which training option to choose...

[taraann81]

I live out in the xountey, inbetween a few small towns. I have to options for formal training. 1-petsmart-its positive training, but Im leery, the classes are tiny, usually 2 dogs and I would hate to end up with a trainer who knows lesa than me. The main reason I want foemal obediance is for continued sociliazation.and accountabilty...to enaure I work on training enough each week. The only other option is a trainer who has been training for 30 years, he uses choke chains.and advoctaes prong collars for heavy pullers. Sully is pretty sensitive and soft. Neither seems like good options, bit these are the only 2 options within a 45 minuye drive.

Which would you choose?

 

[ruthcatrin]

Will the trainer work with you with a flat collar? If he's going to INSIST that you use a choke or prong right off the bat, then no. But if he'll work with you, starting out with the flat collar and seeing what can be accomplished then he might not be a bad way to go.

 

[taraann81]

Well he says he doesnt require the use of any particular collar, he just STRONGLY reccomends the choke/prong. I guess I'll give his.class.a go. Thanks for the weigh in

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Yeah what Ruth said. Stone is also sensitive and very soft but he responded well with a prong despite the refusal by the PO trainers. Each dog is different and Ruth is right a trainer that will work with you is the best kind out there.

 

[taraann81]

Yeah, its not that I'm morally opposed to the choke.and prong, I used a choke on my BM during training, I just think the ultimate goal is to use a flat collar were possible.

 

[thelady_v2010]

My dog is pretty soft and I use a choke on him while training. I think a prong comes after a choke doesn't work.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Don't be afraid to tell him that you REALLY want to work with the flat collar. That if nessecary you'll use one of the others, but you'd really like to see what you can acomplish with hte flat, and go from there.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Yeah, its not that I'm morally opposed to the choke.and prong, I used a choke on my BM during training, I just think the ultimate goal is to use a flat collar were possible.

Its a good goal, and that's what I'm aiming for as well. With Thor I could walk him on a flat buckle collar easily and he was 200lbs+ Two months using the prong was all it took.

Stone is a different story altogether, LOL. Mason is still using his flat buckled collar, when he pulls I just go in the other direction after a few direction changes he stops. And doesn't pull my arm off. His teenage years are coming up and I'm dusting off the prong and preparing myself hahaha!

 

[DennasMom]

Denna pulls harder on the flat collar than the simple nylon slip collar I normally use... but "harder" is relative. One hard bounce on the lead is all I have to do to remind her not to go too far, and to listen to me... on the slip collar, a slight extra tug is all the reminder she needs. If I put a prong on her... she flops on the ground and won't budge.

I like the nylon slip collars. They're quiet (no jingling chain), and very light weight, so they loosen up easier than a chain, which might go tight under it's own weight. Most of the time Denna's slip is all the way open - no pressure on her neck at all - but if she were to try and back out (i.e. stop and sniff something while I keep walking), it won't let her back out of it, which she could do if her flat collar was on as loose.

So, I would hope the trainer looks at the situation, the dog and the handler before choosing the tool, since the tool needs to fit the job.... smart, sensitive mastiffs don't need harsh tools.

I agree, though, that the trainer should be better than the PetSmart class... you'd probably get the same benefit from the PetSmart class by just walking up and down every aisle, asking for a sit at each turn... and practicing calm greetings with anyone who wants to approach and meet your dog.

Good luck - let us now how it goes!

 

[taraann81]

Sully starts his class tonight, with out even seeing him the trainer found out his breed and size and is already pushing a prong collar. "are you sure you can handle him?" "thats a bug dog I dont eant you to get in trouble with the other dogs", "you actually THINk you can control him?".... First, yes Sully is 100lbs....but he has no drive and doesnt pull...he is the definition of lazy. Even when other dogs are around, he usually just sits.and wags his tail...its not like he is 100lbs of lunging muscle...my 9 year old and walk him on a flat collar. Its not that the trainet can "make" me use a prong....just hate the feeling that it seems he expects us to fail and already has it in his mind a prong would be best for us.

 

[Hector]

I wouldn't use that trainer if he continues to push the prong collar on your dog. It doesn't sound like your dog has any major issues other than the distractions, but distractions are a challenge for all dogs. I no longer use a prong collar on my dog. He's 14 months and 122lbs - a martingale and a leash - no problems at all. I can still correct him with no problems and I don't have to worry about repositioning the damn prong or chaffing his skin. We worked through it by trial and error and using different methods and training tools. We had beginning obedience class and learned the loose leash walking indoors, but that proved useless in the real world. It really comes down to how well you can read and know your dog.

 

[taraann81]

I wouldn't use that trainer if he continues to push the prong collar on your dog. It doesn't sound like your dog has any major issues other than the distractions, but distractions are a challenge for all dogs. I no longer use a prong collar on my dog. He's 14 months and 122lbs - a martingale and a leash - no problems at all. I can still correct him with no problems and I don't have to worry about repositioning the damn prong or chaffing his skin. We worked through it by trial and error and using different methods and training tools. We had beginning obedience class and learned the loose leash walking indoors, but that proved useless in the real world. It really comes down to how well you can read and know your dog.

I wont be using a ptong unless I have real reason, regardless if he pushes it or not BUT it sure would make the seaauon more enjoyable if I dony have to keep stating my point. I think when people call for.classes, he thinks of out of control dogs...but Sully has the basics down well, i just like a formal class for socilization and I think it is fun! I hope when he meets Sully his opinion changes!

 

[Hector]

I wont be using a ptong unless I have real reason, regardless if he pushes it or not BUT it sure would make the seaauon more enjoyable if I dony have to keep stating my point. I think when people call for.classes, he thinks of out of control dogs...but Sully has the basics down well, i just like a formal class for socilization and I think it is fun! I hope when he meets Sully his opinion changes!

It goes back to people being idiots lol - he hasn't even seen your dog to evaluate him

 

[taraann81]

It goes back to people being idiots lol - he hasn't even seen your dog to evaluate him

agreed! Ges making assumptions based on size!

 

[taraann81]

It went well, Sully was a good boy.and as the trainer saw very "controllable" by the end of the 45 min class he was really tired and lagging though. Some dogs would do an anxiety, bark at the beginimg of clasd..he told them, when that happens to tap the bottom jaw with your hand, causing the mouth to clack closed :S...fortunately Sully is not a barker, as I would not have done that. The trainer breeds and competes in obediance trials with golden retrievers...so he looks at everytginh from a compettion stand point. He really wants we to "fix" sullys "puppy sit", Sully will never be in compettion, the sit ia fine with me..but I guess that is not the right way to do it. We will continue the class, and I will acoid anything I am not.comfortable with.