Malamute and Australian Sheep Dog. She has a bad habit of biting. We said she is a puppy and she will grow out of it but it is getting to be to much. Do you know anything we can do to make her stop or ease off bitting? Anything we can buy?
Thanks

Which Dog Training Collar Should You Choose?

Recommended Answer:
A little obedience training goes a long way ... I strongly recommend finding a good professional trainer in your area and signing up for their puppy or beginner's class. Trainers can see your dog's behavior and "read" exactly what is going on - I can't tell you from the information provided if the biting is "puppy exploring the world with mouth" or "playing too rough" or "dominance aggression" or "fear aggression" and each one has a different underlying cause and treatment!

For almost all puppy biting one of the two following ideas will work:

For a younger puppy or one who is sensitive/submissive, stop inappropriate play (biting) by yelling "OW!" and turning away - act much more hurt then you are, and refuse to play for a few minutes. This is how litter-mates draw the lines on rough play.

For an older puppy or one who has obstinate tendencies/is more dominant, use the ol' drag a leash method. Let the SUPERVISED puppy drag their 6' leash behind them. When the puppy bites (or engages in other inappropriate behavior), especially when excited or playing, immediately say "No, Wrong" in a firm but not loud or angry voice, stand up, and step on the leash. Pick up the loose end and command a "down" in the same firm voice - pull the leash under your foot to make the puppy lay down if they don't. Keep the puppy in the down with the leash under your foot until they are calm and quiet. Gently lean down and quietly praise and release. Repeat as needed.

In either case, the pup will learn that biting makes the fun stop and that you get to decide the rules of playing (and of everything else).

Good luck!

Dog Behavior: Finding the Right Motivations for Your Dog Training Program

• Have you considered giving your dog a full training? a trained dog would also learn to follow orders such as stop and stay - this will make it stop what it does and stay still. Try checking out http://www.antileon-ent.com/dog/ they have a detailed training methods that you can use for personally training your dog.


• Whenever she bites you, respond with a loud firm NO, and then isolate her for a few minutes. This enforces the idea that biting will not be tolerated. Never hit your dog. It would also help to enroll her in obedience school.

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Dog Health Questions: Help, any ideas for this persons problem? Dog Training.?

I adopted a wonderful wiemeranier from PACC This weekend and first of all wanted to thank them for such a wonderful dog. His original owner could no longer take care of him but I am hoping to contact the original owner for some help. The dog has had some training and one of the things that he does is sit down in front of me and lift his paw up which is supposed to signal something. I tried food, taking him out to the bathroom and just shaking his hand but the act does not seem to relate to any of those actions. If anyone may know what this means or may know the original owner please let me know. I want to give this beautiful dog the best home I can and knowing what he wants and how he has been trained will really help. Thank you, J

Dog Training Videos - Are They Really a Good Resource?

Recommended Answer:
Firstly congrats on your new rescue and well done for having a rescue dog and giving him a loving forever home :-)

To the subject:

In my house, if my dogs were to put thier paw (or any part of their body) onto me no matter what position they are in (i.e. sitting, standing, etc) then I consider that to be rude and bossy behaviour from my 3 as they are demanding something and that in my house is not allowed. If my 3 do this then they are pushed away and ignored with no eye or verbal contact.

However, this does not mean your dog is being bossy and demanding. Some people will train their dogs to do similar things to make them aware of something specific - like a guide dog would most likely be trained to make their owner aware of a potential danger, etc. I would advise that you try to get into contact with the previous owner and ask if the behaviour your dog is exhibiting to you is something that she has trained him or not.

If he wasnt taught that behaviour then I strongely suggest you put a stop to it and just simply gently push him away and then ignore him as you don't want him to start to think that he can get what he wants by being dominating to you. Remember he is in a new environment with new people so he will need to work out boundries and also him place in the pack so he will test you and anyone else in the household for how you handle different situations and also look out for weak points in your behaviour/body language so stay strong, calm and confident to him otherwise you may end up being bottom of the pack and he will think he is leader and then you could end up with behaviour problems.

