He is only a puppy! (Vent)

[BaileysMom]

Okay, so I have Bailey in some dog training classes. I am a little upset, because I have been working with him regularly and practicing often and he is very smart, but since he is a puppy he can't quite do some of the things a full grown dog can do. I am not upset about that (he really impresses me, since he is always doing more then I ever expected from a 4 1/2 month old puppy), but one of the helper ladies treats him (and me) like idiots!

For example, yesterday we were all taking turns practicing come. We learned it the previous week and we were suppose to practice. My turn came around (Bailey is very good at come, by the way), and the lady says, "Don't worry, SOME PEOPLE have done this before." Excuse me? Aren't we all in the same class? She was suggesting that I don't work with him after class. Just because he can't sit and "look" for 45 seconds (yeah, trying getting a puppy to look at you for 5 seconds without getting distracted) doesn't mean he can't do more simple and natural things for puppies like "come". Anyway, he came just fine!

Anyway, she makes comments like this all the time. It is like she is purposely picking on me and my dog and it is very upsetting. Especially considering that despite his age, Bailey is even doing better then some dogs there!

Is there really something wrong with the way I am training him? Should he be able to stare at me for 45 seconds when I tell him "look" at 4 1/2 months? Any suggestions on how I can get and hold his attention? (Like all puppies, he loves looking around and sniffing everything, even when there are treats present) He also can't "stay" in sit and stand positions, since he is prone to laying. Suggestions on how I can get him to hold these positions?

 

[Renee750il]

Don't worry. You're doing just fine!

I took Purdue, my first GSD, to obedience training when he was four. I'd gotten ill and couldn't handle his strength reliably when we were out walking and figured it would be a good idea.

To start, the trainer informed me that she hated German Shepherds; that her Belgian Malinois were far superior. Nice thing to say to a sixteen year old - or anyone. Then, she had us all meet in a tiny little classroom. Purdue, a man with a large, anti-social GSD mix, a couple with two Irish Wolfhounds, an elderly man with a Sheltie, three people with Dobermans, a woman with a Boxer, another with an Airedale, a man with a Beagle and a couple with a big, boisterous Lab puppy. The GSD mix lunged at me, snapping. Purdue got in front of me and stood him down (and the mix was probably a good fifteen pounds bigger) and the trainer came over and reamed me out, shaking her finger in my and my dog's faces until he snarled at her, then proceeded to tell me that he was a vicious dog and needed to be put down. Not a word to the owner of the dog who actually started things. (He later jumped the Sheltie and the Lab and picked a fight with the male Wolfhound. That turned out to be a humiliating experience for him and his owner, lol)

As the class progressed, she wouldn't let Purdue practice any of the exercises walking around the other dogs or people, so on the final night of the test she, and everyone but me, expected Purdue to fail since he'd never been allowed to do several of the required exercises.

There was an obedience judge there to grade the tests, so at least we weren't totally at her mercy. The trainer wore a rabbit fur coat that night and completely set the Beagle off course . . .

She made Purdue wait until last, so I had plenty of time to talk with him. Some of the other people in the class got a real kick out of me sitting on the ground, nose to snout with Purdue, murmuring to him. I was just telling him what we needed to do, and how it would make the nasty woman look bad and really irritate her. He sat there and looked at me the whole time, never moving. When the time came for us to go through the course he did it perfectly! All those things he'd never been allowed to do were letter perfect. The judge gave us the top mark in the class and told the teacher he couldn't believe that this was the dog she'd complained about as being a bad dog; he was better behaved than the trainer's own Belgians . . .

So, that was the beginning of the nose-to-snout method for me, and a lesson about bad trainers to pass along. It sounds like you've got one very much like Purdue and I had.

 

[Purr]

Wow Renee! That's a terrific story! I'm glad Purdue and you put that nasty lady in her place!!

Bailey's Mom, Bailey sounds like he's doing just fine. My boys are 5 months, and they can't look at me for forty five seconds straight. Honestly, that trainer should be fired! Don't worry, you're doing great!

 

[Renee750il]

I'm kind of wondering why you're supposed to have a dog stare into your eyes for 45 seconds anyway. To a dog, that can be an aggressive behaviour!

 

[BaileysMom]

Thanks for sharing your story, Renee. And thanks for your words of encouragement, Purr. That does make me feel much better. I guess some people just have issues...

Fortunately, she isn't the main trainer. She is just some helper person who walks around to help out and assist the trainer. There is another helper lady who is very nice to me and my puppy, and makes very helpful suggestions that are unique to training a puppy. So, I guess it is good I have at least ONE person there who seems to understand and is on Bailey's and my side.

It just makes me upset when people belittle me and my dog.

Renee, it is called "attention". I know, it is really unnatural for the dogs, but I guess they think it is necessary. I think at the end of the course they are suppose to sit at "attention" (staring directly in your eyes) for over a minute. I know Bailey is not going to pass that part, since it seems near impossible for a puppy to stare at ANYTHING (let alone straight in "Alpha Mom's" eyes!) for a full minute, but I still work on it. It will just improve as he gets older, I guess. Anyway, it seemed weird to me, too, Renee.

