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Ok so I've had Two private sessions with a trainer for Emmas agility foundations.
To say I was excited/ nervous was an understatement. I let the trainer know up front how I was feeling.
First session I was such an excited wreck... that she would give me an instruction and I literally wouldn't hear it. She'd say put the ball in your left hand...for example and its like I couldn't think...which hands my left? Do what now? Throw what..huh?
I basically couldn't do the exercises right...I couldn't juggle running, clicking, a ball, sticking my hand out and watching the dog and listening to instructions all at the same time.
I went home thinking...meh, first day. I'll learn.
Second session comes. I was given homework. I explained that I *did* the homework but its wasn't perfected because my husband had been absent all week and I had been a bit overloaded.
She was nice, but I could see what I think was either disapointment or well masked irritation.
So instead she decides we should do a "go to you spot " exercise with a mat. Ok cool I think...I know how to train this. No problem Im still a nervous wreck at this point.
So I start and she stops me. Basically she wanted the behavior free shaped from scratch. I've explained to this trainer twice (and now three times in an email) that Emma doesn't understand freeshaping yet. This dog has not learned that offering behaviors gets a click (we're working on it tho, her background is in traditional training where offered behaviors are punished)
So when I realize that the dog is going to fail I had my first silent panic attack of my life. Im getting chills just thinking about it... brain turned off, wanted to get out of there, sweating, just silently freaking out.
I did not want my dog to be setup to fail. The idea pushed me over the edge I think. To put it in dog terms I was waaay over threshold.
Emma sat and stared at me (her default) the trainer instructed me to not look at the dog, not to move and only click her for walking onto the mat...so now I have a dog being unreward for great eye contact and slowly becoming more and more confused. If Emma gets a it "wrong" to often, she will shut down.
Emma finally glanced at the mat, so I clicked and i was scolded that I had lowered my criteria.
ten minutes later the dog finally just got bored and walked away.
So I go home and teach her the mat behavior. She gets it in like 2 minutes. All she needed was me to point at the mat (she understands targeting) I pointed 3 times and then stopped directing her
So our next session is in a week. I feel like if I go Im going to cry or yell at this poor woman. I honestly feel like that last session was a waste of time. I paid som'one to sit there while my dog stared at me confused.
Im not sure if the private lessons just put to much pressure on me. Since all eyes are on me, or if im having conflict for another reason.
I emailed her and asked why she wanted me to free shape the behavior and once again voiced my concerns. That was a week ago. She has not replied.
I feel like crap. Should I continue? I don't want to give up on this, but I just feel REALLY uncomfortable the whole time. Kinda like...I respect the trainer, but at the same time know my dog and understand OC like the back of my hand...part of me wants to do what she says word for word, and part of me knows whats best for my dog.
Help!
To say I was excited/ nervous was an understatement. I let the trainer know up front how I was feeling.
First session I was such an excited wreck... that she would give me an instruction and I literally wouldn't hear it. She'd say put the ball in your left hand...for example and its like I couldn't think...which hands my left? Do what now? Throw what..huh?
I basically couldn't do the exercises right...I couldn't juggle running, clicking, a ball, sticking my hand out and watching the dog and listening to instructions all at the same time.
I went home thinking...meh, first day. I'll learn.
Second session comes. I was given homework. I explained that I *did* the homework but its wasn't perfected because my husband had been absent all week and I had been a bit overloaded.
She was nice, but I could see what I think was either disapointment or well masked irritation.
So instead she decides we should do a "go to you spot " exercise with a mat. Ok cool I think...I know how to train this. No problem Im still a nervous wreck at this point.
So I start and she stops me. Basically she wanted the behavior free shaped from scratch. I've explained to this trainer twice (and now three times in an email) that Emma doesn't understand freeshaping yet. This dog has not learned that offering behaviors gets a click (we're working on it tho, her background is in traditional training where offered behaviors are punished)
So when I realize that the dog is going to fail I had my first silent panic attack of my life. Im getting chills just thinking about it... brain turned off, wanted to get out of there, sweating, just silently freaking out.
I did not want my dog to be setup to fail. The idea pushed me over the edge I think. To put it in dog terms I was waaay over threshold.
Emma sat and stared at me (her default) the trainer instructed me to not look at the dog, not to move and only click her for walking onto the mat...so now I have a dog being unreward for great eye contact and slowly becoming more and more confused. If Emma gets a it "wrong" to often, she will shut down.
Emma finally glanced at the mat, so I clicked and i was scolded that I had lowered my criteria.
ten minutes later the dog finally just got bored and walked away.
So I go home and teach her the mat behavior. She gets it in like 2 minutes. All she needed was me to point at the mat (she understands targeting) I pointed 3 times and then stopped directing her
So our next session is in a week. I feel like if I go Im going to cry or yell at this poor woman. I honestly feel like that last session was a waste of time. I paid som'one to sit there while my dog stared at me confused.
Im not sure if the private lessons just put to much pressure on me. Since all eyes are on me, or if im having conflict for another reason.
I emailed her and asked why she wanted me to free shape the behavior and once again voiced my concerns. That was a week ago. She has not replied.
I feel like crap. Should I continue? I don't want to give up on this, but I just feel REALLY uncomfortable the whole time. Kinda like...I respect the trainer, but at the same time know my dog and understand OC like the back of my hand...part of me wants to do what she says word for word, and part of me knows whats best for my dog.
Help!