Best of luck

Edit: Just read another post here saying that you dog will need at least 2-3hrs of exercise a day. I'd like to say that I have 3 siberian huskies which are also known to have a high exercise requirement. Yes exercise is important to any dog no matter what breed it is but this doesnt mean that every dog has a specific number of hours exercise a day! Someday my 3 dogs may have a good 3-4 hours, spread out, exercise in a day whether it would be a walk, running in the harness, or just some training around the house, etc and yet somedays they may only have about 30mins exercise a day. And no matter how much exercise they have had they will still sleep throughout the day when they are not on a walk or doing training, etc because they are fully relaxed dogs and they know they haven't got to worry about anything as that is my job to ensure they're kept safe and out of harms way and if they are needed for anything then I will call them to me. A happy, relaxed dog with no stresses will sleep in a fully relaxed state for 17-20hours a day, no matter what breed of dog they are :-)

4 Tips To Be Succesful In Dog Training Biting

• maybe he wants affection. my lab does the same thing and it means she wants attention.


• My Border Colie does this, she wants me to give her a good scratch, a cuddle,and a kind word, she is just letting me know that she is still there and that I stll love her. She will then go and lie down reassured. Awwww


• it could be a trick it does. try a treat or scratch it's stomach. My lab, Sammie, rolls over all the time when she wants food or attention.


• Its not necessarily a trained behavior it is pretty common attention seeking behavior in dogs.


• Do NOT contact the original owner. That is way out of line.
  
  The paw thing is not a trained thing. It's just something dogs do. It doesn't mean anything, just let it be.
  
  If you want to learn more about the training, take a private training session with a real trainer. They can eval the dog and get a basic feel for what the dog knows and what it still needs.
  
  Remember that this Weim is going to need 2-3 hours of work and exercise a day. Be sure you plan for that in advance. They are very very active dogs. They are not dogs that tend to do well being left home all day or with an inactive family.


• I do not think that it is out of line to contact the original owner. He loved this dog very much but could no longer afford to take care of him due to being laid off. I am sure that the original owner would be happy to know that his dog has found a good loving home. Wouldn't you want to know that a dog you were forced to give up was going to be well taken care of?

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Dog Health Questions: Very cheap dog crates and dog training?

does any one know a site for cheap dog crates? and any sites on help with training my dog thanks

Searching For Cheap Dog Training Collars

Recommended Answer:
http://www.ebay.com

then go to yahoo groups and join the Volhard group that talks about dog training. As a matter of fact you can probably find a dog training yahoo group for your specific breed.

Good Luck
H.O.T. Dog
Handler Owner Trainer of GSD's

Puppy Dog Training For Obedience - How To Train Your Dog Puppy Properly

• I got mine at wal-mart. like 45 dollars. I have a weimeraner in mine.


• http://www.petsafe-warehouse.com/dog_cra…
  
  http://www.petsalley.com/cheapdogcrates.…
  
  http://www.dogs-palace.com/
  
  http://www.petplace.com/dog-training.asp…


• I was actually looking for crates as well for my Daschund - found a FANTASTIC WEBSITE!!! The crates are new, but they sell them as if they were used - I found a brand new crate for only $55 WITH shipping.
  
  www.critterpads.com
  
  Check them out ;)


• Walmart sells crates for 50 bux and under... the biggest is 50.


• PetSmart has pretty good prices for crates. I would consider getting into a class. This will help not only you, but it will teach your dog how to listen despite distractions. Classes are held at PetSmart as well. Call and talk to the trainer there. See how long shes been doing it and so on. Good luck. If you want a private trainer, Go to www.APDT.com for a trainer near you.


• Check your local newspaper, lots of people sell their crates when they find they aren't using them anymore.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training as a career?

now im looking into the tom rose dog training school and was wondering if you can make a decent living off this. my mom told me no...im 17 not into it as much for the money more because i love dogs (especially the molloser breeds) and would want to do something i like doing.

Dog Training - Dog Training Techniques

Recommended Answer:
As long as you don't care about working a LOT of hours and making NOT a lot of money, then I say go for it--do what you love.

I just got a book from the library, "Opportunities in Animal Care Careers" or something like that. Had a chapter about dog/animal trainers. At the start, you'll have a tough time getting a solid paying job to pay the bills, but it's do-able. You can work at PetSmart, at a vet office that offers training services (you might be sort of a freelance in that situation), I know my humane society offers obedience, socialization, agility, etc. training classes, so if you get really good at it you could get a job like that. If you get REALLY good at it (I mean REALLY REALLY GOOD), you might be able to become a show handler for people's purebred dogs. There's a LOT of money in that.