 

[maui]

Oh geeze Bailey's Mom! Just what you needed, huh? There you are, being a caring dog owner, going to class, doing the work, asking for some attention from your puppy and you get snooty comments right when your dog is supposed to "come!" when called!?

Here is my favorite comeback!!!! I love passing this on. It will arm you with confidence, and hopefull you won't ever need to use it, because you will be ready!!

Personally, I'm all for throwing questions back at people because I don't think everyone remembers how many emotions we all bring with us to dog training class. I find the classes to be nerve racking. Beneficial as they are, I'm a bit stressed out. So, the last thing I need is an off handed comment. Here is my "female dog" (rymes with witchy!) response I give ladies who make comments.

Stand up straight. Stop all your training. Look her in the eye. Pretend she is the only person in the room.
"Why did you say that?" (My personal favorite. It's harsh, but it works. She's obviously not your new best friend, why does she need to like you?)
"What do you mean by that?" (Sounds a little parental, good for young cashiers)
"Pardon? Will you repeat yourself?"
Or, simply, "Whaaaat?"

About the attention work... We practiced with holding the yummiest of treats by our eyes. He isn't perfect either, he's two years old. We began randomizing the rewards and saw an improvement. If Bailey is already in the habit of not giving a lot of attention when hearing his name, Bailey. We were told to practice with a nick name. The nick name is only used for attention, like a "look" command. Creature Teacher can probably expand.

I remember in our Kindegarten and Basic classes, the dogs were all different. Some could hold a stare forever, some for a few seconds. As long as the dog looked at you and the hold increased a tiny bit each week, our trainers were happy. At 4 1/2 months, I would have been happy with a glance that increased one second each week. lol. Hang in there!

 

[BaileysMom]

Hehe... Thanks, Maui. I wish I would have thrown one of those questions at her, just to see what she said. I will have to keep that in mind.

 

[maui]

It's one of those things, having those questions. Now you're ready, she'll be a nice nice now!

 

[CreatureTeacher]

These are the people taking all my business away?!?!

Don't let her bother you, Bailey'sMom. Learn what you can from her and move on. I like Maui's suggestion of being perfectly frank with her and asking, "Why would you say that to me?" You could even add, "I think you're treating me in a very unprofessional manner." That way you move yourself into a stronger position: you look calm in the face of her picking, and she looks like a total snot for doing the picking!

 

[nedim]

Some people need to be properly associated.Also, cant say I wouldnt enjoy spaying/neutering a few of my worst enemies.....

 

[Doberluv]

I'd find another trainer. You're wasting your time and money with that place. 45 seconds?!?! Lyric is almost 2 yrs. old and he can't look at any one thing for more than about 5 seconds. Who cares?

Anyhow, if she's intimidating you and undermining your confidence, think how that will spill over onto your dog. You need to be confident and happy when you're with your dog. That's the whole point! Dogs are so incredible at reading our moods and so affected by them. Find someplace where you can have an enjoyable, fun time while you and your dog learn.

It sounds to me like you're doing great with your dog. Come is a really hard thing to get reliable and I'd sooner practice something that could save his life one day than being able to have a stare down contest with a dog. It's one thing for them to look at you so you can get their attention, but the point of that is so you can direct them and they can focus on a specific job or command.

I had a great trainer who really emphasised practicality in our tasks...regular, everyday, useful stuff. She was quite good, I thought. I need to find another one closer though if I can...she was an hour and a half drive away.....too much. But I like classes. My dog needs that socialization and practice around other dogs.

Renee, your trainer that you had sounded like a dope too.

 

[maui]

You could even add, "I think you're treating me in a very unprofessional manner." That way you move yourself into a stronger position: you look calm in the face of her picking, and she looks like a total snot for doing the picking!

Ohhh, nice one! I'll add it to the list. Thanks!

 

[bubbatd]

Good one, Nedim !!!!

 

[Renee750il]

Some people need to be properly associated.Also, cant say I wouldnt enjoy spaying/neutering a few of my worst enemies.....

ROFLMAO! I'm guessing you meant "properly socialized" Nedim . . . great observation!

And spaying and neutering - how many people have you met who, if they were dogs, wouldn't be allowed to breed?

 

[nedim]

socialized, associated, same difference

 

[Renee750il]

I just wanted to make sure everyone caught on to your witty remark, Nedim

 

[mrose_s]

there isnt anythiing wrong with your training, it sounds as tho she might be having some problems with her dog, bailey sounds lovely, update us if she treats you guys like a child again.

 

[Purr]

And spaying and neutering - how many people have you met who, if they were dogs, wouldn't be allowed to breed?

Quite a few

 

[BigDog2191]

Wow, that trainer was something else, Renee!

How unkind of her to come up and say that her Belgian Malinois were superior.

Oh well, people will be people.

Don't worry BaileysMom, He is ONLY a puppy! Rocky at 12 weeks only knows sit and lie down. It takes time, and for her to treat you like that is unfair.

 

[Barb04]

Maybe your trainer needs to be trained.