Dog Trainer

Sorry this is a long one, but I was hoping some of you would be willing to read and give me some input. TIA!

My DH & I used a dog trainer who came highly recommended from the shelter we adopted our dog from. She also happens to be on the board. I had two sessions with her and was semi impressed but not thrilled with how training only occured in our kitchen and dinning room. I talked to DH and we both agreed we wanted our dog trained outside from the point on. We spend a lot of time outdoors in our backyard and taking her on walks.

So at the next training DH met the trainer and we both spoke to her about wanting to continue our dog's training outside. She was adament about how our dog was not ready to trained outside. She then proceeded to say training outside at this point was not adviseable and she did not recommend it. She said she would do it, but wanted us to know our dog would most likely not make the gains she would if she were soly trained inside (due to so many outside distractors). She said it would not be until the 6th session where training occured outside (or when inside training was at 100%). We said we wanted it outside and again she stated how she would do it but felt we should reconsider it for next weeks session and thereafter. So we had that session as well as another. We both felt neither of the sessions were that informative nor addressing issues we had discussed prior to hiring her (jumping, nipping, pulling on her lease while walked).

Yet before I hired her I was able to train our dog to sit, wait, fetch a ball and bring it back to me, give me her paw, and roll over outside with very little issues of distractions.

Thoughts? Reactions?

Message edited 9/29/2009 2:47:24 PM.

Re: Dog Trainer

Hmmm. I agree with the trainer. Its important for a dog to completely get the command before distractions are introduced. I think you should listen to her since she is the professional. JMO

On the other hand if you feel like the sessions aren't informative, do you mean she really isnt explaining and teaching you how to do it? Then you should def address it with her.

Re: Dog Trainer

I don't really know a lot of the specifics of your situation to really comment on it but I will say this. In my experiences with training, from our own success and from books and online resources I've read, you need to take patient steps for a goal.

The process is pretty much the same from everything I've read about effective training. You communicate what you want in a way that your dog understands. You reward each step towards that goal. When you reach the goal, you reinforce it in whatever way will resonate most with the dog. A treat, abundance praise, both, etc.

If you reach a point where the dog isn't responding to the command any longer, you take a step back. Back to the last place that you had success. And you build upon it again. But you must be consistent and reinforce a successful command constantly to make it rock-solid before you add to the degree of difficulty.

I also trained the same way your trainer is leading you - inside before outside. If you rush a dog that isn't ready for the next step, you're just going to have to go back again, so it's a waste of time. There are certain things that are the foundation of training that may not be as tangible as giving a command and the dog following it. Like establishing effective communication, establishing pack order. Not repeating commands or getting flustered which undermines your authority, etc.

Having said all this, if you want to discuss it more, I guess what I'd like to know is - what commands/behavior have you trained in existing sessions? Are you reinforcing this training daily, even when the trainer is not in your home? If this is the path to having a more well-rounded, disciplined dog, why are you so adamant about outside training? Is it because you don't trust the trainer any longer and think you have the basis to do the job better? I'm no professional but I have had success in this area so I'd like to help if I can. I don't want to come off all-knowing and assume that what worked for me will work for you.

Re: Dog Trainer

Forgetting about the specific issues, if you are not comfortable with this trainer you should switch. It is very expensive and you should be happy with who you are working with.

Re: Dog Trainer