If you are looking for a bit better income source, then maybe do a grooming program too. Then you're even more valuable to vets or places like petsmart, since you can groom and train, so they win because they only need to hire one person instead of two (unless you up there business so much that they need an extra set of hands!). You might also look into working with horses, especially care of racehorses and training racehorses. There's definitely money to be made there.

Good luck and remember--do what you love and you'll have a happy career!

Dog Training Tips - How To Get The Most Out Of Your Dog

• Go for it! You don't have to make a career of it, but it will enable you to enjoy your life, more, and that's what we want out of life; enjoyment. Find out your skills, and see what else is of interest to you, that could become a career job. Good luck!

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training Clicker method - has anyone had good results with a dog and any tips?

she is about 2 years old and she has had no prior training.

Small Dog Training - Searching For Dog Training Courses Online?

Recommended Answer:
YES!!!! This is an excellent way to train and shape behaviors. I started clicker training last year for the first time and I LOVE it!!! It is amazing when your dog starts thinking about what he is doing. You can almost see the wheels turning in their brains as they figure out how to make you click again.

Some starting points follow:

1. Always do training sessions in sets of 10 and pause between training session sets for at least 15 minutes before attempting the same behavior training session again. Only work on 1 behavior during a training session set (10 attempts).

2. Take out 10 small (cheerio-sized) smelly chewy treats. Cut up hotdogs work great.

3. Place a buckle collar or halti head collar on your dog and a 6 foot leash.

4. Click your clicker pause for about a second and then treat your dog. Click - Pause - Treat.

5. Repeat 10 times then take a break (Play a quick game of fetch, etc. This break doesn't need to be too long). You are training your dog that the click means a treat is coming, and that training sessions can be fun as well.

6. After the break, get out 10 more treats, and repeat the click-pause-treat. By now when your dog hears a click, he should be eagerly anticipating the treat. After 10 take another break.

7. TARGET TRAINING- "TOUCH" command. Get out a round clear plastic container top. I use the top of a Pringles Potato Chip can, but so long as it is no bigger then 3-4 inches in diameter and is clear it really doesn't matter what you use. (Clear targets are easier to phase out later then solid colored targets which are more visable).

8. Hold the target about 4-6 inches in front of your dogs nose. DO NOT SAY ANYTHING. He will sniff at the target, as soon as his nose makes any contact with the target click-pause-treat.

9. Repeat again. Hold the target about 4-6 inches and wait for him to touch the target with his nose again. The instant he touches the target with his nose, click - pause - treat.

10. Repeat for a total of 10 times and then take a break. If your dog is a really quick learner, the light bulb starts to go off in your dog's brain around nose to target touch 5 or 6. But don't be discouraged if he is still not quite there. He is closer then you think.

11. After the break, pick up the target and again hold it out for the nose touch. The instant he touches it click-pause-treat. Repeat for a total of 10 touches. You guessed it take a break again.

12. Repeat the set of 10 again 1 more time. If your dog is starting to poke his nose at the target as soon as you offer it, you can now start putting a "cue" to the nose to target poke. I use "TOUCH" but some people use "TARGET". So it goes like this..... (1) Say "Touch" as you present/hold up the target (2) Dog touches the target with his nose (3) click-pause-treat the moment he touches the target with his nose. (4) Repeat 10 times and for three sets of 10 with play breaks in between sets.

13. When your dog is at 80% success (8/10 "Touch" commands result in a nose touch to the target) you are ready to make the exercise more difficult. Increase the difficulty by slowly holdng the target futher away and lower to the floor, until the target is on the floor. You still want a nose touch to the target on the floor when you say touch. (My sheltie used to try to cheat by dropping her head but not going all the way to the target - sneaky little buger!!!)

14. Once you have 80% touches with the target on the floor, increase the distance your dog has to travel to touch the target. (I can now send my sheltie out 20-30 feet to her target.)

15. Have fun!!! And go slowly. Take lots of breaks and enjoy your "thinking" dog!!!

The link below is a great resource on clicker training.

Good Luck!!

Things to Consider Before You Go For a Dog Training Career

• I've tried training with a clicker and without on two different dogs, really didn't notice any difference.


• The clicker method is nice becasue it rewards the dog for the right behavior at exactly the moment your get the desired behavior.
  There are books and most likely videos on how to start clicker training your pet. I would recomend you get one and go for it.
  Any time you spend training your pet is well worth it. It helps you and the pet bond and makes for a better pet for you.


• I have had success using a clicker. There's a good book that utilizes clicker training. It's called, "The Only Dog Tricks Book You'll Ever Need" by Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz. It tells how to do dog tricks and commands. My dog learned "high five" in minutes.


• my dog is clicker trained, he will come, if you click. It depends on what you want to teach her. Whenever shes does what you want say good girl and give her a treat

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Dog Health Questions: Has anyone gone to dog training at PetCo/PetSmart?

I am thinking of bringing my Papillon to dog training at one of these places. I was wondering if anyone has tried them and how well it went. Is it worth the money? Do they do a good job? What can I expect to get out of the training?

Should I invest in a personal trainer instead?

Any info will be a huge help!
Thank you

Dog Training Aids - Do You Know How Safe The Methods Used For Dog Obedience Training Are?

Recommended Answer:
it went very well, and they teach you how to keep your dog under control and still be gentle and kind with it. It is worth the money (to me at least). At the end, the dogs get to interact, so they are not anti-social. Your dog gets training in a room where you are not the only person, so you know the training will work if you are in a park or some place with a lot of other people and animals. you can check out their webpage if you want more info.

Dog Training Collar

• The experience and competence of trainers at chain stores is actually hit or miss. They are some really good ones and some really bad ones. Your only safe bet is to visit the store when there's a class going on and observe. Talk to the trainer afterward. If you're comfortable with things, go for it. It's far less costly than using a personal trainer, with whom you don't have a guarantee either! Regardless of who you choose, just make sure you're familiar with that person's methods.
  
  I personally took my first dog to one of those AKC certified trainers who actively showed and titled dogs in obedience work. She was a mean, sour woman who berated class members and advocated harsh methods that seem to work on her shepherds but not on more sensitive breed dogs like my hounds, who just shut down when shoved, yanked on, and dragged. That was a total waste of money. So, titles and certifications don't always mean quality.
  
  I later took that same dog and a younger rescue to a local shelter where a volunteer was teaching manners classes. I learned so much there, my dogs loved going, and they actually started obeying a few commands I hadn't been able to master with them before. It was nearly half the cost of the professional woman's class, it was a much better experience, and the proceeds went to helping the shelter dogs. Win-win!
  
  Some family friends, who have eight(!) dogs in their home, mostly rescues of different ages and breeds, have always used the Petsmart close to their home with great success.
  
  Good luck.


• I currently have my 5 month old puppy enrolled in Puppy Kindergarten at Petsmart and we love it! She is doing great. Learning a lot and gaining some good socialization skills by being with the other dogs and their owners. What I did is on the Petsmart website there is a coupon for a free training evaluation. I took my pup in for the free evaluation and while the trainer evaluated my pup I evaluated the trainer. I saw how she interacted with my pup, how knowledgeable she was, asked questions about her methods. Satisfied with the trainer I signed my puppy up. You can't beat it for the money - $119 for 8 classes.


• This is just my take on the subject based on a conversation I had with a manager at a Petco/Petsmart (cannot remember which). I was asking what there requirements for working as a trainer there are, as I was looking to make some extra money. I've done enough training in my life time to be very comfortable running a puppy kindergarten and basic obedience and/or manners class. What i was told by the manager there was that doesn't matter. To be a trainer at Petco you must go to a 6 week class, and previous experience is unnessary.
  
  Thus, the trainers there may have very little real training background or experience beyond having owned dogs. And therefore, they will not be able to help when problems or difficulties arise. Training is an art that takes many years of learning to become trully knowledgable and good at it; it's also a continual learning process. I had the benefit of growing up with a parent that trained guard and attack dogs, police dogs, dogs with behavior problems, and basic obedience classes. Thus, my starting knowledge was a little different.
  
  The trainers at Petco likely do not have these qualities- especially since most qualified trainers work from their own house or rent a building. At Petco, you might learn the basics, but do not expect to have someone that really knows how to train dogs and can help you if problems occur. For the average happy go-lucky dog it's probably okay; but i would still not recommend going there. Also, training a toy dog is different than a larger dog, and the trainers have to have control over the class.
  
  I would look for a trainer that does group classes. Group classes allow your dog to learn how to function and listen with other dogs around. Before you sign-up for a class with someone, always go and observe a class first. If you do not like what you see, go elsewhere. The trainer should have control of the class and be aware of different dogs' problem areas. With a small dog this is extremely important as an accident (large dog out of control) could be fatal. I would also ask the person how much experience they have with training toy breeds; they are different (actually more challenging) than larger dogs.
  
  Another piece to keep in mind is that once a Papillon gets something, they are not going to want to repeat it for the next five minutes. To them, that's boring and silly. Once they get, they're ready to move on. While i've never obedience trained a Pap before, I was talking to an obedience trainer and Papillion breeder about the subject because a friend was interested in the breed.
  
  Lastly, I would only invest in a personal trainer if you are having specific problems or cannot find a group class you feel comfortable bringing her to. Even experience trainers like to work their dogs in a class as the exposure is very beneficial to them.
  
  oh, I would start with recommendations of trainers from your vets or other dog owners. If you have a dog park near there, go during a busy time just to talk to the other owners- do not let her run around as she could get injured...if you can find a small dog group or small dog play group, that would be a good place to start for trainer recommendations; and a safe place to socialze her.


• HEL* NO!!!
  Contact your local (county) KENNEL CLUB!!! Use the classes THEY reccomend!
  
  THE PROS! *NOT* the cootchie-coo baby-sitters!
  The ones who've OBEDIENCE *TITLED* dogs!


• Go to your local kennel or obedience club and take a group obedience class there. These trainers usually have titled dogs and have worked with problem dogs as well.
  
  The 'trainers' at Petsmart/Petco have no business trying to teach obedience classes. They are mostly clueless and these places ONLY hire people who don't know anything about dog training, and then teach them how to do it by book/video.Mandy - they are 'certified' by Petsmart/Petco after they have finished watching the videos! LOL!
  
  In general, ANY certifications from a group mean nothing and are looked down on by the 'real' trainers, it is experience that counts, not a piece of paper that says you watched a video.Ceci - "I personally took my first dog to one of those AKC certified trainers who actively showed and titled dogs in obedience work. She was a mean, sour woman who berated class members and advocated harsh methods that seem to work on her shepherds but not on more sensitive breed dogs like my hounds"
  
  The sign of a good trainer is one that is willing to use different methods, depending on the individual dog. Some need a soft touch and some need a firm hand. There are some trainers who believe the only way is the hard way, and almost ALL of the Purely Positive groups don't see ANY other way. That is one of the problems with the trainers at Petsmart/Petco, they know no other way because they don't know how to read a dog, or even that other methods exist. My Hounds would fall apart if I used hard methods with them, but I have also worked with many problem dogs that would just as soon bite me as take a treat. A good trainer will use whatever methods work for that INDIVIDUAL, there are NO one-size-fits-all training methods.


• Personal trainers are usually better but the good thing about pet smart is your in the class with a bunch of other puppies so not only are they training but they are getting there puppy socialization.
  At my hospital we always rec. Pet Smart
  So I said yes do it.


• Hi Sima!
  I took my retriever to PetSmart and wasn't happy, so they charged me another $99 to go thru again! However their website says you can go thru as many times as you want for free! I had to argue to get my $99 back, and I'm using that to get certified myself thru an online course! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em so when I'm done with my course, I'll be applying there myself! I get more out of Yahoo Answers than they teach at PetSmart! Check out the trainers and watch the graduates! Learn from everybody you talk to! Come back to PetSmart when they hire me! I'm Scotty! Happy 2007!


• I think everyone has different experiences with Petco & Petsmart Training courses. I have heard negative as well as positive. Personally I currently have my 6 month old puppy enrolled in a group training course @ Petsmart and I love it. The trainer is very knowledgeable and very patient as well as understanding. In the group training course she first goes throgh the process of asking each owner about their pets concerns, news, etc. and talks with them one on one. Then she reviews what we went over previously and what we will be discussing this class. Then she "borrows" a dog to show how the trick is to be done followed by us trying to train our dogs ourselves.
  
  I have never had a problem with my trainer nor PetsMart in general. I have my dog groomed there and they're very good. I heard some stories about horrible Petco & Petsmart trainers and group classes. I suggest you go to your Petco & Petsmart and watch to see how the trainers are during the class and talk to some of the people enrolled in the class to see how it is. Also talk to the trainers.
  
  My class was $109 for 8 weeks. Very self-pacing and teaches me a lot. I plan to enroll my dog in the next course Intermediate. I also plan to go through until she gets her CDC (I think that's what it's called) license, all with the same trainer I hope.
  
  Good Luck.


• Petco and Petsmart contract local trainers to teach their classes. Most are good but it does vary. I always recommend observing a class without your pet first to see if you're comfortable with the training approach, location etc and you can also talk to the others taking the class to see if they are happy with it.
  Most training classes are well worth the money and pretty essential for all dogs. Even if you are good at training I like the controlled group atmosphere to help socialize them as well. Particularly in teaching them that they need to obey even around other animals and distractions.
  You can expect basic obedience ( sit, stay etc) some manners training like how to introduce animals and how to deal with basic issues like begging etc.
  Good luck and thank you for being a responsible pet owner!


• Training at Petsmart (I've no personal experience with Petco) is a very good option PROVIDED you check out the trainers beforehand.
  
  The trainer should be certified, of course, and they should be very active in obedience or other dog-related sports (such as Schutzhund, flyball, ect.). Their dogs should have the Canine Good Citizen certifications, and ideally be licensed therapy dogs (it requires EXTENSIVE training to accomplish these things).
  
  That all said, training in a group environment is great because you socialize your dog while teaching him to be obedient in a group setting. What good is teaching your dog to be obedient by himself? The moment he's in a group chances are he'll be too interested in other things to pay you any mind. With a group training the trainer teaches your dog to respond only to YOU despite the other animals/people present.
  
  Also, the training is 100% guaranteed for Petsmart...and you can purchase additional private training sessions IF you think they're needed (some dogs require private training if they're dog aggressive and cannot be trained with the group).
  
  Either way, check it out...talk to the trainer at your local Petsmart and get to know them. Test their knowledge a bit and make the decisions for yourself as to whether you think they're the best training route to take.
  
  Good luck!


• no but i have seen them working with the dog and it was cool


• If you just want to have a well behaved companion, training at these stores offers a convenient way of offering you basic obedience lessons. The focus is on positive reinforcement (Excellent). EVEN MORE IMPORTANT your puppy or dog will get the socializing that is much needed.
  
  If you are thinking of Showing you dog in obedience, or your dog has major problems a personal trainer may be for you.


• i have not gone to one there. but i did train dogs for obdediance compation and i looked at the things the pet smart people were teaching and how they teach and it all is normal and i dont know of any reason why it would not be a very good place to go both you and your dog to learn all of this basic stuff.
  have fun.


• talk to the trainer, make sure you like them. petco and petsmart doesnt hire a trainer based on how they train (meaning different stores use different training methods). i would suggest finding a method you like most and then finding the trainer. the only advantage of petco and petsmart trainers is they have to be certified in order to train in the store.


• PetSmart has a 100% satisfaction guarentee on all of it's classes...If you aren't happy with the training, you can get a full refund or retake the class, and then put the refund into a personal trainer. The problem with personal trainers is that the dog doesn't get much socialization. Also, he or she might not learn as well because dogs learn from watching other dogs...its called social learning. Pet training at PetSmart takes place not only in the ring, but in the store as well. This provides a lot of distractions (strangers, new smells, toys, other animals, other dogs). If your dog can do it in the store, you can be sure he or she will do it anywhere. PetSmart also uses positive reinforcement techniques, so nothing we do will ever harm your dog. In fact, he or she will love it!
  Training is definately worth the money. Classes are only $99. In Beginner and Puppy classes, your dog will learn sit, down, stay, come, walk on a leash without pulling, take it, leave it, drop it, greeting strangers without jumping, and also a couple fun tricks. They will also talk about potty training and grooming, which is extremely useful for a papillon. They are notorious for have potty training issues.You can also ask the trainer any specific questions you have, and he or she should be able to answer them for you.
  Personally, I have never had anyone return a class at PetSmart, so I think I'm doing a good job ;)


• I took my wife to Petsmart because of her inability to retrieve. Left her there for 4 days. I was very unsatisfied with the results. When I picked her up she bit me, growled, howled & still dont retrieve.The *****! Wouldnt recomend it. Try a personal trainer.


• I have had one of my dogs trained at Petsmart and it was horrible. I had to go to a behaviorist (who worked at Petco at the time) to have her fix what the Petsmart Trainers screwed up. The trainers that work at Petco are actual dog trainers, the ones that work at Petsmart are just people that went through Petsmart's dog training program.


• I brought my Lhasa to Petsmart, and we both loved it. The trainer was personable, and loved dogs. It was a rewarding experience for us.

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